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(Part 1) Indiana Farmland Values 2023 Update, AgCast 141 video podcast thumbnail

Crop Margins in a Boom-Moderation Price Cycle

January 12, 2016

A glance at a chart of commodity prices over say 100 or more years reveals periods of surging prices followed by a period of moderation in prices. Once prices moderate, they may stay relatively low for an extended time. Some have observed that this total cycle may be around 30 years, with the boom-moderation phase lasting 12 to 15 years.

Long-Term Cash Rent Decisions Using A Cash Rent Decision Tool

December 18, 2015

Recorded December 18, 2015 | A demonstration of use of a cash rent spreadsheet tool to calculate breakeven cash rents, compare the breakeven cash rent to local market rents, compute the market rate premium (if any) above the breakeven rate and the impact paying premiums could have on a farm’s liquidity over the course of the next five years.

International Benchmarks for Soybean Production (2015)

December 12, 2015

This paper examines the competitiveness of soybean production for important international soybean regions using 2012 to 2014 data from the agribenchmark network. This network collects data on beef, cash crops, dairy, pigs and poultry, horticulture, and organic products for 32 countries.

Capturing the Upside & Buffering the Downside

November 30, 2015

Recorded November 30, 2015 | Key management strategies farmers can use to successfully manage their farms during the economic downturn in agriculture.

Hog Prices Drop to 6 Year Lows

November 13, 2015

Live hog prices fell below $40 per hundredweight last week. This means hog prices are at their lowest level since November of 2009 when the U.S. was just beginning to pull off the bottom of the great recession.

International Benchmarks for Corn Production (2015)

November 12, 2015

This paper examines the competitiveness of corn production for important international corn regions using 2012 to 2014 data from the agribenchmark network. This network collects data on beef, cash crops, dairy, pigs and poultry, horticulture, and organic products for 32 countries.

Long-Term Outlook for U.S. Ag. Economy

October 30, 2015

Recorded October 30, 2015 | Discussion focuses on the macroeconomic outlook and expected impacts on exchange rates and interest rates, a review of factors driving change in the crop sector including shifts in supplies taking place, and a review of expected returns for corn and soybeans and prospects for farmland prices in the the Midwest.

Beef: High Prices Cure High Prices

October 13, 2015

The adage that the cure for high prices is “High Prices” is evident this year in beef markets. Finished cattle prices reached record highs around $170 in late 2014 and early spring of 2015.

Feeding Cost of Gain and Net Returns for Cattle Finishing

October 1, 2015

Fed cattle prices have declined sharply since early September. This article discusses trends in feeding cost of gain and net returns for cattle finished in Kansas, with emphasis on the extremely large losses currently facing the industry.

Benchmarking Machinery Investment and Cost

September 16, 2015

The continued increase in size of tractors, combines, and other machinery has enabled farms to operate more acres and reduce labor use per acre. However, this increase in machinery size also makes it increasingly important to evaluate the efficient use of machinery.