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General Farm Management & Strategy

The Great Margin Squeeze: Strategies for Managing Through the Cycle

After many years of high commodity prices and strong profitability, the landscape in the row-crop sector has shifted dramatically. Today, farmers are facing a substantial margin squeeze. Purdue’s early estimates of the 2015 budget for operations on average-quality Indiana farmland projected a loss ranging from $156 to $317 per acre.

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Managing Your Farm In An Economic Downturn

Recorded December 18, 2015 | A discussion of strategies farmers can use to successfully manage their farm during the current economic downturn in crop agriculture.

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Changing Business Climate for Agriculture and the Outlook for 2015​​​​

Recorded December 5, 2014 | The panelists outline drivers of this changing business climate and discuss strategies farms can put in place to help manage the downturn in crop agriculture and the upswing in animal agriculture.

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Farm Bill Choi​ces​

Recorded December 5, 2014 | A discussion of farm program choices that farmers and landowners need to make in early 2015. Programs discussed include ARC-County, PLC, and ARC-Individual, as well as base acreage reallocation and yield updating.

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Corn Drying and Shrink Comparison

Iowa State University offers corn producers resources to help weigh potential delayed harvest and/or result in additional field losses due to drier stalks and ears against potential drying charges and/or discounts.

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Managing Your Farm Business during an Economic Downturn

Prices for corn, soybeans, and wheat have all declined precipitously since the drought induced peaks of 2012. Bumper crops in 2013 and 2014 pushed crop agriculture from a tight supply/demand balance, and record high prices, to a situation where attention is now focused on crop surpluses and declining prices.

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Comparison of Drying Systems

Use Iowa State University’s spreadsheet decision tool to compare total drying cost per bushel based on the type of drying system and price inputs.

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Estimating the Cost for Drying Corn

The cost of drying corn grain will depend on the type and size of drying system utilized, the amount of moisture to be removed, the weather conditions during the drying period, and the current per unit costs for electricity and drying fuel.

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Farm Building Rental Rate Survey

Farm buildings and livestock facilities often outlast their owner’s need for them, but can still provide usable service. Farm operators and livestock producers may be able to make use of certain types of farm buildings but are not in a position to invest in new facilities.

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Equipment Lease Analyzer

This University of Missouri equipment lease analyzer is designed to answer 2 questions regarding leasing farm equipment. First it seeks to determine whether a lease or a purchase is more profitable and feasible from a cash flow perspective. Second it helps decide the annual contract hours for a lease.

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