What does a freeze and thaw really do? As I look out the window at the outside landscape, I see snow falling. It is a reminder that here in the Midwest, we have seasons. Have you thought about if the freeze and thaw is beneficial to the soil in your fields? What is this actually Read more about How the Freeze and Thaw affects Soil Compaction[…]
How does a solid plan impact a long-term lease on your farm? Do most growers have a long-term plan when it comes to the acres they own? Of course they do, because they have control of the future of that land. They may also a vision of what they want the land to look like Read more about What do you need to create a long-term lease?[…]
Is the relationship with the landlord just about the cash rent dollar? A simple reason for cash rent being higher than the local market value is due to farmers’ need to grow. This is often done at the expense of higher risk just to get their foot in the door. Although I don’t recommend this Read more about How do you reduce your farm cash rent cost?[…]
Why is high cash rent all you hear about? A trend I have heard about, is it takes high cash rent in order to farm available ground. This is something that gets talked about often at the restaurants and local coffee shops. But does it truly reflect the relationship between the farmer and the landowner? Read more about High Cash Rent is Not the #1 Thing![…]
Why plant a hay crop on your farm? Every piece of farmland can have a specific use; some of these uses may be to grow perennial crops. In many cases, it is because the terrain is such that will prevent it from being used for a more typical annual cash crop in the area. In Read more about Hay crops: same farm lease or different?[…]
Why is it harder to rent land today? As I talk to growers throughout the country, an overwhelming theme is this: what a difference it is today for their kids trying to find ground than it was when they started out. Why is this? Many of these younger growers are very educated. They have learned Read more about The landowner landscape is changing, but why?[…]
What tools do landowners have to evaluate performance? How do you as a landowner evaluate and make decisions for your farmland? In the age of technology, there are many tools that a farmer can use to help manage their land. Many of these tools will help farmers become more efficient and reduce unneeded expenses. These Read more about Landowners Conversation Starts with Yield Mapping[…]
How will land transfers affect your farm growth? Have you thought about buying land recently? What does the near future look like for this ambitious but important goal? According to the USDA Economic Research Service, of the 911 million acres in the lower 48 states. Along with that, 31% of the land today is owned Read more about Land Transfers and how it will affect Farm Growth[…]
The lease starts with soil quality. When it comes to farmland rental agreements, there are many things to consider. The soil is a common topic of conversation and something that every farmer and landowner discuss in their negotiations. Normally the discussion is centered around maintaining a certain nutrient level of P and K, establishing a Read more about Soil Stewardship-The foundation of every farmland lease[…]
What should I know about transitioning my ground to organic? According to the Organic Trade Association, sales of organic products in the U.S. have grown from $3.6 billion in 1997 to over $39 billion in 2014. Domestic supply of organic grains is not keeping up with growing demand from the organic dairy and poultry sectors, Read more about Opportunities in Transitioning to Organic Grain Production[…]