Crop Insurance Decisions
Feb 27, 2008, By Kent Thiesse
During the next couple weeks, many farm operators will be finalizing their crop insurance decisions for the 2008 crop year; March 15 is the deadline to purchase crop insurance for the 2008 crop year. Producers need to analyze how crop insurance fits ...
No Change in Flexible Lease Agreements and DCP Payments
Feb 21, 2008, By Kent Thiesse
The rapid rise in corn and soybean commodity prices in the past two years, and the resulting projected increase in gross crop income per acre for the 2008 crop year, has caused many landlords to consider...
New Farm Bill Update – Part II
Feb 12, 2008, By Kent Thiesse
As Congress works to complete the passage of a new farm bill, producers have raised some questions regarding process and provisions in a potential new farm bill, and what effect it might have on their farming operations in 2008...
New Farm Bill Update
Feb 5, 2008, By Kent Thiesse
As Congress works to complete the passage of a new farm bill, producers have raised some questions regarding process and provisions in a potential new farm bill, and what effect it might have on their farming operations in 2008...
CRP and Crop Insurance
Jan 29, 2008, By Kent Thiesse
No early-out for CRP in 2008: Recently, acting USDA Secretary Chuck Conner reconfirmed that no early-out option for existing Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) contracts is planned for the 2008 crop year. He stated that “CRP is not an acreage reserve program” to be accessed when...
Crop Report Summary
Jan 17, 2008, By Kent Thiesse
The latest USDA Crop Supply and Demand Report, released on Jan. 11, gives another indication of just how big or how small the U.S. corn and soybean crop was in 2007 and how large or tight the carry-over grain stocks are...
Does It Feel Like The 1970s?
Jan 8, 2008, By Kent Thiesse
The last half of 2007 and the beginning of 2008 have drawn many to make comparisons with agricultural economy that existed in the 1970s, with record grain prices, high farm profits and rapid increases in land values. Here are some things to consider...
Farm Bill Update
Jan 3, 2008, By Kent Thiesse, VP, Minn Star Bank
The U.S. Senate finally passed their version of the new farm bill on December 14, by a 79-14 margin. The U.S. House of Representatives passed a new farm bill in late July 2007. The farm bill now will go to a U.S. House and Senate Conference Committee, probably in late January...
2007 Ag Review
Dec 18, 2007, By Kent Thiesse, VP MinnStar Bank
As we reach the end of the year, it is a good time to reflect on what happened agriculturally in the region in 2007. Following are some highlights regarding where we stand on crop production, grain prices and livestock profits at the end of 2007...
Proposed ACR Farm Program
Dec 11, 2007, By Kent Thiesse, VP MinnStar Bank
The new farm bill proposal currently being considered by the U.S. Senate would give producers the opportunity to opt for the average crop revenue (ACR) program, in lieu of the current direct and CCP program payments. Following are key details of the proposed ACR Program...







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