Custom Farming Agreements 

By Kent Thiesse

An alternative to leasing farmland is a custom farming agreement. In a typical custom farming agreement, the custom operator agrees to perform all the machine operations on the owner’s land in exchange for a set fee or rate...

Custom Rates Increasing 

By Kent Thiesse

As would be expected with increasing fuel costs, average 2008 custom rates for farm work have also risen, compared to 2007 and 2006 custom rates...

March 31 Crop Report 

By Kent Thiesse

On March 31, 2008, USDA released its Prospective Plantings and Quarterly Grain Stocks reports. This was one of the most anticipated USDA reports ever, due to the strong grain prices in recent months...

Grain Markets Tumble 

By Kent Thiesse

Grain marketing in this highly volatile marketing environment continues to be a big challenge for farm operators. Many grain producers are coming off a very profitable year in 2007; however...

National Ag Week 

By Kent Thiesse

National Ag Week is being celebrated March 16-22 all across the U.S., and Thursday, March 20, has been designated National Ag Day. It is a good time to reflect on all...

Crop Insurance Deadline 

By Kent Thiesse

Monday, March 17 is the deadline to purchase crop insurance for the 2008 crop year. Producers need to analyze how crop insurance fits into their risk management and grain marketing strategies for the coming year...

Ethanol Industry Under Fire 

By Kent Thiesse

The ethanol industry has been taking some pretty severe hits lately from the popular news media, some university studies, environmental organizations, food processors, livestock organizations and some political leaders...

Crop Insurance Decisions 

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 

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 

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...