Articles
Farm Management Articles
Research-based information and tools to help with your farm business management decisions
Looking for an expert to advise you on your ag and farm questions? We can help with that.
Does Your Farm’s Culture Reflect Who You Want to Be as An Employer?
Sound employment practices geared toward attracting, training, retaining, and rewarding employees must reflect a clear understanding of employee views and experiences. The farm culture represents “the way things get done around here,” and it can be positive or present a challenge for employees. The culture on a farm may not be obvious or visible, but it is there.
Throttle Back on Stress
When I was a little boy, I was intrigued by trucks, tractors and machines like any farm kid. I understood what the gas pedal was in my mom’s car and my dad’s pickup. But it took me a while to understand exactly what the throttle did on the steering column of our John Deere 4020 and how it controlled fuel flow. Understanding stress is similar — and for our health and the well-being of our loved ones and relationships, learning where to find the levers to “throttle down” the chemicals that fuel high levels of stress is crucial.
Guidance in Determining an Equitable Agriculture Land Rental Value
Determining a rental rate is not an exact science. Local demand and supply conditions, anticipated market conditions, and long-standing working relationships can have bearing on rental rate negotiations. Learn what factors to consider when setting a rental rate.
Wisconsin Cash Farm Land Lease Example
It is critical that landlords and renters spend time addressing the terms of the rental agreement before finalizing the agreement to prevent problems over the duration of the contract. Maintaining positive working relationships between landlords and renters is vital for long-term success. Learn what to include in a fair and equitable farm land lease.
Creating a Robust, Authentic Agriculture Land Lease
Rental rates and lease agreement questions often arise in the fall. Landowners or renters are looking for a lease agreement template that they can plug their values into. Learn what’s important to include in lease agreements and how to create a robust, authentic lease agreement.
Video Series: Agricultural Chemical Safety
We use agricultural chemicals for many different purposes around the farm and in the field. Every chemical has the potential to be harmful to humans, but each varies significantly in the risk they present to us. Learn more about the risks and potential effects of chemical exposure.
Part 2: Dermal Exposure to Chemicals
Exposure to your skin, or dermal exposure, is the most common way for chemicals to enter your body. Oral exposure most commonly occurs when you eat without first washing your hands or share beverage containers. Different chemicals will have different effects.
Part 3: Inhalation Exposure to Chemicals
Inhalation exposure (breathing in) is the most dangerous type of chemical exposure because vapors, gases, smoke, or dusts are absorbed rapidly into your bloodstream or cause injury to the the tissues of your lungs, and/or loss of consciousness.
Ivermectin products for animals are not intended for COVID-19 treatment
In humans, ivermectin tablets are FDA-approved for treatment of some parasitic worms. Some topical formulations are FDA-approved for the treatment of external parasites; for example, headlice and skin conditions such as rosacea.
The Farm Business Culture
Culture—whether of an individual or an organization—is an important but often challenging concept to grasp. Farm business culture relates to the values, goals, beliefs, and way things are done on the farm – communication, how work is accomplished, how achievements are celebrated.
Ten Things to Consider for Succession Planning – video series
Business succession planning just doesn’t happen. Producers must intentionally focus on the planning and work with a team of professionals. Here are ten steps and questions that farmers can do as they prepare for succession planning.
Can You Motivate Employees?
Many employers think people are motivated to work for reasons of pay. Research on self-determination theory and work motivation tells us that humans are motivated not simply by material possession, but also by enjoyment and meaning that our actions bring us.
Farm Diversification through Direct Marketing
While a majority of farm products are marketed through a system involving several middlemen, direct marketing maintains the farmer’s connection to the customer, allowing them to develop a unique relationship, tailor their product offerings, and keep money closer to the farm and local community.
Working With Your Lender
A lender’s primary interest is in whether you’re likely to fulfill the requirements of a credit agreement. When a creditor lends you money, he or she does it with the expectation of earning a profit, which is unlikely to happen if there’s a good possibility that you’ll default on the loan. The lender will be […]
Is It Time To Exit?
A statement often made with professional athletes is that they stayed in the game beyond the years of their peak performance. Of course, the couple million they made for their time, helped ease the transition! However, we may ask the same question of a farm business, when is it time to gracefully exit, when are we trying to stay in the business too long beyond peak performance?
Put Your Values and Skills to Work as You Transition Careers
The thought of leaving a business or career that one has always known can be uneasy and downright scary, but along with those thoughts, there are many positives that can come along with making a change. As business owners, farmers develop all types of skills. By evaluating their best skills and matching them with their own personal core values can be a usual exercise to plot a course for the future.
Uncertain Farm Financial Future: On the Fence
I am on the fence, it is a barbed-wire fence, and I want to get off! As I write this article, there is a breath of optimism in the dairy industry. Markets have improved, government program payments are getting to mailboxes and the economy is slowly opening back up. That is good news that I […]
Stressed? Take Stock, Take Care, and Gain Control
Stress is common in farming. The long hours can sometimes lead to fatigue, especially if there is not enough help. A feeling of a lack of control during changing times and conditions can compound the feeling of uncertainty. Other things that can cause stress are issues related to your kids, relationships, markets, the weather, and […]
