Crop farming is a risky business, and according to Mike Boehlje, a Purdue Extension agricultural economist, farmers need to successfully manage that risk now more so than ever. There are two distinct types of risk farmers need to be concerned with: operating risk and financial risk. Operating risk is what's associated with grain prices, input costs and yields. Financial risk refers to the way producers finance their business – whether through debt or their own equity.
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As 2011 draws to a close, so do opportunities for farmers to take advantage of certain provisions of the federal tax code, according to David Marrison, Ohio State University Extension educator. "The ability for bonus depreciation is changing, so if you're looking to make capital expenditures, this is the year to do it," says Marrison, one of the leaders of OSU Extension's Ag Manager Team.
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U.S. feed-grain ending stocks for 2011-2012 are projected slightly higher with a small decrease in domestic corn use and a small increase in oats imports. Corn food, seed and industrial use is lowered 5 million bushels with early marketing-year corn use for sweeteners down slightly year on year. Projected corn ending stocks rise 5 million bushels to 848 million.
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They sure don't make things like they used to. Older equipment is fun to look at, and something farmers, non-farmers and people of most ages can enjoy. Check out some of the old things on the farm of Digital Editor Jen Bennett’s grandparents, along with NEW photos submitted by readers. Do you have old equipment around your farm site? Send us your photos! Email them to csd@csdigest.com and we'll post them to the gallery.
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If you want to increase the blood pressure of any agricultural lender, mention “review by the federal examination team.” Tension mounts as lending regulation and compliance intensifies due to the Dodd-Frank Act’s mandates as a result of the recent financial crisis. This, in turn, will impact the amount and depth of financial reporting required by you as a producer in the upcoming loan renewal season, and when you request loans for long-term financing of land or expansion. Here are five topics on the FDIC radar.
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