DROP IN COMMODITY PRICES DRIVES PRODUCER SENTIMENT LOWER

An ag economist says a decline in commodity prices is the driver in the downward shift in producer sentiment in August. David Widmar says the Purdue University/CME Group Ag Economy Barometer, a monthly survey of 400 U.S. farmers, dropped seven points to 132. A rating below 100 is negative, while a rating above 100 indicates…

How to Choose the Right IT Solution for Your Business

Nothing slows a business down more than inefficient technology. Do you and your employees access your software on a single computer? Have you lost important data from computer failure or accidental deletion? Have you had to pay larger and larger computer support bills as your business grows? If any of these sound familiar, it might…

What Small Businesses Need To Know About Cyber-Security

These days, you can’t protect your business with just a lock on the door. As your important information and assets are increasingly stored and used online, every business owner needs to have a plan for cyber security. To help you make sure your business is protected, we’ve identified a few key kinds of attacks to…

Are Ag Producers Financially Stronger?

U.S. ag producers feel financially stronger compared to 2016 Shared from: World Grain written: by Susan Reidy U.S. agricultural producers’ feel their operations’ financial positions are improved compared to a year ago, which has helped the Ag Economy Barometer hold steady for the past three months and remain well above levels recorded prior to November 2016….

Why attending agricultural trade shows and conferences is worth the effort

These days, there’s more ways than ever to learn how to make your farm business more efficient and profitable. (Read our overview of a few of those ways here). Yet for all the benefits of online videos and magazines, nothing beats taking a day or two to attend an agricultural conference or trade show. Agricultural shows…

Barometer Reading Shows Long-Term Optimism for Farmland Values

By Ashley Davenport Farm Journal Broadcast Multimedia Editor Video Shows Positive For Farmland Values Farmers seem optimistic that farmland values will improve, but it may take a while to get there, according to the latest monthly ag barometer from Purdue University and the CME Group. Of the 400 agricultural producers who were surveyed in May,…

Is Employee Training Educating the Uneducated?

Article From Cattle Network By Phil Durst, Michigan State University Extension With all the emphasis on employee development, has anybody considered the education level of many of the people who come looking for a job? Even as the education level of farm owners is rising, it is often apparent that the opposite may be true of…

How to keep up in the high-tech future of farming

As in every industry, technology is playing an increasing role in efficient farming operations. While technology can make your life easier, it can be hard to keep up with all the new best practices and tools that can help your business thrive. When you’re running a busy operation, reading your newest equipment manual probably isn’t…

FARMERS MORE UPBEAT ABOUT CURRENT AG ECONOMY, BAROMETER REPORTS

FARMERS SEE CURRENT CONDITIONS AS BETTER THAN THOSE IN THE FUTURE. Article contributed by: David Widmar at Successful Farming As they prepared to go to the field, U.S. farmers carried with them a slightly higher level of optimism about the agricultural economy, according to the latest Ag Economy Barometer. The sentiment reading tool indicates that farmers…

Applying the lessons of precision agriculture to farm accounting

The benefits of precision agriculture are familiar to most farmers. With GPS technology powering specialized software and field equipment, you can make nuanced decisions about your field operations, saving you time and money. But what many farmers don’t know is that the same principles of precision agriculture can be applied to managing farm finances. Don’t…