MANAGEMENT

Headlines highlighting global geopolitics are increasingly becoming a concern for ag operators, ag investors and the network of vendors who sell products and services in our industry.

The current hay-marketing year began with May 1, 2017, hay stocks down 3 percent from a strong 2016 level. Hay production in 2017 struggled with a number of challenges ranging from drought to wildfires to floods.

Whole Farm Revenue Protection (WFRP) insurance was created by the Agricultural Act of 2014. It has been available for purchase since the 2015 crop year. Since then, each year has brought updates to the program.

The phone dings. It’s a text message from a strange number inquiring about your hay for sale. Hesitant and a bit perplexed, you respond. After a few messages back and forth, your gut tells you something’s not quite right – it’s a scam.

Landowners may choose to replant a pasture for many reasons, including invasive plants, drought impacts, wildlife concerns or changes in the ranch operation. What to plant should always be based on established goals for the property. Do you want to solely manage for livestock forage or does wildlife hunting or viewing add to the value or recreational opportunities on your land?

Essentially everything we do as forage growers is to maximize the conversion of solar energy into digestible energy. We do not use photovoltaic cells. We use photosynthetic cells.