MANAGEMENT

Financing a farm or ranch is usually stressful – no matter on which side of the banker’s desk you sit.

Earlier this year, ag economists noted shrinking commodity prices and the lowest ag incomes since the recession – all in the midst of a trade war with China. And now the Federal Reserve is ending a prolonged period of low interest rates, and as a result, banks pushed the fixed rate on farm loans to a five-year high of 5.6 percent.

Appraising farmground isn’t an exact science, but the approaches and the details that can separate one property from a neighboring property are the same.

Pricing your custom harvesting services is a difficult yet critical business management activity. Set your prices too high, and potential customers may look elsewhere.

Soil sampling, although it costs money, can save your dollars by applying the right nutrients in the right places.

• Accurate acres – Knowing the exact amount of acreage helps the applicator plan for the correct amount of chemical needed for good application. This will help avoid pinching back on the last couple of passes to avoid running out.

Brush and trees are beneficial as shade for livestock and cover for wildlife, but dense infestations from fence to fence erode ranch profits due to limited forage production. Brush control is an expense against income in a changing economy, so its potential impact on ranch profits needs to be carefully and thoroughly analyzed.