Newsletter Articles

• Cost-price squeeze is emerging for corn farmers -- May 2013
• Economics of tile drainage -- July 2010
• Returns to farmland ownership -- May 2010
• Grain farming profitability headed down -- September 2009
• Tracking biodiesel profitability -- July 2009
• Brazil's ethanol exports -- May 2009
• Brazil’s ethanol industry -- part two -- February 2009
• Brazil’s ethanol industry -- January 2009
• Global warming - impact of climate change on global agriculture -- October 2008
• Who profits from the corn ethanol boom? -- September 2008
• Renewable energy newsletter available -- July 2008
• Global warming - impacts of global climate change on the Midwest -- July 2008
• Global warming - more on bio-fuels -- June 2008
• Global warming - are bio-fuels good or bad? -- May 2008
• Global warming - agriculture’s impact on greenhouse gas emissions -- April 2008
• Global warming - impact of greenhouse gases -- March 2008
• Global warming - the science -- February 2008
• Tracking ethanol profitability -- January 2008
• Tracking farm profitability -- December 2007
• Energy agriculture - where’s the nitrogen? -- November 2007
• Energy agriculture - food versus fuel -- October 2007
• Energy agriculture - farmer investment decisions -- September 2007
• Energy agriculture - carbon farming -- August 2007
• Energy agriculture - ethanol energy balance -- July 2007
• Energy agriculture - who will own it? -- May 2007
• Energy agriculture - beyond corn ethanol -- April 2007
• Energy agriculture - corn ethanol -- March 2007
• Should you participate in value-added agriculture? -- April 2005
• Using value-added agriculture to create a new rural America -- April 2004
• Returns to farmland ownership -- October 2003
• Brazilian soybeans – Can Iowa farmers compete? -- December 2000

Information Files

• Marketing Loans and LDPs -- A1-38
• Tracking the Profitability of Iowa Corn and Soybean Production -- A1-85
• Grain Marketing Terms -- A2-05
• Cost Terms -- A2-06
• Cost of Storing Grain -- A2-33
• Corn and Soybean Price Basis -- A2-40
• Grain Price Options Basics -- A2-66
• Options Tools to Reduce Price Risk -- A2-67
• Options Tool to Enhance Price -- A2-68
• Grain Price Options Fence -- A2-69
• Custom Farming - A Share of the Crop -- A3-13
• Transferring Ownership of Farm Machinery -- A3-32
• Motor Vehicle Cost -- A3-40
• Specialty Grain Terms -- A3-50
• Livestock Production - Specialize While Retaining Income Diversification -- B1-76
• Farm Analysis Terms -- C1-05
• Operating Leverage -- C1-45
• Dividing Business Income -- C1-51
• Leasing and Land Ownership Terms -- C2-05
• Computing a Pasture Rental Rate -- C2-23
• Computing a Grain Storage Rental Rate -- C2-24
• Computing a Livestock Building Cash Rental Rate -- C2-26
• Creating a Flexible Swine Building Rental Agreement -- C2-27
• Fixed Bushel Rent -- C2-32
• Iowa Farmland Legal Descriptions -- C2-85
• Understanding Iowa Corn Suitability Ratings -- C2-86
• Computing the Corn Suitability on Your Farm -- C2-87
• Iowa Township Names and Geographic Locations by County -- C2-88
• Understanding the Economics of Tile Drainage -- C2-90
• Financial Terms -- C3-05
• Financial Terms -- C3-05
• Transportation Terms -- C3-06
• Understanding Cash Flow Analysis -- C3-14
• Understanding Net Worth -- C3-19
• Understanding Profitability -- C3-24
• Building Equity in Your Farm -- C3-60
• Legal Terms -- C4-05
• Understanding Farm Business Transfers -- C4-10
• Planning your Future Together -- C4-11
• Critical Success Factors for Business Transfers -- C4-12
• The Farm Business Transfer Process -- C4-13
• Transferring Business Ownership -- C4-14
• Transferring Business Management -- C4-15
• Dividing Business Income -- C4-16
• Business Arrangements -- C4-40
• Examining Your Farm Business Choices -- C4-41
• Wage and Incentive Agreement -- C4-42
• Farm Business Operating Agreement -- C4-43
• Enterprise Operating Agreement -- C4-44
• Labor and Machinery Sharing Agreement -- C4-45
• Partnership -- C4-46
• Corporation -- C4-47
• Developing Good Family Business Relations -- C4-70
• Improving Business Communications -- C4-71
• Making Family Business Decisions -- C4-72
• Designing Family Business Teams -- C4-73
• Resolving Family and Business Conflicts -- C4-74
• Developing Capable Business Managers -- C4-75
• Keys to Successful Business Transfers -- C4-76
• Transferring Business Ownership -- C4-80
• Income Tax Considerations of Business Transfers -- C4-81
• Transferring Breeding Livestock -- C4-83
• Transferring Crops and Market Livestock -- C4-84
• Idea Assessment and Business Development Process -- C5-02
• Using Value-added Agriculture to Create a New Rural America -- C5-03
• Should You Participate in Value-added Agriculture? -- C5-04
• What is an Entrepreneur? -- C5-07
• How to Use Grants -- C5-08
• Creating a Mission Statement, Setting Goals and Developing Strategies -- C5-09
• Peter Drucker and Innovation -- C5-10
• Business Development vs. Economic Development -- C5-13
• Product Marketing Terms -- C5-14
• Setting Your Price -- C5-17
• Marketing Strategies -- C5-18
• Designing a Viable Rural Economy -- C5-20
• Promoting Your Business -- C5-43
• What I’ve Learned About Value-added -- C5-45
• Considerations When Selecting a Consultant -- C5-60
• When to Do and How to Use a Feasibility Study -- C5-64
• What is a Feasibility Study? -- C5-65
• Feasibility Study Outline -- C5-66
• Writing a Business Plan -- C5-68
• Create Your Own Business Plan -- C5-69
• Introduction to Governance -- C5-70
• The Role of the Board of Directors -- C5-71
• Recruiting, Selecting and Developing Board Members and Managers -- C5-72
• Board of Director Evaluations -- C5-73
• Business Strategy and the Board of Directors -- C5-74
• Governance Issues Unique to Start-up Businesses -- C5-75
• Board of Director Educational Needs -- C5-76
• Financing Stages for Start-up Businesses -- C5-91
• Types and Sources of Financing for Start-up Businesses -- C5-92
• Types of Term Loan Payment Schedules -- C5-93
• Obtaining a Business Loan -- C5-95
• Forming a Viable Project Committee and Holding Successful Meetings -- C5-110
• Top Management and Key Personnel Positions in a Business -- C5-111
• Location, Location, Location: Value Added Processing/Manufacturing -- C5-113
• Designing Successful Business Teams -- C5-114
• Solving Conflicts between Business Associates -- C5-115
• Improving Business Communication Skills -- C5-116
• Evaluating Alternative Types of Advertising -- C5-139
• Steps for Using Trade Shows - C5-141
• Keys to Successful Planning for Strengthening your Business -- C5-150
• Barriers to Entry and Exit -- C5-200
• Breakeven Sales Volume -- C5-201
• Breakeven Selling Price -- C5-202
• Commodities versus Differentiated Products -- C5-203
• Demand -- C5-204
• Economies of Scope -- C5-205
• Economies of Size -- C5-206
• Elasticity of Demand -- C5-207
• Experience Curve -- C5-208
• Managerial Costs -- C5-209
• Opportunity Cost -- C5-210
• Product Life Cycle -- C5-211
• Should I Invest in Agricultural Start-up Business Ventures -- C5-225
• Assessing Agricultural Processing Investment Opportunities -- C5-230
• Understanding Double Entry Accounting -- C6-33
• Strategic Management Concepts -- C6-39
• Strategic Planning Terms -- C6-40
• Strategic Management for Farm Businesses -- C6-41
• Setting Personal, Family and Business Goals for Business Success -- C6-42
• External Scanning - Industry Analysis -- C6-44
• Internal Scanning -- C6-45
• Farm Business Strategies -- C6-46
• Growth Strategies by Type of Farm -- C6-47
• Portfolio Analysis and Enterprise Strategy Development -- C6-48
• New Ways of Thinking About Your Farm Business -- C6-49
• Assessing Entrepreneurial Skills -- C6-60
• Assessing Strategic Management Skills -- C6-61
• Assessing Personnel Management Skills -- C6-62
• Assessing Inter-Personal Skills -- C6-63
• Assessing Organizational and Planning Skills -- C6-64
• Assessing Financial and Risk Management Skills -- C6-65
• What is your Managerial Attitude? -- C6-66
• Test Weights and Capacity -- C6-82
• Agricultural Measurements and Conversions -- C6-84
• Energy Measurements and Conversions -- C6-86
• Liquid Fuel Measurements and Conversions -- C6-87
• Biomass Measurements and Conversions -- C6-88
• Natural Gas and Coal Measurements and Conversions -- C6-89
• Tracking Ethanol Profitability -- D1-10
• Tracking Biodiesel Profitability -- D1-15

Decision Tools (xls)

• Motor Vehicle Cost Analyzer -- A3-40
• Partial Budgeting -- C1-50
• Change to Dividing Business Income -- C1-51
• Calculating a Weighted Average Corn Suitability Rating -- C2-87
• Iowa Township Names and Geographic Locations by County -- C2-88
• Cash Flow Budget (short form - 6 periods) -- C3-14
• Cash Flow Budget (short form - 12 periods) -- C3-14
• Cash Flow Budget -Multiple Crops -- C3-15
• Net Worth Statement (short form ) -- C3-19
• Income Statement (short form) -- C3-24
• Grant In-Kind Match Contributions -- C5-06
• Travel Expense Voucher -- C5-06
• Value-Added Processing Facility Start-up Costs -- C5-113
• Ethanol Production Profitability -- D1-10
• Monthly Profitability of Biodiesel Production -- D1-15