Newsletter articles:

December 2010

• The new common crop insurance policy -- William Edwards
• The 2011 costs of crop production -- Mike Duffy

November 2010

• Additional disaster payments for 2009 Iowa soybeans -- Chad Hart
• Fall harvest prices and indemnity payments -- Steven D. Johnson
• When is an operating arrangement a partnership? -- Neil E. Harl

September 2010

• 2009 Farm and Rural Life Poll: Personal and financial well-being
• Grain export embargoes: Are they preventable? -- Daryll E. Ray and Harwood D. Schaffer
• Protecting human resources should be part of farm risk management -- Bob Wells

August 2010

• Enrollment in ACRE related to farm size, risk management -- William Edwards
• 2009 Farm and Rural Life Poll: Targeted conservation and nutrient removal wetlands -- J. Gordon Arbuckle, Jr., Paul Lasley, Peter Korsching, Chris Kast

July 2010

• Leasing issues and rental rates for 2011 -- Kelvin Leibold
• 2009 Farm and Rural Life Poll: Value-added agriculture -- J. Gordon Arbuckle, Jr., Paul Lasley, Peter Korsching, Chris Kast
• Economics of tile drainage -- Don Hofstrand

June 15, 2010

• Farmland rental rates stable for 2010 -- William Edwards and Steve Johnson
• 2009 Farm and Rural Life Poll: Farming and food systems in rural communities -- J. Gordon Arbuckle, Jr., Paul Lasley, Peter Korsching, Chris Kast
• BRICs: A “game changing” group of developing countries? -- Daryll E. Ray

May 15, 2010

• 2010 ACRE enrollment decision by June 1st -- Steven Johnson
• 2009 Farm and Rural Life Poll: Mixed livestock and grain farming -- J. Gordon Arbuckle, Jr., Paul Lasley, Peter Korsching, and Chris Kast
• Returns to farmland ownership -- William Edwards and Don Hofstrand

April 15, 2010

• 2009 Farm and Rural Life Poll: farm policy and commodity production -- J. Gordon Arbuckle, Jr., Paul Lasley, Peter Korsching, Chris Kast
• Financial challenges facing farm enterprises -- Jason Henderson, Maria Akers
• 2010 ACRE enrollment decision by June 1st -- Steven Johnson

March 15, 2010

• 2009 Farm and Rural Life Poll: the next generation of farmers -- J. Gordon Arbuckle, Jr., Paul Lasley, Peter Korsching, Chris Kast
• 2010 Iowa farm custom rate survey available -- William Edwards

February 15, 2010

• Crop insurance decisions for 2010 -- William Edwards
• Will you get a 2009 ACRE payment? -- Steven D. Johnson
• Change of “taxpayer” after crop insurance (and disaster payment) deferral -- Neil E. Harl

January 15, 2010

• Comparing the stock market and Iowa land values: A question of timing -- Mike Duffy
• 2008 SURE disaster claims begin in January -- Steven D. Johnson

Information files, decision tools and teaching activities:

December 2010

• Crops - Outlook and Prices:
  • Crop Planning Prices -- A1-10
• Whole Farm - Cost and Returns:
  • Suggested Closing Inventory Prices -- C1-40
• Whole Farm - Land Values:
  • 2010 Land Values Survey
• Whole Farm - Weights and Measurements:
  • Agricultural Measurements and Conversions -- C6-84

November 2010

• Crops - Cost and Returns:
  • SURE Payment Calculator -- A1-44 (Decision Tool)
  • Average Crop Revenue Election (ACRE) Payment Estimator -- A1-45 (Decision Tool)
• Livestock - Outlook and Prices:
  • Deductible Livestock Costs for Adjusting 2010 Income Tax Returns -- B1-15
• Whole Farm - Cost and Returns:
  • Farm Costs and Returns -- C1-10
• Whole Farm - Land Values:
  • Farmland Value Survey (Realtors Land Institute) -- C2-75
  • Farmland Tile Drainage Investment Analysis -- C2-90 (Decision Tool)

September 2010

• Crops - Cost and Returns:
• Corn and Soybean Loan Rates -- A1-34
• Crops - Markets:
• July Corn Basis -- A2-43
• July Soybean Basis -- A2-44
• Whole Farm - Leasing:
• Iowa Farmland Rental Rates (USDA) -- C2-09
• Whole Farm - Other:
• Using Group Conflict to Improve Your Project -- C6-55
• Good Communications Can Help Solve Problems -- C6-56
• New Business Development - Operating a Business:
• Choosing a Distributor for Your Product -- C5-161

August 2010

• Crops - Markets:
• Corn Price Basis -- A2-41
• Soybean Price Basis -- A2-42
• New Business Development - Marketing Products:
• Brand Loyalty -- C5-54
• Using Trade Shows for Product Promotion -- C5-140

July 2010

• Crops - Cost and Returns:
• Hay Storage Cost Comparison -- A1-15 (Decision Tool)
• Crops - Markets:
• Grain Storage Alternatives:  An Economic Comparison -- A2-35
• Crops - Outlook and Prices:
• Change in Corn Prices by Two Week Period -- A2-17
• Change in Soybean Prices by Two Week Period -- A2-18
• Livestock - Outlook and Prices:
• Historic Hog and Lamb Prices -- B2-10
• Historic Cattle Prices -- B2-12
• Whole Farm - Land Values:
• Understanding the Economics of Tile Drainage -- C2-90
• New Business Development - Marketing Products:
• Building Your Brand with Brand Line Extensions -- C5-52
• Brand Leveraging -- C5-53

June 15, 2010

• Crops - Cost and Returns:
• Corn and Soybean County Yields -- A1-14
• Whole Farm - Leasing:
• Historic County Cropland Rental Rates -- C2-11
• Whole Farm - Land Values:
• Iowa Township Names and Geographic Locations by County -- C2-88
• Iowa Township Names and Geographic Locations by County -- Decision Tool
• New Business Development - Marketing Products:
• Building your Brand -- C5-50
• Building Your Brand with Flanker Brands -- C5-51

June 1, 2010

• Whole Farm - Financial:
• Financial Troubleshooting -- C3-53
• Whole Farm - Land Values:
• Understanding Iowa Corn Suitability Ratings -- C2-86
• New Business Development -- Marketing Products:
• Restaurant and Institutional Sales -- C5-38
• How to Approach Potential Buyers -- C5-39

May 15, 2010

• Whole Farm - Leasing:
• Cash Rental Rates for Iowa 2010 Survey -- C2-10
• Whole Farm - Land Values:
• Iowa Farmland Legal Descriptions -- C2-85
• Computing the Iowa Corn Suitability Rating for your Farm -- C2-87
• Composite Corn Suitability Rating -- Decision Tool
• Whole Farm -- Other:
• Using Partial Budgets to Make Decisions -- C6-10
• New Business Development -- Marketing Products:
• Catering - Events and Festivals -- C5-36
• Community Supported Agriculture -- C5-37

May 1, 2010

• Crops -- Cost and Returns:
• ACRE (Average Crop Revenue Election) Payment Estimator -- Decision Tool
• 2010 Average Crop Revenue Election (ACRE) -- Voiced Media
• Livestock -- Markets:
• How Often Can Cattle Feeders Hedge a Profit with Futures? -- B2-54
• New Business Development -- Marketing Products:
• Conducting Market Research -- C5-30
• Evaluating Marketing Outlets Using Whole-Farm Records -- C5-32
• Marketing on the Internet -- C5-34

April 15, 2010

• Crops -- Cost and Returns:
• Historical Costs of Crop Production -- A1-21
• Crops -- Machinery:
• Historic Iowa Farm Custom Rate Survey -- A3-12
• Whole Farm -- Land Values:
• Historic Farmland Values -- C2-72
• New Business Development -- Marketing Products:
• Marketing Research - Finding the Best Consultant to Hire -- C5-24
• Do You Know Your Customer? -- C5-25
• Finding Your Facts - A Quick Guide to Developing a Questionnaire -- C5-26
• Understanding Consumers -- C5-27
• Conducting a Competitive Analysis - Is there Room for Your Business? -- C5-29

April 1, 2010

• Crops -- Cost and Returns:
• Proven Yields and Insurance Units for Crop Insurance -- A1-55
• Whole Farm -- Leasing:
• Computing a Cropland Cash Rental Rate -- C2-20
• Flexible Farm Lease Agreements -- C2-21
• Whole Farm -- Land Values:
• Farmland Value Survey (Realtors Land Institute) -- C2-75
• Whole Farm -- Other:
• Managing Farm Business and Family Stress -- C6-51
• New Business Development -- Marketing Products:
• A Marketing Primer for Businesses -- C5-15
• How Much Should I Spend on Marketing -- C5-16
• Where to Find Information for Doing Marketing and Business Studies -- C5-21
• Marketing Research Tools -- C5-22
• New Business Development -- Analysis:
• Value-added Business Success Factors -- The Role of Management and Operations -- C5-185
• Value-added Business Success Factors -- The Role of Local Infrastructure and Support -- C5-186
• Romance vs. Reality: Hard Lessons Learned in a Grassfed Beef Marketing Cooperative -- C5-220

March 15, 2010

• Crops -- Cost and Returns:
• Historical Corn Yields by County -- A1-12
• Historical Soybean Yields by County -- A1-13
• Corn and Soybean County Yields -- A1-14
• Crops -- Outlook and Prices:
• Cash Corn and Soybean Prices -- A2-11
• Livestock -- Cost and Returns:
• Livestock Enterprise Budgets for Iowa -- B1-21
• Monthly Swine Farrow to Finish Returns (10 year summary) -- B1-31
• Monthly Returns from Finishing Feeder Pigs (10 year summary) -- B1-34
• Monthly Cattle Feeding Returns (10 year summary) -- B1-36
• LGM Dairy - A Risk Management Tool for Milk Producers -- B1-53
• Whole Farm -- Leasing:
• Leasing Arrangements and Self-employment (Social Security) Tax -- C2-41
• New Business Development -- Marketing Products:
• Setting Your Price -- C5-17
• New Business Development -- Analysis:
• Value-added Business Success Factors -- Strategic Planning and Implementation -- C5-183
• Value-added Business Success Factors -- Organizational Issues -- C5-184

March 1, 2010

• Crops -- Machinery:
• Iowa Farm Custom Rate Survey -- A3-10
• Whole Farm -- Financial:
• Financial Terms -- C3-05
• Transportation Terms -- C3-06
• New Business Development -- Starting a Business:
• How to Use Grants -- C5-08
• New Business Development -- Marketing Products:
• Product Marketing Terms -- C5-14
• New Business Development -- Analysis:
• Value-added Business Success Factors: The Role of Investor Attitudes and Expectations -- C5-181
• Value-added Business Success Factors: The Role of Financial Structure and Performance -- C5-182

February 15, 2010

• Crops -- Outlook & Prices:
• Cash Corn and Soybean Prices -- A2-11
• Crops -- Machinery:
• Iowa Farm Custom Rate Survey -- A3-10
• Buying Used Machinery -- A3-22
• Farm Machinery Joint Venture Worksheet -- A3-38
• Livestock -- Markets:
• Lean Hog Basis -- B2-41
• Live Cattle Basis -- B2-42
• Feeder Cattle Basis -- B2-43
• Feeder Steer-Heifer Price Spread -- B2-45
• New Business Development -- Starting a Business:
• Adding Value -- C5-01
• Capturing vs. Creating Value -- C5-05
• What is an Entrepreneur? -- C5-07
• Peter Drucker and Innovation -- C5-10

February 1, 2010

• Whole Farm -- Financial:
• Financial Performance Measures for Iowa Farms -- C3-55
• New Business Development -- Starting a Business:
• Using Value-added Agriculture to Create a New Rural America -- C5-03
• Should You Participate in Value-added Agriculture? -- C5-04
• Designing a Viable Rural Economy -- C5-20
• What I’ve Learned about Value-added Agriculture -- C5-45
• New Business Development -- Marketing Products:
• Evaluating Marketing Outlets Using Whole-Farm Records -- C5-32
• Marketing Outlet Analyzer -- Decision Tool

January 15, 2010

• Crops -- Costs and Returns:
• Supplemental Revenue Assistance (SURE) -- A1-44
• Crops -- Markets:
• Grain Marketing Terms -- A2-05
• Grain Price Hedging Basics -- A2-60
• Grain Price Options Fence -- A2-69
• Whole Farm -- Cost and Returns:
• Farm Analysis Terms -- C1-05

January 1, 2010

• Crops -- Costs and Returns:
• SURE Payment Calculator (Supplemental Revenue Assistance) -- Decision Tool
• Livestock -- Outlook and Prices:
• Livestock Planning Prices -- B1-10
• Whole Farm -- Land Values:
• 2009 Farmland Value Survey -- C2-70

• New Business Development -- Starting a Business:
• Introduction to Grant Writing -- C5-06
• New Business Development -- Marketing Products:
• Conducting Focus Groups -- C5-31
• Writing Materials for Promotion – C5-131
• Writing Press Releases -- C5-132
• Writing a Newsletter -- C5-133
• Writing and Designing a Brochure -- C5-134
• Creating a Display -- C5-135
• Creating a Web Site -- C5-136
• Creating a Power Point Presentation -- C5-137
• Creating Business Cards -- C5-138

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