About > Authors
Don Hofstrand
Newsletter Articles
- Higher Midwest humidity -- May 2023
- Climate change in Iowa -- April 2023
- More and stronger extreme weather events -- March 2023
- A wetter and drier world -- February 2023
- Oceans are becoming acidic -- December 2022
- Warming oceans raise sea level -- November 2022
- Melting snow and ice raises sea level -- October 2022
- Arctic sea ice is disappearing -- September 2022
- Scientific agreement on climate change -- August 2022
- Is the Earth’s warming just natural variability? -- July 2022
- Are volcanic eruptions warming the earth? -- June 2022
- Returns to farmland ownership in Iowa -- June 2022
- Is the sun causing the earth to warm? -- May 2022
- Has the earth’s climate changed before? -- April 2022
- The importance of water vapor -- March 2022
- The role of ozone in global warming -- February 2022
- Black carbon - the power of soot -- January 2022
- Nitrous oxide - long-lasting and powerful -- December 2021
- Methane - powerful but short-lived -- November 2021
- Carbon dioxide has warmed the planet before -- October 2021
- The atmosphere is like a bathtub -- September 2021
- The power of carbon dioxide -- August 2021
- The Greenhouse Effect is proven science -- July 2021
- Exploring the greenhouse effect -- June 2021
- The earth is getting warmer -- May 2021
- What is the difference between weather and climate? -- April 2021
- A trip through the science of a warming planet -- March 2021
- The impact of climate change on world agriculture -- August 2018
- The impact of climate change on Midwest agriculture -- July 2018
- Returns to farmland ownership in Iowa -- June 2018
- A look at long-term corn and soybean profitability -- April 2018
- Iowa crop farming profitability in the 21st century -- December 2015
- Corn revenue, costs and returns trends and implications for the future -- May 2014
- 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
Information Files
- Marketing Loans and LDPs -- A1-38
- Tracking the Profitability of Iowa Corn and Soybean Production -- A1-85
- Crop Marketing Terms -- A2-05
- Cost Terms -- A2-06
- Corn and Soybean Price Basis -- A2-40
- Crop Price Hedging Basics -- A2-60
- Crop 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
- Computing a Pasture Rental Rate -- C2-23
- Fixed Bushel Rent -- C2-32
- Iowa Farmland Legal Descriptions -- C2-85
- 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
- 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 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 When Transferring Depreciable Farm Assets -- C4-81
- Transferring Breeding Livestock -- C4-83
- Transferring Crops and Market Livestock -- C4-84
- Adding Value -- C5-01
- 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
- Vision and Mission Statements -- a Roadmap of Where You Want to Go and How to Get There -- 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
- 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
- Understanding the Components of an Interest Rate -- C5-94
- Obtaining a Business Loan -- C5-95
- Understanding the Time Value of Money -- C5-96
- Financial Ratios -- C5-97
- Forming a Viable Project Committee and Holding Successful Meetings -- C5-110
- Lead 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
- 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
- Understanding Progressive Tax Rates -- C5-212
- Cash Flow and Profitability Are Not the Same -- C5-213
- Creating a Return/Risk Profile for an Equity Investment -- C5-214
- Should I Invest in Agricultural Start-up Business Ventures -- C5-225
- Assessing Agricultural Processing Investment Opportunities -- C5-230
- Capital Budgeting Basics -- C5-240
- Constructing a Capital Budget -- C5-241
- Capital Budgeting and Decision Making -- C5-242
- Time Value of Money and Capital Budgeting Terms -- C5-243
- 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
- Storage Capacity for Grains, Forages and Liquids -- C6-82
- Agricultural Test Weights and Conversions -- C6-84
- Energy Measurements and Conversions -- C6-86
- 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 (xlsx)
- Determining the Custom Operator's Share of the Crop -- A3-13
- Motor Vehicle Cost Analyzer -- A3-40
- Partial Budgeting -- C1-50
- Iowa Township Names and Geographic Locations by County -- C2-88
- Farmland Tile Drainage Investment Analysis -- C2-90
- Cash Flow Budget (short form - 12 periods) -- C3-14
- Net Worth Statement (short form ) -- C3-19
- Dividing Business Income -- C4-16
- 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
