Some Perspective on Land Values

Chuck Zimmerman

The value of land is a big topic of discussion at AgroNomics. We’re seeing some very high values and selling prices these days.

I talked with Howard Halderman, Halderman Farm Management (on left in photo), to get his perspective on where we’re at in the U.S. with land values. He says landowners are very happy right now since higher land values are really making their balance sheet look better. Of course then the question comes up, “Should I sell?” Howard says that depending on your personal goals it could be. Another question he is hearing a lot is “Are we in a farmland value bubble?” Howard doesn’t think farmland is at a bubble point yet. But it could get there if there is a significant decline in commodity prices and an interest spike. I asked him if the drought had an impact on land values. He sees the drought as more of a production problem than a land value problem. The drought was devastating to a lot of farmers but with many using crop insurance and with the current high commodity prices farm income is still high.

Listen to my interview with Howard here: Interview with Howard Halderman

2012 Agronomics Photo Album

AgWired coverage of the ASFMRA Agronomics Conference is sponsored by Halderman Farm Management.

Ag Groups, Audio

Education for Farm Managers/Rural Appraisers

Chuck Zimmerman

Continuing education is very important to farm managers and rural appraisers and very much a part of what ASFMRA offers to its members. Meet ASFMRA Education Chair for Appraisers, Justin Bierschwale, Bierschwale Land Company. Here at AgroNomics Justin is serving on the program committee and conducted one of the educational presentations.

Justin says AgroNomics offers a variety of educational seminars. One of the topics on top of everyone’s minds is farmland values. So some of the discussion focuses on the trends and factors that are affecting them now and in the future. A new seminar focuses on the valuation of vineyards as they have spread across the country.

Listen to my interview with Justin here: Interview with Justin Bierschwale

2012 Agronomics Photo Album

AgWired coverage of the ASFMRA Agronomics Conference is sponsored by Halderman Farm Management.

Ag Groups, Audio, Education

Opening of AgroNomics

Chuck Zimmerman

It is always inspiring to see our FFA members in their blue coats. Here are Shelby Riley (left) and Brandan Bergdall holding the flags that they presented to start off the 2012 American Society of Farm Managers and Rural Appraisers Annual Meeting and AgroNomics – Vision 2013.

I asked both FFA’ers how their convention went since both attended and what they were looking forward to in the next year.

Listen to my interview with Shelby and Brandan here: Interview with FFA

Photos from the Agronomics and the ASFMRA Annual Meeting can be found here: 2012 Agronomics Photo Album

AgWired coverage of the ASFMRA Agronomics Conference is sponsored by Halderman Farm Management.

Ag Groups, Audio, FFA

Time for Some Agronomics

Chuck Zimmerman

I have made it to my first American Society of Farm Managers and Rural Appraisers Annual Meeting, along with the Agronomics conference.

AgroNomics – Vision 2013 to be held October 29 – November 2, 2012 in Indianapolis, Indiana offers interaction opportunities for investors and fund managers together with the land management, property valuation, agricultural consulting, and rural land & property sales experts of the American Society of Farm Managers & Rural Appraisers.

I’ve got a full slate of interviews scheduled over the next couple days and will be taking all the photos I can. Follow along on Twitter using the hashtag #AgInvest.

Have a very safe Halloween.

AgWired coverage of the ASFMRA Agronomics Conference is sponsored by Halderman Farm Management.

Uncategorized

Farm Foundation to Hold Policy Forum Post Polls

John Davis

While we might know who is elected after November 6th, knowing what they might do could still be a bit murky, especially when it comes to agriculture, food and rural policies. That’s why Farm Foundation is holding a forum about a week after the polls close to look at what those newly elected and re-elected pols will do. The forum will be held on Wednesday, Nov. 14, 2012 from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. EST at the National Press Club, 529 14th St. NW, Washington D.C.

And for the first time a free live, webcast of the forum will be offered. You can see the webcast by registering here. Email julie@farmfoundation.org by Nov. 12th if you plan to attend in person.

“By their votes on Nov. 6, citizens will set the stage for the next four years of the nation’s policy development at both the state and federal level,” says Foundation President Neil Conklin. “This Forum is an opportunity to examine how those elections may specifically impact agriculture, food and rural policies in the months ahead.”

Farm Foundation, politics

Being Relevant to Your Customers

Chuck Zimmerman

Is your company still relevant to your customers? Well I hope so. But if you want to delve in to this Ross Shafer can help. Ross was the keynote speaker at the O.H. Kruse Grain & Milling dealer appreciation day. I first met Ross during this year’s Agri-Marketing Conference. He’s a very informative and entertaining speaker. He says the customer will always get what he wants and how he wants it.

Ross told everyone to go mobile or go home. By that he means having a mobile app or a website that is constructed to show and work properly regardless of the device used to look at it. He also talked about relationship factors as in when people like you they give you their money. Ross not only talked about being relevant during his keynote but also conducted a session on “How to Grab Market Share From Your Competitors.”

Listen to my interview with Ross here: Interview with Ross Shafer

O.H. Kruse Photo Album

Agribusiness, Audio, O.H. Kruse

Some O.H. Kruse Memories

Chuck Zimmerman

When you’ve got a company that is three generations old you can bet there are lots of memories. I captured some of those memories of O.H. Kruse Grain & Milling by talking with Richard Kruse, Kruse Feed & Supply. Richard is pictured on the left with his nephew, Kevin Kruse.

Richard started out working in his father’s business and it is all he’s known his whole life. He says that as a boy he remembers waking up to the sound of a grinder going off at about five in the morning. He says it has been a great ride because of the people they have been associated with and who believed in them. Richard says a key to their success is having a belief in all members of their working “family.” There’s nothing he likes better than seeing his customers grow and prosper because that helps them do the same.

Listen to my interview with Richard here: Interview with Richard Kruse

O.H. Kruse Photo Album

Agribusiness, Audio, Feed, O.H. Kruse

Do We Need GMO-Labeled Food?

Melissa Sandfort

Our latest ZimmPoll asked the question, “How important will rural vote be in election?”

Our poll results: Sixty-five percent say very important and thirty-five percent said not important. It appears as though the majority of folks believe farmers and ranchers need to cast their vote. So remember, Election Day is Tuesday, November 6, 2012. Less than a week away!

Our new ZimmPoll is now live and asks the question, “Should foods containing GMO crops be labeled?” A great example of this is Prop 37 in California. It is estimated that 70 percent of our food contains GMOs. And with already rising food costs, will this added labeling requirement just increase what consumers pay for food? What do you think? Would it make a difference in the food you purchase?

ZimmPoll is sponsored by Rhea+Kaiser, a full-service advertising/public relations agency.

ZimmPoll

Zimfo Bytes

Melissa Sandfort

    Zimfo Bytes

  • Daryl Oldvader, FCS Financial Chief Executive Officer, has announced his retirement effective Dec. 31, 2012.
  • Advanta US is pleased to announce Brannon Byers has been named global crop supply chain manager for sorghum for parent company Advanta.
  • USDA, AMS, Cotton & Tobacco Programs is seeking nominations for 24 vacancies on the Advisory Committee on Universal Cotton Standards.
  • Syngenta announced a major expansion at its Woodland, Calif., research and development and seed production facility.
Zimfo Bytes

Social Media Use in Czech Republic

Chuck Zimmerman

I thought this information from ACDC (Agricultural Communications Documentation Center) was interesting and wanted to share. Social media usage in the Czech Republic (pdf). Would you have thought this to be the case? Looks like companies are slow to adopt but their customers are not. This is from two years ago so I would assume there has been more of a move toward using social media now.

During 2010, researchers at the Czech University of Life Sciences Prague carried out the first survey of social networks in the agrarian sector (companies, cooperatives, and farmers) of the Republic. A research paper we have added to the ACDC collection revealed findings such as these:

About 95 percent had internet connections at their disposal.
Respondents were active on social networks, with Facebook by far the most used.
Company presentation is only used to a relatively small extent. Social media were especially used for personal communications, gathering information, and for company communications.

Another interesting nugget from the study:

Advertisement, newspapers and leaflets are not so trustworthy or in other words so popular with the new generation and modern users.

International, Media, Social Networking, University