More and more frequently these days, building a farm operation doesn’t necessarily mean picking up more acres. It means doing better with the acres you’ve got. For Tyler Boeckmann and his family’s farm just outside of Waverly in northeastern Iowa, [...]
Being a farmer means being diverse in multiple ways. From a business perspective, diversification is a basic element of risk management – multiple income streams across different crops or from livestock or other sources serve as a bulwark against the unpredictability of nature. Farmers [...]
Like many who farm today, Mike Moser started young, following in the footsteps of his father and grandfather. However, he very nearly lost out on the opportunity due to financial hardship after a downturn in the markets decades ago. “Grandpa farmed and [...]
After spending nearly a decade away from the farm while pursuing other career paths, Nick Strom brought knowledge gained from his experiences home – to the benefit of the operation. Some people are born to be lifelong farmers. Others take [...]
Like most of us who grew up on the farm, Aiden Allen got his first taste of work at a young age, when he experienced the thrill of riding along in the combine with his dad. From that moment on, he was hooked, wanting [...]
Diversification is the cornerstone of success for many operations, and throughout much of the history of U.S. agriculture, it was commonplace for crop farmers to also raise livestock as a way to bring in more income. Over the past several decades, however, many [...]
Farmers generally don’t like to broadcast their successes. Most are content to go about their important and often difficult work, silently doing what they love. No recognition is required – the reward is derived from a personal sense of accomplishment and the enjoyment of [...]
On many farms, it isn’t uncommon for operators to diversify the family income with a side hustle, second career, or the additional financial support of a working spouse. It’s a natural part of spreading risk when it comes to making ends meet. What [...]
As a lifestyle, farming is often something you’re born into, but Bill Edwards, 69, is a first-generation farmer who came into it later in life. Prior to jumping into farming, Edwards built experience working as a financial adviser with Edward Jones in Aberdeen, [...]
In an industry rife with challenges from weather, crop pests, markets, rising input costs, and more, one seldom-discussed hurdle for some farmers is maintaining good relationships with your neighbors. For Joe Burns, 55, and his brothers, this issue is multiplied a thousand-fold. The [...]