Farm Help

Marketing your purebred breeding program takes hard work, paper work and networks

Nutrient management plans (NMPs) are farm management tools that were initially created to help farmers manage the timing, amount and placement of fertilizers in their pastures for the environments sake. In today’s world though, the NMP can do much more than help protect the environment. It can also protect your pocket book.

The secret is in knowing where fat, in the right places, can add value

Ozarks farmers looking to use their land and byproducts more productively: This conference is for you.  Join the discussion on the future of energy here in southwest Missouri at the Ozarks New Energy Conference Feb.22-23 in Springfield, Mo. Nationally recognized biomass researchers and experts, University and extension specialists, government officials and private business leaders will speak on biomass as an alternative energy source

Make your bulls put dollars in your pocket:  His problems with breeding can cost you thousands

Culling a herd is a common, practical and cost-effective procedure for any livestock operation. Producers are always searching for practices that can increase profitability for their farms, and culling is one such practice. Culling in its most simple form is removing those animals from the herd that are inferior, leaving only the superior animals to reproduce and strengthen the operation.

Finding value in leasing cattle – and what your costs will truly be

Carbon Monoxide detectors good idea in the home, the shop - 212 Missouri deaths from CO poisoning in 5 years

The first and most important step in taking control of your farm operation’s financial well-being is to keep good and accurate farm records.

What are the top things to look at when evaluating a business and looking to get a loan for expansion?
Bryan Hodges, a loan officer at First National Bank of Green Forest, in Green Forest, Ark., explained that there are many factors involved in determining if a person or a business should be qualified for a loan. “Depending on the type of request, business or individual, we still look very closely at the character of the individual or business. We take a look at their history in management of the farm or of their operations.” Other considerations include character, credit history, experience and whether or not they’ve had loans in the past and understand how the loan process works.
Some other factors Hodges said will be considered when evaluating a cattle operation include determining if the person has adequate means of repayment. “Something that’s very important is cash flow. What kind of margin do they have in their cash flow,” Hodges asked.