Blogs

Member Spotlight: Chase Sullivan

By ASFMRA Press posted 7 days ago
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For this Member Spotlight, we're highlighting Chase Sullivan, AFM. Chase is a member of the Indiana Chapter of the ASFMRA and currently works for Farmers National Company. We want to congratulate Chase for recently completing his Farm Manager accreditation alongside a number of his colleagues at Farmers National Company. When did you begin your career in agriculture? Why? I began my career in agriculture in 2013 upon graduating with a management degree from Purdue University. I grew up on a swine and grain farm in East Central Indiana, so my passion for the industry started at a very young age. I knew I wanted to stay involved throughout my lifetime as well. ...
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ASFMRA AgNews - October 13, 2020

By ASFMRA Press posted 7 days ago
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Search Underway for Murder Hornets as They Near "Slaughter Phase" Agricultural officials in Washington state said Friday they are trying to find and destroy a nest of Asian giant hornets — also known as murder hornets — amid concerns they could kill honey bees crucial for pollinating raspberry and blueberry crops. Evidence of six of the hornets were found over the last week near the town of Blaine in Whatcom County, the Washington state Department of Agriculture told reporters. The number of hornets found — nearly double the previous number discovered in the state — would indicate a nest has been established in the area, the agency said. One of the hornets ...
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ASFMRA AgNews - September 29, 2020

By ASFMRA Press posted 21 days ago
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Don't Expect Large Downturn in Cash Rent Price rallies for corn and soybeans in late August and early September improved the picture for 2020 actual crop budgets, and refocused what’s expected in 2021 for a farm with average land and a 50-50 corn-soybean rotation. However, they didn’t change the fundamentals. Net return to land will remain well below average cash rent for both 2020 and 2021. That’s the conclusion Purdue University Extension agricultural economists Jim Mintert and Michael Langemeier reached after reviewing USDA’s latest report related to corn and soybean stocks, issued Sept. 11. Mintert is director of the Purdue Center for Commercial Agriculture, ...
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Member Spotlight: Barbara Hegerfeld

By ASFMRA Press posted 21 days ago
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We're happy to feature Barbara Hegerfeld from the South Dakota Chapter of the ASFMRA for this Member Spotlight. Ms. Hegerfeld works as an appraiser for Rabo Agrifinance in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. When did you begin your career in agriculture? Why? Growing up in rural South Dakota, I’ve been surrounded by agriculture my entire life. Although a career in the ag field, let alone as an appraiser, was never something I really considered. I received two bachelor’s degrees in Marketing and Management at NSU, and an MBA from USF. I had big plans! Although, I wasn’t really sure what they were! While working at Daktronics as an International Sales and Marketing ...
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ASFMRA AgNews - September 15, 2020

By ASFMRA Press posted 09-10-2020
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Farm Cash Receipts May Hit New Low in 2020 Following a sharp downturn in many commodity prices as a result of COVID-19, USDA’s most recent Farm Income Forecast, released Sept. 2, projects cash receipts from the sales of crops and livestock will decline by $12 billion, or 3%, from 2019 to $358 billion. If realized, U.S. farm cash receipts will be at the lowest level in more than a decade, and $18 billion below the 10-year average of $376 billion. Largely through the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program and the Paycheck Protection Program, Congress and the administration have provided a projected $23.4 billion to help farmers and ranchers impacted by COVID-19. ...
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Land Prices Holding Steady in Uncertain Times

By ASFMRA Press posted 09-03-2020
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In a year where so much has changed, it’s nice to see one thing that hasn’t: rural land values. “Steady is kind of the story on good land,” said Dennis Reyman, AFM, ARA, and incoming President-Elect of the ASFMRA during a recent panel discussion on land prices in the COVID era. Reyman was referring to his experience in Iowa, where he lives and works, but this observation was shared by the other panelists, including Ray Brownfield, AFM, out of Oswego, IL, and Matt Marschall, ARA, from California.  One of the bigger factors affecting prices seems to be the general rule of supply and demand. All three panelists noted that there just hasn't been very much quality ...
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The Importance of Metes and Bounds

By Mr. Alex Clark posted 09-02-2020
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Bring Legal Descriptions to Life The metes and bounds system is nearly as old as land ownership itself, with evidence of it existing from as far back as Ptolemaic Egypt and the Roman Republic. In the United States, the fingerprints for this method of surveying property can be most easily found in the states that were once the 13 original colonies. This system, which utilizes the completely subjective interpretation of natural features and markers by a land surveyor, is by no means new, but it’s also not going away anytime soon, either. Back in the day, when surveyors lacked sophisticated measuring systems and mapping tools, metes and bounds was a reliable ...
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Appraisal Report Language is Key

By ASFMRA Press posted 09-02-2020
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sponsored by Preferred Partner LIA Administrators By Claudia Gaglione, Esq. – National Claims Counsel for LIA Administrators & Insurance Services Carefully crafted language, both specific and standard, is key in appraisal reports. One insured appraiser recently avoided a potentially costly lawsuit by including well-thought-out language that addressed issues related to large rural properties. In 2017, a roughly 10-acre property was subdivided into two parcels, one was about 7 acres and the other almost 3. Each parcel had a single-family home. The owner who subdivided the property sold the smaller parcel to a third party while continuing to occupy ...
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ASFMRA AgNews - September 1, 2020

By ASFMRA Press posted 08-27-2020
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USDA Narrows Qualifications for Farm Subsidies Loopholes remain, but the USDA is tightening its crop subsidy rules by limiting who can collect a payment for managing a farm, historically one of its most porous definitions. The new regulation, to be published on Monday, requires people to perform at least 500 hours of management or at least 25% of the management work required annually to merit a subsidy check. Previously, the USDA standard was active personal management that was crucial to the profitability of the farming operation. Crop subsidy recipients can collect up to $125,000 apiece, with spouses automatically eligible for payments. Read the ...
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2020 Journal Article Feature: Automatic Milking Systems

By ASFMRA Press posted 08-24-2020
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An article published in the 2020 Journal of the ASFMRA contains a financial analysis of alternative levels of facility investment associated with installing automatic milking systems (AMS). In addition to installing two automatic milking units at a cost of $380,000, the paper looks at three facility construction alternatives: a minimal retrofit to existing facilities costing $70,000; construction of a new open sided barn costing $470,000; and the construction of a fully enclosed barn costing $920,000. Therefore, the total investment ranges from $450,000 to $1,300,000. To read more on this article, visit here. To view the entire 2020 Journal of the ASFMRA, ...
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Member Spotlight: Chelsey Pizel

By ASFMRA Press posted 08-24-2020
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Get to know the Minnesota and North Dakota Chapters' Chelsey Pizel! A recent addition to the ASFMRA, Ms. Pizel joined the Society in January 2020 and currently works for Crown Appraisals in Fargo, North Dakota. Pictured: Chelsey Pizel with her fiance, Jason. When did you begin your career in agriculture? Why? As a child I spent a great deal of time on my grandpa's farm. I also spent many hours with my uncle - who is a Sales Agronomist and also farms - checking fields, conducting yield checks, and conversing with farmers. Agriculture has always been a significant part of my life so a career in this industry was an easy choice. I graduated from North ...
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ASFMRA AgNews - August 18, 2020

By ASFMRA Press posted 08-18-2020
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Michigan Mandates COVID-19 Testing for All Farm and Food Processor Employees Last week, Michigan became the first state in America to require farmers and food processors to routinely screen and test all employees for COVID-19. The emergency order, issued by the state’s health department, also applies to operators of migrant housing, where the virus has spread in close quarters. Robert Gordon, the state’s director of health and human services, cited 11 outbreaks in recent weeks in farm and food plants in Michigan, as well as the sizable impact on Latinos in the agriculture workforce. Read the Full Story Powerful Derecho Damages 10M Acres of Cropland ...
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2020 Journal Article Feature: Cover Crop Utilization

By ASFMRA Press posted 08-14-2020
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A recent study published in the 2020 Journal of the ASFMRA recently explored the multifaceted benefits of utilizing cover crops in cotton and peanut production systems in Georgia agriculture. Along with identifying the benefits of adopting this conservation practice, this study also examined both the costs and incentives associated with cover crop adoption. To read more on this article, visit here. To view the entire 2020 Journal of the ASFMRA, click here
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2020 Education Foundation Raffle Winners

By ASFMRA Press posted 08-05-2020
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The 2020 ASFMRA Education Foundation Summer Raffle has concluded having raised more than $4,600 to help supports projects and programs that ensure ASFMRA members provide the leadership that meets the changing needs of agriculture. THANK YOU to all who donated to this fantastic cause. The ASFMRA Education Foundation has been aiding the ASMFRA as it develops additional online offerings, navigates restrictions imposed by the COVID-19 pandemic, and seeks new partners to bring relevant content and education to its members. Your contributions help the ASFMRA towards its mission of advancing the standards of the disciplines we represent through an unparalleled ...
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ASFMRA AgNews - August 4, 2020

By ASFMRA Press posted 08-03-2020
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Rural Residential Loans on the Rise T r aditional rural lending from farm credit associations in recent years has found a growing market niche in rural residential loans. That has equated to specialized financing for land loans, rural home loans, lot loans, and recreational land loans seeding private spaces for hunting, fishing and horseback riding. Anecdotally, many are aware of conversations tied to the COVID-19 pandemic where millennials on the coasts are assessing whether they should move to the country and leave behind big city living, as their jobs can afford them telecommuting. Baby boomers are more interested, in these times, in getting a small ...
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2020 Journal Article Feature: Indiana Corn and Soybean Returns to Storage

By Mr. Alex Clark posted 07-31-2020
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On-farm storage is a common merchandising tool. However, information regarding optimal storage strategies remains incomplete. A recent study published in the 2020 Journal of the ASFMRA sought to provide farm managers a better understanding of the opportunities for earning storage returns and the strategies for doing so that best fit their operations by evaluating historic returns to storage for corn and soybeans in Indiana. To read more on this article, visit here. To view the entire 2020 Journal of the ASFMRA, click here
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ASFMRA Blog - Should You Hire a Professional Farm Manager?

By ASFMRA Press posted 07-30-2020
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The term “farm manager” is broadly used to describe a range of job descriptions. Those who look after family land but do not actively farm sometimes call themselves a farm manager. Politicians are sure to add this to their resume, if possible. Or the good neighbor who oversees a few farms may be a “farm manager." While there is nothing wrong with these titles, there is another category that you should be familiar with: the “professional farm manager." Read the full article from Dennis Reyman, AFM, ARA, here
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ASFMRA AgNews - July 21, 2020

By ASFMRA Press posted 07-17-2020
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Bankers Expect Farm Loan Defaults to Rise This month, bankers estimated that farm loan defaults would rise by 5% over the next 12- month period. This is up slightly from 4.8% registered one year ago. Farmland prices continue to slide, with a July reading of 45.6, down from June’s 46.8. This is the 79th time in the past 80 months the index has been below growth neutral. Falling agriculture commodity prices and farm income have failed to diminish annual farm rents per acre. This month bank CEOs reported average per acre farmland rents of $220 which is almost unchanged from that detailed earlier this year, and four years ago. Read the Full Story Texas ...
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2020 Journal Article Feature: Decision-Making of Young Operators

By ASFMRA Press posted 07-15-2020
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The 2017 Census of Agriculture for the first time collected information on decision types at the farm level. Louisiana State University Agricultural Center Assistant Professor Maria Bampasidou and Graduate Research Assistant Whitney McKinzie recently examined the decision-making patterns for U.S. producers, documenting the spectrum of farm-management decisions and highlighting time as an important parameter in decision-making. Read more about this 2020 Journal of the ASFMRA article here
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Member Spotlight: Kim Larson

By ASFMRA Press posted 07-10-2020
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Get to know the South Dakota Chapter's Kim Larson! An ASFMRA member since 2014, Ms. Larson is a Certified Real Estate Appraiser at Farm Credit Services America in Pierre, South Dakota. Since becoming the Chapter's Membership Committee Chair in 2017, South Dakota's membership has grown by more than 17%. When did you begin your career in agriculture? Why? I grew up on a cow/calf & grain operation north of Kennebec and west of Lower Brule (South Dakota). So I’ve been involved in ag all my life. How did you come to be involved in the ASFMRA and the South Dakota Chapter? I have a BS in Computer Science from South Dakota State University and an ...
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