Blogs

Join Us at our 2019 Events

By ASFMRA Press posted 20 hours ago
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The holiday season is over and I think my dogs are happy. My wife will not be taking any more Christmas pictures for a while. This time of the year is always packed with meetings, farm planning and budgeting, real estate sales, lease negotiations, and making sure clients have all of their information for tax season.   I often get bogged down in the daily grind but I want everyone to think about the upcoming year and the ASFMRA events that could help you grow as a professional. Some of you may directly pay for meetings and events, but most of us have a manager or supervisor that approves educational and meeting expenses.     Conversations with your ...
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ASFMRA AgNews - January 22, 2019

By ASFMRA Press posted 22 hours ago
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Today’s Land Market is Holding Its Breath; Uncertainties Persist Questions abound in the current land market. Will the negative farm financial situation finally overcome other factors to drive land prices the final leg lower? Will outside influences put more stress on land values or actually support prices? Will regional pockets of stress spill over into the overall land market? Farm and ranch land is the key financial bedrock for American agriculture as land makes up 82 percent of total assets for the industry. With today's uncertainties in agriculture, everyone involved with owning, buying or selling ag land is holding their breath to see what will happen ...
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ASFMRA AgNews - January 15, 2019

By ASFMRA Press posted 7 days ago
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Preparing You and Your Clients for Tax Season It has been over 30 years since we last saw major tax reform. Here’s what to keep in mind this year, which varies slightly from previous tax seasons. 1. Plan on not filing by March 1. Many farmers automatically file and pay their income tax return by March 1. However, this year, it is likely much better to make your estimated tax payment on Jan. 15, and then file your income tax return on April 15. The IRS is still finalizing the new law and related tax forms, which will make it extremely difficult for tax preparers to complete returns by March 1. The required payment due on Jan. 15 is the lesser of: • 100% ...
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ASFMRA AgNews - January 8, 2019

By ASFMRA Press posted 15 days ago
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2019 Farmland Outlook: Values Stay Resilient Despite another year of low profit margins for farmers, rising interest rates and global economic uncertainty, the farmland market was flat to even slightly-higher in 2018.  “Farmland values remain relatively resilient given the downward pressure from farm incomes,” says RD Schrader, president of Schrader Real Estate and Auction Company in Columbia City, Ind. “Overall farmland values continue a slight trickle-down trend, as interest from farmers who saved in the better income years and investors continues to provide support.” The first half of 2018 showcased strength for values as limited land was sold. This ...
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Appraisal Organizations Request Public Hearing

By ASFMRA Press posted 17 days ago
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ASFMRA, along with 15 additional organizations, sent a letter to the Federal Reserve, Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, and the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency requesting that the agencies hold a public meeting as part of the process to determine whether to increase the residential appraisal threshold from $250,000 to $400,000. Read the Press Release
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ASFMRA AgNews - January 2, 2019

By ASFMRA Press posted 24 days ago
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Farmland Value Trends Across the US: Northeast The northeast portion of the country is characterized by multiple agricultural industries from general crop farms, to timber tracts, to livestock operations including dairy, poultry hogs and horses. It also consists of widely varying areas from very rural to very developed surrounding our major cities. Farmers here are a mix of typical family-farmers tilling from 200 to several thousand acres, Plain Sect farmers operating 50-75 acres, to lifestyle farmers who own 10-30 acres. Dairy is a major industry in the Northeast and herd sizes vary. New York ranks #4, Pennsylvania ranks #5 and Vermont ranks #17 for milk ...
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ASFMRA AgNews - Vol 13 Issue XLXIV [December 26, 2018]

By ASFMRA Press posted 28 days ago
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Grassley Sees Farm Bill Pros and Cons The 2018 farm bill is nearly official, having passed the House and Senate without the vote of one if its stalwart supporters. After playing a key role in development of the bill, Iowa Senator Charles Grassley voted “no” in the final tally. “I don’t want it to sound like I think [Senator Pat] Roberts isn’t a good Ag Committee Chair or isn’t fighting hard enough for farmers. It’s a good farm bill, and he and Senator Debbie Stabenow, the Ranking Democrat on the Ag Committee, did a good job. It’s a bi-partisan bill and passed with a bi-partisan vote,” Grassley offered in his weekly Capitol Hill Report. “But there was an ...
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ASFMRA AgNews - Vol. 13 Issue XLXIII [December 18, 2018]

By ASFMRA Press posted 12-18-2018
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Farm Bill Passed As many of you already know, the Senate and House passed the 2018 farm bill, the Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018 , overwhelmingly last week. The measure now moves to President Trump for his signature. He has indicated he will sign it, possibly this week. The Senate voted 87-13 last Tuesday and the House  followed with a 369-47 vote last Wednesday.  Follow the links to see how your Senators and Representative voted. The bill allows offers producers a new choice between ARC and PLC on a crop‐by‐crop and farm‐by‐farm basis, applied jointly to the 2019 and 2020 crop years.  Beginning in crop year 2021, producers will have the flexibility ...
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ASFMRA AgNews - Vol. 13 Issue XLXII [December 11, 2018]

By ASFMRA Press posted 12-10-2018
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Land Sales Picking Up But low crop prices along with tariff and trade uncertainly will keep a lid on bids. Interest in selling agricultural land is picking up among landowners in the Midwest, according to reports from farm real estate agents. The amount of land Farmers National Co. has listed for sale is up 21% compared to last year at this time, says Randy Dickhut , senior vice president of real estate operations at Farmers National. “Most of the sales are coming from individuals or ownership groups who are deciding now is the time to sell,” he says. “They may have recently inherited the land or have owned it for years, but sellers have watched the land ...
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ASFMRA AgNews - Vol. 13 Issue XLXI [December 4, 2018]

By ASFMRA Press posted 12-04-2018
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Farmland Values Stable For the eighth consecutive quarter farmland values in the Seventh Federal Reserve District remained relatively stable. The Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago recently released its quarterly agricultural newsletter for the district that includes the northern two-thirds of Illinois and Indiana, all of Iowa, Michigan’s Lower Peninsula and the southern two-thirds of Wisconsin. The district produces over 40 percent of U.S. corn, soybeans and hogs. The information was collected via a survey of 188 agricultural bankers across the district. Read more.   Farm Bill Delayed Congress will not take up the farm bill this week as it honors the ...
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ASFMRA AgNews - Vol. 13 Issue XLX [November 27, 2018]

By ASFMRA Press posted 11-26-2018
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New Survey of Farmland Values Paints a Mixed Picture A new survey on Midwest farms is painting a mixed picture in regards to the agriculture economy. The AgLetter from the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago shows  farmland values in the third quarter are 1% higher than a year ago, but values for "good" agricultural land in the third quarter were 1% lower than in the second quarter. Agriculture credit conditions for the district seemed worse relative to a year ago. Officials say there are credit uncertainties and they're growing, as more farmers are unable to pay their loans off in full every year. Is it still a good idea to use land as collateral? Sam Miller ...
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ASFMRA AgNews - Vol. 13 Issue XLIX [November 20, 2018]

By ASFMRA Press posted 11-20-2018
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Various Factors Affect Demand for Land Crop yields, interest rates, tariff situation and negotiation of new farm bill lead the list. Despite variable growing conditions, strong yield expectations were met (or exceeded) in most regions of Iowa. Strong overall yield results will be supportive to a land market that otherwise faces some headwinds, including higher interest rates, relatively weak commodity prices and significant trade uncertainties. Localized differences in yield results are playing a slightly larger role in farmland sale results this fall and early winter. Early-season sales already reflect this uneven trend. In areas where another big crop ...
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Dan Whisenhunt, MBA, AAC Receives H.E. Stalcup Excellence in Education (Management) Award

By ASFMRA Press posted 11-14-2018
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Dan Whisenhunt, MBA, AAC with Agcom, LLC in Turlock, CA, has been presented with the H.E. Stalcup Excellence in Education (Management) Award from the American Society of Farm Managers and Rural Appraisers® (ASFMRA®).   The H.E. Stalcup Excellence in Education Award is one of the most prestigious awards that ASFMRA bestows. The award recognizes individuals who have contributed knowledge and countless hours toward the advancement of ASFMRA educational offerings. Read Dan's Press Release
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JoAnn Wall, ARA Receives H.E. Stalcup Excellent in Education (Appraisal) Award

By ASFMRA Press posted 11-14-2018
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JoAnn C. Wall, ARA, founder of Above and Beyond Real Estate Services, Inc. in Templeton, CA has been presented with the H.E. Stalcup Excellence in Education (Appraisal) Award from the American Society of Farm Managers and Rural Appraisers® (ASFMRA®).   The H.E. Stalcup Excellence in Education Award is one of the most prestigious awards that ASFMRA bestows. The award recognizes individuals who have contributed knowledge and countless hours toward the advancement of ASFMRA educational offerings.   Read JoAnn's Press Release
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Skye Root, AFM, AAC Receives H.E. Stalcup Excellence in Education (Management) Award

By ASFMRA Press posted 11-14-2018
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Skye Root, AFM, AAC with Westchester Group Investment Management in Boise, ID, has been presented with the H.E. Stalcup Excellence in Education (Management) Award from the American Society of Farm Managers and Rural Appraisers® (ASFMRA®).   The H.E. Stalcup Excellence in Education Award is one of the most prestigious awards that ASFMRA bestows. The award recognizes individuals who have contributed knowledge and countless hours toward the advancement of ASFMRA educational offerings. Read Skye's Press Release
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Corey Prins, AFM Receives H.E. Stalcup Excellence in Education (Management) Award

By ASFMRA Press posted 11-14-2018
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Corey D. Prins, AFM, with Northwestern Farm Management Company in Marshall, MN, has been presented with the H.E. Stalcup Excellence in Education (Management) Award from the American Society of Farm Managers and Rural Appraisers® (ASFMRA®).   The H.E. Stalcup Excellence in Education Award is one of the most prestigious awards that ASFMRA bestows. The award recognizes individuals who have contributed knowledge and countless hours toward the advancement of ASFMRA educational offerings. Read Corey's Press Release
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Mark Peterson, AFM, ARA, AAC Receives H. E. Stalcup Excellence in Education (Management) Award

By ASFMRA Press posted 11-14-2018
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Mark J. Peterson, AFM, ARA, AAC with Kefa Capital, Inc. in Clovis, CA, has been presented with the H.E. Stalcup Excellence in Education (Management) Award from the American Society of Farm Managers and Rural Appraisers® (ASFMRA®).   The H.E. Stalcup Excellence in Education Award is one of the most prestigious awards that ASFMRA bestows. The award recognizes individuals who have contributed knowledge and countless hours toward the advancement of ASFMRA educational offerings. Read the Press Release
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Darrell Limkeman, AFM, ARA Receives the D. Howard Doane Award

By ASFMRA Press posted 11-14-2018
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Darrell R. Limkeman, AFM, ARA,  with Mid States Farm Management Company in Ottumwa, IA, has been awarded the D. Howard Doane Award from the American Society of Farm Managers and Rural Appraisers® (ASFMRA®).   The D. Howard Doane Award is one of the most prestigious awards that ASFMRA bestows and is given annually to a member or non-member who has made an outstanding contribution in the field of agriculture with emphasis on farm management and rural appraisal. Read the Press Release
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Brian Field, ARA Receives Early Career Award

By ASFMRA Press posted 11-14-2018
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Brian W. Field, ARA with Crown Appraisals, Inc. in Fargo, ND, has been awarded the Early Career Award from the American Society of Farm Managers and Rural Appraisers® (ASFMRA®).   The Early Career Award, which is sponsored by Bayer CropScience, is given annually by ASFMRA and recognizes an exceptional “early career” member who is making outstanding contributions to their local chapter(s), the Society, and their local community during their first 10 years of membership in ASFMRA.  Brian Field Press Release
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Paul Burgener, AFM Receives H.E. Stalcup Excellence in Education (Management) Award

By ASFMRA Press posted 11-14-2018
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Paul A. Burgener, AFM with Hancock Farmland Services in Gering, NE, has been presented with the H.E. Stalcup Excellence in Education (Management) Award from the American Society of Farm Managers and Rural Appraisers® (ASFMRA®).  The H.E. Stalcup Excellence in Education Award is one of the most prestigious awards that ASFMRA bestows. The award recognizes individuals who have contributed knowledge and countless hours toward the advancement of ASFMRA educational offerings. Paul Burgener Press Release
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