I think many of our producers could and should be considered “experts” in their craft. Years of experience have given them opportunities to learn what works and what doesn’t. They have made improvements on their farms based on those lessons and hopefully will continue to do so in the future.  But what do you do when presented with a new challenge, perhaps something you’ve never seen or experienced before?

I would encourage you to think of at least one thing to try during the upcoming forage season that will help you become more profitable. Don’t look at all the things you’re not doing; just focus on the one improvement you’re trying to make and see what happens.

Every year is different, and this growing season will bring its share of challenges and opportunities like any other. Being out in the fields early and often will prove invaluable to your operation and will help give you the edge needed to make this year a profitable one.

If you read any good business management books, one of the things they will tell you is that you need to have a mission statement, something to help you define your purpose and that gives you guidance and direction.

It’s that time again – crunching the numbers to produce our annual forage statistics poster (click here to view). If you read my editorial at this time last year, you’ll know that working with numbers is not necessarily my favorite thing to do.

To the editor: Forage testing articles in the September 15, 2011, issue of Progressive Forage Grower make many excellent points but include some inaccuracies and exclude some current information I would like to address.