By the time he was 10 years old, Taylor Smith was already recognized by his community as a promising young farmer. He’d started to build his cow herd. He was handy with equipment. His work ethic was unmatched by anyone else at his elementary school. But Taylor wasn’t interested in the recognition. He just wanted to be on the farm.

No doubt you’ve heard that New World screwworm (NWS) is now in the U.S. As of this writing, it is as far north as Tom Green County, Texas. This is not an article to tell you what NWS is, how to treat it or whom to call should you come in contact with it. There are plenty of other great articles and resources for those pieces of information.

Farmers, ranchers, landowners, renters, real estate agents, bankers and interested neighbors all have one question in common: What is a fair market rate for renting agricultural land?

If we use the age-old math that herd bulls should be worth five to six times a feeder calf, then get ready for $10,000 to $14,000 bulls this winter/spring! With cow numbers at all-time lows, do you gamble that bulls will be plentiful and cost less? Is it time to consider leasing a bull?

What do these three things have in common? Most farmers and ranchers would tell you that they miss the “good old days.” You know, the days when a man’s word was much more trustworthy than any piece of paper.

Collecting and organizing data is crucial for preparing and planning for the next crop year. For example, data on acreage, yield and expected prices can help estimate gross returns. This information is valuable when negotiating with a banker for a new loan or refinancing an existing one. It’s also useful for setting lease terms with a landlord for the upcoming year.

Agricultural leases are an important tool heavily relied on by many farmers and ranchers across the U.S. agricultural industry. Although the parties are free to negotiate a wide variety of terms, agriculture leases should, at minimum, contain the “Four P's”: the parties, property, period and payment.