Business Management

Talking through farm stress

ktifft@uidaho.edu — Tue, 19 May 2026 00:00:00 -0400

Healthy communication can be defined in many ways, but in general, all these ways include three main themes: clarity, respect and promoting understanding. Making sure you are building healthy communication habits, especially surrounding topics like your mental health, doesn’t just happen. It is a skill that is learned by practice and planning.

Managing through the ups and downs

tyson.steel@agwestfc.com — Fri, 15 May 2026 00:00:00 -0400

High prices cure high prices. Low prices cure low prices.This adage has never been truer than in today’s volatile commodity markets.

Give yourself a break – before stress breaks you

dcallister@uidaho.edu — Mon, 20 Apr 2026 00:00:00 -0400

How do you walk away to end an unpleasant or dangerous conversation when it is occurring in your head? One way to interrupt internal conversations is to take a break from your daily routine. Vacations can do wonders for morale, but respite can also be gleaned from shorter, more frequent intermissions to your daily life.

University of Idaho extension Farm Stress Team: Breaking the silence in rural Idaho

ktifft@uidaho.edu — Wed, 25 Mar 2026 00:00:00 -0400

Our local farmers are under financial pressure, face unpredictable weather and market swings, and are under an overwhelming cultural expectation to “rub some dirt on it” or “cowboy up” and get through it regardless of how they feel. All of these things just compound the strain and lead to silence and, in some cases, tragedy.

Who gets the family operation? How do I start on a succession plan?

shannonw@uidaho.edu — Mon, 16 Mar 2026 00:00:00 -0400

Succession planning protects the family operation before crisis forces decisions no one is ready to make.

Precision decisions: How AI will shape dairy performance in 2026

mulloago@purdue.edu — Mon, 09 Mar 2026 14:38:11 -0400

Artificial intelligence (AI) is emerging in 2026 not as a futuristic concept but as a practical response to the complexity of dairy farming. Its primary value is not automation for its own sake but the ability to improve decisions across thousands of animals and management variables.

Interest rate outlook for 2026: Lower but not low

doug.robison@agwestfc.com — Tue, 23 Dec 2025 00:00:00 -0500

Looking ahead, current Federal Reserve forecasts project only one more 0.25% rate cut in 2026 and a final 0.25% cut in 2027. In contrast, CME fed fund futures anticipate two rate cuts in 2026, with the first likely at the March or April FOMC meeting.

Through the gate: Reflections from a veterinarian’s year in cattle country

kramsey@neogen.com — Fri, 05 Dec 2025 00:00:00 -0500

A hundred head of recently weaned calves wandered the downtown streets of Boise, Idaho, on the first cold morning of October. Steam rolled off their backs, a mass of tipped-over trash cans behind them. A tightly packed alley of wandering souls staring blankly into a haze of flashlights and headlights. A cacophony of chaos filled with the rumble of lowing calves rising into the crisp morning air.

Keeping the farm in the family: Succession planning and smart financing for the next generation

logan.maag@zionsbank.com — Thu, 13 Nov 2025 00:00:00 -0500

Although many farmers want to preserve their family legacy, they also need to consider their needs in retirement. Effective succession planning can balance these needs, but because of legal, financial and operational complexities, it’s important to approach this issue with a comprehensive framework.

Elevated fertilizer prices continue to squeeze farmers’ margins

qizhang@uidaho.edu — Wed, 12 Nov 2025 00:00:00 -0500

Fertilizer prices have eased since the 2022 spike, but for most farmers, they still feel painfully high.

It’s open enrollment season: Here’s how to keep it simple

insagentshan@gmail.com — Wed, 22 Oct 2025 00:00:00 -0400

It is that time of year again where open enrollment for health insurance and Medicare are all around us. It can be complex and confusing. The best advice is to find a knowledgeable agent to help.

Managing capital purchases: When to repair or replace

matt.lange@intagralfinancial.com — Wed, 24 Sep 2025 00:00:00 -0400

In some cases it is better to repair farm equipment and other times it is better to replace. Knowing when to take action on one versus the other is also part of a bigger strategy for managing your dairy operation.

Weathering the storm: Smart strategies for surviving an ag downturn

miguel.villafana@zionsbank.com — Mon, 22 Sep 2025 00:00:00 -0400

During challenging economic times, farmers are often confronted with challenges that include reduced commodity prices, rising input costs and cash flow crunches. When these challenges arise, it’s critical to rely on strategy rather than luck.

Emergency planning: Prepare for unexpected visits from immigration officials

kimmi@agproud.com — Fri, 05 Sep 2025 00:00:00 -0400

In a recent episode of the Progressive Dairy Podcast, Brook Duer from the Penn State Ag Law Center discussed I-9 audits, ICE raids and how dairy producers can develop a plan to minimize chaos during an unexpected visit from immigration officials.

Sharing the West through Idaho’s agritourism industry

Mon, 18 Aug 2025 00:00:00 -0400

Step onto Lowe Family Farmstead near Kuna and you’ll find a conventional farm growing feed corn and wheat. And if you come in the fall, you’ll find a corn maze, hayrides, livestock interactions and dozens of other on-the-farm activity options.

Back to some business basics

rossabronson@gmail.com — Thu, 07 Aug 2025 00:00:00 -0400

The livestock industry is thriving with high calf prices. Sound accounting principles are crucial for strategic investments and sustainable growth. Managerial accounting offers a broader perspective on expenses and profitability.

Developing and retaining talent through bilingual training programs

semejiaturcios@alltech.com — Wed, 30 Jul 2025 00:00:00 -0400

If there’s a phrase that rings true in the ears of any business owner or manager, it’s that “a business is only as good as its people.” And in a world where automation is rapidly transforming many industries, the cattle business remains one of the few that still relies heavily on people.

Will solar panels pay off?

Tue, 29 Jul 2025 00:00:00 -0400

Farmers throughout Idaho may be on the lookout for ways to save power on their farms, while continuing to be efficient and quality producers. Solar panels are an up-and-coming technology that may be the type of investment a farm operation is looking for.

Tariffs, trade deals and the perfect world

rjmyers@beobank.com — Tue, 10 Jun 2025 00:00:00 -0400

Three months ago, my position was: This new tariff deal will be a lot of talk and little action. So far, that has been the case; however, this could change in the blink of an eye. Even what is written today could be old news by the time this ink dries. Nonetheless, there are some constants in the world trade that are going to be impacted. For now, however, the largest component of tariffs is uncertainty.

How to protect your harvest yields from being affected by GAP compliance

Thu, 17 Apr 2025 00:00:00 -0400

When it comes to food safety and sustainability, portable sanitation is crucial for compliance with Good Agricultural Practices (GAP). Proper restrooms, hand-washing stations and routine sanitation maintenance not only reduce the risk of contamination but also safeguard farmworkers and consumers.

Hiring vs. doing it yourself: 2025 Idaho custom rates survey results

bwilder@uidaho.edu — Wed, 16 Apr 2025 00:00:00 -0400

The University of Idaho Extension's 2025 Custom Rates Survey helps farmers compare costs of doing farm work themselves versus hiring custom operators.

Are you intentional with your farm business in these areas?

tim.schaefer@encore-consultants.net — Thu, 13 Mar 2025 23:00:00 -0400

Sustainability is a buzzword we often hear, but what about the sustainability of the family farm? What does it take for a farm to sustain itself generation after generation? Why does it seem so hard?

Interest rate outlook for 2025 – higher for longer

doug.robison@agwestfc.com — Thu, 06 Feb 2025 00:00:00 -0500

Long-term interest rates, as measured by the 10-year U.S. Treasury, have a strong correlation with the federal funds rate. As a result, long-term interest rates are likely to remain higher until economic risks to the outlook clear and/or the Fed resumes interest rate cuts in the second half of the year.

The secret sauce of successful farms

tim.schaefer@encore-consultants.net — Wed, 01 Jan 2025 00:00:00 -0500

Sometimes, we look at neighboring farms that seem to have a “secret sauce” to their success. But just like great barbecue, there are no shortcuts and no single secret sauce recipe. Success on these top-tier farms is a series of repeatable elements that work together.

Fertilizer prices stabilize in 2024, but uncertainty continues

qizhang@uidaho.edu — Mon, 23 Dec 2024 00:00:00 -0500

Following the historical high prices of 2021 and 2022, fertilizer prices significantly declined in 2023 as supply chain disruptions eased. This trend largely continued into 2024. While prices have stabilized, they remain elevated compared to pre-pandemic levels.

Farm budgeting: From planning to profit

miguel.villafana@zionsbank.com — Fri, 13 Dec 2024 00:00:00 -0500

Regardless of how long you’ve been farming, your key goals include long-term financial success and stability. Achieving these goals will be easier if you create a comprehensive budget that enables you to plan your finances, manage risk and track profitability.

Filling the labor gap with H-2A

Tue, 26 Nov 2024 00:00:00 -0500

The first three quarters of 2024 saw over 300,000 agricultural workers enter the country through the H-2A program, which provides temporary visas for foreign workers to perform seasonal agricultural jobs. It is an important source of labor in the West, with California and Washington ranking third and fourth in the nation, respectively, for H-2A workers.

Considerations and concerns when looking into carbon markets

rossabronson@gmail.com — Wed, 20 Nov 2024 00:00:00 -0500

Many large corporations have made goals to become carbon neutral. To reach those goals, companies must lessen their emissions, purchase offsets or a combination of the two. This has led to a voluntary market for carbon credits in the U.S. where carbon, verified as sequestered, can be sold, thus providing opportunities for agricultural producers.

What producers need to know about BOI reporting before the deadline hits

doug@tilleylincoln.com — Thu, 14 Nov 2024 00:00:00 -0500

Did you know that every entity registered with any state secretary of state must complete an additional Beneficial Owner Information report or face a $500-per-day late filing penalty? I hope you knew that, but I bet this got your attention if you didn’t know.

To build, or not to build? Economics of a farm shop

bwilder@uidaho.edu — Tue, 12 Nov 2024 00:00:00 -0500

One of the most difficult decisions to make on the farm is whether or not to build a space for equipment and machinery storage and what type of space to build.