Succession Planning
On the cusp of the 1980s farm crisis, Mark Hanna’s rookie years of farming were tough. Through relentless effort to pay down debt while investing in improvements to his operation, Hanna’s career has been one of perseverance and success, making him a 2025 Top Producer of the Year finalist.
Among the secretary’s first public appearances since being confirmed last week, the fireside chat on Tuesday, Feb. 18, will cover key topics driving the future of agriculture.
Since Lance Dobson’s return to the family farm, he’s added cattle, cereal rye for forage and a seed dealership. “Whether it’s exercising or farming, hopefully diversification in our day will yield results that improve our longevity,” he says.
This month’s Rural Mainstreet Index marks the fifth-straight month where the index has been below the growth neutral mark.
What’s the most challenging thing about running a legacy brand? “The biggest challenge is being pigeonholed. Everyone expects us to recreate the past, but the future doesn’t look like what we were,” Lamar says.
Legacy Farmland Trust offers landowners a way to preserve and protect their assets for generations to come.
John Phipps says there are signs that water is the new oil as water rights turn into water fights across the western U.S. He thinks it’s a battle that could only heat up in the coming years.
The Ducheneaux family reconnects consumers with their food source
Congratulations to Todd, Louise and the Malecha family for being named the 2022 Top Producer of the Year. Pay a virtual visit to their dairy farm in Villard, Minn., to learn how they stay focused on goals and values.
Idaho operation builds niche business to complement core crops.
Iowa State researchers find this is the state’s highest level of farmland owned debt-free. In 1982, Iowa’s debt-free land ownership was only 62%.
We are more than the hours we work and the services we provide. We are people, friends, family, and community. You are important, you are loved, and you are worthy of conversation, caring, and love.
USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack and Rep. Cindy Axne joined AgriTalk with host Chip Flory and Pro Farmer Policy Analyst Jim Wiesemeyer recently to comb through President Biden’s reframe of the Build Back Better (BBB) plan.
Top Producer’s Executive Women in Ag gets underway Jan. 28. Registration is open.
Not many farmers retire; instead, they pursue different roles on the farm. One of the most popular roles is driving a truck. John Phipps has a salute to those drivers in John’s World.