Burn Workshop

Burn management is a great way to enhance natural areas and CRP plantings.  Hickory Hills Chapter of Illinois Audubon Society and Illinois Chapter of Soil and Water Conservation Society are hosting prescription burn workshop next week to help teach people what steps are needed to plan a prescribed burn.  CCA Credits are available.

How Much Better Do You Need to Be

David Kohl of Virginia Tech was one of the only Farm Futures speakers I have heard before this year. His advice and guidance is excellent.  I think it was one of the other speakers who share 2 slides.  One showed farm profits prior to 2013.  Top Producers were making excellent money.  Average producers were doing well.  The bottom tier was still showing a profit.  Now, Top Producers are still doing well, although maybe not as good as 6 years ago.  Average producers are above break even, but the Bottom tier is in trouble.  Kohl says that producers need to be 5% better than average in order to succeed.  He says the businesses a that are a little better at production, marketing, cost control, and asset and capital efficiency are going to stay in business.