News

Brian Coffey and Terry Griffin talk about their new economic analysis of how taking part or all of a day off from farming activities for religious purposes affects farm income...their work shows that there is a cost to observing the Sabbath, although that has to be weighed against the faith and spiritual value of doing so.

Link to article. 

K-State precision agriculture economist Terry Griffin and graduate researcher Emily Carls talk about the economics of transitioning from conventional crop production to organic production as a means of diversifying farm income. They studied the likelihood of economically succeeding with such a conversion over several years' time and the factors that would influence that.

Agricultural economist Craig Althauser of the Kansas Farm Management Association at K-State talks about strategies for end-of-year tax management, particularly when farm or ranch income has been on the low side in 2018:  he stresses that the decisions should be essentially the opposite of what a producer would choose in years of good income.

K-State agricultural economist Robin Reid discusses a new analysis which looked at the health care costs for farm and ranch families in Kansas...it identified trends in health insurance premiums paid over the past 10 years for various demographics, and the percentage of family living expenses devoted to health care.

Mykel Taylor shares her latest observations on farmland value and rental rate trends in Kansas, and where those might be headed in 2019...she also comments on making USDA commodity program decisions in anticipation of the new farm bill being finalized soon.

The director of the Farm Analyst program at K-State, Duane Hund, talks about the financial stress situations that he's encountering as he works with farm families on analyzing their economic status...he explains how farming operations can take advantage of the services this program provides, especially in planning for next year.

K-State agricultural economist Monte Vandeveer talks about how the Pasture, Rangeland and Forage Insurance Program works, with the enrollment deadline for the 2019 growing season coming up soon. He explains how pasture and forage losses are calculated, based on grid rainfall data, and points to an on-line Risk Management Agency tool that helps a producer calculate the potential coverage payout. Also, K-State Research and Extension risk management specialist Art Barnaby discusses the Whole Farm Revenue Protection program, which just might help row crop producers confronted with difficulties at harvest time.

The director of the Arthur Capper Cooperative Center at K-State, Brian Briggeman, talks about the current state of agricultural cooperatives in Kansas, as this is National Cooperative Month...joining us from South Africa, where he is currently studying agricultural cooperative operations there.