Taking Stock
Margit Kaltenekker
Agriculture Agent
As Thanksgiving rolls into the Holiday season, as harvest tallies come in, it is a great time of year to take stock of this year’s production season, while preparing for the next. Certainly, drought on top of Inflationary pressures has created multiple challenges in managing farm operations. Though it is not always comfortable, difficult production years can indeed lead to new opportunities, as producers re-evaluate strategies to meet their goals. No wonder the Chinese character for ‘crisis’ – also means ‘opportunity’.
Thankfully Kansas State Research and Extension has two services available to assist with this process, including several upcoming winter workshops that may offer some inspiration and further support.
Kansas Agricultural Mediation Services (KAMS) is a confidential service, connecting producers to various ag-related resources. Not only can
they answer legal and financial questions, but their farm analysts, agricultural law attorneys, and certified mediators also provide expertise to help settle disputes, explore options and potential solutions to help move ahead. Some of these services include negotiating USDA adverse decisions, farm financial analysis, and legal assistance through Kansas legal services.
The Kansas Farm Management Association staff of Extension Agricultural Economists has provided sound financial advice and services for the past 80 years to farmers and ranchers throughout the state. They are sincerely invested in the success of Kansas agriculture. They can provide individualized whole farm enterprise analysis and planning, as well as accounting and tax services for a fair rate, to sole proprietorships, partnerships, and corporations. Not only can they help track individual year-on-year trends, but they also draw upon benchmarks from over 1,500 farms across the state for cost comparisons, while maintaining confidentiality. The Extension Agricultural Economist for Douglas County, in the Northeast region is Lucas Sudbeck (lucassudbeck@ksu.edu; 785-364-2706), who would be happy to discuss their services in more detail.
Registration is open for the “Power of Negotiation and Communication; Land Leasing Strategies for Midwestern Ag Women” - a 4- part series of workshops to be hosted here in the Dreher Building located at 2110 Harper St, Lawrence KS 66046, and throughout the state. Two options are available for both On Site attendance and 100% Virtual attendance– each Wednesday night from January 25th - Feb 8th (5:30 – 8:30 PM). While this is being produced by the Women in AG network through Agricultural Economics department at K-State, men are most welcome to attend.
Other upcoming workshops include Soil Health U Salinas, KS Jan 18- 19; and Whole Farm Health, TBD.
