It is amazing how time flies and seems to accelerate as one grows older. When looking out the windshield, the quarter-century mark is approaching quickly. It seems like only yesterday we were discussing preparation for Y2K when the clock was going to strike midnight and computer systems would shut down. …
Undoubtedly, most farmers would prefer to focus solely on the physical aspect of being a farmer, but unfortunately, there’s a whole other side to the occupation that needs regular attention. Bookkeeping, taxes, and legal planning are a big part of a successful operation, and many farmers have a team of…
Many of our widespread agricultural base of clients have, over the last several years, been presented opportunities to participate in an energy lease, whether solar or wind. Many of these leases were entered into years ago, most especially wind energy leases, and now are producing very significant income streams for…
Glad tidings readers! I trust all is well, and you are enjoying the start to 2024. Don’t forget your sweetheart, as it always seems to sneak up on me! The theme of this article is what makes a well-designed revenue policy. In my humble opinion, it depends. We all have…
It isn’t uncommon for farm bills to move past their legislative expiration as was the case this past September when the fiscal expiration of the current 2018 Farm Bill occurred. It also isn’t the first time Congress has moved to enact a short term, one-year extension to keep the current…
Which is a better problem to have: too much income or too little income? From a tax standpoint, the answer is typically neither. Farm income in our region certainly seems to be across the board this year. The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Emergency Relief Program and Pandemic Assistance Revenue Program…
Greetings readers! I believe the subject matter of acreage reporting is timely, though not due to the season of use, but rather that many have had another year of production and revenue losses paid on their wheat policies. Unfortunately, one does not learn of “misreported information” until the worst time…
Many people ask me all the time what kind of law I practice, and they are surprised when I tell them agricultural law. They then wonder how I feed my kids. I also have several clients that do a will or a one-off project and say, “Thanks, but I hope…
A common theme played out over the decades is that the lack of working capital and financial liquidity is often the choke point for financial and economic sustainability. This has been observed numerous times over the years in governments, households, and businesses. The financial stress of inadequate liquidity often comes…
In an industry where your “word” often carries more weight than a written agreement, effective communication between agricultural stakeholders is key to long-term success. Solid and forthright communication is a foundation of trust that takes years for good farming operations to establish. Effective dialog is a constant moving target, but…
