March 28, 2024

Resources available to help farmers make management decisions

ISU Extension and Outreach farm management team provides information on managing a farm operation

AMES — Farmers face difficult management decisions every day. These decisions directly affect the profitability and viability of their operation and are made from planting to harvest, and every step in-between.

Iowa State University Extension and Outreach has the resources and tools to help farmers make informed decisions when it comes to the economic management of their farm business.

Ag Decision Maker

Ag Decision Maker has been providing analysis and insight into many of the issues facing modern agriculture since 1996. Today more than 15,000 users receive monthly updates from ISU Extension and Outreach faculty and farm management specialists through information sheets and decision tools.

These tools had over 1.2 million downloads in 2018, with more than 240 information files, decision tools, voiced media and teaching activity files either posted to or updated on the Ag Decision Maker website during that time.

Farm management specialists and programs

ISU Extension and Outreach farm management specialists also provide programming throughout the year to help farmers improve the management of their operations. Twelve Pro-Ag Outlook and Management Seminars will be held across Iowa in November and December, providing information on grain price outlook and global factors to watch, livestock prices and margins and farmland operating margins, outlook and trends. A full list of dates, locations and times is available online.

Additional support is available to farmers through the Farm Financial Planning program, a farm analysis program available through ISU Extension and Outreach. This confidential, free service provides: one-on-one financial counseling, a computerized analysis of the farm business and referral to other extension programs or outside services that may be useful. Iowa Concern Hotline

Iowa Concern is a 24-hour a day, 7-day a week free hotline that provides access to stress counselors and an attorney for legal education.