Farm4Profit Podcast

Take a screenshot of your favorite farming song and share it with us.  @farm4profitllc or farm4profitllc@gmail.comhttps://theboot.com/top-country-songs-about-farming/10"She Thinks My Tractor's Sexy"Kenny ChesneyLand-lovin' lyrics: "She thinks my tractor's sexy / It really turns her on / She's always starin' at me / While I'm chuggin' along."Chesney has clearly found the woman who's right for him: She's into farmer's tans, loves John Deere tractors and appreciates well-tilled soil. Hold on tight to that one, sir!9"Farm to Fame"Joey + RoryLand-lovin' lyrics: "He went from rags to riches / Farm to fame / From diggin' ditches / To carving out a name."Technically, this song is about getting away from farm life -- specifically, about a country singer who spent every weekend away from the farm playing gigs until a big shot from Nashville discovered him. Still, the song's lyrics admit that it's often "rags to riches to rags again," so our hero may be trading those gigs for rigs soon.8"Who's Gonna Feed Them Hogs?"Tom T. HallLand-lovin' lyrics: "Four hundred hogs, they just standin' out there / My wife can't feed 'em, and the neighbors don't care / They can't get out and roam like my old huntin' dogs / Here I am in this dang bed, and who's gonna feed them hogs?"Who, indeed. The narrator of this song tells the story of a man who woke up in a hospital bed in a "medicated fog" and is only concerned about who will feed his hogs -- who's going to keep his livelihood alive, really. In the end, the man is miraculously healed and gets back to his farm -- and thank goodness. Four hundred hogs is a lot of potential bacon (figuratively and literally)!7"A Man on a Tractor"Rodney AtkinsLand-lovin' lyrics: "His work was laid out there before him / In rows of green, his whole life was revealed / Oh, what I wouldn't give if I could just live / Like a man on a tractor with a dog in a field."Atkins is singing a classic "the grass is always greener" scenario: He's feeling jealous of a "man on a tractor with a dog in a field," until his wife wisely points out, "There's more than one way" to be that man -- by finding contentment wherever you are.6"Where Corn Don't Grow"Waylon JenningsLand-lovin' lyrics: "But hard times are real / There's dusty fields no matter where you go / You may change your mind / 'Cause the weeds are high where corn don't grow."This song features a conversation between a teen boy and his farmer father. While looking out over the father's fields, the boy asks him if he's ever dreamed of a life "where corn don't grow." At the risk of giving too much away, the teenager soon finds out that there's a lot about life that he doesn't understand.5"Amarillo Sky"Jason AldeanLand-lovin' lyrics: "On his knees every night / He prays, 'Please let my crops and children grow' / 'Cause that's all he's ever known."Farmers are so often at the mercy of the elements: Will there be enough rain? Will a hail storm destroy the crops? This song is about a farmer living through that tension, working hard every day while praying that his "dreams [don't] run dry / Underneath this Amarillo sky."4"Rain Is a Good Thing"Luke BryanLand-lovin' lyrics: "My daddy spent his life lookin' up at the sky / He'd cuss, kick the dust, sayin', 'Son, it's way too dry' / It clouds up in the city, the weatherman complains / But where I come from, rain is a good thing."Bryan is one of country's preeminent farm boys: He grew up on a peanut farm, and he's well-known for his annual Farm Tour. So when he sings that "rain is a good thing," we should probably believe him.3"Last of a Dying Breed"Neal McCoyLand-lovin' lyrics: "With a house on a hill and a pond in the fields / Surrounded by a mess of corn rows / Makes a livin' from his labor / With credit to the Maker / He's somebody everybody knows."This song is the ultimate ode to the farmer, from the "overall wearers, farmer-tan tearers" to the "cake pan lickers, ripe tomato pickers, hay balers loadin' trailers in the fall." However, the tune has a somber undertone, as McCoy worries that these men and women may be the "last of a dying breed" ... but until that time, he's here to celebrate them.2"Farmer's Blues"Merle Haggard and Marty StuartLand-lovin' lyrics: "Who'll buy my wheat? / Who'll buy my corn / To feed my babies when they're born? / Seeds and dirt / A prayer for rain / That, I can use."This classic by Haggard and Stuart doesn't sugarcoat farming life; instead, it focuses on the hard realities of being a farmer, from bad weather to the difficulty of getting a loan to the fear that no one will buy their crops. The song offers no easy answers; it's simply an accurate depiction of the difficulty of farm life.1"Where the Green Grass Grows"Tim McGrawLand-lovin' lyrics: "I'm gonna live where the green grass grows / Watch my corn pop up in rows / Every night be tucked in close to you."This song is a celebration of farm life and love: loving the land, loving your occupation, loving a woman and loving the work of raising corn and babies. Farm life is tough, but a song like this makes it seem worth it.https://www.fastline.com/frontpage/2010/03/31/top-10-songs-about-farming/Milk Cow Blues, Bob Willis and the Texas Playboys version– This one has been done by several artists including The King- Elvis, Willie Nelson, and The King of Country- George Strait.Big Green Tractor, Jason Aldean (Video)- Whether you are a fan of green tractors or not, this is a recent hit that has quickly become a favorite.Down on the Farm, Tim McGraw (Video)- This song has very little to do with actual farming, but the tune is catchy and you kind of can’t help but sing along.Cloud of Dust, Brad Paisley- Farmers probably know better than anyone how important rain is. When there is a lack of rain, times get tough. Hopefully you won’t need it this year, but maybe this song can help you through those times.International Harvester, Craig Morgan (Video)– For all of you that aren’t fans of the big green tractors, maybe this one is more your style?Also reminds us to be friendly to those slow moving farm vehicles.Rain on a Scarecrow, John Mellencamp (Video)- This song details the life of a farmer struggling to just get by and how much things have changed over several generations. , If you haven’t heard it, it’s a must listen.Shadows of a Heartland, Bobby Pinson- A simple song about life in the country and on the farm.Thank God I’m a Country Boy, John Denver (Audio)- We think this one is pretty self explanatory.Daddy Won’t Sell The Farm, Montgomery Gentry- No Matter what, despite the struggles…. Daddy won’t sell the farm.And of course we couldn’t have a farming song list without this one… She Thinks My Tractor’s Sexy, Kenny Chesney Want Farm4Profit Merch?  Custom order your favorite items today!https://farmfocused.com/farm-4profit/ Don’t forget to like the podcast on all platforms and leave a review where ever you listen! Website: www.Farm4Profit.comShareable episode link: https://intro-to-farm4profit.simplecast.comEmail address: Farm4profitllc@gmail.comCall/Text: 515.207.9640Subscribe to YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCSR8c1BrCjNDDI_Acku5XqwFollow us on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@farm4profitllc Connect with us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Farm4ProfitLLC/ Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

What to understand about the 2018 Farm Bill? (Dr. Steve Johnson)IntroductionWhat’s happeningFarm4profitllc@gmail.comText 515.207.9640Helpful Linkshttps://www.extension.iastate.edu/agdm/info/farmbill.htmlhttps://agrilifeextension.tamu.edu/solutions/farm-bill-decision-aid-tool/https://farmdocdaily.illinois.edu/2019/10/choosing-between-arc-co-and-plc.html2018 Farm Bill Updates Introduce the guest.  Steve Johnson a Farm Management Specialist with Iowa State University Extension and Outreach.  Ph.D., Vocational Education, Colorado State University, M.S., Agricultural Education/Economics ,B.S., Agricultural Education, Iowa State University and the resident expert on all things Farm Bill.  Lead into Steve giving a more in depth introduction himself and the meetings coming up.When was the 2018 Farm Bill signed that we are going to discuss?How long is this Farm Bill good for?What were the major changes to this farm bill compared to the one of the past?Crop Insurance – ARC/PLC DecisionsWhat’s the difference between ARC and PLC?Do we get to choose again?Who gets to make the choice?How often do we get to decide?How does this work with my crop insuranceWhat are my deadlines?October 7thMarch 15thMore?What factors should our listeners be considering when making their choice?Should we be updating our yield information?Any other information you’d like to share with our listeners?When you sit down with someone you’ve met for the first time.  What would you tell them about this Farm Bill?For those who either don’t believe in paying attention to this or refuse to try and understand it, what advice do you have for them?Are there any other points you’d like to share with our listeners?Conference UpdateSubmit questions and topic suggestions Want Farm4Profit Merch?  Custom order your favorite items today!https://farmfocused.com/farm-4profit/ Don’t forget to like the podcast on all platforms and leave a review where ever you listen! Website: www.Farm4Profit.comShareable episode link: https://intro-to-farm4profit.simplecast.comEmail address: Farm4profitllc@gmail.comCall/Text: 515.207.9640Subscribe to YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCSR8c1BrCjNDDI_Acku5XqwFollow us on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@farm4profitllc Connect with us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Farm4ProfitLLC/ Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Marketing your products for more sales tools & tips Introductionwww.farm4profit.comfarm4profitllc@gmail.comtext to 515.207.9640What do you have to learn about becoming a better marketer?Introduce the guest.  Jed Moon with Ag West Commodities  www.goagwest.comWhat are we seeing happen in the markets right now? (remember we are 4 weeks out)When you sit down in a meeting with a new client or potential client how does that start off?How important is a marketing plan to the profitability of one’s farm?RPM - Revenue Price ManagerFor someone looking for Marketing Class 101 tools, which tools would you teach them to use.For the more advanced marketer who has experience using the tools you just mentioned what are some ways they could take their skills to the next level?What are you seeing the top tier of your clients doing?  Both in marketing and on their farms in general?What do farmers/operators get from using a service like yours to assist with their marketing needs?You know there are farmers out there who don’t feel they need any help, are doing just fine, and can do it themselves.  What would you say to an individual such as that?We all know change comes with challenges.  What would you say to the listener who doesn’t even know where to start?What are somethings you would encourage our listeners to be asking their brokers or marketing advisors?Is there anything else you would like our listeners to learn from our conversation today?ChallengeHow detailed is your marketing plan? Does it even exist? Spell out steps for them to begin taking action.Conference UpdateSubmit questions and topic suggestions Want Farm4Profit Merch?  Custom order your favorite items today!https://farmfocused.com/farm-4profit/ Don’t forget to like the podcast on all platforms and leave a review where ever you listen! Website: www.Farm4Profit.comShareable episode link: https://intro-to-farm4profit.simplecast.comEmail address: Farm4profitllc@gmail.comCall/Text: 515.207.9640Subscribe to YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCSR8c1BrCjNDDI_Acku5XqwFollow us on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@farm4profitllc Connect with us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Farm4ProfitLLC/ Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

https://www.webmd.com/sleep-disorders/features/natural-tips-sleepiness11 Tips on How to Stay Awake NaturallyBy Camille Peri With more and more of us getting less and less sleep, it’s tempting to reach for a Red Bull, Coffee or Bang when we feel sleepy in the field. But consuming caffeine to combat sleepiness can lead to a vicious cycle.How can you stay awake naturally? Try some of these 11 jitter-free tips to take the edge off sleepiness.1. Get Up and Move Around to Feel AwakeCalifornia State University, Long Beach, studied whether people were more energized by eating a candy bar or taking a brisk 10-minute walk. The 10-minute walk increased energy for two hours. That’s because walking pumps oxygen through your veins, brain, and muscles.2. Take a Nap to Take the Edge Off Sleepiness“Nap between five and 25 minutes,” says Barry Krakow, MD, author of Sound Sleep, Sound Mind Napping on the job can be touchy. “If you can’t nap, even resting quietly with your eyes closed for 10 minutes or so will help3. Give Your Eyes a Break to Avoid FatigueContinuous fixation on a computer screen can cause eyestrain and worsen sleepiness and fatigue. Look away from the screen for a few minutes periodically to relax your eyes.4. Eat a Healthy Snack to Boost EnergySugary snacks give you a quick energy boost followed by the sugar “lows,” when low blood sugar produces mental fogginess and lethargy. Snacks such as these will provide better overall energy in the long run:Peanut butter on a whole wheat cracker or celery sticksYogurt and a handful or nuts or fresh fruitBaby carrots with a low-fat cream cheese dip5. Start a Conversation to Wake Up Your MindIf you’re fading fast, engaging in conversation can get your mind moving again. “Talk to a colleague about a business idea, politics, or religion,” says Krakow, medical director of Maimonides Sleep Arts and Sciences, Ltd. in Albuquerque, N.M. “It’s a very strong behavioral stimulator -- especially when it’s a conversation about politics.”6. Turn Up the Lights to Ease FatigueEnvironments with dim lighting aggravate fatigue. Studies have shown that exposure to bright light can reduce sleepiness and increase alertness. Try increasing the intensity of your light source at work.7. Take a Breather to Feel AlertDeep breathing raises blood oxygen levels in the body. This slows your heart rate, lowers blood pressure, and improves circulation, ultimately aiding mental performance and energy.The idea of deep-breathing exercises is to inhale to the abdomen, not the chest. You can do them at your desk. Sitting up straight, try this exercise up to 10 times:With one hand on your belly just below your ribs and the other on your chest, inhale deeply through your nose and let your belly push your hand out. Your chest should not move.Breathe out through lips pursed as if you were whistling. You can use the hand on your belly to help push air out.Another technique, called stimulating breath, is used in yoga for a quick energy boost and increased alertness: Inhale and exhale rapidly through your nose, keeping your mouth closed but relaxed. Make your in-and-out breaths short -- do about three of each cycle in a second. Then breathe normally. You can do this for up to 15 seconds the first time and then add on five seconds each time after until you reach a minute.8. If You’re Driving, Pull Over When Sleepy“Driving while sleepy is as dangerous as driving under the influence of alcohol,” says Siebern. Common tricks such as opening the windows and turning on loud music won’t keep you awake for very long behind the wheel. “Have someone else drive or pull off the road and take a nap until you’re no longer sleepy,” Siebern says.If you’re on an extended trip, change drivers often. Stop at least every two hours to take a walk and get some fresh air.9. Switch Tasks to Stimulate Your MindIn 2004 Finnish researchers who studied people working 12-hour night shifts found that monotonous work is as harmful as sleep loss for alertness. Switch to more engaging work responsibilities when you feel yourself nodding off. 10. Drink Water to Prevent TirednessDehydration can cause fatigue. Make sure you drink plenty of fluids and eat foods high in water such as fruits and vegetables.11. Exercise to Increase Energy and Reduce FatigueIn an analysis of 70 studies involving more than 6,800 people, University of Georgia researchers found that exercise was more effective in increasing energy and reducing daytime fatigue than some medications used to treat sleep problems. Regular exercise also improves quality of sleep.Try to exercise 30 minutes a day. If you decide to exercise hard some days, your energy level may drop for a bit and then surge for a few hours. Eating a meal that contains both protein and carbohydrates within two hours after a heavy workout will lessen the initial energy loss. Be sure to finish your workout a few hours before bedtime so you are not energized when you try to sleep. Want Farm4Profit Merch?  Custom order your favorite items today!https://farmfocused.com/farm-4profit/ Don’t forget to like the podcast on all platforms and leave a review where ever you listen! Website: www.Farm4Profit.comShareable episode link: https://intro-to-farm4profit.simplecast.comEmail address: Farm4profitllc@gmail.comCall/Text: 515.207.9640Subscribe to YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCSR8c1BrCjNDDI_Acku5XqwFollow us on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@farm4profitllc Connect with us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Farm4ProfitLLC/ Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

The Latest in Fall Tillage/Harvest Technology (Guest-Chad Colby)IntroductionConference Update 12/6/2019Register now! https://www.farm4profit.com/registration.htmlSubmit questions and topic suggestionswww.farm4profit.comfarm4profitllc@gmail.com@Farm4Profit on TwitterWhat’s working for Ag – Being AgileWhat could put profit back into every acre for you starting this fall?@TheChadColbywww.colbyagtech.comhttps://www.farm4profit.com/registration.htmlAutonomous  grain cart – Smart Ag and othersHow does it work?Is it safe?What does it cost?Translates to profitability Sensors in combines – combine advancementsFolding heads – attachmentsSeed separation and weed seed containmentWhat’s next? – What have you seen coming down the pipe? I-Phones – tablets – wearable technology What would you say to those producers out there who don’t see the ROI for technology on their farm?For those with little technology in their operations today.  Where do you suggest they start and how? What do you see your top producing or top tier of clients doing?  Both in Tech and on their farm in generalWhat are somethings farmers should be asking their dealers or service providers for? What are you most excited about on the technology front? NASA - SPACEEX Is there anything else you would like our listeners to learn from our conversation today?Conference Update 12/6/2019Register now! https://www.farm4profit.com/registration.htmlSubmit questions and topic suggestionswww.farm4profit.comfarm4profitllc@gmail.com@Farm4Profit on Twitter Want Farm4Profit Merch?  Custom order your favorite items today!https://farmfocused.com/farm-4profit/ Don’t forget to like the podcast on all platforms and leave a review where ever you listen! Website: www.Farm4Profit.comShareable episode link: https://intro-to-farm4profit.simplecast.comEmail address: Farm4profitllc@gmail.comCall/Text: 515.207.9640Subscribe to YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCSR8c1BrCjNDDI_Acku5XqwFollow us on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@farm4profitllc Connect with us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Farm4ProfitLLC/ Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

https://www.snacknation.com/blog/guide/healthy-snacks/The 12 Top Rated Snacks Directly from SnackNation Customers:Coconut Chips – Kettle Cooked ChipsSheila G’s Brownie BrittleJustin’s Butter Squeeze – Chocolate Hazelnut and Almond ButterSahale Snacks Mango Tango Almond Mix – Trail MixHoney Gram Cracker SticksFruit SnacksPopcorn or Kettle CornDried Fruit or Real FruitIQ Bars or Cliff Bars – Granola BarsPicklesYogurt or Apple sauce SqueezesCarrots and celery with Peanut Butter – other veggies Want Farm4Profit Merch?  Custom order your favorite items today!https://farmfocused.com/farm-4profit/ Don’t forget to like the podcast on all platforms and leave a review where ever you listen! Website: www.Farm4Profit.comShareable episode link: https://intro-to-farm4profit.simplecast.comEmail address: Farm4profitllc@gmail.comCall/Text: 515.207.9640Subscribe to YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCSR8c1BrCjNDDI_Acku5XqwFollow us on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@farm4profitllc Connect with us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Farm4ProfitLLC/ Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Please Like, Share, ReviewWhat’s working for Ag – listener or farmer feedbackContribute through www.farm4profit.com or farm4profitllc@gmail.com Featuring Joel Lange – Lange Farms . https://www.facebook.com/lange.farmshttp://www.smart-ag.com/ for automated grain cart infohttps://constantcanopy.com/ for Jason Mauck - KeyNote SpeakerHow much effect does having a positive outlook on life have on farm profitability?A technique I learned that can help with developing a new habit I learned from another podcast.  Taking care of a house plant. I know as farmers you help grow and raise all kinds of plants and animals, but focusing energy on a specific house or office plant helps build a habit.  The habit for today is having a positive mind set. I struggle with this at times.Pick out a plant, not a cactus, and plant it properly in a pot indoors.  Place it in a fairly high traffic area so you have to walk by it. Make a mental note each time you walk buy it to have a better attitude or see the positive in things.  Each time you water it, fertilize it, or rotate it for sunlight be thinking about the good side of the problems you are facing.Why is this important?Attitude is contagious.  If you have family or employees around you more than likely they are observing your perception and attitude.  Create the culture of your employees embracing challenges and tackling them.Solve the challenges proactively before they become large challenges.  This makes them seem less daunting and less negative.Don’t be afraid of future problems, reframe the thinking to anticipate where problems may be coming from.  (bearings, tires, over sleeping employees, etc…)If you don’t know, be vulnerable.  Ask for help before the challenge gets out of hand.  Surround yourself with experts who will be honest with you and treat you fairly. Problems are inevitable – don’t let them take you by surprise.  Start small and grow.  Spilled drink, late employee, flat tire, self-repairable breakdown, and so onUse them as teaching moments.  You, employees, children, team“The Seeing Eye” – training program for guide dogs and the vision impaired.  “Seeing Eye has taught me to walk tall, raise my face, without fear, to the sun, wind, and rain.  They have taught me to trust in myself.”Focus on you goals – not so much on the journey thereEach task or action is a step towards the goal and we learn from each one.Take a step back – we’ve heard this cliché, but some of the most successful business owners and farmers thrive by taking a look at a problem from a step back.  Embrace it and see the opportunities to better a process, grow an employee or yourself, and get closer to the goal.SummarizeThe people around you will work harder with you and for you if your attitude towards challenges becomes one of growth.  Work hard to anticipate and expect problems to happen. When they do take care of them calmly with a thought out process.  Work to make the experience a learning opportunity and move towards the goals your farm has in place.ChallengeStart with yourself.  Do I over react? Am I easily angered or always negative?  What is something I could work on first? Buy that plant and begin framing your mind up into one that seeing the positive side of things.  Next, identify a regular occurring problem that you can practice with. (Flat tires, late reports, supplies being out) Then, work on graduating up to solving the problems before they happen!Conference UpdateSubmit questions and topic suggestions Want Farm4Profit Merch?  Custom order your favorite items today!https://farmfocused.com/farm-4profit/ Don’t forget to like the podcast on all platforms and leave a review where ever you listen! Website: www.Farm4Profit.comShareable episode link: https://intro-to-farm4profit.simplecast.comEmail address: Farm4profitllc@gmail.comCall/Text: 515.207.9640Subscribe to YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCSR8c1BrCjNDDI_Acku5XqwFollow us on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@farm4profitllc Connect with us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Farm4ProfitLLC/ Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Field Friendly Meals – 11 Tractor Friendly Ideaswww.thisfarmgirlcooks.comDeanne FriedersField friendly meals – what’s that you say?Today I’m sharing meal ideas to serve our farmers when they’re working in the field. Sometimes weeat outside, sometimes we pile in the Suburban tots in tow, and other times it’s a pass and go meal.Even if you’re not a farm family, these are some healthy, easy to prepare recipes!A field friendly meal has a few requirements, in my opinion. Fork friendly – no knife required. Bite size pieces are key. Easy to prepare. Be filling but not make them want to take a nap at the wheel. Auto steer in tractors is great butnaps are not! Healthy and well rounded. Part of my goal in feeding our farmers is to help nourish them whenthey’re working long hours. That’s not to say an occasional Snickers goes along for the ride,but you get my drift, right?My experience is by the end of harvest the cook is tired of guessing, tell them what you want or likeand they will appreciate it.1-Make Ahead Pepperoni Sliders – This one is a little bit of a splurge, so I keep it reserved for thedays when everything is going wrong. We all have those days, right? If I see the tractor repair truckheading our way or I need to go on a parts run, this recipe comes to mind. It can be made ahead andis my pick up meal, like a cheerleader in sandwich form. Mother in law – hot ham and cheese2-Sloppy Joe Bowls – No, I haven’t lost my mind. Sloppy joes in the field sounds messy, for sure.That’s why you’re throwing it on top of some rice for an easy, wholesome meal. Serve with somefresh fruit and you’ll have some happy diners. This one’s freezer friendly, too so make a double batchand freeze some for later!Mother - puts the sloppy joe over cornbread3-Grilled Hawaiian Chicken Teriyaki Bowls – This one’s a family favorite! I cut the pineapple andchicken into bite size pieces. It’s a perfect bowl of chicken, veggies and fruit and it’s made on the grillso your kitchen stays clean, yipee!  Serve it over brown rice for a complete meal. 4-Chicken & Broccoli Stir Fry – Stir fry is so forgiving! A few ingredients and you’re good to go. Don’thave something called for on the recipe? Just sub something else out. I promise, no one will mindand in 30 minutes you’ll have a delicious meal on the table, errrr, tractor.5-Turkey, Provolone and Pesto Panini from This Farm Girl Cooks – Deli turkey and jarred pesto make thesesandwiches a breeze. They taste even better at room temperature, in my humble opinion. (COLD)6-Turkey Ranch Club Wraps from Life in the Lofthouse – Simple, easy to prepare and a crowd pleaser. Ifyou’d like, you can switch out the flour tortilla for a low carb or whole wheat tortilla. (COLD)7-Citrus Chicken Quinoa Salad from Sally’s Baking Addiction – This make ahead salad actually gets better asit sits and the flavors intensify. Don’t let the word “salad” scare you. The quinoa and chicken have plenty ofprotein to keep you satisfied. Serve with some pre-roasted veggies and it’s a healthy, wholesome, fillingmeal! (COLD)8-Ham or Egg Salad Sandwiches from Corn, Beans, Pigs and Kids – This is a great way to add some veggiesto the typical egg salad. I love that they’re a mayo substitute, too! (COLD)Mother inlaw – cold meat stacked9-Easy Tex Mex Pasta Salad from Chelsea’s Messy Apron – Delicious and super simple. I mean, the title evensays EASY! That’s enough to sell me on this bow tie pasta salad with corn, beans, tomatoes, cilantro andavocado. If one of those things isn’t your favorite, simply leave it out! (COLD)10-Italian Pinwheels from Tornadoughallie – Pepperoni, ham, provolone and some other goodies madethese an easy lunch idea. Kid friendly, too! (COLD)Bonus 11-Leftover Pizza – This one’s random, but I know my farmer loves a cold slice. I don’t think he’d object tothis for occasional field meals!There you have it – 11 field friendly meals. What’s your favorite go to meal?Made with love, Mother My Mother In-lawTaterTot Caserole Soup in Thermos Want Farm4Profit Merch?  Custom order your favorite items today!https://farmfocused.com/farm-4profit/ Don’t forget to like the podcast on all platforms and leave a review where ever you listen! Website: www.Farm4Profit.comShareable episode link: https://intro-to-farm4profit.simplecast.comEmail address: Farm4profitllc@gmail.comCall/Text: 515.207.9640Subscribe to YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCSR8c1BrCjNDDI_Acku5XqwFollow us on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@farm4profitllc Connect with us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Farm4ProfitLLC/ Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Time Management - delegationIntroductionReminders:Like, rate, review, shareSend to questions farm4profitllc@gmail.comRegister for the conferenceRemember to go out and nominate your farm or someone else’s farm for the  Farm Business Award – application at www.farm4profit.comWhat’s working for Ag – Sean Blomgren – Blomgren SeedBoone County dealer since 1989 carrying Monsanto Hybrids – Dekalb and AsgrowSelf IntroductionTalking about USC Seed Treating SolutionsHigh quality seed treatment gives the grower the opportunity to customize their chemistry to the challenges they may face or the goals they have in place for their crop.  Not a one size fits all program – prescribing to each individual farm.What about this seed treater has been “Working for your business” – boosting your bottom line?How is this seed treater different from others on the market?How can a farmer incorporate this type of seed treating on their farm to boost their bottom lines?Main Topic – Time Management - The only thing we can’t make more of is time.Prioritizing and delegating are two key word concepts that play a big role in gaining more time.  The problem is both of those are very difficult disciplines to master.Brick Theory – Think of your brain as a truck hauling a load of bricks.  Every time you think of something that needs to be done or accomplished you add another brick to the load.  Every time you complete a task you take the brick off the load. Most of the time the pace of the bricks being added to the load is faster than the pace we can complete them and unload.One thing you can do is have a running list of task to be completed.  I use ever note or a shareable note system on my phone. The point of doing this is to keep your mind free of distraction allowing you to be more efficient.  Studies say it takes 15 minutes to refocus on a task once you have been interrupted.  If you have a process in place to write down tasks or store tasks it will minimize distractions.One you have a list of tasks take the time to review them and prioritize them using three categories.  Time sensitive – what must be done first in order for other tasks to fall in place, or because of the time of year (planting), or to keep from something costing more moneyWill it generate more revenue – or will it become cost savings?Does it need to be completed by me or can someone else do it? – Time is money and your time isn’t free.  This concept of figuring out what your time is worth could be a podcast episode all by itself. Could a hired man or subcontractor handle the task will little guidance?  Place the least desirable tasks first thing in your day.  By doing this you get the things done early before you have a chance to push them off.  Also, if you can have someone else do the work for you that frees up more of your time to do high value tasks resulting in a better return on your time investment.Just because you hire someone else to do it doesn’t mean it wouldn’t cost you more to do it yourself. The key is to be productive while the others are taking care of the task.  ExamplesBook work – could be your least favorite and trained professionals may do it fasterLawn mowing – could a lower wage per hour handle thisRepetitive chores – is this a task you could check in on once a week or every 4 days Purchasing livestock – genetics are valuable, don’t let someone else screw up the future of you farm.Field prescriptions – who knows your field better than you doField work – what other management tasks could you be doing for more moneySummarizeUnpack your mind of the floating little reminders by making lists or task buckets. Then you can organize those tasks by importance and what skills are needed to complete them.  Take advantage of a fresh day to knock out the less desirable tasks. This also gives you something to look forward to after they are done, a more fun task. What is the true cost of doing a project yourself versus hiring it done?  The whole key is to make sure your time is spent doing the things that will make your farm more profitable, sometimes that is just thinking and planning for the future.ChallengeWrite down everything you do for 3 weeks.  This will seem like a pain in the ass but it will be a good exercise to see how much is repetitive and what can be delegated or removed.Calculate hourly rate- If you never find yourself with a shortage of things to do take a moment to calculate what your time is worth per hour.  What would someone have to pay you to get you to show up. Then break down the tasks on your to do lists by if you would pay someone that much to do it or not.  The outcome is if you wouldn’t pay someone $30/hour to do that task then you shouldn’t be doing the tasks, hire them done.Build up employees – by assigning responsibility to employees with potential you help them grow and become more productive.  Ultimately getting more out of them for your dollar driving higher levels of farm profitability.Conference Update/Reminder – 12/6/2019 Want Farm4Profit Merch?  Custom order your favorite items today!https://farmfocused.com/farm-4profit/ Don’t forget to like the podcast on all platforms and leave a review where ever you listen! Website: www.Farm4Profit.comShareable episode link: https://intro-to-farm4profit.simplecast.comEmail address: Farm4profitllc@gmail.comCall/Text: 515.207.9640Subscribe to YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCSR8c1BrCjNDDI_Acku5XqwFollow us on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@farm4profitllc Connect with us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Farm4ProfitLLC/ Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. 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8 Ways to Increase Farm Profitability December 5, 2016 Nick HorobFarm Finance<https://www.harvestprofit.com/blog/tags/farm-finance#categories>As we’ve mentioned numerous times, we like to talk about actionable ideas that you can implement in your operation.Here’s a list of eight things that you can do to strengthen your operation for 2017 and beyond.8 - Meet With Your Local Grain MerchandisersMost grain merchandisers I know are a wealth of local market knowledge.  Most are willing and enjoy sharing this information with their farmer suppliers. Here are a few things to ask them about.  *   Inquire about local basis patterns. Basis follows certain local patterns and grain merchandisers can identify certain times of the year for you to target your basis “sales”.  *   Ask them how they manage their spreads. This is an intermediate/advanced topic that many producers should learn more about. Futures spreads play a large role in the P&L of a commercial grain facility. You owe to yourself to learn about them.   *   Ask what you’d need to do to be the producer they call when they really need bushels.  You want to be the person they call when they are filling a train, a short sale, etc. Ask them what it would take to be that producer for them.Schedule a meeting with your local merchandisers this winter.7 - Study Your 2019 Split TestsMost successful producers I know conduct split tests throughout the growing season.  It’s your job to sit down with anyone involved in your agronomy decisions (including sales people) to evaluate and learn from your tests.As you likely know, every growing season is different.  You don’t want to completely change your plan from year-to-year based on results that were based solely on a year-specific weather issue.  You should try to identify trends in your tests from year-to-year rather than making a rash decision (eg. to completely throw out a company’s seed).“If you don’t measure it, you can’t improve it.” You’ve measured it, now learn from it and improve it!Also, I’d be completely open and share your results with neighbors and peers.  Knowledge is going to spread regardless so why not learn as much as possible as soon as you can.6 - Don’t Buy Shit You Don’t NeedNo explanation needed! That includes stuff from us. If you don’t think we’ll add value to your farm, certainly don’t buy our course or software.5 - Shop Your Chemical PlanResistant weeds are costing producers a lot of money these days. They need to be dealt with but it’s my opinion that some producers are scared into buying an A+ mode of action (A+ = expensive!) when a B-quality mode of action (or generic) will work just fine.My recommendation is to solicit a bunch of advice this winter on what chemical plans are working best in your area with a focus on both effectiveness and cost-efficiency.4 - Set SMART Long-Term GoalsIn a business with as much uncertainty as in farming, it is difficult to make confident decisions. During good times, it’s easy to think that they are here to stay and vice versa (today!).These goals can include anything but they should follow the S.M.A.R.T guidelines below.  *   S - Specific  *   M - Measurable  *   A - Attainable  *   R - Relevant  *   T - Time-basedBecoming a better grain marketer is a good goal in theory but it’s not a SMART goal as it’s very hard to measure and it’s not time-based.Having more working capital is another good goal in theory but it’s not a SMART goal as it’s not specific or time-based.Write down your goals and track them! Our favorite old friend, a spreadsheet, is great for simple goal tracking.3 - Send Personalized Letters to All of Your LandlordsMost landlords love to hear from their tenants. They also want to hear how the growing season went on their farm this year.I’d send two personalized letters to your landlords every year.  One in the summer and one in the winter.Include details relevant to their farms, such as:  *   Dates  *   Pictures  *   Details of Improvements  *   Suggestions of Improvements  *   Yield maps  *   Fertility tests  *   Thoughts on the current ag markets  *   Flex rent hints  *   You get the point….You should be using these letters as an opportunity to solidify your business relationship while building and strengthening a personal relationship.Landlords typically don’t give you a lot of advanced notice when they are looking for a new tenant. If they do, they likely already “have one foot out the door.” Spend a few hours a couple times per year building a relationship with them.The key here is to be consistent with your communication. If you promise regular newsletters but fail to deliver, you’re doing more harm than good. If you start, keep it up!2 - Build and/or Update Your Balance SheetThis is very relevant to setting SMART goals. You owe it to your operation to have an easy-to-use balance sheet in place so you can track your goals and evaluate finance/risk management decisions.At the end of the day, your farm’s balance sheet is a no-BS view of your farm’s finances. You should know it backwards and forwards.Don’t rely on the bank to do this for you. You should be in a position to bring a completed balance sheet to your bank with “ownership” (understanding) of every line item.Most of you are likely already doing this but it’s important. So keep it up!Before #1, sign up for our free e-mail newsletter below if you haven’t already.1 - Have a “Living and Breathing” Farm BudgetI’ve thoroughly reviewed the financials of farms raising crops on 1+ million acres.The #1 trait I’ve seen in the most financially successful operations is the ability to make unemotional, numbers-based farm business and risk management decisions.It’s true that grain markets don’t care about one producer’s cost of production or balance sheet, but….…..it’s our opinion that farming is more profitable and productive (and fun!) for proactive, numbers-focused operations. Want Farm4Profit Merch?  Custom order your favorite items today!https://farmfocused.com/farm-4profit/ Don’t forget to like the podcast on all platforms and leave a review where ever you listen! Website: www.Farm4Profit.comShareable episode link: https://intro-to-farm4profit.simplecast.comEmail address: Farm4profitllc@gmail.comCall/Text: 515.207.9640Subscribe to YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCSR8c1BrCjNDDI_Acku5XqwFollow us on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@farm4profitllc Connect with us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Farm4ProfitLLC/ Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.