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For the Future of Your Farm – Attend the Ag Edge Farm Business Seminar in Willmar, MN Feb. 17-18

January 15, 2014 by Summer

“Farming is a system — a dynamic one — requiring increasing management skills. Plan forward for success, integrating the systems of your business with the people in and around your business.”

Ag-Edge-SM-WSS-CCICorn Capital Innovations is excited to be co-sponsoring the Ag Edge Farm Business Seminar  with Water Street Solutions on February 17-18th, 2014 in Willmar, Minnesota. To have a conference of this caliber right in your own backyard is something you don’t want to miss!

Attending Ag Edge will provide you with a lot of usable content on a variety of topics that you deal with every year.  Imagine getting quality information that will take your farming business to the next level, plus actual ideas that you can put to use immediately! Learn from CCI’s own Scott and Steve O’Neill at the Agronomy Round Table.

Key Reasons to Attend:

  • Invest In You
  • Plan forward for success on your farm
  • Build relationships with other farmers
  • Increase management skills
  • Learn how to survive and thrive in a family business
  • Leverage your business relationships with landlords & lenders

Learning Sessions:

  • “Farm Metrics You Can Count On.” Darren Frye, Water Street Solutions President & CEO
  • “Managing in the Great Super Cycle of Agriculture.” Dr. David Kohl, Professor Emeritius, Ag Economics, Virginia Tech
  • “Making Sense of the Markets.” Arlan Suderman, Respected Analyst
  • “Top Ten Stupid Things Families Do to Break Up Their Business?” Jolene Brown, CSP

Seminar Information:

Do you plan on attending the more than eight learning sessions and upgrading your competitive advantage?

See you in February!

Categories: General | Tags: , ,

In Life You Get What You Give

December 19, 2013 by Summer

In celebration of another great year, we held our appreciation event last week with our amazing clients, co-workers and friends.  The event was a wonderful success and we truly are grateful for your patronage over the last year.

We hope that you enjoyed V.J. Smith as much as all of us from Corn Capital Innovations did!  He was such a powerful speaker! If you were unable to attend the event, we found the perfect video to show you what we all learned that evening.  This seven minute clip is full of snippets of what V.J. shared with us in Olivia.  He introduced us to Marty, the richest man in town.  Being loved, respected and content with every part of his life, with no regrets – that is what makes a rich man and that is Marty; a cashier at Wal-mart!

VJ Smith – The Richest Man in Town

We wanted to make this evening inspiring; something for you to really enjoy and connect with.  It’s our way of saying thank you! Please enjoy our collection of photos from the event below.

Here are a few quotes from V.J. Smith’s speech that caught our attention:
“It doesn’t take talent to hustle.”
“Farm kids grew up hustling, always did and always will!”
“People need to decide to get happy.”
“Remember, in life you get what you give!”

How were you as inspired by Marty’s story?  Was there a quote from V.J. Smith’s speech that you connected with? Please share in the comments. We wish you all a wonderful holiday season!

 

Categories: General, Mindset | Tags: , , , , , , ,

During the Holidays Take Time to Reflect

December 11, 2013 by Summer

Many of you can relate to the memorable and historical moments that took place in farming this past year. During this holiday season we want to encourage all of you to give yourself a special gift, the gift of some time out. Time out to reflect on this past year and acknowledge what went really well for you, the opportunities you created and the wins you’ve had along the way. The gift of this time is the opportunity to look forward, and design what you want for your farm for the next year.  If you could do anything for your operation, what would it look like?

Categories: General | Tags: , , , , ,

Complacent or Compliant on Your Plan for 2014 and Beyond?

November 22, 2013 by Steve

triangleBeing complacent is being satisfied with how things are and not wanting to change them. Being compliant is being willing to and agreeing to change.

The Ag Market we have experienced in the last 3-5 years, being complacent may have still worked.  In these last years the market and revenue was on an upswing, we had short crops and higher revenues.  American Farmers have experienced the biggest corn and bean crops in history, however, with the declining value (market prices) and margin potential, we must say “good-bye” to complacency and “hello” to agreeing to change and being compliant!

One of my favorite quotes is “Insanity:  doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.” by Albert Einstein

 

If we don’t quickly become compliant and start doing those things that make a difference we will not find profitability in 2014, 2015 and beyond.

What can we do?  Minimize our losses!

  • Keep an eye on your breakeven price
  • Have a proactive marketing plan in place
  • Re-invest wisely
  • Negotiate cash rent prices
  • Watch debt and take advantage of lower interest rates
  • Have a risk management plan in place
  • Most importantly, out produce those around you

With profit margins becoming tighter (crop input costs moving up and crop prices moving down) the farmers that are willing to be compliant, manage their margins, and make a plan for the future are the ones that can expect success, even in a volatile world.

Thinking about maximizing the opportunities the market gives you, keeping an eye on break evens, minimizing mistakes and healing mistakes that have been made, will put you ahead for the coming years.  A $50 mistake from the past is really like a $150 mistake now, because lost margin is creating a negative impact. Farming is a tough business and I think all business out there struggle from time to time.  How will you work through these struggles?

There are four components of profitability that are within your control:

  1. Production
  2. Crop Insurance
  3. Grain Marketing
  4. Financial Analysis

We specifically tailor these four components to each individual farming strategy.  Let us work with you to create a positive impact on your overall operation for 2014 and beyond!

Categories: Farm Profitability, General, Mindset | Tags: , ,

Notes From the Field

October 20, 2013 by Summer

Corn on Corn next year? Have you scouted or sprayed to see what type of rootworm pressure you could face next year, now is the time to plan on how to manage these pest’s next year!
Root Worm

Corn on CornHow deep can you get your corn kernal’s to flex?  High yields live in keeping your plants feed properly and stress free,  what have you done to keep your plants alive in adverse weather?
Kernel Flex

Stop and count a hundred plants in each of your fields this falls, count back the number of full ear’s, the percentage of full ear production will be your baseline for improvement for next year’s crop, to obtain a high full ear count you must have a plan before the combine rolls!
Count One HundredRESIDUE MANAGEMENT (36) the combine is the first pass to setting up the planter, is your residue chopped, sized, and distributed evenly across the field?
Residue Management

Salford in corn stalks a vertical tillage pass in the fall will help shatter the soil and cut and size residue to the primary tillage tool will work more efficient.
Vertical Tillage

Bring a shovel with when your working the ground this fall, do some investigation as to where you are putting the residue from this year’s crop!
Shovel
RESIDUE MANAGEMENT (36) the combine is the first pass to setting up the planter, is your residue chopped, sized, and distributed evenly across the field?
First Pass

Keep in mind that the tillage you do this fall will impact next year’s crop, proper fall tillage will equate to huge yield differences next year.
Fall Tileage

Keep you soil structure in place in a dry year, level fall tillage with no huge bolders is a must to obtain perfect planting conditions next spring.
Soil Structure

We hope that you continue to have a safe harvest time and remember, contact us to help you with your 2014 crop plan!

Corn Capital Innovations; A great hand in farming!

Categories: General | Tags:

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