The following publications cover topics related to Agricultural Business and Policy Extension. For a complete list of MU Extension publications, visit the main Publications page.
Selecting an Appropriate Pricing Strategy
Revised
This guide outlines how to set prices for value-added agricultural products by analyzing costs, customer demand, and competition.
Agriculture and the Occupational Safety and Health Act
Revised
Missouri farms and ranches must have a safety and health program that complies with OSHA rules, regulations and standards if they have employees. Read this FAQ for details.
Introduction to Hedging Agricultural Commodities With Options
Revised
"Learn how agricultural producers can use commodity options to manage price volatility and reduce financial risk in their operations.
Missouri Robotic Dairy Business Plans
New
View these plans to learn how to use labor-saving robotic milking systems and confinement housing to improve cow comfort and remove barriers for producing more milk.
Verbal Farm Rental Agreements Under Missouri Law
Revised
Learn about the problems and risks associated with informal verbal farm leases, and see the minimum requirements to include in a basic written lease.
Missouri 3,500-Cow Dairy Business Plan
New
With this plan, think through how to start a dairy using confinement housing: freestalls with sand bedding and tunnel ventilation to improve cow comfort and cooling.
Missouri 400-Cow Dairy and 690-Cow Dairy Business Plans
New
Use these Missouri dairy plans to improve cow comfort and cooling and remove milk production barriers in 400 or 690 herd sizes.
Purchasing and Leasing Farm Equipment
Reviewed
Deciding between buying or leasing farm equipment? Learn about purchase plans, rental agreements, lease agreements, tax and financial considerations and more.
Starting a 300-Cow Intensive Rotational Grazing Dairy
Revised
Examine costs and returns for starting a 300-cow intensive rotational grazing Missouri dairy using capital investment assumptions and financial statements.
Break-even Pricing, Revenue and Units
Revised
This guide explains how to calculate break-even price, revenue, and unit sales for value-added agricultural products.
Commodity Futures and Options Terminology
Revised
Check out this glossary of commodity futures and options keywords and their definitions to broaden your understanding of agricultural commodities markets.
Designing a Farm Resume for Print and Online
Revised
Introduce yourself and your qualifications as a farm renter. Follow these tips to create a paper resume or LinkedIn profile for sharing with landowners.
Starting a 150-Cow Intensive Rotational Grazing Dairy
Revised
Examine costs and returns for starting a 150-cow intensive rotational grazing Missouri dairy using capital investment assumptions and financial statements.
Dairy Grazing: Economics of Pasture-Based Dairies
Reviewed
Insights into managing the economics of pasture-based dairy farming, emphasizing strategies to control feed and labor costs for profitability.
Missouri Grazing Manual
Reviewed $20
Learn how soil, forages and animals interact in grazing systems, and get ideas for improving pasture quality and extending the grazing season for beef or dairy.
Short Hedge Example With Options
Revised
Learn how to place an output (short) hedge in the options market to reduce price risk when selling a product or commodity produced by your farm or business.
Introduction to Hedging Agricultural Commodities With Futures
Revised
Hedging farm commodities in the futures market can reduce producers' price and production risk. Learn about hedging, hedging costs and when to hedge.
Long Hedge Example With Options
Revised
See examples of how to place a long hedge in the options market to lock in a price when buying an agricultural input used on your farm or agribusiness.
Agricultural Commodity Futures Contract Specifications
Revised
Farmers and agribusinesses, learn about commodity exchange markets and contract specifications for selected farm commodities common to Missouri in this guide.
Long Hedge Example With Futures
Revised
Learn how to place a long hedge in the futures market to reduce the price risk associated with buying an input in this guide for farmers and agribusinesses.
Farmers’ Liability for Their Animals
Revised
Animal owners can have legal liability for acts of their livestock or pets. Learn about animal owner responsibilities, how to protect yourself from a lawsuit.
Dairy Grazing: Dairy Career Paths
Revised
Discover how to move toward owning or partnering in a grazing dairy by working as an employee, managing a farm, contract milking or sharemilking.
Dairy Grazing: Keys to Building a Profitable Pasture-Based Dairy
Revised
Discover four characteristics of profitable pasture-based dairies: system design, focused investments, cost control and careful approach to financial leverage.
Calculating the Value of Manure as a Fertilizer Source
Revised
Use this worksheet to estimate the value of manure nutrients (nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium) and gauge how much manure to apply to corn, wheat, soybeans.
Farm Liability Insurance
New
Learn how to manage risk and protect your farm with liability insurance. Understand who is covered, what damages are covered and general liability insurance exclusions.