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Agricultural business management : publication

Agricultural Commodity Futures Contract Specifications

Farmers and agribusinesses, learn about commodity exchange markets and contract specifications for selected farm commodities common to Missouri in this guide.

Agriculture and the Occupational Safety and Health Act

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.

An Introduction to Basis

Discover how agricultural commodity basis applies to crops and livestock and affects your farm's production, forward pricing, hedging and storage decisions.

Basics of Missouri Agricultural Cooperatives

Learn how to start and operate an agricultural cooperative under Missouri law, and read about farm co-op members' rights and board of director responsibilities.

Beef Feeding Profitability Tracker

Learn how to use the Beef Feeding Profitability Tracker tool, a financial analysis spreadsheet tool for small to mid-size cattle feeders to use free of charge.

Break-even Pricing, Revenue and Units

This guide explains how to calculate break-even price, revenue, and unit sales for value-added agricultural products.

Building Sustainable Farms, Ranches and Communities

Learn about funding offered by federal programs in support of agricultural and forestry innovations, specifically, program resources in community development; sustainable land management; and value-added and diversified agriculture and forestry.

Calculating the Value of Manure as a Fertilizer Source

Use this worksheet to estimate the value of manure nutrients (nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium) and gauge how much manure to apply to corn, wheat, soybeans.

Cash Rental Rates in Missouri

Updated with 2024 survey data, this guide provides average cash rental rates for Missouri cropland and pastureland, aiding informed lease decisions.

Clarifying Roles in Family Farm Businesses

Strong family businesses communicate to separate their family roles and expectations from business roles. Read about common family business conflicts and find steps to address tension in this publication.

Commodity Futures and Options Terminology

Check out this glossary of commodity futures and options keywords and their definitions to broaden your understanding of agricultural commodities markets.

Controlled Environment Agriculture: Hydroponic Farming

Learn about ways to grow vegetables, fruits and related crops in indoor hydroponic systems and environmental control considerations for managing production.

Corn and Soybean Replant Decisions

Find out what options you have when wet spring weather causes poor crop germination. Whether you replant depends on seed variety, weather and insurance.

Custom Rates for Farm Services in Missouri

Get custom service rates for fieldwork, planting, fertilizer, crop harvesting, hauling and heavy equipment activities from a survey of farmers, agribusinesses and contractors.

Dairy Grazing: Dairy Career Paths

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: Economics of Pasture-Based Dairies

Insights into managing the economics of pasture-based dairy farming, emphasizing strategies to control feed and labor costs for profitability.

Dairy Grazing: Keys to Building a Profitable Pasture-Based Dairy

Discover four characteristics of profitable pasture-based dairies: system design, focused investments, cost control and careful approach to financial leverage.

Days Suitable for Fieldwork in Missouri

Learn the number of days Missouri farms have available per week—due to weather and soil conditions—for tillage, planting, chemical application and harvest activities.

Economic Budgeting for Agroforestry Practices

See the steps and examples you can follow to develop enterprise budgets, create a cashflow plan and estimate economic indicators for agroforestry practices.

Economics of Drone Ownership for Agricultural Spray Applications

Estimate the cost of using drones for agricultural spraying with this guide, covering equipment investment, maintenance, and per-acre expenses.

Farmers’ Liability for Their Animals

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.

Farmland Values for Midwestern States

Find farmland value price trends in Missouri and other Midwestern states since 1912.

Field Borders for Agronomic, Economic and Wildlife Benefits

Learn how to make and maintain field borders to reduce soil erosion, protect soil and water quality and provide wildlife and pollinator habitat.

Funding Agricultural Business Development With Federal and State Grants

Grant programs allow agricultural businesses and farmers to seek funding that supports business development and may complement other business financing.

Harnessing Social Media to Drive Sales

Ready to make your social media presence drive results for your business? Read this guide to learn how to set goals and strategies, craft action-inspiring content, leverage a content calendar and evaluate performance for future success.

Increasing Drought Resilience Through Conservation Practices: Opportunities With Federal Conservation Programs

Help your farming operation become more drought resilient by learning about conservation programs and practices and the answers to frequently asked questions.

Introduction to Beef Cow Leases

​Leasing beef cows can be a cost-effective strategy for new or expanding producers, offering reduced capital investment and risk compared to purchasing.

Introduction to Hedging Agricultural Commodities With Futures

Hedging farm commodities in the futures market can reduce producers' price and production risk. Learn about hedging, hedging costs and when to hedge.

Introduction to Hedging Agricultural Commodities With Options

"Learn how agricultural producers can use commodity options to manage price volatility and reduce financial risk in their operations.

Introduction to Wind Energy Leases

Learn what Missouri landowners should consider before entering into utility-scale wind energy agreements. Wind agreements have implications for land use, finances, liability, environment, and the community.

Landowners’ Guide to Lease Hunting in Missouri

If you're leasing property for hunting, then learn about lease arrangement options, prices or rates to charge, liability, and how to write a contract.

Leasing Land for Solar Energy Development

Leasing land to develop utility-scale solar energy farms is becoming more common in Missouri. Learn what landowners should consider before entering into utility-scale solar energy development land leases.

Long Hedge Example With Futures

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.

Long Hedge Example With Options

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.

Market Channels for Locally Raised Foods

Sell Missouri vegetables via CSAs; U-pick sales; on-farm, roadside, farmers markets; co-ops; wholesale auctions; restaurants, institutions, supermarkets.

Member Control of Cooperatives: What It Means and How It Is Exercised

Learn how participation and interest are essential to agricultural cooperative members controlling the co-op and ensuring the co-op serves their interests.

Missouri Farm Labor Guide

Learn good human resource practices related to employee recruitment, hiring, onboarding, training and termination that your farm or agribusiness can use.

Missouri Farmland Values

Find farmland values for Missouri and its counties from USDA since 1959. Learn methods of estimating historical county values for years not reported.

Missouri Farmland Values Opinion Survey

Find Missouri cropland, pasture, timberland and hunting or recreation land values reported by surveyed agricultural lenders, rural appraisers and farmers.

Missouri Grazing Manual

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.

Missouri Slaughter and Inspection Requirements for Livestock and Poultry Producers

Missouri meat producers must register and meet inspection requirements to sell meat legally. Learn about species-specific regulations and compliance.

Optimizing Fertilizer Value of Manure from Slurry Hog Finishing Operations

See recommendations for applying manure on corn, soybeans or fescue. Learn how to maximize slurry manure’s value and assess its storage and application cost.

Planificación de Negocios para Parcelas Pequeñas en Missouri

Aprenda por qué la planificación empresarial en torno al mercadeo, los activos y la rentabilidad es importante para lanzar con éxito una empresa de pequeña escala.

Post, Engage, Grow: A Social Media Primer

Grow your business’s visibility with social media. This guide can help you choose the right platform, build an online presence and engage your audience. Learn how to connect with customers and turn social media into a springboard for marketing success.

Pricing Corn Silage

Learn how to price corn silage whether it's in the field or delivered to storage or the feed bunk, and see how drought can damage a corn silage crop.

Purchasing and Leasing Farm Equipment

Deciding between buying or leasing farm equipment? Learn about purchase plans, rental agreements, lease agreements, tax and financial considerations and more.

Refining Market Channel Selections Based on Cost

Agricultural entrepreneurs can estimate their cost of accessing market channels with this tool to set product prices, plan for marketing investments, and evaluate sales strategies.

Selecting an Appropriate Pricing Strategy

This guide outlines how to set prices for value-added agricultural products by analyzing costs, customer demand, and competition.

Short Hedge Example With Futures

Learn how to place a short hedge in the futures market to lock in a price when selling a farm product or commodity that will be delivered in the future.

Short Hedge Example With Options

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.

Short-Term Operating Plan for Farms and Ranches

Download a short-term operating plan workbook you can use to prepare your farm or ranch for operating if decision makers are unable to make short-term choices.

Small Acreage Business Planning in Missouri

Learn why business planning around marketing, assets and profitability is important for launching a successful small acreage enterprise. Be sure to envision your goals as you consider enterprises.

Starting and Operating a Farmers Market: Frequently Asked Questions

Learn what makes a farmers market successful. Get tips about how to start or improve a market to make local food available in your community.

Succession Planning for Woodland Owners

Learn how to transition a family-owned forest to the next generation by assembling a succession team, using estate planning tools and outlining tasks for forest owners.

Understanding Casualty Loss of Timber

See how adjusted basis and fair market value affect how to account for losing timber to fires, storms, floods, vandalism or other events in your tax return.

Verbal Farm Rental Agreements Under Missouri Law

Learn about the problems and risks associated with informal verbal farm leases, and see the minimum requirements to include in a basic written lease.
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