FamilyFarms Group is not just one producer; we are an organized group of many quality agriculture producers working together to become better, both collectively and individually. At FamilyFarms Group, we connect our members with like-minded family farming operations across North America, forming an invaluable ag peer group that you won’t find anywhere else.

Our agriculture peer group provides the perfect avenue for sharing ideas about how to grow your business and remain sustainable. FamilyFarms Group is composed of an elite group of operators who believe in the value of preserving the family farm and who work together to ensure success for all members, not just themselves. For many of our members, this farm peer group is the most valuable part of being a member of FamilyFarms Group.

“FamilyFarms has given us a network bigger than I ever imagined.” – FamilyFarms Ag Peer Group member

What the FamilyFarms Ag Peer Group Can Do for You

FamilyFarms Group members have found networking among our advanced Ag peer group to be invaluable. In addition to collaborating with other family farm operators, FamilyFarms Group members also have access to top agriculture business consultants, resources, and subject-matter experts who guide them toward their production and profit goals. Our members repeatedly assert that learning from the extensive knowledge base of our Ag peer group is one of the top benefits of joining FamilyFarms Group.

Our elite Ag Peer Group provides our members:

• An extensive network of progressive-thinking family farm operators across North America
• Access to top business consultants working to help you increase profit
• An ever-expanding agriculture knowledge base
• Opportunities to learn success strategies from thriving family farm operators
• Valuable support from agriculture producers who share the same family values

Working Together Toward a New Vision for the Family Farm

“FamilyFarms has expanded my vision of what my farm can be and opened my eyes to a lot more potential.” – FamilyFarms Ag Peer Group member

Working together, we can provide a new vision for the family farm – one that sees farming families back at the center of agriculture production in North America. Our advanced Ag peer group is just one of the many benefits of becoming a FamilyFarms producer.

You don’t have to go it alone. FamilyFarms Group is here to help your farm succeed – today and for many generations to come. Learn more about joining FamilyFarms Ag Peer Group.

FamilyFarms Group wants to help your family farm successfully compete in the rapidly changing row crop production industry. Let us serve you.

Our Ag producer services are specifically tailored to help family agriculture producers succeed. We offer a unique mix of Ag producer services to help our cooperative of agricultural producers grow their businesses. Our Ag producer service experts are available to help you succeed in all areas of the agriculture producer business.

MANAGEMENT
FamilyFarms Group will help you plan, organize, staff, lead, and control your farming operation. Our Ag producer services are geared toward helping you focus on future opportunities so you don’t become overwhelmed by past problems. We will help you create an action plan for growing your business – defining your critical objectives and assigning essential tasks.

Don’t worry; we’ll move at your pace toward your vision. Along the way, we’ll provide you with the training, tools, and expert coaching you need to grow your farm business.

As part of our Ag producer services, FamilyFarms Group offers General Manager training to help you identify the best candidate for the job. Then, we will help your GM develop the skills needed to effectively run your farming business. In addition, we help agriculture producers set estate planning and succession goals, delineate asset ownership, and coordinate interactions with various outside professionals, such as lenders, attorneys, accountants, tax planners, insurance agents, and governmental compliance experts.

OPERATIONS
As an extensive network of like-minded, growth-oriented producers, FamilyFarms Group has access to the most current, state-of-the-art information on agriculture production practices available. One aspect of our Ag producer services is sharing that information with you. At the same time, we give you direct access to other farm operators with whom you can collaborate and share best practices.

FamilyFarms Group offers valuable Ag producer services, resources, and a sounding board where you can share ideas on equipment, inputs, agronomic practices, and new agricultural technology. In addition, our Operations Manager training will provide your current or prospective Operations Manager with the skills and knowledge needed to effectively manage your farm’s operations.

CROP SALES
FamilyFarms Group will work with you to develop an effective Sales Plan to meet your revenue objectives. Your Sales Plan will define the steps needed to maximize the value of your crops. We will also help you define and implement strategies for maximizing revenues. For example, that might mean growing specialty or added-value crops, which are grown by some FamilyFarms Group members.

BUSINESS MARKETING
No matter what your growth goals are, you’ll find there are significantly more acres available in your immediate area than what you might think. FamilyFarms Group Ag producer services include a session dedicated to writing a Marketing and Business Development Plan to help you set your goals, identify the right approach, and outline the best guidelines for growing your business. We also offer Ag producer services and training to help you grow your acres, retain your acreage, get involved in your community, and prepare for a crisis or emergency.

HUMAN RESOURCES
FamilyFarms Group Ag producer services include training and on-farm consultation for the people side of your business. We can help you to minimize your personnel-related legal risk and maximize your employees’ output. We can also help you develop a well-defined Human Resources plan. Having the right Human Resources tools in place will allow your farm to grow in an organized way. Moreover, using proper hiring techniques, job descriptions, organization charts, and communication of performance expectations will allow your farm to transition to the next level with minimum impact on employees.

The result will be improved employee productivity, retention, and morale.

FINANCES
Are you getting what you need from your financial systems?

The keys to effective financial systems are a qualified accounting staff, proper training, and in-depth analysis tools, including benchmarking and budgeting. As your farming operation grows, the financial complexity will increase. It is important to build a foundation of sound financial principles before your operation becomes too big to manage. We have Ag producer services in place to help you get started on the right track financially and prosper.

CREDIT
One of the biggest concerns for farm operations is securing sufficient operating funds through farm financing. Whether your financial needs will be met through a grant, an operating line of credit, or potential investors, FamilyFarms Group may be able to help.

FamilyFarms Group is committed to helping your farm grow – today and for many generations to come. Learn more about becoming a FamilyFarms Group member, where you’ll be able to take advantage of our exclusive Ag producer services.

When FamilyFarms Group first got started, our members often teased about going to “farm school” because Ag education and training are such a vital part of our program. However, the Ag education FarmilyFarms group members receive is much, much more than just farm school.

No other organization offers the variety and quality of agriculture education courses that we offer. What’s more, we don’t just send our members off to an Ag education class and walk away. We help you to implement the sustainable agriculture research and education you have acquired with us through one-on-one coaching at your farm operation.

“Family Farms has helped make us better managers of our employees, and as a result, our employees are more productive, know better what to focus on, and hence are happier as well.” – Jana Cott, FamilyFarms Group member

Elite Ag Education Training Courses

The FamilyFarms Group agriculture network strives to help your family farm remain sustainable. Agriculture education courses teach you the valuable skills you need to improve your operation. Our agricultural education lesson plans include specialized training in:

• business development
• public relations
• human resources
• crop sales
• and more

Currently, 18 Ag education training classes are offered regionally on a regular basis. In addition, FamilyFarms Group offers advanced training for General Managers, Operations Managers, and Senior Financial Managers of Ag operations. This elite training is not available to farms outside of our agricultural network.  Additionally, you will gain access to a number of vendor education courses in financial management, crop planning, risk management, and other areas.

“The GM program has been the most valuable training program that we have participated in within FamilyFarms. The close networking with farms experiencing similar ‘growing pains’ has given us invaluable knowledge and confidence moving forward with our aggressive aspirations. Jeff [FamilyFarms Group GM Ag education coach] has been great at getting us to think in terms of a professional business in all aspects of our operation. We have a long way to go, but this time has been a terrific investment to ‘move the ball down the field,’ as Jeff puts it.” – FamilyFarms Group member

Exclusive Ag Education Conferences

Not only do FamilyFarms members have access to elite Ag education and training year-round, but they can also take part in two exclusive agriculture conferences each year – winter and summer. Each conference has several large-group sessions and numerous breakout sessions that focus on different areas of your farm operation. We bring in the top experts in the industry to present groundbreaking information on cutting-edge issues, such as sustainable agriculture research.

Here’s what some of our members had to say about our 2012 Winter Ag Education Conference in St. Louis, MO:

• “fantastic speakers and sessions”
• “great breakouts”
• “positive and challenging”
• “balance between education/social”
• “no other conference gets it all”
• “everyone is on the same page”
• “good quality education training”
• “best conference I have attended so far”

You don’t want to miss one of the best Ag education conferences in the country. Check out the information below on our upcoming Ag education conferences. We’d love for you to join us.

Learning the Skills for Success

When you become a member of FamilyFarms Group, we will provide the Ag education you need to develop the necessary business skills for row crop farming success. As a new member, you will complete a strategic analysis, called SWOT, which will help you better understand the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats related to your farming operation. You will also develop a professional business plan and organization charts to help you better manage your operation.

By joining FamilyFarms Group, you will gain access to extensive Ag education opportunities you won’t find anywhere else:

• Elite Ag education training courses
• One-on-one coaching
• Exclusive agriculture education conferences
• Tailored business plans
• The latest in how to remain sustainable, agriculture research, and education

FamilyFarms Group can teach you the skills for success – today and for many generations to come. Learn more about joining FamilyFarms Group and to take advantage of our exclusive Ag education opportunities.

A valuable aspect of being part of the FamilyFarms Group Ag network is benchmarking your farm with other producers across the country. As one of the top agriculture networks in North America, we set the standard for the family farming business.

The areas we benchmark include:

• financial performance
• purchasing effectiveness
• landowner/business development
• operational productivity
• human resources
• and more

By becoming a member of our extensive Ag network, you can see how your farm stacks up against some of the most productive family farms in the row crop industry. As each individual Ag network member grows and achieves success, the benchmark is set higher, which motivates all other members to work harder.

When one member succeeds, all ag network members benefit from that success.  As a result, the Family Farms Group agriculture network as a whole is much more influential than any one individual member.

Connecting and Sharing with Other Ag Network Members

Our goal is to help your traditional family farm be sustainable. Agriculture network best-practice sharing is instrumental to this endeavor. The FamilyFarms Group Ag network provides a variety of opportunities for meeting with like-minded family farm operators. Producers who share a vision for what the row crop industry is becoming and how they can position themselves to successfully compete into the future will share best practices with others in their peer group through both formal and informal interaction.

Access to Invaluable Resources

As a member of our Ag network, you gain access to many invaluable resources not accessible on your own. These include business experts, training courses, and of course, an elite agriculture network of family farm operators from across North America. Moreover, our Ag network also allows us to represent a large number of growers when we go to the marketplace to negotiate buying deals and access for capital. This translates into lower costs and more operating capital for all our members.

We’re all in this together. FamilyFarms Group wants to help your farm succeed – today and for many generations to come. Learn more about joining FamilyFarms Group Ag network.

FamilyFarms Group is committed to helping family farm producers successfully compete in the rapidly changing row crop production industry. Our producer services are specifically tailored to help family agriculture producers succeed.

Not only do we offer business consultation and training to help our cooperative agricultural producers get started on the right track. But we will also work with you to ensure our strategies for success are effectively implemented. The producer solutions offered by FamilyFarms Group are proven to help family agriculture producers increase profits and gain a competitive edge in the row crop production industry.

“Our son wanted to come back to the farm. We needed to be larger, better organized, and better skilled, while still keeping solid family relations for this to happen. Today we run a larger business, our son and his wife are both employed full time on the farm, as well as our daughter, and we are exploring our other daughter coming back to the farm as well. FamilyFarms Group is truly helping us ‘Keep families on the farm’” – Stan Mehmen, FamilyFarms Group agriculture producer

FamilyFarms Group Wants to See Your Farm Grow

And our producer services are the first step in getting you there

The producer services offered by FamilyFarms Group have a proven record of success. Our producer solutions are geared toward making your farm bigger, better, and more profitable while also reinforcing the strong family values held by our cooperative agricultural producers.

Our number one goal is keeping families on the farm. We do this by helping those family farms successfully compete in the row crop industry.

The benefits of our agricultural producer services include:

• Enhancing profits – FamilyFarms Group offers valuable economic benefits and competitive advantages that increase farm profitability: lowered input costs, enhanced revenue crop sales, specialty contracts, vendor discounts on equipment purchases and leasing, and other benefits that come from economies of scale.
• Reducing risk – FamilyFarms Group offers solutions to help agriculture producers implement risk management tools, such as producers agriculture insurance, entity structure, and other procedures and processes.
• Promoting legacy – FamilyFarms Group strives to allow producers for as long as future generations intend to farm. We help our producers learn how best to protect the soil, water, wildlife, and other natural resources to leave the best possible legacy to the next generation of producers.
• Building value – Our producer solutions are proven to help family agriculture producers increase the value of their family farms beyond what is invested in equipment and land.

When You Need that Little Extra Push to Move Forward

“FamilyFarms for us has been like having a personal trainer in the gym. They have helped us with the mechanics that needed improvement and pushed us toward succeeding with things we didn’t think we could do on our own. They give us that extra push to build the muscle we need to grow our business.” – Rebecca Crownover, FamilyFarms Group agriculture producer

FamilyFarms Group is the only complete family farm solution. We offer family-centered producer solutions for almost all areas of farm operation, business training and education, a coach to give you that little extra push as you grow your farm, and an unmatched agricultural peer group.

Through the producer services we offer, you will gain economic benefits and competitive advantages that are not available through any other advocacy group, co-op, agriculture network, or ag peer group. Plus, you will get our commitment to helping keep your family on the farm.

FamilyFarms Group is committed to helping your farm succeed – today and for many generations to come.  Learn more about becoming a FamilyFarms Group producer.

Farms, like any business, naturally want to grow. It’s obvious why any good producer would want to gain more acreage. It allows for bigger and better yields. So with this in mind, it is a wonder why many farms don’t actively work toward gaining more acres.

Don’t just wait for more acreage to fall into your lap.

Many farm families instead choose to wait for acres to come to them. They think it is enough to simply hope that they will hear about opportunities as other farmers retire.

Some farm families only have one particular lease arrangement with all landowners while others have multiple versions of every lease type. Farm families need to make a fundamental decision if their lease type is a deal breaker, and their landowners will need to do the same.

Asking their landowners of their preferred lease type is an obvious and effective way to taking another step closer to finding the right lease for your family farm. Perhaps an even better question is to ask them WHY they prefer that type or what led them to selecting that lease arrangement in the past.

There are three different types of leases, and each has its advantages and disadvantages. Here are the advantages and disadvantages for each lease in the perspectives of the landowner, tenant, and both!

Crop Share Lease

Advantages – Both landowner and tenant can enjoy more of a true partnership and better communication when they use this type of lease. There is a higher potential for revenue, and the landowner is more involved with the decisions regarding production, purchasing, and marketing. Tenants can enjoy a fair “rent paid” since this lease is production-based, and the costs are typically split. The landowner will also share the risk with the tenant, but they may also expect you to farm their land first.

Disadvantages – This sort of lease is kind of difficult to navigate as both landowner and tenant will need to track the costs, FSA paperwork, and more. Landowner and tenant alike will have to work together to make certain decisions together and agree on crop share splits, which may be tough if they have different ideas and philosophies, and determining the costs for drying, transporting, and storing crops can be problematic. Landowners may also be unsure of the amount of money they will receive each year as they are sharing in the risk, and there is always a potential to make less if there are poor yields or a downturn in market prices (or both). Tenants could end up paying more here than in the other lease types, and the FSA payment is shared with landowner.

Straight Cash Lease:

Advantages – This sort of lease is the simplest of all and allows for the easiest budgeting. Landowners have virtually no risk (unless if their tenant doesn’t pay); they have the highest GUARANTEED income, and they are relieved of virtually all decisions except for terms of the lease and capital improvements. Tenants can enjoy the freedom to make any and all cropping and production decisions and not so much record-keeping. They also will receive all of the FSA direct payments.

Disadvantages – A fair lease is hard to determine with volatility in grain markets and input prices and perhaps should be determined annually. Cash rents are likely to be too low in times of rising prices and increasing yields, and too high in times of decreasing/low prices or yields. Landowners also have the least amount of control and involvement in this type of lease. Their soil conservation efforts cannot be expenses, and they must be capitalized into the value of the land. Tenants have a decent likelihood of overpaying or underpaying for the land and assume virtually all risk. They also usually require more working capital if the rents are due at the beginning of the cropping season.

Flex Lease

Advantages – The rent that is paid and received is in direct proportion to the yields received or the market prices available or both. This lease is also simpler than the crop share lease and provides the opportunity for longer term leases as the need to renegotiate the rent as frequently to make sure it is fair is eliminated. Landowners have a guaranteed income component and even the potential for an increased income. While they share in some of the risk, the risk is usually fairly limited. Tenants have the freedom to make all the cropping and production decisions and don’t bear all of the risks alone. This lease also improves working capital positions since the flex portion of the rent paycheck isn’t paid until harvest.

Disadvantages – Landowners and tenants must agree on the base amount and method to determine the “flex amount” or bonus, and verifying the accuracy of the yields can prove to be difficult. Landowners may not know how much they’ll receive each year, and the guaranteed revenue is not as high for landowners. There is also a certain amount of tracking that may be necessary for the landowner to do. For tenants, there is a possible risk of base rent being over the amount determined by yields or market prices, and flex leases based only on yields or only on market prices can actually INCREASE the tenant’s risk.

If your preference and your landowner’s preference don’t align, then this list of pros and cons of each lease type may be of assistance in guiding them and you toward the type that’s best for you!

And as always, if you need any further assistance or have more questions, feel free to call us here at FamilyFarms at 1-877-221-FARM.

Saving money; we all strive to do that in our lives, especially in our present economy. We try to find innovative ways to cut back money in some areas without harming us in other areas of our lives. Perhaps we try to eat out less more so that we may have more money in the bank to repair part of our home. Or maybe we give up going to the movies (either temporarily or permanently) to help give us money to help take care of bills or save back in case of emergencies.

Know who else likes to save money? Family Farm Producers!

Farm Producers may be doing a lot of conservation activities to protect the land, the water, and wildlife. That is truly great for all of us here on this planet; however, these producers tend to be unaware of the federal grant money that is available to them for carrying out those practices.

These producers may also install a grain dryer without investigating federal energy-efficiency grant money and loans that would cover that construction. In fact, did you know that even building an office with energy-efficient lighting or installing fuel-efficient pump can result in grant money for the farmer who knows that that grant money is out there?
Amazing, isn’t it?

Get the Grant Money You Need as a Family Farm Owner

All it takes is some digging and some know-how to help you get the grant money you need to help you out in your family farming business.

One excellent source to check is the website for the United States Department of Agriculture. When you visit this sight, you will find different grants that are available for different areas of farming and agriculture. You will also find links that will direct you to the information you need to find out how you can qualify and what you must do to obtain that grant.

If you need any other assistance with finding or obtaining grants for your family farm business, don’t hesitate to call us here at FamilyFarms at 1-877-221-FARM. We will work with you to help you find the grants you need to help you preserve the planet and your wallet.

So what are you waiting for? Check out the United States Department of Agriculture’s website to see if you qualify for any grants or call us right away if you would like any more help!

If you’re like most of our new teams here at FamilyFarms, you’ve probably listed one thing as your number one need – Human Resources (HR for short).

“But wait a minute – isn’t HR just for big corporations?” you might ask. Sure, you might just be a small family farm with only a few employees and feel you might not need to bring in a third party into your business. But there are many aspects of the company that HR can cover for you so you can focus on growing your business.

Whether you’re a farm of only 2 people or a farm of 200, HR is vital to have in your business. Human resources will play two roles in risk management for your business. First off, they help reduce the risk in people (such as not having enough employees, shoddy work being produced, unexpected leave due to illness or emergencies, and so on). This includes family members who are involved in the business and have problems with you or aren’t putting out the work you want and expect of them. In fact, most farm families have no idea how to deal with tricky family issues as they work together. HR then steps in and controls the situation, rectifying things to the best of their ability so you don’t need to.

Yes – Orientation & Training Are Included and Matter

Secondly, HR also handles with the employment of workers in handling risk by (using their ingenuity to solve unexpected problems, employees going the extra mile for the good of the organization, etc.). They are the ones who will handle orientation and training (yes, orientation and training DO matter, no matter how few employees you have!). Keep in mind that even a business with only two people working for it can have serious conflicts that can jeopardize the business’s life and success.

Here’s how Human Resources can help you even further:

• define the organization chart
• write job descriptions
• advertise for job openings you may have
• interview potential employees
• hire the best-qualified employees
• help in dealing with family members who are not performing adequately in their roles in the family business
• maintain legal employee files
• retain good employees
• handle tax and other paperwork related to employees
• know what to insure and for how much
• get beyond the “glass ceiling” as you increase in acreage (but haven’t staffed up accordingly)

With this long list of all of the aspects of the company that HR covers, it’s easy to see why having HR in the business is beneficial for any business owner!

If you’re ready to talk about HR in your family farm or have any questions about HR, call us here at FamilyFarms at 1-877-221-FARM for more information. We can help you get on the right track to focusing on what you need to do the most – growing your company. Call today!