Most farmers and ranchers are more comfortable on the seat of a tractor than they are looking for markets, negotiating fair rates for custom operations or working through an equitable land lease agreement. Farm Press staff believes three recent reports from Texas AgriLife Extension offer valuable information to help producers work through some of their most important business decisions.

What’s the going rate for custom ag operations?

What’s a fair rate to pay a custom operator to sidedress a wheat crop, bale hay or apply chemicals? An annual survey conducted by the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension service takes a lot of guesswork out of evaluating custom operation rates. The latest update is available online at http://agecoext.tamu.edu/crs. Now, farmers and ranchers can compare what they are paying with averages and against historic custom operation rates. No more guessing.

Program brings farmers, retailers together

If someone owns a restaurant and wants to offer locally raised duck on the menu, where would he go to find a quality product?  And if you have ducks, how to find a market? Restaurateurs and farmers in North Texas find opportunities to do business through a Farm-to-Table program, sponsored by the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service. This video offers more information https://youtu.be/pK_XDHy08ow. It’s a good way to bring farmers and retailers together.

Handshake not enough for farm or ranch leases

A handshake might be enough assurance to agree on who brings what to a barbecue, but when deciding on terms of leasing farmland, “Get it in writing,” says a Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service agricultural law specialist. Tiffany Dowell Lashmet says regardless of how long you’ve known a landowner or potential renter, a written lease clarifies things. If it’s written down, all parties know what to expect.