Page 10 - Clear Lake Mirror Reporter E-Edition 12-2-2015
P. 10
Ag./BusinessPage 10 • Dec. 2, 2015 Clear Lake Mirror-Reporter
Big yields offset low prices for farmers
By Matthew Wilde, ISA senior writer to make this a profitable crop,” Fred- “We’re looking at a fantastic crop New owners welcomed
Worries of a red harvest are dis- ericks said. and good dry down, which will save
sipating as high yields in many parts “Warm, dry weather allowed farmers money. Prices aren’t great but The new owners of the Lady of the Lake, John Berhow and Niki and Scott Monson, had a ribbon cutting ceremony with
of the state may offset low prices. farmers to make good progress,” Iowa holding (and improving recently),” the Clear Lake Chamber of Commerce First Mates in recognition of their becoming the newest Clear Lake Chamber
Prior to and during the growing Secretary of Agriculture Bill Northey Hart said. “A lot of people are looking members. -Submitted photo
season, profitability projections for said in a statement. He farms near to store this crop. You put all of this
this year’s crop were bleak. And with Spirit Lake. “The dry, windy and together and you can get yourself back CLB&T welcomes RENEE BLOMSTROM Free Start
good reason. warm weather allowed crops to dry to break even or better.” Blomstrom Smart
Iowa State University (ISU) Ex- quickly.” ISU pegged average cost of pro- Executive Workshops
tension and Outreach per bushel cost American Soybean Association duction this year for herbicide toler- Clear Lake Bank & Trust is Technologies offered
of production estimates for soybeans Chairman Ray Gaesser expects beans ant soybeans following corn at $10.81 pleased to announce the addition of a appoints new
and corn on rented ground exceeded will average a record 63-64 bushels per bushel or $594.82 per acre. This new employee. director North Iowa Area Community
projected prices for the marketing per acre. Corn yields will likely be takes into account average yields of 55 Renee Blomstrom has joined College (NIACC) and the Small Busi-
year. Some ISU and ag financial ex- average or a little higher, he said. A bushels per acre, land rent at $312 per CLB&T as a teller in the Clear Lake ANDREA FORREST ness Development Center (SBDC) is
perts earlier this year said losing mon- 200-bushel or better average per acre acre, average machinery, seed, chemi- drive-up. Originally from Burt, Iowa, Executive Technologies has offering free two-hour workshop de-
ey, possibly $100 or more per acre, is likely. cal and labor costs and other expenses. Blomstrom is a graduate of La’James named Andrea Forrest as its Director signed for anyone who is considering
was a real possibility. “I’m real happy with yields,” March soybeans on the Chicago College. She currently resides in of IT and Service. starting a business. At Start Smart,
With harvest complete, farm- Gaesser said. “We’re not going to lose Board of Trade closed at as much as Thornton, Iowa, with her husband, Forrest and her fiancee have re- participants will learn how to create
ers say they may be able to bushel money this year, but we’re not going $9.02. Based on that price and ISU Greg. cently relocated to Clear Lake with a business plan, do market research,
through low prices and eke out a prof- to make a whole lot either. estimates, if a farmer averages 65 Founded in 1934, Clear Lake her two children. She is originally consider different types of business
it or at the very least minimize losses. “The last five to six years were un- bushels per acre, a loss is mitigated to Bank and Trust Company is a locally from Riverside, Calif., but has lived in ownership, and learn how to register
Iowa Soybean Association (ISA) usual,” he added, referring to strong less than $10 per acre. owned, full-service bank with four of- Kentucky for the last 10 years. a business.
President Wayne Fredericks, of Osage, profit margins. “This year is more like “Recent price rallies in both corn fices in Clear Lake, Garner, and Ma- Forrest has her Bachelor of Sci- Start Smart will be offered on
Iowa, said his soybeans averaged 12 the 1990s. You make a little, but it’s a and beans leads us to be somewhat son City. ence in IT Information System Se- Wednesday, Dec. 16, from 6-8 p.m. at
bushels higher than his long-term an- struggle.” optimistic that maybe the price cycle curity. She has worked in several ca- the NIACC Pappajohn Entrepreneur-
nual production history (APH). Corn Cost of production varies widely lows are in place,” Fredericks said. pacities the last 12 years. She has a ial Center, Room #117.
was about 15 bushels above APH. among farmers, said Chad Hart, ISU ISU’s corn following soybeans wide knowledge of IT skills, including The activities involved in starting
He believes neighboring farmers saw Extension grain economist. Low-cost cost of production estimates were network support, phone systems and a business fall under two broad cate-
similar results. producers that didn’t sacrifice yield $4.17 per bushel and $834.92 per document management. She also has gories—feasibility (the business plan)
“The extra bushels will definitely have the best chance to be in the black acre. This takes into account average expertise in Lean manufacturing and and administrative tasks. While we
help and give us a better opportunity instead of the red this year, he said. yields of 200 bushels per acre, land inventory control. like to focus on the feasibility issue,
The following, according to rent at $312 per acre, average machin- Executive Technologies is located Start Smart provides information and
ATTENTION Hart, can work in the favor of farm- ery, seed, chemical and labor costs and in Sioux City, Iowa. the chance to ask questions on numer-
BUSINESSES: ers: other expenses. ous other topics including: business
•Own all or a majority of farm- March corn on the board closed registration, doing customer research,
We are interested in what is land or negotiate rents to better match at as much as $3.87 per bushel. Based how bankers evaluate business con-
going on in your business. current prices. on that and ISU estimates, if a farmer cepts and loans, start-up costs, busi-
•Pre-sold crops during the sum- averages 220 bushels per acre, which ness plan tips and more.
Let us know! mer price rally or before when prices isn’t uncommon this year, that puts After attending Start Smart,
were $1 or higher per bushel. revenue at a profitable $851.40 per Small Business Development Center
email: [email protected] •Store grain to hopefully capture acre. (SBDC) staff will be available to assist
higher prices next year. “It’s doable,” Hart said. you in reviewing your business plan,
or to provide guidance with other is-
sues.
To register, contact Mary
Spitz, SBDC office at NIACC:
641.422.4342 or spitzmar@niacc.
edu.
The Small Business Develop-
ment Center (SBDC) is funded in
part through a cooperative agree-
ment with the U.S. Small Business
Administration. Reasonable accom-
modations for persons with disabili-
ties will be made if requested at least
two weeks in advance. Contact Brook
Boehmler, North Iowa Areas SBDC,
at 641.422.4342. NIACC does not
discriminate on the basis of race,
color, age, religion, national origin,
sexual orientation, pregnancy, gender
identity, sex, marital status, disability,
or status as a U.S. veteran.
Grissom says…
Never buy a single tire…
It’s best to replace all four tires
at once, but at the very least they
should be bought as axle pairs (both
fronts or both rears). Rotating your
tires every 5,000 to 7,000 miles will
help ensure that all four tires
wear at the same rate.
