Pivotal Issues Blog

By: Peter Jaques Renting vs. owning land – which is the better option? This has been a hot-button question in agriculture lately and, while there are many benefits to both sides, the differences between the tax benefits are rarely discussed. Let’s break down the tax-deductible opportunities for both. Read More

By: Megan Schilling Omer Davidi and Itai Kanot founded BeeHero after asking a simple question: Can technology help solve the problems bees face? Colony collapse disorder, disease, and fewer resources prevent bees from pollinating the $15 billion worth of crops each year, according to the Natural Resources Conservation Service. Davidi, a tech entrepreneur, and Kanot, […]

By: Natalina Sents Farmers carry more tools in their pockets than ever before. These aren’t items that belong in a toolbox. They’re apps on phones and tablets. According to mobile app intelligence company, 42matters, there are 3,492,653 Android apps available on Google Play. The Apple App Store offers 1,821,441 iOS apps. An average of 616 […]

By: Laurie Bedord Endless statistics are involved in baseball. Earned run average, batting average, and runs batted in all fill an important role in evaluating a player’s progress. Like baseball, farming can focus on numbers that, if gathered and used correctly, add understanding to what is seen in the field. “In my 20-plus years in […]

Dave Eckhoff, Southeast Minnesota Sales Manager for Heartland AG Systems says proper application equipment can support your weed management plan. “Today, we have machinery with large tank capacities,” Eckhoff says. Read More

By: Laurie Bedord Greg Setter has climbed the ladder on his grain bins for years, in all types of weather, without incident. With every step taken, the chore has become second nature to the Canadian farmer. As he ascends and descends, Setter also knows it is one of the most dangerous tasks he performs. “In […]

By: Laurie Bedord Zach Hunnicutt doesn’t like going inside a dirty, hot grain bin, but he does – and quite often. At minimum, the Nebraska farmer enters 11 grain bins five times a year to manage stored grain. “That’s at least 55 times a year our friend runs the risk of not coming out alive,” […]

By: Megan Schilling The power of the sun captured passively in solar arrays boosts energy independence and economic returns on the farm. While solar has been cost-prohibitive to farmers in the past, the rising cost of electricity and the dropping cost of solar installation has created a compelling crossroads. Now, the investment and payback make […]

By: Jodi Henke Building net worth in your farm business happens by retaining earnings in the business, contributing equity from off-farm income, or by inflation from the value of the farm assets. The retained earnings will generate additional income in future years for retirement or to help the next generation run the farm business. Kelvin […]

By: Jodi Henke Agriculture and our food supply heavily depend on bees for pollination. Tracking bee population trends is the goal of a research assistant professor at Kansas State University. Brian Spiesman says identifying bees can be very difficult without specialized training. He developed a website called “BeeMachine” that uses artificial intelligence to identify specific […]