The Beige Book is a Federal Reserve System publication covering current economic conditions across the 12 Federal Reserve Districts. It characterizes regional economic conditions and prospects based on a variety of mostly qualitative information, gathered directly from District sources. The latest update was posted October 21st.
Author Archives: hewlett@uwyo.edu
Western Risk Management Library
The Western Risk Management Library offers over 790 articles across 42 individual categories, covering general, production, market, financial, legal, and human resource risks. The library was developed by members of the 13-state, Western Extension Committee, with partial support provided by Farm Foundation.
Access the Western Risk Management Library and at: FarmManagement.org/library.
RightRisk News- October 2020
- Livestock Risk Protection Insurance Even More Appealing Under Recent Changes
- Other RightRisk News
- Highlighted Course – Better Management through Basic Financial Statements
To subscribe/unsubscribe, send email to information@RightRisk.org with subject line “Subscribe/Unsubscribe RightRisk News”
Estimating Your Cost of Production
HAVE you ever tried to estimate your cost of production for enterprises on your farm/ranch? It can be a daunting challenge. The Enterprise Risk Analyzer (ERA) tool can help evaluate farm/ranch enterprise performance, beginning with just an IRS Schedule F.
ERA analysis includes whole farm/ranch net return, enterprise net return, break-even prices, and breakeven yields. ERA also provides risk estimates based on user projections for commodity prices and yields. Providing probability estimates for earning a given level of net income, a break-even price, or a given break-even yield.
The Enterprise Risk Analyzer is one of over 30 individual risk analysis tools developed by RightRisk and available free of charge at: RightRisk.org\analytics. RightRisk.org\Analytics.
B&B- October, 2020
Tax Implications of Disaster Losses and Weather-Related Sales of Livestock
Fires, drought, and other weather related disasters can greatly affect farms and ranches. It is important that farmers and ranchers have an understanding of how disasters affect their tax liabilities. Producers may be able to reduce their tax liabilities by using various provisions within the Internal Revenue Code. They should have a reasonable understanding of the tax code and consult with their professional tax advisors. . .
¿Cuáles son los requisitos para conseguir visa de Estados Unidos para trabajadores agrícolas?
A CITIZEN of a foreign country who seeks to enter the United States generally must first obtain a U.S. visa, unless a visa is not required for individuals from that country of nationality. The visa is placed in the traveler’s passport, a travel document issued by the traveler’s country of citizenship. Certain international travelers may be eligible to travel to the United States without a visa, if they meet the requirements for visa-free travel. The type of visa a person must obtain is defined by U.S. immigration law and relates to the purpose of travel. Learn more via the 4-page, 4-color Ag Help Wanted UPDATE: ¿Cuáles son los requisitos para conseguir visa de Estados Unidos para trabajadores agrícolas
Ag Help Wanted updates are available for download at: AgHelpWanted.org\Updates.
Estimating Custom Rates and Machinery Costs
Machinery and equipment is often one of the largest expense categories for a farm or ranch operation. Many producers do not know their machinery and equipment cost for a given activity. The Machine Risk Calculator from RightRisk.org can help estimate rates for custom field operations and individual machinery costs. The tool will also estimate the risk sensitivity of those costs to changes in various factors. For examples using the tool see Applied Risk Analytics “Estimating Custom Rates and Machinery Costs” at: RightRisk.org\AppliedRiskAnalytics.
The Machine Risk Calculator is a toolbox filled with over 30 individual risk analysis tools developed by RightRisk and available free of charge at: RightRisk.org\Analytics.
Problem Work Situations via Ag Help Wanted
PROBLEM WORK SITUATIONS: WORKING WITH EMPLOYEES offers nine sets of brief vignettes that illustrate approaches to one-on-one communication in problem work situations. Each includes one scene showing an apparent personnel problem and three scenes showing possible supervisory responses to it, including: Tardiness, Slow Work, Inebriation, Poor Quality Work, Theft, Conflict Between Workers, Insubordination, Sleeping on the Job, and Careless Work. A 3-part guide offers further insights via Rules and Reason for Managing Farm Personnel.
Learn more via Video Links at Ag Help Wanted.org.
USDA Economic Research Service: Commodity Costs and Returns
USDA has estimated annual production costs and returns and published accounts for major field crop and livestock enterprises since 1975. Cost and return estimates are reported for the United States and major production regions for corn, soybeans, wheat, cotton, grain sorghum, rice, peanuts, oats, barley, milk, hogs, and cow-calf. These cost and return accounts are “historical” accounts based on the actual costs incurred by producers.









