Farming is in our family's genes, but this time of year, we can be found in our well-worn jeans at the annual county 4-H fair.

Generally, when I speak to audiences about markets, there is seldom a time that goes by when I don't mention the importance of paying attention to seasonal influence, especially for corn and soybeans. Not only has the seasonal influence for corn and soybean prices been...

In the ranking of numbers, it's hard to top the number seven for either perfection or luck. Yes, numbers like three and five have their positive associations; but number seven pretty well takes the cake for association with perfection or luck.

As I meet with clients and prospects post-tax season, one of the topics of conversation is entity choice. Sometimes, the entity choice does not match the client's needs. When asked why they picked that type of entity, I typically hear "because." This is followed by "my...

Farmers by trade are an optimistic lot. Many embrace the ol' saying, "When life gives you lemons, make lemonade." But, the most recent DTN/The Progressive Farmer Agriculture Confidence Index (ACI) shows farmers' moods have fallen from spring 2018. That should surprise no one.

Farmers and ranchers are risk-takers. Their livelihood depends on acts of faith and uncertainty. The economic results of planting a crop or raising an animal are heavily contingent on factors outside of their control: commodity prices, weather and government policies. Las...

I have a 1974 Ford 5200 diesel tractor--a 12-volt system with a generator. The generator and starter were shot, so I had them rebuilt. I also replaced the voltage regulator. My question is how can I tell if the generator is charging the battery when running?