Interesting and informative blog posts on farmers and ranchers from US Farm Data.

Marketing New Ag Technology Requires Straightforward Approach

The agriculture industry is experiencing a boom in the area of technology that is unlike any it has ever seen before. If you are an agri-business looking to entice your Ag customers into purchasing the latest technology—from crop sensors to drones to livestock biometrics—there is no doubt you know a lot about what you are selling.

Farmers and ranchers will no doubt benefit from such technology and are interested in learning as much about it as possible. One thing they are not interested in, however, is listening to you go over every technological detail. Instead, you may want to take some advice from Albert Einstein when he said, “Genius is making complex ideas simple, not making simple ideas complex.” In other words, as farmers continue to face a barrage of new and sometimes complicated technologies, it would be well for those marketing such technologies to keep their message straightforward and not throw in a lot of extraneous tech-speak.

This is not to say that the information should be oversimplified. The technology available to farmers today is remarkable and will allow farmers to be more productive. However, as a marketer, it is important to remember that your job is to give farmers what they want—the lowdown on how this new technology will help make their farming operation more efficient and more profitable. It also is important to remember that while farmers are well able to adapt to new technologies, they are not going to rush to buy new technologies without thinking long and hard about whether or not they will benefit from it.

The best way to market new technology to farmers is to illustrate these technological advances in terms that mean something to farmers. Stay away from conversations about complex algorithms and focus more on reducing water usage or increasing milk production, for example. Farmers want to know how new technology can be incorporated into their operations without causing major disruptions. And if there will be some disruptions, and chances are there will, be honest about it. However, frame those things in relation to the value farmers will gain.

If farmers sense that you are less interested in how a particular technology will benefit them and more interested in impressing them with your knowledge of all things tech, they will be anything but impressed. Instead, let them know you want to help them improve their operation. By doing so, everyone will benefit from the newest products in Ag tech.

Surviving Winter on the Farm

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Harsh winter weather can be dangerous no matter where you live. However, blizzards and severe conditions hit farmers and ranchers especially hard.

When you are miles from the nearest store or even a neighbor you need to make sure that you have everything on hand so that you, your family and your animals can survive extreme conditions. Dangerously cold temperature, strong winds and reduced visibility are just some of the conditions you may encounter. Further, heavy snow can lead to the collapse of roofs and power outages.

When it comes to surviving a blizzard, it is important not to be caught off guard. While weather predictions aren’t always spot on, it is unlikely that heavy snowfall and blizzard conditions will come out of the, well, clear blue sky.

Making sure you are well prepared for a blizzard means that you have what you need on hand so that you and your livestock can ride out the storm. It is important that you winterize your farmhouse and all outbuildings while the weather is still mild. You also should stock your home with extra blankets to keep you warm in the event that power goes out. Bottle water and food that does not need to be heated up before you eat it is essential. Finally, make sure you have a first-aid kit and that you are familiar with the signs and symptoms of hypothermia and frostbite.
Livestock farmers and ranchers need to be diligent (and most are) when preparing livestock before a blizzard hits. Unfortunately, many times a blizzard may occur that is much stronger than expected and the results can be catastrophic. The following steps should be taken in anticipation of a hard winter:

1. Make sure all livestock are in the best possible health. This will go a long way toward helping them survive weather emergencies.

2. Evaluate emergency hay reserves. Since cold weather increases animals’ energy needs, it is important that you are able to adjust their diet as needed during a long stretch of extremely low temperatures.

3. Service all feeding equipment to avoid breakdowns. This includes assessing fuel storage and supplies and testing generators and connections. It also includes making sure water heaters are in working order.

4. Maintain structural windbreaks.

5. Have adequate bedding. Not only does clean, dry bedding reduce stress on animals, when animals are wet their nutrition maintenance requirements increase.

Perhaps the most important thing to remember during blizzards (or any severe weather situation) is that you cannot take care of your family, animals or property if you don’t take care of yourself first.

Where Do Farmers Hang Out Online? Everywhere!

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Getting noticed by farmers online is becoming more and more difficult for Ag-based businesses. Much of this has to do with the fact that, like other Americans, farmers get their information from a variety of media platforms. Unfortunately, maintaining a substantial presence on every online channel can be challenging.

Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, tablets, smart phones, internet searches, websites—if farmers want to know something, it is becoming more difficult to predict where exactly they will go to look for it. Further, on any given day, farmers can be on a variety of platforms.

If you want to market to farmers you must have a solid strategy in place so that your message reaches the farmers you are trying to connect with. Here are some important tips for building that type of strategy:

1. Remember that once is NEVER enough. Selling a new farm implement? Share it on Facebook. Send out a tweet. Blog about how much time or money it will save farmers.

2. Don’t cross your channels. Don’t write lengthy blogs about your product on your Facebook page. Don’t try to stuff too much information into a single tweet. You get the idea.

3. Always be evaluating. Is a particular message bringing in more leads? Does a certain platform seem to be especially popular with your target audience? It is important to monitor how your messages are being received and where they are getting read. If your Twitter posts seem to get no attention but Facebook posts are liked and shared in big numbers, continue with your Facebook efforts and find ways to tweak your Twitter efforts.

4. Consider something new. If you are having trouble keeping track of all of your online efforts, the thought of adding more to your plate may seem overwhelming. However, it is necessary to take a risk once in a while. Consider a marketing tactic you have never tried—hosting a web chat, for example. It may flop but it might be a huge success. You simply never know until you try.
Marketing to farmers can take a lot of time but you should be encouraged by the fact that if you have something important to say, farmers are always willing to listen. The key is to make sure that your message shows up where those farmers frequent.

Making Money on Your Farm Comes in Many Forms

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Most people don’t go into farming to get rich. That doesn’t mean farmers wouldn’t like to be able to make a healthy living and not worry about shrinking profit margins year after year. In fact, in order to stay afloat financially, many farmers take second jobs to make ends meet.

While most farmers who work a second job must go off their farm to find that extra income, there are other options. It just takes a little creativity. Today, many farmers are taking advantage of their land and agricultural experience to create an agricultural business that complements their current farming operation.

What follows are some non-traditional businesses that are cropping up on farms across the country:

Pick Your Own Produce: Today’s consumers want to know where their food comes from and that it is as fresh as possible. This has led many farmers to open their farms to people who want to pick their own fruits and vegetables. One added benefit of such an operation is that the labor required at harvest time is drastically reduced. Your customers literally do the work for you.

Agricultural Tourism: Open your farmhouse doors to guests who want to experience what it is like on a real working farm. These types of beds and breakfasts are popping up all over the country and their popularity continues to grow. You can offer as few or as many activities as you like, including things like horseback riding, milking cows, planting and harvesting crops, and so much more. You can cater the experience to singles, couples or families.

Rental Property: Consider renting out your farm for things like weddings (farm-themed weddings are all the rage these days), company picnics, family reunions, bonfires and hay-rack rides. People and organizations are always looking for new and inviting places to gather and a farm is a great place to do just that.

Educational Workshops: Schools, daycares and other educational organizations are always on the lookout for field trips or other opportunities to teach their students or members about different ways of life. As a farmer, you can offer tours and classes on things like growing vegetables, raising backyard chickens or horseback riding. The ideas are as endless as your imagination.

Owning a farm means you are living a life many others want to experience. Capitalize on this and you may find yourself with a lucrative side business that can pay off big.

Why Some Farmers Say No to Cover Crops

Cover crops and soil health are huge issues today. No matter where you turn, experts (and everyone else) are telling farmers how important it is that they plant cover crops.

Cover crops are used to reduce soil erosion. On flat open land, cover crops will protect against wind that can blow away nutrient-rich topsoil. In hilly, wet areas, cover crops will prevent water from washing away topsoil. In the spring, cover crops are tilled under or sprayed down before row crops are planted.

In addition to preventing soil erosion, cover crops benefit farmers and the environment in many other ways, including:

  • Increased soil fertility
  • Nutrient replenishment
  • Increased organic matter
  • Reduced water drainage
  • Weed control

In light of these advantages, some people may wonder why a farmer would ever choose not to plant cover crops. The fact is, however, that some do believe that they have legitimate reasons for deciding against cover crops.

Whether you agree or not, these farmers believe that planting cover crops doesn’t make financial sense. Farmers who are having a difficult time making ends meet simply can’t justify the costs involved in planting cover crops, especially when profit margins are already razor thin. Time is another factor. Depending on the size of the operation, some smaller farmers just don’t feel as if they can get it all done.

A survey by the Howard G. Buffett Foundation showed that in addition to the reasons listed above, there are other challenges farmers say they encounter when planting cover crops. Here are some of the major ones:

  • Cover crops become weeds the following year
  • Cover crops use too much soil moisture
  • There is a potential for yield reduction with cover crops
  • Cover crops increase insect potential
  • There may be a carbon to nitrogen ratio imbalance
  • Cover crops increase disease potential

No one would argue that cover crops are not beneficial to the soil or to the environment but neither is every farmer who doesn’t plant cover crops irresponsible. Farmers are concerned about the land and the environment. After all, those things are the source of their livelihood. If some farmers decide to forgo cover corps it is likely because they have decided that cover crops do not work for their particular farm or in their particular region. It does not, as some may say, have anything to do with whether or not they are good stewards of the land.

Marketing Your Small Ag Business

Marketing Your Small Ag Business

If you are a small Ag business owner, it can be difficult to know how to market your product or service most effectively. This is especially true if you aren’t sure who your perfect customer is.

Many small businesses mistakenly try to appear bigger rather than capitalizing on what they do best. In other words, instead of promoting what makes them unique and especially valuable to their niche customers, they try to be a jack of all trades.

Small businesses who excel at one thing need to take that one thing and run with it. So how do you market your Ag business to a niche market? Here are some things you need to ask yourself as you build your marketing plan:

  • Who are my customers? If you try to market to all farmers when your product or service works specifically for cattle farmers, for example, you will have a hard time selling that product or service over the long term. Even if you get customers initially, they will become dissatisfied and word will spread. This can irreparably damage your brand.
  • What do my customers need? If your unique product or service benefits hay producers, you need a marketing strategy that gets the word out to hay producers. These prospects need to know that your product will solve a problem they have, make their job easier or allow their operation to become more profitable.
  • Why should people buy from me? Make sure your niche market knows exactly why they should look to you instead of a larger competitor. What makes your business special? Outstanding customer service? A better-made product? Emphasize why it is worth the time and effort for customers to patronize your business.

While it may seem risky to concentrate on only one or a few products or services, this will pay off in the long run by helping you to establish a loyal customer base. Finally, once you have found your niche, that doesn’t mean you can sit back and relax. The most successful small business owners understand that they must always be looking for ways to improve their business. By doing so, they will not only keep their current customers happy, those customers will provide invaluable referrals, as well.