New Website Offers resources To Help Operators Understand, Manage Farm Risk

Dec 02, 2015

By Jennifer Stewart-Burton

A new website from Purdue University’s Center for Commercial Agriculture and the Indiana Soybean Alliance is available to help farm operators manage risk.

Farm Risk Resources (www.farmriskresources.com) is designed to help farmers understand, identify, evaluate and manage risk, which is an inherent part of agriculture. The goal is to offer basic risk management concepts and principles critical to thinking through the decisions farmers make on a daily basis.

“Managing risk is pivotal to a farm’s success,” said Jim Mintert, director of the Center for Commercial Agriculture. “As production agriculture has become more complex, so, too, have the risks. They expand beyond price and require an integrated management approach.”

The site includes a 15-question assessment for farmers to identify which types of risks apply to their specific operations - business, financial or strategic. Once identified, the site provides links to more information about

Also available are case studies farmers can use to walk through the risk evaluation and management process, as well as a list of risk management workshops, tools and videos. Information is provided for a variety of operation types and sources of risk, including specialty crops, new market expansion, food safety, labor, input suppliers, production issues, farmland values and crop outlooks.

“The site is full of expert-driven, research-based advice and operational tools,” Mintert said. “It’s all about helping farmers take a holistic approach to risk management.”

Some of those tools include audits, spreadsheets and checklists.

In addition to the website, the Indiana Soybean Alliance and Indiana Corn Growers Association will offer a series of three free workshops titled “Managing Risk in a Challenging Farm Economy.” Presenters include Mintert and Purdue Extension agricultural economists Michael Langemeier and Michael Boehlje.

Dates and locations:

* Dec. 7: Beck Agricultural Center, West Lafayette.

* Jan. 11: Indiana Grand, Shelbyville.

* Jan. 14: Fort Wayne Farm Show, Fort Wayne.

Source:purdue.edu

Video: Winter Service Inspections for John Deere Equipment - The FarmCast Ep64

The FarmCast, host Troy Randall speaks with Doug Luedke, Vice President of Service, and Davin Peterson, Executive Vice President of Aftermarket at 21st Century Equipment, to discuss the importance of proactive service and how it helps farmers reduce downtime during their busiest seasons. The conversation focuses on the Winter Service Inspection Program, a comprehensive approach designed to keep equipment running at peak performance and limit costly in-season breakdowns through preventative maintenance and expert technician support.

Doug and Devin explain how 21st Century Equipment’s service teams have evolved to meet the needs of today’s connected machines. With more technology and data integrated into modern equipment, technicians now play a vital role in both mechanical repairs and precision ag support. Through advanced diagnostics, machine monitoring, and John Deere’s Expert Alerts, they can identify and address potential issues before they become major problems—saving customers valuable time, money, and frustration.

Throughout the discussion, the team shares real-world success stories demonstrating how proactive inspections and customer-focused service help maximize uptime and efficiency for every operation. Whether it’s a large tractor, combine, or small mower, the goal remains the same: to provide trusted, reliable support that helps farmers and landowners stay productive and confident in their equipment year-round.