Increasing Farm Financial Resiliency
March 2, 2023 | Thursday Sessions
Grace Community Church 5:30 – 8:30 pm
5:30 PM - Arrivals and Supper
6:00 PM - WELCOME - Andrew Rutter & Kaitlin Knauss, WRAPS
6:15 – 6:45 PM
o Managing Your Farm for Economic Resilience,
Dr. John Ikerd
Farming is a risky business, even in the best of times. With today’s volatile weather patterns, skyrocketing fuel and fertilizer costs, unpredictable markets, and ever-changing farm policies the risks have never been greater. Farmers face three basic kinds of economic risks: production risks, market risks, and financial risks. The specific risks may change but these basic kinds of risks aren’t going to go away. Thankfully, there are ways of dealing with them. The key to thriving economically during thought times is to develop resilient whole-farm systems: farms that can withstand and respond to adversity, bounce back, and adjust to an ever-changing economic environment.
6:45 – 7:00 PM - Questions & Answers with Dr. Ikerd
7:00- 7:15 PM - BREAK
7:15 – 8:30 PM
o How We Went From Losses to Profits,
Brice Custer, Farmer with Custer Farms LLC.
Custer will discuss why and how he took a look at his farm’s bottom line to find out what crops were costly and which ones were profitable. Learn how to do the same through interactive discussions.
Our Presenters
Read Below to learn about this day's presenters!
Dr. John Ikerd
Professor Emeritus of Agricultural Economics
University of Missouri, Columbia
Dr. John Ikerd, Professor Emeritus of Agricultural Economics, retired from the University of Missouri in 2000. He was raised on a small dairy farm, worked in private industry, and held several other academic positions, prior to returning to the University of Missouri. In the 80’s, John had a “conversion” of sorts after seeing the failures of the policies he had been advocating to farmers. He then reoriented his work toward agricultural and economic sustainability a means of supporting small family farms and rural communities. Since retiring, John has maintained an active speaking schedule and has authored numerous books and papers, many of which can be found at his university website: https://ikerdj.mufaculty.umsystem.edu/ or accessed through his personal website at http://johnikerd.com . John is recognized as a longtime leading voice in the sustainable agriculture movement.
Brice Custer
Owner of Custer Farms, LLC
Farming in a dryland environment, Custer has implemented the principles of soil health and is focusing on profitability not just yields.