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Please Click HerePosted on July 3, 2018 by John D. Leary
Uncertainties in agricultural markets continue to impact lenders’ financing decisions as well as loan terms and conditions. But there are ways to qualify for favorable lending terms even in a time of financial stress and challenging markets. A prospective borrower should review farm-operation goals and how to achieve those goals as well as credit needs. […]
Posted on May 18, 2018 by Ruder Ware Alumni
A man walks into a farmer’s barn and hands him papers. The farmer discovers he has been served with a lawsuit. Reactions typically vary from panic to choosing to ignore what has been received. Both are poor choices. There are instead logical steps to take. Start saving all documents that have anything to do with […]
Posted on April 10, 2018 by Linda M. Danielson
Family farmers face a difficult issue of passing on the farm if there are both on-farm and off-farm heirs. A family farm is a business but also about family. Doing what’s best for both farm and family requires making difficult decisions and sometimes rocking the boat. Most parents try to treat their children equally when […]
Posted on March 29, 2018 by Ruder Ware Alumni
There seems to be a fair amount of confusion among farmers as to what role the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) plays in regulating farming operations. Among questions we get are “Do I as a farmer need to care about OSHA?” and “Does OSHA regulate farms the same as other businesses?” There is a […]
Posted on February 15, 2018 by Ruder Ware Alumni
Successful hiring is extremely important, especially in farming where a small group of people are doing complicated stressful work in an outdoor setting. Though not a comprehensive guide to hiring great employees, there are some key steps farmers can follow when hiring an employee. Define the Job – Hiring the right employee starts with understanding the […]
Posted on January 8, 2018 by Melissa S. Kampmann and Shanna N. Yonke
The family farm is a special asset. The family may have worked hard through decades, maybe even generations, to accumulate and develop the farm’s land, equipment and livestock. The children may be grown and successors to farming operations. The older generation may be worried what would happen to the farm if a child were to […]
Posted on December 4, 2017 by Mary Ellen Schill
Workplace retirement programs play an important role in attracting and retaining employees, helping workers (and owners!) save, and provide significant tax advantages. Employer contributions to “qualified” plans (like 401(k) plans) or IRA-based plans are deductible by the business when made, and taxes on the recipients (your employees or even you!) are not imposed until the […]
Posted on November 30, 2017 by Amy E. Ebeling
Are you using the right business entity for your farm or other agribusiness? I have worked with too many clients who have paid additional tax dollars or have been unable to achieve their succession planning goals due to their entity structure. Learn from their mistakes. Selecting and using the right entity is essential to a […]
Posted on November 22, 2017 by Ruder Ware Alumni
Last week, Attorney Russell Wilson of Ruder Ware issued a legal update about EPA’s deadline of November 15, 2017 for reporting excessive air emissions of hazardous substances from animal waste at farm operations. In that article Russ also reported on the possibility the deadline might be postponed. That possibility has now become reality. EPA has […]
Posted on November 3, 2017 by Christopher M. Seelen
Flyte Family Farm in Coloma has grown a lot over the years. Not only has Flyte grown tons of crops, but Flyte has also grown its business, which has expanded to five greenhouses and 3200 acres. Adam Flyte and his wife, Carrie, started their business growing corn, soybeans and fresh vegetables, which they sold at […]