You know you want to make money, but how do you start building a marketing plan that's strategic and will help you get to your financial goals?  Water Street Solutions' CEO Darren Frye says it's a little like taking a trip.  First you start with a map.  That map is your financial analysis.  Here's more from his discussion with KRVN's Ken Rahjes.  Starting a Marketing Plan with a Financial Analysis - Frye AUDIO

For the text of the interview, click here: Start a Marketing Plan with a Financial Analysis

When it's time to work on your business plan -- to provide a road map for the future of your farm, a good place to start might be a tool that many businesses use.  It's called a SWOT analysis.  The process is outlined in this article that ran recently in Prairie Farmer Magazine.  Read the article here. 

Priaire Farmer article Nov 2009.pdf (554.59 kb)

Grain and livestock marketing can seem a whole lot like gambling if you don't know what you're doing.  But it doesn't have to be that way.  Darren Frye talks to KRVN's Ken Rahjes about how we build marketing plans at Water Street Solutions and what a person needs to learn to manage risk and build profits.  Whats Behind a Marketing Recommendation - Frye AUDIO

For the text of the interview, click here: Whats Behind a Marketing Recommendation

Pulling the Pieces Together:  Making a Difference for Farmer Profitability was the title of his presentation as Darren Frye addressed a workshop session at the American Bankers Association Ag Bankers Conference in San Antonio this morning. 

Darren addressed a packed room and kept them engaged as bankers seek to bring all possible resources to their ag customers.  He walked the group through why it's important to start with a financial analysis, best crop insurance strategies depending on the operation, and how to leverage marketing with financials and crop insurance for the best success.

Water Street Solutions likes to involve the banker in the work we do with our clients to make sure we're all on the same page and doing the best job for profitability.

We're still getting the crop out of the field in many areas of the Midwest, but planning time has begun for the 2010 growing season.  Here Dean Heffta talks with KRVN's Ken Rahjes about using numbers to help you make some of the decisions that you have coming up.  Using Financials to Make Good Decisions - Heffta AUDIO

For the text of the interview, click here:  Using Financials to Make Good Decisions

Your ability to take your farming operation to the next level has a lot to do with your openness to learn.  While you may have started your farming career in the classroom or in the school of hard knocks, you need to figure out how to keep learning in order to grow and compete.  Director of Development Dean Heffta talks with KRVN's Ken Rahjes about some strategies for doing just that.  A Culture of Learning - Heffta AUDIO

Dean suggests some good books to start your resolution to be a better learner.  Ten Good Books

For the text of the interview, click here: Building a Culture of Learning

Click here for new information from the RMA regarding this year's delayed harvest.

Taking control of your operation really starts with managing your time.  Our director, Dean Heffta talks with KRVN's Ken Rahjes about deciding what's important to your farming operation and then setting goals to propel your business forward.  How do you start?  How do you avoid the pitfalls of poor time management?  What should you stop doing?  Taking Control of Your Operation - Heffta AUDIO