The tools that we use to market our crops and livestock can seem overwhelming and even risky -- if you don't understand them.  Darren Frye, President and CEO of Water Street Solutions told farmers attending Commodity Classic this year that farmers need to take the time to learn the tools.  To watch this discussion, click here.

For the text of this video segment, click here: Taking the Gamble out of Marketing Tools

If you have a desire to learn some of these tools, it's a part of our process at Water Street Solutions -- making sure you understand the strategies.  Call us at 866-249-2528.

It's a roadmap, or a checkup.  A financial analysis is a good first step toward mapping out your route on the farm.  Water Street Solutions President and CEO Darren Frye talks here with KRVN's Ken Rahjes about why you really should start your farming plans with a financial analysis.  Benefits of a Financial Analysis - Frye AUDIO

For the text of the interview, click here:  Benefits of a Financial Analysis

A panel at the Commodity Classic in March talked about Controlling What You Can Control with regard to the financial aspects of your farm.  At the end, Max Armstrong asked members for their best advice.  Click on this link to the video.  This video is 6 minutes long -- and the discussions are around using the financial tools available -- but understanding those tools first.  Learning, understanding and reflecting was another focus.  And there's some discussion here about the importance of succession planning.      

For the text of the video, click here:   Some Good Advice

Farm profitability comes down to discipline with financial metrics.  It's critical that you're watching the right numbers.  This video, shot from a panel discussion at Commodity Classic in March focuses on the importance of working capital as opposed to net worth.  Click here to watch.  It's six and a half minutes long.    

For the text of the video, click here:  Key Numbers for Financial Health

There's a video that's going viral that I just saw -- it's baseball sized hail hitting a swimming pool in Oklahoma.  While the affect is dramatic, the damage is certainly not as severe as what would happen with that hail hitting a corn field.  That's why we need to talk about preparing for the hail season.  KRVN's Ken Rahjes spoke with Water Street Solutions' Director of Crop Insurance Sales, Steve Jackson.

May 10 2010 Hail Insurance - Jackson.mp3 (920.54 kb)

For the text of the interview, click here:  Preparing for Hail Season

You've heard that you can leverage your crop insurance with your marketing strategy.  But how does that work exactly?  Today we're sharing an in-depth explanation of how that works in bull and bear market years.  Keep in mind this was recorded in early March -- but the lesson's a good one.  Click here to watch the video.  It'll take a little over ten minutes of your day.

For the text and charts of the video, click here: Tutorial Combining Marketing and Crop Insurance

The changing tenor of government spending and taxation are making estate planning for the farm more important than ever.  But how do you go about it?  The process starts with some crucial conversations, as we discussed last Monday.  Then it's a process of listing the assets and deciding who those will go to, as Water Street Solutions President and CEO Darren Frye tells KRVN's Ken Rahjes in the interview posted here.

May 3 2010 Estate Planning - Frye.mp3 (2.48 mb)

For the text of the interview, click here:  Estate Planning is More Important Than Ever

It's coming soon to a mailbox near you -- but if you prefer to look at it online, you can find it right here.

May 2010 Crop Insurance Newsletter