Water Street Solutions will award five college scholarships to ag students for the 2013-14 academic year. The award includes a $1,600 scholarship and tuition to attend the 2013 Agriculture Future of America Leaders Conference ($1,000 value). Students from Illinois, Nebraska, Iowa, Indiana, Ohio, Minnesota and Kentucky are eligible to apply for these scholarships, and must be enrolled in an ag-related four year degree program.

Click here for more information on how to apply. The deadline to apply is March 15, 2013.

Here's a bowl of 1,000 lemon drops.  Brian Hensley and Ben Metzger from Water Street Solutions used this to show a point when they spoke to young farmers at Tomorrow's Top Producer in Chicago today.

One thousand lemon drops equals one thousand first generation farmers.  During the business transfer from the first generation to the second, 70% will fail, leaving

300 lemon drops.  Ninety percent don't transfer from the second generation to the third, leaving

30 lemon drops.  And from the third generation to the fourth, we lose 96%, leaving

one lemon drop.  So one in a thousand farms makes it to the fourth generation.  The point is, planning helps.

The Congress made some changes to the Estate Tax laws at the beginning of this month - and that means the situation is different for estate planning.  Ben Metzger, Director at Water Street Solutions talks through the changes with Dewey Nelson from KRVN.   New Estate Tax Laws and How They Affect Farmers - Metzger AUDIO

For the text of the interview, click here: New Estate Tax Laws and How They Affect Farmers

If you're a college student, come visit Water Street Solutions at these upcoming college career fairs:

• Kansas State University Ag Career Fair - January 30
• Iowa State University Ag Career Fair - February 6
• Purdue University Ag Career Fair - February 20
• Student Marketing Competition, National NAMA - April 16-18, Kansas City, MO

For more information, contact Jim Emanuel at (402) 981-8845 or jemanuel@waterstreet.org.

There's been a lot going on in Congress lately.  We had a drought last summer.  So what will the crop insurance program look like in 2013 - and beyond?  Darren Frye, President and CEO of Water Street Solutions has some information on farmers' top questions about 2013 crop insurance in his weekly Finance First post on www.farmfutures.com.  Read it HERE.

There are quite a few new tax changes out there as of the beginning of this month - that might impact your farm. Accountants are working to figure out how the new laws will affect your income taxes. This month in Money Matters in Illinois AgriNews, Darren Frye, President and CEO of Water Street Solutions, looks at the tax changes that will most likely impact your farm business in some way.

ILAgrinews_2013_Jan_Tax changes may impact farming businesses

You might have already blown your new year's resolution by now.  So here's a new one that you can start, and still get some high impact.  How about financial fitness on your farm?  Tim Brhel, an Ag Finance Specialist with Water Street Solutions talks about this idea with Dewey Nelson from KRVN.  Farm Financial Fitness Brhel AUDIO

For the text of the interview, click here: Farm Financial Fitness - Resolve This!

Earlier this month, a new law was passed that will impact your farm's taxes. Knowing the changes and how they will affect you is an important step as you think about your tax plan.  Darren Frye, President and CEO of Water Street Solutions highlights some of the tax changes that may affect you the most in his weekly Finance First post on www.farmfutures.com.  Read it HERE.

Water Street Solutions will award five college scholarships to ag students for the 2013-14 academic year. The award includes a $1,600 scholarship and tuition to attend the 2013 Agriculture Future of America Leaders Conference ($1,000 value). Students from Illinois, Nebraska, Iowa, Indiana, Ohio, Minnesota and Kentucky are eligible to apply for these scholarships, and must be enrolled in an ag-related four year degree program.

Click here for more information on how to apply.  The deadline to apply is March 15, 2013.

How can you make sure everyone on your farm is on the same page about what needs to get done - and all the details?  One strategy is to create a "farm playbook" that gives employees the details.  This month, Dean Heffta, Senior Director of Development at Water Street Solutions talks about how you can create a playbook in his Profits column in Corn and Soybean Digest.  Read it HERE.