Ramsey County Ag Column

By Bill Hodous

January 7, 2008

Here we are Lake Region Extension Roundup week.  I mentioned the hot topics last week but am writing this short note for a reminder of the two day extravaganza.  This is a great time to learn new management strategies and visit with those neighbors.

 I would also like to include an invitation to you for a retirement party to be held for Terry Gregorie.  There will be cake and coffee honoring Terry for his years of dedicated service to our Lake Region area.  He has been a very valuable tool for area producers, agronomists and agents with the wealth of information that is contained within him.  He will be greatly missed.  The Party begins at 4 pm in the big room of the Memorial building, at the conclusion of the first day of Lake Extension Roundup Tuesday, January 8.  Hope to see you there.

One of the big topics around the country this year is land costs.  Land owners wanting to either sell their property or focus on changing rental agreements.  Tenants wanting to maintain a status quo, because of rising faster than flood waters input costs.  I receive many phone calls asking what rent and land prices have been doing and the best information we have is published by NASS (National Agricultural Statistic Service).  This publication is published yearly in response to rents and values.  Producers are surveyed with responses.  This publication includes number of responses per county, the lowest rent value reported, the highest value reported and the most common.  These numbers are current for the year of 2007.  These numbers can be used for a guide but the best tool, along with the NASS publication, is a one on one visit.  There are always circumstances or conversations that can lead to a lasting relationship between owners and renters.  There is also another tool available called Fair Rent.  This tool lets you plug in your cashflow numbers and provides information to you on the true value of what land costs should be based on your input costs.  This program also illustrates what land costs should be if yields fluctuate or prices fluctuate.  It is a very good tool and is available from the University of Minnesota.

Calendar!!!

                        January    8-9               Lake Region Extension Roundup
                        January    8                   Ramsey County Shooting Sports (Air Rifle)
                        January    31                 Deadline to apply for Faller HRSW
                        February 7                   Ramsey County Crop Improvement annual meeting
                        March     4                   Ramsey County Shooting Sports (Archery)
                        March    17                  Private Pesticide, Starkweather 9-am
                        March    26                  Private Pesticide, Devils Lake 9-am
                        March    26                  Private Pesticide, Devils Lake 6- pm

524 4th Ave #5, 2nd Floor Ramsey County Courthouse
Devils Lake  ND  58301
701-662-7027
email - ramsey@ndsuext.nodak.edu