🇺🇸#CropWatch25 One Word Wednesday! Producers share their current feelings on their crops using just one word: ND- Cool SD- Cool MN- Green NE- WETTT KS- Warm W IA- Lush E IA- Ideal W IL- Steamy SE IL- Improving IN- Promising OH- Tropical

A lot of people think they have a plan for their farm. But many don’t. If your plan starts and stops with a will, it might not be enough. It’s better than having nothing in place, but it still leaves your farm, and your family, vulnerable. A will can help, but probate can slow

Markets look one way on paper, but every operation has its own reality. The charts don’t show that your bottom ground caught a hailstorm last week. They don’t factor in the rain that missed your farm but hit 10 miles away. They don’t consider that your cost structure, debt load,

Leadership in ag isn’t always about being the loudest voice in the room. Sometimes it looks like showing up early, doing the work well, and being someone your team and neighbors can count on.

If you want to get ahead, do the old-fashioned things well: • Look people in the eye. • Do what you say. • Be kind. • Work hard without bragging about it. These things never go out of style.

A lot of the new policy shifts are subtle, but they matter. Reference price increases, ERP-like disaster aid tweaks, changes to how yields are calculated — if you’re not paying attention, you could miss a payment you qualify for or lose future eligibility. We track these

Most farms don’t fail because of markets or weather. They fail during transitions. Because no one talked. Because no one wanted to deal with the hard stuff. A clear succession plan doesn’t just protect your operation, but your family, your employees, and the legacy you’ve

Every farm has books. But not every farm uses them. We’ve seen too many operators hand off their QuickBooks and get a report back they don’t read — or worse, don’t trust. But your books should be a tool, not a task. When your books are clean, and you understand them, they can

Scouting can’t be rushed or skipped. Disease like tar spot can spread fast, what looks healthy today can change in two weeks. Regular scouting, documentation, and quick decisions on fungicides can make the difference between saving yield and losing it.

You can be profitable on paper and still run out of cash. That’s especially true in ag, where timing, not just totals, matters. Pre-pays, delayed payments, crop inputs, tax estimates… it all stacks up differently than a traditional business. When we walk producers through a

Farmers and ranchers are constantly making decisions under pressure — weather, markets, and timing don’t always align with your cash flow. We get it, because we’ve lived it. That’s why we created EA Capital. As producers ourselves, we’ve felt the stress of marketing when you

We didn’t start Empire Ag with a perfect plan. We started with a truck, a spreadsheet, and a few too many ideas. What we lacked in polish, we made up for in commitment. We knew we’d never compete by being flashier or louder — only by being better, more thoughtful, and more

Sitting here evaluating the nations corn crop I think the yield will easily hit 198.4. Get ready for the Government to step in.

Most people think branding is just a logo. Fonts, colors, maybe a catchy tagline. But the truth is: branding runs deeper. It’s the story people tell about you when you're not in the room. A clear, authentic brand: • Builds trust • Differentiates you in a crowded space •

There’s this story we tell rural kids: Go to college. Get out. Do something bigger. But what if coming back is bigger? Running the operation. Starting something new. Raising your family where you were raised. Building something sustainable. It’s not small-town thinking. It’s

Money managers in the week ended Aug. 19 cut their net short in CBOT corn fut&opt to a 12-week low of 145k contracts. That move was almost entirely due to new gross long positions, not short covering.

Talent in rural America isn’t just about numbers or degrees. It’s about mindset, curiosity, and grit—the kind of people who can solve problems, adapt, and lead no matter the obstacles. The problem is opportunity often doesn’t follow them home. High-level projects, leadership

I’ve noticed a lot of folks rush to buy new equipment, add acres, or grow herd size. Bigger isn’t always better. We talk about this a lot in our weekly brotherhood calls. Sometimes bigger just means more stress, more bills, and more moving parts to manage. What actually makes

Burnout in agriculture doesn’t get enough attention. When you’re handling the checks, the equipment repairs, the lender calls, and the weather worries, it adds up. Stress doesn’t always show up as panic. Sometimes it’s just feeling drained. Look after your team. Give yourself

Some of the most capable leaders in ag aren’t in offices. They’re raising families, running cattle, balancing spreadsheets, and keeping equipment running. They’re building something meaningful every day, often out of sight. Too often, we only recognize leadership when it’s in a