John Phipps
CB:

If you recall from the article you cite, my son had been gone from the farm 15 years and had never indicated to us he was interested in returning. Maybe we should have had a succession plan in place just in case, but it seemed like a waste of time, and I felt it would also be perceived as pressure on my son who was a successful professional engineer in another industry.

Once he made a decision, we made it happen.

I do not offer market comments from a expert point of view, just what is happening on my farm. While I am not an example of good marketing, AGMAS data shows it is really really hard to beat average prices. That's my target.

My most limited resource is time, and elaborate marketing programs require more than I wish to invest. So I use forward contracts and do the best I can with cost control and productivity. It's worked OK for 35 years.

Small brag: I have 75% of my 2009 beans priced at $10+, so even a blind hog...

9:19 AM Mar 4th

Corn Boer
These actions do not surprise me coming from John. This is the same person that a few years back admittedly told his son that he had no succession plan and couldn't afford to have him come back to the farm. Even farming 1800 acres and 2nd genertion farmer there was NO FORSIGHT, amazing. That is when you lost all credability. Just "a shucks" kind of guy.
1:34 PM Mar 2nd