Sara Schafer

Sara (Muri) Schafer, editor of Top Producer magazine, grew up on a family farm where they raised hogs and cattle, along with soybeans, corn, wheat, milo and hay. Since joining Farm Journal Media in 2008, she has covered a broad range of topics pivotal to the success of U.S. farmers. In addition to being an award-winning journalist, she has played several key roles with the transformative relaunch of AgWeb.com and spearheaded the Farm Journal Legacy Project expansion. Sara graduated from the University of Missouri-Columbia with a degree in agricultural journalism and a minor in agricultural economics. She resides in Columbia, Mo., with her husband and daughter.

Latest Stories
Jerry Gulke
Market Analysis
Jerry Gulke: What Will Boots in the Field Reveal?
“This is the first boots-on-the-ground assessment and that ought to be revealing,” says Jerry Gulke.
July 24, 2023 01:23 PM
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Sara Schafer
Nuffield Scholarship
Technology
Embark on a Transformational Travel Opportunity with a Nuffield International Scholarship
The Nuffield International Farming Scholars program selects a farmers and agri-professionals to embark on an international journey to study key agricultural issues and develop a global network.
July 24, 2023 01:21 PM
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Sara Schafer
Leadership Quote
Health
Do You Pass the Farm Leadership Test?
As the leader of your farm, you have a great opportunity and responsibility. You set the pace, the tone and the direction of your business.
July 24, 2023 01:18 PM
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Sara Schafer
Weekly Leadership Meeting
Succession Planning
Sample Agenda for a Farm Weekly Leadership Meeting
Use weekly leadership meetings to set priorities and focus on goals.
July 24, 2023 01:17 PM
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Sara Schafer
Steve Pitstick
Taxes and Finance
5 Lessons from 5 Decades of Farming
How do farmers survive and thrive in farming today? Steve Pitstick shares some strategies he’s employed over the decades.
July 24, 2023 01:16 PM
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Sara Schafer
Crop Production
Squash the Record: Nebraska Pumpkin Grower Paddles 846-lb. Pumpkin on Missouri River
To commemorate his 60th trip around the sun, Duane Hansen set a new world record.
July 24, 2023 01:11 PM
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Sara Schafer
Brendan and Elaine Martin
Taxes and Finance
Young Farmers Build Dream Farm, One Piece At A Time
Brendan and Elaine Martin are building their dream farm — one piece at a time.
July 24, 2023 12:56 PM
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Sara Schafer
Jerry Gulke
Market Analysis
Jerry Gulke: Will the USDA Reports Be an Inflection Point for the Grain Markets?
Gulke expects USDA to drop the national average corn yield to 172.5 per acre and leave the soybean yield unchanged. The key, he says, will be what USDA does with its demand estimates.
July 24, 2023 11:00 AM
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Sara Schafer
You’ve heard the horror stories. The ones about farm families who spend months in court fighting over assets. The result? A destroyed business and fractured family. Why does this situation play out over and over?
Succession Planning
3 Reasons Your Family Could End Up in Court (And How to Avoid It)
You’ve heard the horror stories. The ones about farm families who spend months in court fighting over assets. The result? A destroyed business and fractured family. Why does this situation play out over and over?
July 24, 2023 10:59 AM
 · 
Sara Schafer
September 2022 Rural Mainstreet Index
Taxes and Finance
High Interest Rates and Inflation Dragging Down the Rural Economy
For a fifth straight month, the rural economy has posted signs of trouble. That’s according to the Rural Mainstreet Index (RMI) from Creighton University.
July 24, 2023 10:56 AM
 · 
Sara Schafer
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