Ag-Visors

Are you in the process of applying for a loan – agricultural, business, or personal? Do you plan on buying a farm or a house in the near future? Do you need to borrow money to expand your business? If you answered yes to any of these questions, or if you ever plan on borrowing money, this article applies to you.

Cumulative grid premium rewards for hitting the Certified Angus Beef (CAB) brand target stood at nearly $300 million at the end of last year, and they keep growing at an annual rate of about $25 million paid to producers. That’s the five-year average according to a January 2010 survey; the second-highest total for that span was 2008, with $25.5 million in premiums reported.

How do I manage risk associated with my farm operation?" This is a common question that seems to be more prevalent today in light of the turbulent economy. Unfortunately, there isn’t a “silver bullet” to managing risks but there are several things you can do. Primarily, control the things that you can control.

Unpredictability in the market is forcing many small business owners to think about something they long overlooked:  An exit plan.

This article will cover three tax issues that are of concern during 2010, or could affect 2009 income tax returns filed in 2010. The first topic deals with the Make Work Pay Credit. The second topic will discuss the effect of capital gains taxes on sales in 2010 and subsequent years. Finally, I will briefly discuss income tax issues that may arise on property inherited from a person who died in 2010.

As a whole, the agricultural market has endured many changes and it’s been a difficult year for everyone. However, as the saying goes, “what doesn’t kill you only makes you stronger," and 2010 has presented fresh opportunities for growth.

Congress has changed the rules as to how you can convert a traditional IRA into a ROTH IRA for the 2010 tax year. If you own a traditional IRA, sometime this year you will probably be contacted about converting to a ROTH IRA. Under tax law for this year, you have the option of paying the tax due for the IRA in 2011 and 2012.

It is becoming increasingly harder to  handle cattle in today’s environment. The last thing we want is to have the press and the activists come down on us. Well, they already have, between ABC News Nightline with Brian Ross and CBS Evening News with Katie Couric.

Congress has changed the rules as to how you can convert a traditional IRA into a ROTH IRA for the 2010 tax year. If you own a traditional IRA, sometime this year you will probably be contacted about converting to a ROTH IRA. Under tax law for this year, you have the option of paying the tax due for the IRA in 2011 and 2012.

Producers try to manage cattle and resources based on market incentives, but that’s not simple when signals change faster than they can make adjustments. Sometimes it helps to step back and check the flow.