Newsletters & Reports

2025 Newsletter

February Newsletter
Inside this Issue:

  • Can We Profitably Grow Corn at $4 and Soybeans at $10?
  • An Early Look at 2024 Profitability Trends
  • Paid Leave Benefits Starting for Minnesotans on January 1, 2026
  • New Year, New Resolutions: Understanding Earned Sick and Safe Time
  • Minimum Wage in Minnesota

March Newsletter
Inside this Issue:

  • Educational Opportunities
  • An Early Look at Financials 2024
  • Now is the Time to See How You Are Doing
  • What to Do When Your Farm Financial Results Aren’t What You Want
  • MN Paid Leave
  • What You Need to Learn from Your Financial Statements

May Newsletter
Inside this Issue:

  • A Report on the State of SW Minnesota Agriculture in 2024
  • End of Tax Season Takeaway
  • Missed the Labor Webinar or Garen’s Farm Finance Update at the Profitability Conference?
  • Chemical Costs
  • Family Living Costs: A Growing Concern for Farm Families
  • Working Capital: The Canary in the Coal Mine
  • Tax Withholding on Your W-2
  • Spring Association Board Meeting

June Newsletter
Inside this Issue:

  • What Is Your Plan? Summer Visits
  • Understanding the Statement of Owner’s Equity: A 2024 Year-End Snapshot
  • Weekly Crops Field Notes
  • Understanding and Utilizing Agricultural Market Outlooks
  • What Taxpayers Should Do If They Get Mail from the IRS
  • W-9 Form and Other Reporting Forms

July Newsletter
Inside this Issue:

  • Summer Visits: In Person or on Zoom – Your Choice!
  • Using Your Strengths and Weaknesses Effectively in Agriculture
  • Minnesota Paid Leave Publishes Adopted Rules
  • Business IQ Survey
  • What retirement plans require you to file a 5500
  • Bottom Line


August Newsletter
Inside this Issue:

  • How does SDAP work?
  • Seasonals still matter- but are they losing their edge?
  • One Big Beautiful Bill
  • What's in the "One Big Beautiful Bill" for working americans and seniors?
  • Opportunities
  • Soil health financial assistance grant opens August 2025
     

September Newsletter
Inside this Issue:

  • What We Heard on the Road in 2025: Notes from Summer Farm Visits
  • Have You Heard of Any Cash Rents in the Area?
  • Term Debt Coverage Ratio: A Window into Farm Financial Health
  • This Too Shall Pass: Navigating Tight Margins in Agriculture
  • One Big Beautiful Bill (More Highlights)
  • Ready to grow your Network?


October Newsletter
 Inside this Issue:

  • MDA opens applications for Livestock investment grants
  • Negotiating farmland rent
  • Rollover money from a 401(k) to an IRA or leave it in the 401(k)
  • Minnesota cropland rental rates update
  • IRS to phase out paper tax refund checks starting with individual taxpayers
  • Prepare for paid leave today
  • Farm legal series updated for 2025
     

November Newsletter
Inside this Issue:

  • Find Fair Farmland Rental Rates in Minnesota
  • Expectations for a Productive Tax Planning Meeting
  • How Did You Do? Evaluating Your 2024 Crop Marketing
  • Leasing personal property
  • Get Ready for Minnesota’s New Paid Leave Program – Action Needed by Dec. 1
  • Want Better Results from Your Grain Marketing?
  • Fall Board Meeting Set for December 8
  • Unlocking the Economics of Cover Crops: New Insights for Midwest Farmers
  • Are You Enjoying Our New Newsletter Layout?

December Newsletter
Inside this Issue

  • What Will Net Farm Income Look Like for 2025?
  • Top 6 Steps to Get Ready for Your Farm Analysis
  • Tile & Land Improvements
  • Summary of tax implications cash rent vs share crop
  • The Farmer's Ultimate Trade Secret: When Is It Time to Upgrade Your Iron?
  • Join us for Strategic Farming: Let's Talk Crops in 2026!
  • The Minnesota Paid Leave Program goes into effect on January 1, 2026
  • The IRS Never Goes Phishing


End of Year Newsletter

Annual Reports

Newsletter Archive

News

Featured Educational Opportunity: Tax Planning & Paid Leave

Stay informed with two valuable learning opportunities now available from University of Minnesota Extension:

MN Extension Webinar: Getting Ready for Minnesota Paid Leave
Extension has created a helpful webinar to guide agriculture employers through the upcoming Minnesota Paid Leave program. Learn what the new requirements mean and how to prepare.
Minnesota Paid Leave – What agriculture employers need to know.

2025 Tax Planning Webinar for Farmers
The 2025 tax planning webinar is now available for viewing. This recorded session walks farmers through key tax considerations for the upcoming year and strategies to help you stay ahead. Watch the 2025 tax planning webinar for farmers – Recording now available 

Both resources are available to watch at your convenience.

Harvest Insights: Interview

Harvest Insights: Garen Paulson Discusses Soybeans and China on WCCO Radio. Listen here:
 

SWMNFBMA 2024 Annual Report

Check out the 2024 Annual Report for a review of SW MN farm finances.

SWMFBMA Highlighted in Successful Farming article

The Southwest Minnesota Farm Business Management Association was recently mentioned in the March 2025 issue of Successful Farming.  Click here to read the article Bottom Line

Labor & Finance Webinars Now Available

Did you miss the Labor Webinar or Garen’s Farm Finance Update at the Profit Conference?

No worries! You can now watch both presentations at your convenience. 

Labor Meeting Replay and Profit Conference Recording are now available on our website under the Educational Opportunities tab. Visit the Educational Opportunities page here