Farm management information is a vital resource for any U.S. farmer who continues to provide this nation's consumers with our produce, our milk and our meats. Finding the right farm management guide or farm report can help you strategically place your resources to reap a large crop or healthy herd, and in turn keep your profits up and your expenses down.

Farm management research and farm management resources can also help you with day-to-day operations of your family business. Farm management reference firms can even come in and assist you with occasional consultation, or they can come in and help with the full management and running of your operation.

To make the most of farm management information resources:

1. Start with a basic look at farm management information. Particularly, use the free farm management guide sources that generally come with state school extension offices.

2. Ask yourself if your farm might require the services of a farm management firm. You'll have to pay for this service, so you'll want to weigh the cost versus the benefits.

3. Consider joining a farm management association in your state to network and draw ideas from other farmers like yourself.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Start with free farm management information

Take advantage of free farm management information to begin your general research on the topic of farm management.

I recommend: Check out the farm management information portal from the West Virginia University Extension Service. Look at links on farm management resources from the University of Wyoming Department of Agricultural & Applied Economics. Find additional resources on farm management reference materials through the University of Missouri Extension Office. Iowa State University and other schools also offer a wide variety of farm management info. Seventy-four universities contribute farm management information to eXtension.

Pay for farm management research services

Farm management research and consultation services can aid you in time of need. Take advantage of their expertise to continue to effective management of your farm.

I recommend: Consider the Farmers National Management System from the Farmers National Company. Let them help you increase your income, work on asset conservation, management continuity, provide consistent communications, budget to achieve cost control and improve your crop marketing to increase profits. Halderman Farm Management also offers farm management services from occasional consultation to complete farm operations. Look at the professional farm management services of Hertz Farm Management. Soy Capital Ag Services is another professional farm property management service provider.

Obtain additional farm management information resources through industry organizations

Farm management information resources can be shared by joining others like minded in farm raising goals.

I recommend: Consider joining the International Farm Management Association. Become a full member, a corporate member or a website subscriber. Look at affiliations like the Kansas Farm Management Association. The group strives to provide pertinent information to farmers so that they can make educated and appropriate farm and family decisions. Consider enrolling in the Illinois Farm Business Farm Management Association. South Carolina Farm Management Association is another group to take into consideration joining.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Farm management information resources are particularly important to those families who might have a death in the immediate family. Considering the service of a farm management company if you are unable to perform 100% of the duties of your business might literally save the farm.