SIDE BY SIDE DIGITAL SERIES

Online educational series that tackles topics tailored to young and beginning producers.

Digital Series Overview

As a customer-owned financial cooperative, we are committed to serving the next generation of farmers and ranchers. Growing your farm or ranch can be a significant challenge for any producer but can be especially challenging for the next generation. Some of the most important decisions you make impact the finances of your operation.

The weather, commodity prices, and trade, are a few areas in agriculture that are outside of your control. However, there are plenty of things that you can control to proactively manage risk. Taking time to develop financial management skills and decision-making strategies is important.

We put together a team of experts and launched Side by Side Digital, an ongoing educational series that tackles topics tailored to young and beginning producers.

Here’s what you can expect:

  • An exclusive invite to a webinar the first Wednesday of every month, featuring experts ready to answer your questions and provide valuable insights.
  • Access to on-demand recorded content from each webinar.
  • E-learning tutorials and resources around essential topics when it comes to financial decision making.
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Mark Jensen, our CEO, and Nick Jorgensen, a producer and Association Director, kicked off the series and discussed the challenges and resources that exist for young and beginning producers. Register for an upcoming webinar and access previously recorded webinars below.

MAY 2024 LIVE WEBINAR

2024 Economic Outlook and the Key Factors Impacting Agriculture

The U.S. economy continues to remain resilient in 2024. Understanding the future of interest rates, inflation, and the economy is an important part of managing today’s business environment. How do you know which indicators are important to pay attention to and what do they mean for the outlook for 2024? Join us as Matt Erickson, Ag Economic & Policy Advisor with Farm Credit Services of America and Frontier Farm Credit, provides an overview of the U.S. macroeconomy, the ag economy, and the factors to watch for in 2024 and beyond.

Wednesday, May 1, 2024
Preregister via Zoom
Live: 12:30 p.m. CT

Register Now

MOST RECENT RECORDED WEBINARS

Attracting, Hiring & Retaining Farm Employees

Lori Culler, AgHires owner, provided insights into the current job market, examine changes in candidate behavior, and offer strategies to attract potential hires to your farm opportunity. We explored techniques for conducting effective interviews, as well as evaluation methods to ensure you identify the right candidates who contribute to the growth of your farm.

March 6, 2024

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In the Weeds: Managing Stress and Finding Balance on the Farm

Farmers wear many hats and are constantly balancing competing priorities and responsibilities on the farm. Working within a family business and dealing with uncertainties like markets and weather only add to the stress. In this webinar, Ashley Machado demonstrated and discussed different tools that can help ease stress and promote mental health in agriculture. Ashley covered mental health tools that help with anxiety, stress, depression, communication, and relationships. You'll walk away with easy-to-understand resources to implement right away.

April 3, 2024

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All Webinar Recordings

Financial Management

March 2, 2022

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Your home can represent a large proportion of your family budget. Whether buying, building, or remodeling, expenses related to home ownership may be overlooked. Our experts discussed some common scenarios when it comes to home ownership and tips and tools to help your decision-making.

 

December 1, 2021

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Knowing your cost of production is essential to making sound business decisions. Profitable marketing depends on this calculation. Your cost of production also can inform decisions about expanding your operation, making new investments and more. Join our experts as they walk through getting started with cost of production.

 

November 3, 2021

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Do you dread putting together your balance sheet every year? Our experts tackled the most common questions related to balance sheets and shared tips on how to make the process smooth and seamless to help you get the most out of your balance sheet appointment.

 

 

October 6, 2021

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One of the most overlooked financial items that impacts family farms is family living expenses. Yet, managing family living expenses can inadvertently be a contributor to your farm’s financial success or struggle. Learn why tracking family living expenses is important, how to track family living expenses, and why this aspect of finances is important.

July 7, 2021

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Machinery and equipment are major costs in a farm operation. Rising prices and falling inventory can create significant challenges, especially for producers just starting out. Join our experts as they discuss about how to acquire machinery and how to make the best machinery management decisions.

 

April 7, 2021

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Alternative revenue streams can contribute to the growth and success of an operation. Our experts discussed how to evaluate whether an alternative revenue stream may be profitable and key considerations before jumping in.

 

 

March 3, 2021

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The loan application process can sometimes feel daunting. Our experts walked through how to prepare an application and what goes on behind the scenes after it is submitted. We also discussed opportunities that exist for young and beginning producers.

 

 

December 2, 2020

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Your budget is an important management tool and key to making important decisions on your operation such as cash-flow planning, marketing goals, risk management, cost control, enterprise analysis and land rental decisions. Angie Treptow and Maggie Holub discussed how to build your best budget.

November 4, 2020

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Your balance sheet can give you insights into your capital position and allow you to benchmark your operation. Nick Bauer and Kevin Hicks discussed best practices and tips around creating balance sheets.

 

 

 

August 2, 2023

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Dr. Michael Langemeier, Purdue Center for Commercial Agriculture, discussed the advantages and disadvantages of each leasing arrangement and compared the risk/return tradeoffs between lease types.

 

October 4, 2023

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Learn more about loan programs offered through the Farm Service Agency and how those programs can be used to assist young and beginning farmers in establishing and growing their operations.

 

Risk Management

December 7, 2022

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We covered considerations like working with experts, family members, and other key stakeholders, as well as important year-end reminders and deadlines.

 

 

January 5, 2022

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Crop insurance can help you market with confidence. Our experts explored how to integrate crop insurance into your marketing plans to support your 2022 goals.

 

 

 

September 6, 2023

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Farm and ranch insurance can be important coverage needed to insure property and liability associated with operations. Learn the basics of a farm insurance package and five important factors to consider when insuring your farm.

 

December 6, 2023

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Crop insurance is one of the most important risk management tools but can often be complicated and overwhelming to understand. We discussed ECO, SCO, and other private product offerings available to give you the biggest bang for your buck.

 

Marketing

January 4, 2023

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Elaine Kub outlined some possibilities for the commodity markets and how agricultural producers can be primed to make the most of them by thinking ahead and avoiding the pitfalls of the unprepared.

August 3, 2022

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Grain marketing decisions can feel like an emotional rollercoaster. But they don’t have to. Learn more about taking control – and how the contracting options you choose help you achieve specific objectives.

 

February 2, 2022

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Elaine Kub, grain market expert, explored the driving forces behind costs of production, global supply-and-demand, and transportation influences that may sustain or threaten profitable grain prices. She also offered tips based on common behavior patterns and individual risk appetites to help producers optimize their marketing plan.

January 6, 2021

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Naomi Blohm, Senior Market Advisor at Total Farm Marketing, explained the current domestic and global fundamental outlook for corn and soybeans. She also shared 5 tips to for grain marketing to help you get ready for 2021 pricing opportunities.

Transitions

May 4, 2022

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Kitt Tovar Jensen, staff attorney at ISU’s Center for Agricultural Law and Taxation, discussed common legal pitfalls that can arise in farm transition planning and what steps you can take to avoid them.

 

 

May 5, 2021

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Growing the farm, while also trying to professionalize the business, all while managing family relationships, is like trying to change a tire while the truck is moving. This webinar focused on the mindset, skills and models for improving and growing your operation while managing the dynamics of both family and business relationships.

February 3, 2021

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Brandon Dirkschneider, Managing Principal at Insurance Design Management Inc., discussed how to start the conversation about transition planning and what steps you can take to leave a lasting legacy for the future.

 

May 3, 2023

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Lisa Quist shared tips for successful communication and best practices which can help make the transition of farms and ranches smoother, with the end goal of the children still celebrating holidays together after the transition has taken place.

Communications

March 1, 2023

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Kate Lambert, vice president of marketing for FCS Financial, covered risks and rewards of cultivating a personal brand.

 

 

November 2, 2022

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Whether a conversation with your lender, your landlord, or another member of your farm team, learn how to be successful and build your professional reputation.

 

 

September 7, 2022

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Allan Vyhnalek with the Nebraska Extension shared communication and negotiation skills that help family operations function well.

 

 

September 1, 2021

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Whether purchasing or renting land, buying inputs, or investing in machinery, every dollar on the farm matters. Are you negotiating on items where savings matters most? Jim Knuth walked us through tips for strengthening our negotiation skills when it matters most.

 

 

June 7, 2023

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Our expert works through ideas on how to build a team of trusted advisors around your business and how to unify all of them around the success of the operation.

Business Planning

April 5, 2023

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Tom Field, PhD, Director of the Engler Agribusiness Entrepreneurship Program at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, explored the entrepreneur’s mindset and developed an understanding of regret, resistance and motivation.

October 5, 2022

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J’Nan Ensz, CPA, explored farm employment-related topics including contract labor vs. employment, wages in dollars vs. commodities, tax considerations when hiring your children and government compliance considerations.

July 6, 2022

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It's easy to get bogged down in day-to-day tactical pieces of running a farm or ranch. Watch the webinar for tips on developing a strategic mindset focused on moving your business forward.

 

 

August 4, 2021

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Receipts, invoices, tax returns, warranties, legal documents - are you drowning in your operation's paperwork? You don’t have to be. This webinar discussed how long you should keep each type of document and provided some tips and tricks for collecting, filing, and securely storing important documents.

 

June 2, 2021

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Whether you're just starting, exploring a new enterprise, bringing on new partners, or taking over an existing operation, a business plan can help you think strategically about your operation’s future. This webinar focused on how to get started and how business planning can prepare you to take advantage of new opportunities.

 

March 6, 2024

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Lori Culler, AgHires owner, provided insights into the current job market, examine changes in candidate behavior, and offer strategies to attract potential hires to your farm opportunity. We explored techniques for conducting effective interviews, as well as evaluation methods to ensure you identify the right candidates who contribute to the growth of your farm.

 

More Content

June 1, 2022

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Hans Riensche, Aimpoint Research®, explored how technology continues to change on-farm dynamics and practices, and what you can do today to prepare your operation for the future.

 

 

October 7, 2020

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Mark Jensen and Nick Jorgensen discussed challenges that exist for young and beginning producers as well as resources and opportunities. Nick Jorgensen also shared his story and insights as a young producer.

April 6, 2022

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Disruptive weather events across agriculturally productive regions are a major part of commodity price movement. High impact events (i.e., drought, floods, severe storms) cause substantial volatility in a grower’s financial stability. We discussed how weather throughout winter and early spring will influence the 2022 growing season.

November 1, 2023

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The Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) provides financial and technical assistance to voluntarily apply conservation efforts, helping both the environment and land managers prosper. Local NRCS staff discuss your goals and soil health principles while considering your current vegetation and soil characteristics. Learn more about NRCS programs and opportunities and participate in a Q and A session.

February 7, 2024

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Sustainability plans are unique to each operation's goals. Our experts discussed the six-step process of determining which opportunities are right for you; covering examples to help guide your decision-making process.

April 3, 2024

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Ashley Machado, M Well, demonstrated and discussed different tools that can help ease stress and promote mental health in agriculture. Ashley covered mental health tools that help with anxiety, stress, depression, communication, and relationships. You'll walk away with easy-to-understand resources to implement right away.

Podcast

Side by Side Digital - podcast series tackles topics geared toward young and beginning producers. Each episode, we invite Farm Credit and ag industry experts to share their insights on financial management, business outlooks, transition planning and more.

LISTEN NOW

Understand your cost of production

Our e-learning program can help apply this important financial tool to your operation.

Learn more

Cost of Production - Start Learning

What is Side by Side?

Side by Side is a high impact educational conference held annually in Omaha, NE for young and beginning producers. Side by Side features agriculture industry and Farm Credit experts who share insights on financial management, business outlooks, transition planning, risk management and other key issues affecting young and beginning producers. Attendees also have the opportunity to meet and exchange ideas with other conference attendees. The conference goals are to educate, inspire, exchange ideas and encourage advocacy for agriculture.

side by side digital contact

For more information about our Side by Side Digital Series, email us at sidebyside@fcsamerica.com.