Just added one on the side... took all of 1 minute.
FYI, this is probably not the site we'll ultimately use if this project gets off the ground. This is just a practice run that'll probably be deleted.
Tuesday, March 4, 2008
Disclaimer
We can post one anywhere on the site and you can also post one at your profile. This might be important for those of us who work in a public capacity. I believe you have a 1st amendment right to speak about things, but it's important to let folks know for whom you're speaking and not speaking.
Tags at the bottom
If you look at several of the posts I've made you'll see tags at the bottom. These are great as they allow quick viewing of related topics that have already been posted on this blog. They do so because if you click on the tag you'll find that it's created it's own link. The beauty of this is that it's picked up by search engines too and makes it more likely that your site will come up when folks search that term, for example "Harvey Mitchell."
If you want to see the outcome of that simply Google "Trey Grayson." Grayson is nationally recognized rising star in the GOP. At my blog, which is, no excuses, political, unlike where I see this one going, I've posted on Trey several times. You'll see that my blog and others are in the top ten when you google his name.
This is important because folks may google things like: Kentucky Small Business or Kentucky Entrepreneurship or Agri-tourism Kentucky and by virtue of the wording we've used, the tag strategies, and of course readership, our site will pop up higher on the search engines.
If our goal is to influence the debate about public policy on e'ship, you simply cannot get more bang for your buck than this blogging approach.
Folks who know me know I don't speak in superlatives like that very often, but trust me when I say this is one of the best things we could be doing to spread our message in KY and elsewhere.
If you want to see the outcome of that simply Google "Trey Grayson." Grayson is nationally recognized rising star in the GOP. At my blog, which is, no excuses, political, unlike where I see this one going, I've posted on Trey several times. You'll see that my blog and others are in the top ten when you google his name.
This is important because folks may google things like: Kentucky Small Business or Kentucky Entrepreneurship or Agri-tourism Kentucky and by virtue of the wording we've used, the tag strategies, and of course readership, our site will pop up higher on the search engines.
If our goal is to influence the debate about public policy on e'ship, you simply cannot get more bang for your buck than this blogging approach.
Folks who know me know I don't speak in superlatives like that very often, but trust me when I say this is one of the best things we could be doing to spread our message in KY and elsewhere.
Harvey Mitchell: Agriculture issues: Kentucky prognostications for 2008"
This message from Harvey Mitchel of the Center for Rural Development is an example of the sort of thing we would post on a blog... it takes about 3 minutese to post and edit (the formatting is occasionally lost when you paste from Word requiring re-formatting for paragraphs.)
Issues for rural Kentucky, especially for agriculture, are challenging and require farmers to search more than normal for information to make sound decisions. Choosing enterprises, deciding how to develop a strategy for the long term, evaluating what fits for each of our distinctly different farms and defining goals based on the changing economic environments and moving market targets makes life interesting on the farm. Specialists in agriculture, and there are many, predict prices, inventory changes and specific enterprise input costs. This time of year, while planning the crop mix or livestock program, farmers are challenged to gather enough information. We can use the best prognostications available, but forecasts rarely address the issue of natural disasters – such as the impact of last year’s drought.
In effective planning, it is vitally important to keep an open mind about what can go wrong. Maintaining a positive attitude in agriculture is difficult these days; however, we should always acknowledge that there are those who do well during adversity and often find opportunity. I continue to get requests for market predictions and the outlook for traditional Kentucky crops and livestock and must admit the crystal ball is not very clear this year.
In fact, issues that normally have little to do with farming are now big issues. Predictions are that Kentucky will have record farm income in 2008 of $4.2 billion, and UK economists predict crop receipts will be up 12 percent, livestock receipts down 2.4 percent, government payments down and feeder calf prices to decline slightly because of high feed prices and market instability. Also, vegetable and other horticulture revenue expansion is likely because of increasing demand for local and organic products. It’s even predicted we will see a slight increase in tobacco production. What is your prediction? Well, once again we should take inventory of where we are and understand how we fit together.
Not all farms or farmers are created equal and their goals certainly vary. Therefore, related to outlook, I guess we can only discuss trends, both in and out of agriculture, which might alter your plans. For example, the economic slowdown is a surprise to most of us and certainly the lowering of interest rates and any stimulus package is reason to pause. The national political activities around us will have an impact for the long term and at this stage of the race the outcome is anyone’s guess. Will the federal farm bill be vetoed? How will international trade be changed? Will ethanol subsidies continue? What is the impact of the “Green Focus” or perceived global warming for the long run? There are a lot of questions with few clear answers. There appears to be some certainties: higher input costs (can we afford the high prices for limited potash, phosphate, nitrogen and seed?); drought carryover problems (low pregnancy rates and inventory replacement needs), higher land leases and land prices (higher grain prices will move these upward); COOL and food safety mandates; and livestock market instability. Wow. Just these certainties make enterprise analysis for 2008 tough.
Of course, many landowners are not required to evaluate all issues since they have chosen 1 or 2 already. But rest assured, the non-farm issues DO impact choices and the challenge before us is to manage our operations in a conservative manner, look for new opportunities or simply limit risk. For example, with cattle operations, such as stockers, marketing opportunities are better if they buy smaller calves because the lengthened window of ownership allows profit taking when prices rise for any reason, even those that have little to do with supply and demand. So while you’re in survival mode this winter, try to find hay and feed and plan for the probability that there will be opportunity to make money. There has always been a cattle cycle. For example, and even though it is disrupted by drought in the west for eight years and in the southeast for two years, business is still good. Also, keep a closer eye on cost of production and markets as they move quickly. Consider adding value either by feeding, grouping cattle, forming alliances or contracts, trace production output for every animal you feed or breed and remember there have always been cycles worth noting for both crops and livestock. Look at the bigger picture of agriculture, international markets, structure of the industry for which you produce, economic and governmental changes likely to occur, and impact of new ideas, such as renewable energy.
My commentary basically says to:
1.) do your best with what you know; continue to
2.) learn about the business you’re in; and
3.) keep a cautious eye out for outside influences which directly or indirectly impact your bottom line.
“Success” is a relative term and simply raising kids and living on the farm carries a given degree of it. Farming may be more complicated now than in the past, but every acre is farmed by someone like you who chooses to do so for different reasons. I wish all landowners success – and hang in there.
Harvey Mitchell
hmitchell@centertech.com
Issues for rural Kentucky, especially for agriculture, are challenging and require farmers to search more than normal for information to make sound decisions. Choosing enterprises, deciding how to develop a strategy for the long term, evaluating what fits for each of our distinctly different farms and defining goals based on the changing economic environments and moving market targets makes life interesting on the farm. Specialists in agriculture, and there are many, predict prices, inventory changes and specific enterprise input costs. This time of year, while planning the crop mix or livestock program, farmers are challenged to gather enough information. We can use the best prognostications available, but forecasts rarely address the issue of natural disasters – such as the impact of last year’s drought.
In effective planning, it is vitally important to keep an open mind about what can go wrong. Maintaining a positive attitude in agriculture is difficult these days; however, we should always acknowledge that there are those who do well during adversity and often find opportunity. I continue to get requests for market predictions and the outlook for traditional Kentucky crops and livestock and must admit the crystal ball is not very clear this year.
In fact, issues that normally have little to do with farming are now big issues. Predictions are that Kentucky will have record farm income in 2008 of $4.2 billion, and UK economists predict crop receipts will be up 12 percent, livestock receipts down 2.4 percent, government payments down and feeder calf prices to decline slightly because of high feed prices and market instability. Also, vegetable and other horticulture revenue expansion is likely because of increasing demand for local and organic products. It’s even predicted we will see a slight increase in tobacco production. What is your prediction? Well, once again we should take inventory of where we are and understand how we fit together.
Not all farms or farmers are created equal and their goals certainly vary. Therefore, related to outlook, I guess we can only discuss trends, both in and out of agriculture, which might alter your plans. For example, the economic slowdown is a surprise to most of us and certainly the lowering of interest rates and any stimulus package is reason to pause. The national political activities around us will have an impact for the long term and at this stage of the race the outcome is anyone’s guess. Will the federal farm bill be vetoed? How will international trade be changed? Will ethanol subsidies continue? What is the impact of the “Green Focus” or perceived global warming for the long run? There are a lot of questions with few clear answers. There appears to be some certainties: higher input costs (can we afford the high prices for limited potash, phosphate, nitrogen and seed?); drought carryover problems (low pregnancy rates and inventory replacement needs), higher land leases and land prices (higher grain prices will move these upward); COOL and food safety mandates; and livestock market instability. Wow. Just these certainties make enterprise analysis for 2008 tough.
Of course, many landowners are not required to evaluate all issues since they have chosen 1 or 2 already. But rest assured, the non-farm issues DO impact choices and the challenge before us is to manage our operations in a conservative manner, look for new opportunities or simply limit risk. For example, with cattle operations, such as stockers, marketing opportunities are better if they buy smaller calves because the lengthened window of ownership allows profit taking when prices rise for any reason, even those that have little to do with supply and demand. So while you’re in survival mode this winter, try to find hay and feed and plan for the probability that there will be opportunity to make money. There has always been a cattle cycle. For example, and even though it is disrupted by drought in the west for eight years and in the southeast for two years, business is still good. Also, keep a closer eye on cost of production and markets as they move quickly. Consider adding value either by feeding, grouping cattle, forming alliances or contracts, trace production output for every animal you feed or breed and remember there have always been cycles worth noting for both crops and livestock. Look at the bigger picture of agriculture, international markets, structure of the industry for which you produce, economic and governmental changes likely to occur, and impact of new ideas, such as renewable energy.
My commentary basically says to:
1.) do your best with what you know; continue to
2.) learn about the business you’re in; and
3.) keep a cautious eye out for outside influences which directly or indirectly impact your bottom line.
“Success” is a relative term and simply raising kids and living on the farm carries a given degree of it. Farming may be more complicated now than in the past, but every acre is farmed by someone like you who chooses to do so for different reasons. I wish all landowners success – and hang in there.
Harvey Mitchell
hmitchell@centertech.com
Sunday, February 24, 2008
Maintaining a blog
If we decide to do this, a couple of things we'll want to consider are:
1. Is this a group project that folks are welcome to join rather than something we're wanting group permission on? I think the former removes any pressure that folks might feel and allows them to decide if they want to do this or not.
2. Being a poli sci teacher and a poli sci junkie I know what it's like to see folks get riled up about politics. Do we want to have a policy on politics? Issues such as government spending, the environment, etc., can and should be discussed. But should they be touched on in a non-political (as much as that's possible, obviously) manner? Some form of policy that says "be careful" is probably a good idea, lest we spend too much time debating about universal health care or tax cuts.
3. We can have as many as 100 authors. Would we want to wait 'till someone said "I'm really interested" before actually inviting them? It might keep things simpler that way.
4. I've granted Gwenda and Mel administrator privileges and will do the same for Larrey if he joins. You can quickly see the potential that has. If we do this, it's probably wise to now have everyone down as an administrator simply b/c you can accidentally erase the site or gum up the HTML quickly.
Just some ideas to consider if we decide to run w/ this.
1. Is this a group project that folks are welcome to join rather than something we're wanting group permission on? I think the former removes any pressure that folks might feel and allows them to decide if they want to do this or not.
2. Being a poli sci teacher and a poli sci junkie I know what it's like to see folks get riled up about politics. Do we want to have a policy on politics? Issues such as government spending, the environment, etc., can and should be discussed. But should they be touched on in a non-political (as much as that's possible, obviously) manner? Some form of policy that says "be careful" is probably a good idea, lest we spend too much time debating about universal health care or tax cuts.
3. We can have as many as 100 authors. Would we want to wait 'till someone said "I'm really interested" before actually inviting them? It might keep things simpler that way.
4. I've granted Gwenda and Mel administrator privileges and will do the same for Larrey if he joins. You can quickly see the potential that has. If we do this, it's probably wise to now have everyone down as an administrator simply b/c you can accidentally erase the site or gum up the HTML quickly.
Just some ideas to consider if we decide to run w/ this.
Saturday, February 23, 2008
Friday, February 22, 2008
eeducator
Coming soon --- an entrepreneurial showcase...."Home grown and locally made..the East Kentucky Market". If this tweaks your interest let me know.
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