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By Brandy Harrison KEMPTVILLE In the delicate, high-anxiety dance of negotiating land rent, farmers may need to clam up or risk land being scooped up from underneath them, says an Illinois crop farmer and ag commentator. “Its astonishing what people will tell you if you simply shut up. Were all offence and no defence. If its not two-way, its not communicating. Its advertising,” says John Phipps, who suggests that farmers lose out to competitors and miss valuable feedback that could strengthen business relationships when they fail to listen. “We assume that landowners want top dollar. Thats secondary. What they really want is to know this amount of money will show up on this date for the foreseeable future.” The feature speaker at the Eastern Ontario Crop Conference on Feb. 10 aims to give farmers tools to cope in an increasingly unpredictable and savagely competitive industry. Phipps farms 2,200 acres near Champaign, Ill. with his wife, Jan, and his son, Aaron, and provides commentary for Farm Journal, Top Producer, and U.S. Farm Report. The conference features 20 other presentations, including market insight from grain merchant Steve Kell, the low-down on the newest high-tech gadgets in precision agriculture, and corn inputs that pay. The cost is $80, $75 for OSCIA members, or $25 for students. The conference has relocated to the North Grenville Municipal Centre after more than 15 years at Kemptville College. For more, call 613-258-8296. |
