Fall Harvest Checklist for Farmers: Get the Season Right

Harvest season is not the time for complications. It is the time to keep equipment running, your crew sharp, and momentum going. First, get your equipment dialed in before you start. A breakdown during peak can derail your day and…

Live vs. Online Farm Auction: Which Is Right for You?

When it comes time to sell your farm, one of the first decisions you'll face is how to sell it. Do you host a live, in-person auction where bidders gather in the community, meet the sellers, and compete in real…

When Is the Best Time to Sell Your Farm?

If you own farmland and have been thinking about selling, timing matters – not just for the market, but for your own peace of mind. The good news is that farmland has a natural rhythm, and understanding it can help…

150 Years on One Indiana Farm: The Hoosier Homestead Legacy

According to USDA's National Institute of Food and Agriculture, an estimated 70 percent of U.S. farmland will change hands in the next 20 years. For a country built on agriculture, that figure is striking — especially when you consider that…

Preserving Farm Heritage in Northeast Indiana

A lot of people talk about preserving agricultural heritage. Larry and Peggy Smith just live in it. Larry Smith spends his days as a Halderman area representative in northeast Indiana, helping landowners understand and protect the value of their farms.…

Rooted in the Land: A Fifth-Generation Farmer Brings Her Story to Halderman

Family roots run deep in agriculture. For anyone growing up on a multi-generational farm, there is an unspoken weight that comes with it. Not just the work, but the legacy. Alexandra Merritt, Halderman’s newest Marketing team member, knows that feeling…

A Farm, a Family, and a Piece of History - Woven in Decatur County

Some farms carry more than a deed. Halderman area representative Craig Springmier’s family farm has been in Decatur County, Indiana,  since the 1850s — and on that same piece of ground, something remarkable was made, something that eventually found its…

How Mentorship Helps Family Farms Survive for Generations

As family farms face major transitions, many are unprepared. The average farmer is now over 58 years old,  preparing to pass their farming operation. Only 12% of family farms make it to the third generation, and just 3% reach the…

How Climate Trends Are Reshaping Crop Planning for Midwest Farmers

Summer in the Midwest is heating up, the sun is shining for nearly 15 hours a day, and temperatures continue rising. According to USDA climate resources and the Fifth National Climate Assessment, farmers across the Midwest are experiencing changes in…