IOWA STATE UNIVERSITY
OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
Cooperative Extension
Keokuk County
102 East Wash.
Sigourney, Iowa 52591
Phone 515/622-2680
Fax 515/622-2637
E-mail x1steinh@exnet.iastate.edu
March 7, 2016
Church’s and Concerned Citizens of Keokuk County & Surrounding towns:
I’m writing to ask your help. Most of you know that our farm families are going
through some tough economic times. Those who have swine operations are going
through even tougher times. The economy of our county, and the social face of our
communities may be changed by these drastic economic conditions.
An event has been scheduled for area farmers that is designed to:
.
.
.
.
Allow farmers to learn about avenues of help.
Allow farmers to see that although the farm is important, that they need to
take care of the other areas that they have been blessed with. (Family,
friends, Health)
Allow family, friends, and non-farm neighbors to talk with and understand
this serious problem.
Allow farmers and their family to talk about the problem and to work
through possible courses of action for the community.
The meeting will be held at the St. Mary’s Catholic Church Sanctuary in Keota at 7
Pm on Monday Dec. 21st. This is short notice but the situation dictates immediate
action, (severity of the problem and proximity to Christmas (the most stressful
times of the year)).
I’m asking you to include the enclosed excerpt in your bulletin or that it be
announced. I’m also asking for you to attend the meeting. These are tough times,
and my personal belief is that the only answer is our Lord. Your presence may
reinforce this, or lead to a chance for you to witness to a parishioner or someone
else. Please make every effort to attend.
Thanks for any help you can give.
Gary Bickmeier
Keokuk County CEED
Iowa State University and U.S. Department of Agriculture cooperating
Extension programs are available to all without regard to race, color, national origin, religion, sex, age or handicap
Dealing with the Farm Economy
Farming doesn’t make my world go round, But How do I keep my World going around until times get better. That’s
what most farmers in South East Iowa are saying today. Pork prices are at unheard of levels, and all other
commodities are at meager levels. Farmers, their families, Ag suppliers and their community neighbors need to
understand the situation and to learn:
What the future is likely to hold?
Who can help?
What are the signs of stress and what ways can you or others relieve the stress?
How can we as a community work together to make a difference?
Everyone will meet in St. Mary’s Sanctuary in Keota to develop answers to these questions. The meeting is
scheduled for Monday Dec. 21st at 7 Pm at St. Mary’s church in Keota. Everyone who farms or cares about farmers
is invited to attend.
Meeting Agenda
7 Pm--I.
Meeting Moderator---Tom Quinn---Introduce yourself
Prayer---Father Tim
Ask all the government representatives to stand.
Ask all the Clergy or representatives from churches to stand.
Ask all the Extension personnel to stand.
We’ll have to gauge this depending on the attendance and our time. If there would be time have them introduce themselves.
e. Representatives of other groups such as Pork Producers or Farm Bureau.
f. Why are we here---Elmer Greiner
g. Review the evenings Agenda
h. Sometime during the night thank St. Mary’s for hosting the meeting and PCA for providing refreshments.
a.
b.
c.
d.
Before 7:30
II. Harry Tucker---South East Iowa Cooperative Extension Farm Management Field Specialist. The hole that the Whole Swine
industry is in and the Light at the End of the Tunnel.
7:50 (Harry should take approximately 20 minutes (can’t allow him to go over 25 minutes)
Before 8:15
III. Sue Hooper ---South East Iowa Cooperative Extension Families Field Specialist. Dealing with Stress that’s associated with the
Swine Crisis
8:35 Break into groups to BRAIN STORM
How can we as a community work together to make a difference?
Who can help and who could help and how could, or can they help?
Answer handout questions.
9:05
Return and Report to the group---Questions and Discussion
Does the groups want another meeting and if so what subjects do they want covered?
9:30
Finish up---Elmer
Elmer will ask group to sing Hymn Faith of Our Fathers
Refreshments in gym.
Tom:
Any place we can cut time we need to
Harry Tucker---Farm Management Field Specialist
MANAGING LOSSES IN THE NEXT 60 DAYS
1. Project ahead to establish essential cash requirements
2. Preserve cash
3. Restrict cash outflow to essential inputs or products
4. Open discussion with all lenders or credit providers
5. Source of additional cash may be employment
6. Source of additional cash may be sale of non-essential asset
7. Source of additional cash may be re-financing assets
8. Source of additional cash may be culling earning assets
9. Protect earning assets; breedstock, core equipment
STRUCTURING BUSINESS AND FINANCE IN THE NEXT 12 MONTHS
Keota St. Mary’s Church
Dec. 21st 7Pm
Harry Tucker---Farm Management Field Specialist
1. Maintain business integrity; core assets, core credit supply
2. Assess net income potential from every enterprise
3. Assess long term prospects from every enterprise
4. Assess all competing activities and shed marginal activity
5. Let some activities have a 1-2 yr life expectation
6. Restructure losses into reasonable repayment plans (involve all
creditors)
7. When liquidating assets, pay attention to tax consequences
8. Try to negotiate faithfully or try to avoid legal confrontation
9. Thoroughly think through every, every what if, if-then, possible adjustment
Sample discussion Questions for groups.
1.
You have a neighbor that purchased 240 acres in 1980. He and his wife have three children all in grade school and
Junior high school. Because of the farm crises in the early 80's, they almost lost the farm. The bank forgave some
of their debt and they got a guaranteed loan through the FHA. It appeared they were recovering from the financial
setback in the 80's. They expanded their hog operation 3 years ago. Recently you noticed that the family has not
been attending school functions anymore. You also heard that the wife just went to work at the local Duralast plant.
You just run into your neighbors and they are anxious to talk.
What would you say to them?
What would you do for them?
Who would you refer them to?
2. How many families would this crisis include? Define your boundaries and give an estimate. (For example people
with Keota addresses. 50% of the pork producers.) or (3 of the 10 farmers in my neighborhood.)
3. What’s your best estimate of the time frame we’re looking at before the farm economy would improve?
4. What actions can the community take to relieve the stress of families?
5. What political solutions do you see?
6. What are the economic forces that can be influenced to help the farm economy?
7. Are there any educational programs that could help?
Area Farmers and Friends attend Pork Crisis Meeting
150 area Farmers, businessmen, and friends gathered at St. Mary’s church in Keota Monday Dec. 21 st. They came to
hear Iowa State University Extension Specialist speak on the continuing low Pork prices. The meeting was the
result of a collaboration of efforts between St. Mary’s, Keokuk county Extension and area Pork Producers. Several
legislators or their representatives attended. The meeting was capped off when the audience broke into groups and
discussed ways that individuals and the community could make a difference.
Listed below are some of the things suggested in the groups.
 Keep an eye on your neighbor---(Do all you can to help), in that way he may keep an eye on you.
 Listen to your neighbor without judgement
 Take time to listen & talk
 Go out of your way, not to blame and divide
 Support and value each other without judging
 Gather for inexpensive fun.
 Realize that it’s OK to ask for help
 Get some exercise---(It’s a great stress reliever)
 Remember Alcohol and drugs just add to the problem.
 When ever you go to a meeting keep things Positive
 Think through things carefully---(Don’t go off half cocked)
 Share your marketing-production and stress relief information. What you give always comes back to you.
 Don’t take things personally---Remember there are emotions underneath those words.
 Value each person-especially your family-Value yourself
 The government should organize a gilt lift to developing countries. In this way they could buy the hogs directly
from producers.
 Market all your animals lighter. Takes less feed and takes #’s off the market
Tentative plans have been made to have another such meeting on the 18th of January.