COMPARISON OF MICHIGAN FARMLAND RETURNS TO NONFARM INVESTMENTS

Farmland is both a financial investment and a production resource when it is used by the farm family in generating income for the business. The resource is used in producing crops for sale or feed for animals. The basic choices for controlling land are ownership and lease. Land leases allows the control of land for income generation, but it does not allow the lessor to participation in the investment characteristics of the property. Land ownership provides a means for gaining income for the business as well as capital gains for the owner's wealth accumulation. Agricultural land prices increased for almost 50 years until the agricultural financial crisis in the 1980's halted the upward movement in values. From 1981 to 1987, Michigan farmland prices decreased 37 percent. How does the return to farmland compare to the yield from nonfarm investments in the last 10 years? Is agricultural land a good investment? The purpose of this article is an evaluation of investment returns from Michigan farmland for the owners, and a comparison of the returns over time with competing long-term nonfarm investments.Land Economics/Use,

BUSINESS ANALYSIS SUMMARY FOR FRUIT FARMS, 1996 TELFARM

Crop Production/Industries,

MICHIGAN FARM DATABASE NEW DIRECTIONS FOR 1995

The purpose of this paper is to provide financial and production performance data for Michigan farms in 1995. Separate sections report on the farm types of Cash Grain, Dairy, Fruit, General Crop, General Livestock, and Swine. This data can be used as a comparative data base for individual farmers to conduct a financial analysis of their own farm to identify strengths and weaknesses. This report can also provide information to those interested in the financial well being of Michigan agriculture. Immediately following are sections on the data source, and how farm types were defined. The last section of the publication has definitions of calculations. Reader response is requested.Farm Management,

Small, Medium and Large Farms In The North Central Region: A Statistical Profile

Extension specialists are often challenged to design programs that meet the needs of certain classes of farmers, such as small, medium or large-scale operators. The purpose of this paper is to summarize and compare characteristics of three size groups of farms in the North Central Region, as background for a thorough discussion of how extension specialists can meet the needs of each of these groups..

COMPARISON OF MICHIGAN FARMLAND RETURNS TO NONFARM INVESTMENTS

Farmland is both a financial investment and a production resource when it is used by the farm family in generating income for the business. The resource is used in producing crops for sale or feed for animals. The basic choices for controlling land are ownership and lease. Land leases allows the control of land for income generation, but it does not allow the lessor to participation in the investment characteristics of the property. Land ownership provides a means for gaining income for the business as well as capital gains for the owner's wealth accumulation. Agricultural land prices increased for almost 50 years until the agricultural financial crisis in the 1980's halted the upward movement in values. From 1981 to 1987, Michigan farmland prices decreased 37 percent. How does the return to farmland compare to the yield from nonfarm investments in the last 10 years? Is agricultural land a good investment? The purpose of this article is an evaluation of investment returns from Michigan farmland for the owners, and a comparison of the returns over time with competing long-term nonfarm investments

Instructional Aids for Teaching How to Use the TI-59 Programmable Calculator

This paper includes instructional aids for teaching students, farmers, research and extension workers how to use the TI-59 programmable calculator