Stay open-minded, seek help of people who undertake transition planning is slowly increasing,” Rosmann said.
optimistic position. But agriculture could fall apart rapidly if grain prices decline considerably. My summary advice to farmers is that they need to stay ‘open minded’ about seeking outside counsel, preferably before the ‘stress syndrome’ starts ripping at their personal health, their family environment and their marriage.
“LOG ON” www.TheLandOnline.com “LIKE” Facebook.com/TheLandOnline “FOLLOW” Twitter.com/TheLandOnline
9 A THE LAND, SEPTEMBER 6, 2013
HAZARD, from pg. 8A
Join The Land... online!
Somewhat shocking is that about 40 percent of farmers have neither a will nor a transition plan, Rosmann said. The tax consequences alone can be huge for the Behavioral issues may, heirs. Rosmann suggested that getin fact, be related to a ting a will or transifarmer’s DNA, which tion plan in writing programs their ability, or should be an immelack thereof, to reach diate priority.
<< www.TheLandOnline.com >>
“Feelings of success and coping are tied to the financial success of the farm operation. Behavioral issues may, in fact, out for assistance. be related to a Rosmann compliDNA, ments farmers on — Mike Rosmann farmer’s which programs their social awaretheir ability, or ness today. Obvilack thereof, to ously the explosion of social media via e-mail, Facebook, reach out for assistance. We now have Twitter and Smart Phones has speeded located on the human genome the site the entire process. So, too, has educa- which impacts depression, anxiety and tion, for most younger farmers have the struggles when things don’t go right. This bit of DNA helps us to be advanced training beyond high school. successful but it also has a cutting side “Beginning farmers today average that hurts us when we get to be over3.2 years of college. College-educated whelmed with difficulties.” farmers are more likely to develop a Rosmann is working on a text book business plan that does a systematic analysis of their operation. In a sense, that explains the new knowledge of they take advantage of the resources human genomics and the implications available better. Farmers without that of choosing a farming vocation. He has extra education might have a few more popularized the term, Agrarian Imperative, as genetically programmed hurdles,” he said. instincts which may be driving the Are we seeing more “behavioral decision-making processes of farmers health” issues among farmers because and would-be farmers. The objective is of the high stakes of today’s farming? to better understand the psychological “Yes, behavioral health of farmers is factors that affect the well-being of ❖ linked with their economic success. At people engaged in farming. present, U.S. agriculture is in a fairly
Vermeer named in Department of Energy grant award harvesting and collection equipment in the field, and improved biomass handling and processing equipment for biorefineries. The 16-member team named in the project represents industry, national laboratories, original equipment manufacturers and consulting companies who have established international reputations in the field of bioenergy and biomass production. Participants named along with Vermeer include Poet, ADM, Clariant USA, Monsanto, Pellet Technology USA, FDC Enterprises, Antares Group, Idaho National Lab, Virginia Tech, MacDon, Kelderman Manufacturing, Feedstox, Analytical Spectral Devices and B. Hames Consulting. A broader group of collaborators will also participate in the project’s activities. ❖
Arnolds Equipment St. Cloud, MN
Lano Equipment
Norwood-Young America, MN
Schlauderaff Implement
A&C Farm Service
Melrose Implement
Smiths Mill Implement
Paynesville, MN
Hyland Motors
Spring Valley, MN
Melrose, MN
Litchfield, MN
Janesville, MN
Modern Farm Werner Equipment Implement Sauk Centre, MN
Vermillion, MN
“Where Farm and Family Meet”
Vermeer Corp. is announcing its involvement in a nearly $6 million grant award by the U.S. Department of Energy. The Department is making the investment to reduce costs associated with harvesting, handling and preprocessing biomass feedstocks. “This commitment gives Vermeer the opportunity to pull product development forward,” said Jay Van Roekel, Strategic Business Unit manager at Vermeer. “It gives focus to a developing product line, which will get the right solutions to a new market much faster.” The investment will focus on getting high impact, high quality feedstocks — such as corn stover and switchgrass — from field to biorefinery more efficiently and effectively. In total, it will build efforts to create more advanced