Partners Fall 21

Promoting the business success of our customers and the rural community

GreenStone FCS

Fall 2021

GREENSTONE STORY: Land Values Report

+ MAEAP + Leasing + Tech Tip CROP FEATURE: Unexpected Growth– Railside Orchards

Recipe for Success

YBSF SPOTLIGHT: 3 NORTH VINES pg. 5

FALL 21 5 YBSF

Feature. While Kristi and Nate Shopbell had corporate jobs, they got into wine as a hobby. They enjoyed wine tourism and making their own wine at home, and they were having fun doing it. Their interest then developed into the desire to start their own wine business.

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23 GreenStone Story.

Our tracking of land and property sales data keeps us all aware of the trends and helps you to accurately evaluate your business options.

29 Country Living Feature. Jeremiah and Carrie, with their daughter Sadie closed on a house on five aces in Alto, Michigan. That was, until the 30 acres adjacent to the land came up for sale.

37 Crop Insurance Feature.

Aaron and Barb Roth got married under the terms they would not own a farm.

Then, things changed.

43 Tax Feature. It’s nearing the end of the year, and that means time is running out to make educated business decisions that minimize your income tax liabilities.

3 CEO Comments.

As harvest is upon us President and CEO Dave Armstrong reflects on the past growing season and things to come.

11 Market Outlook.

The U.S. economy experienced a rapid recovery during the first half of 2021. In fact, second quarter GDP output represented a quarterly record.

15 Guest Column.

As we go through our daily lives, individually and collectively, we leave a “footprint on the environment."

35 Budgeting for Your Needs and Wants.

Budgeting is a great tool to use when determining the difference between needs and wants.

36 Guest Column.

Jordan Browne, Producer of Michigan Out-of-Doors TV, shares highlights of spending mornings in the marsh.

45 Tech Tip – Securing Your Home Network.

This is a great time of year to review your home network settings, making sure you and your family are secure while online.

8 Agriculture Blog Brief

25 The Benefits of Leasing.

Leasing is one of the most important tools every farmer and rancher should have in their financial toolbox.

26 Director's Perspective.

Michael Feight shares perspective of being the newest member on GreenStone’s Board of Directors.

27 Legislative Matters.

Reflecting upon what makes the American farmer and the generations they came from is a complex and unique genealogy.

28 PAC Progress.

All throughout the year, action has been taken through the Farm Credit Political Action Committees (PACs) to disburse funds, build relationships, and provide education.

33 Tips for Time Management.

Here are some time saving tips that might help you to rock parenting this year!

9 YBSF Resources 14 MAEAP Reverification 17 Member News 18 Candid Comments 19 Pause for Applause 20 Intern Wrap-up 21 Behind the Scenes 22 Calendar of Events

32 Country Living Blog Brief

Publisher’s Note: I was recently encouraged by a motivational speaker to give ourselves the grace to experiment. Meaning, embrace the perspective of it being ok to try something that may or may not bring the desired result – you won’t know, you won’t grow, you won’t make an impact, if you don’t try.

At first I thought, YES, we should feel empowered to try and fail, learn and adjust, and try again. But as I started brainstorming which experiment I wanted to test first, it hit me…isn’t that actually what we do every day? Running a business, raising a family, building a house, managing a team… it doesn’t really matter where you’re focused, you always need to be thinking about something new, trying a new approach – problem solving.

In fact, on page 5 our young farmers (Kristi and Nate Shopbell) certainly didn’t predict and plan perfectly every step of the way. They experimented to find the desired grape mixture for their favorite wine, the best way to overcome recent COVID roadblocks, and exactly how to be prepared for what Mother Nature throws at the vineyard.

And young Sadie on page 29 didn’t have complete success the first time with her garden and vegetable stand on her family’s, the Mostroms, new home and recreational property.

When it comes to experiments, farming definitely comes to mind. Growing fruit, like all crops, is a never-ending experiment of plants and nutrients and insurance protection, which Railside Orchard and the Roth family can relate to, as shared on page 37.

Sometimes (or in my case, most often) it’s the family management that can benefit from a little experimenting as the kids’ ages change and the challenges evolve…you might want to join me in testing out a few of the tips on page 33.

As long as the mission, vision and values stand strong, these little tests can lead to grand results. And we hope this harvest season is bringing you and your family equally grand yields!

Happy reading, and happy experimenting!

– Melissa

34 Commodity Cuisine...

Easy Apple Cinnamon Rolls

41 Crop Insurance News 42 Crop Insurance Calendar 44 Tax Calendar

This newsletter is published quarterly for the customers of GreenStone Farm Credit Services.

Editorial Cassie Bowman Amber Echlin Camryn Lewis

Melissa Rogers Alaina Schrauben Carla Wardin

Partners GreenStone Farm Credit Services 3515 West Road East Lansing, MI 48823 800-444-3276 marketing@greenstonefcs.com

Art & Design Hailey Andres William Eva

CEO Comments:

Welcoming Fall What a difference a year makes! At this time a year ago, we started to come under more restrictive COVID-19 orders as infection rates began to spike again igniting what turned out to be a second spike that was worse than the original outbreak in the spring of last year.

While the Delta variant has surged through populations in a few states this summer, our marketplace (in general) has experienced mostly mild to moderate rates of infection recently. It’s been nice to enjoy life with few mask and/or social distancing restrictions. I know for me, it’s been great to see fans back in the stands here in East Lansing, MI and Madison, WI as well. Okay… maybe even in Ann Arbor, MI! There’s nothing like losing some of the simple things in life we typically take for granted to make us grateful when they finally return.

Fall harvest is underway across our territory with “outstanding” yields having been anticipated early in many areas. However, corn producers are now realizing the significant yield impacts from tar spot. Higher prices for most crops will help bridge this gap, and bring a well-deserved smile to those cash crop customers experiencing high yields in other crops this year.

Although dairy farmers and many of our fruit growers (who suffered losses from the spring’s freezing temperatures) are likely not going to experience the same euphoria as crop producers, they have experienced much worse in prior years and should do okay in 2021.

In fact, based on our ongoing customer financial assessments, we’ve upgraded a significant amount of previously classified high-risk loan volume across a variety of commodities resulting in one of the lowest risk profiles in GreenStone’s 21-year history. This further supports the industry’s anticipated resilience of strong net farm income in 2021 based on economic fundamentals rather than the record government support and stimulus payments received last year.

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PPP Loan Update Speaking of government stimulus programs, I am very pleased to report that as this edition of Partner’s goes to press, GreenStone has assisted all of its customers in submitting their Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loan forgiveness applications to the Small Business Administration (SBA) with less than 3% of the more than 4,900 loans awaiting final forgiveness.

This is a significant milestone for GreenStone and our customers who received these funds to help keep their employees and cover other eligible expenses during the very difficult economic times created by the pandemic. It has NOT been an easy path due to the complexity and everchanging direction of the program. However, I am very proud of our team members who worked tirelessly to “do the right thing” (as our Core Four Values encourage) to help our customers through these tough times.

2022 and Beyond Business Direction Moving forward, the GreenStone board and leadership team have completed the 2022 business planning process, which includes GreenStone embarking on a significant “digital transformation” strategy over the next 5+ years. The purpose of which is to continue to provide you with higher levels of service, convenience, and security while striving to create additional efficiencies that keep our costs competitive and our Patronage payments to you strong. Over the next 12 to 18 months, we will be implementing a new loan origination system, customer relationship management platform, a forms generation application, plus enhancements to our credit underwriting tools.

While many of these systems are primarily “behind the scenes,” the benefits are far reaching. For example, the credit underwriting tool alone will allow customers to conveniently share their financial information with us through direct data feeds, optical scanning or other methods that will improve the accuracy of the information provided and eliminate redundant keying just to name a few. As you know in your business, constant change is a given. Our goal is to never stop making continuous improvements in our business that will make a positive impact on yours as well.

2021 Customer Satisfaction Survey Our 2021 customer satisfaction survey results dropped slightly to 92% from 95% satisfied/very satisfied in 2020. The primary driver appeared to be concerns by some customers that GreenStone did not open its offices for walk in traffic as early as some of its competitors did. Also, due to the “tsunami” of new loan demand, including the PPP program we administered, our application to loan closing times were unusually long in some cases, often due to factors outside our control such as the time of completion of appraisals by third party appraisers and slower turnaround times at title insurance companies.

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Our goal is to never stop making continuous improvements in our business that will make a positive impact on yours as well

includes 2,500 acres of corn, soybeans, and wheat along with 75 acres of carrots for Campbell’s Soup.

In fact, Mike’s father, Fred, was one of the founding board members of GreenStone when it was formed in 1999/2000.

So, please read page 26 to hear more from Mike, and join me in providing him a warm GreenStone welcome!

Value Above and Beyond Just Loans Before I close, I would like to focus your attention on this edition’s GreenStone Story about our land value benchmarking project, on page 23.

Many of you likely already know that for years, GreenStone and its predecessor Federal Land Bank Associations maintained benchmark farm valuation data to assist its appraisers in completing appraisals that are required for the extension of credit. Today, with the advancements in information technology, we are excited about being able to provide much of this same information and more to you, our members, to use in your evaluation of future land purchases, rental negotiations and/or real estate values in general across our territory. We hope you find this information of value and see GreenStone as much more than just loans! From risk management products (crop insurance, DRP, etc.) to accounting and income tax services and now real estate benchmarking data, we are truly your one stop for high quality financial products and information.

Best wishes for a safe and productive harvest and thank you for your business! Please feel free to reach out to me any time at if I can ever be of assistance.

Yet, overall, the results and feedback were very positive. We have reviewed the comments many of you provided in the surveys and are committed to make course corrections to exceed your expectations in the future. I want to thank all of you who took the time to complete these surveys to help us help you better in the future.

Dave Armstrong

517-318-4105 dave.armstrong@greenstonefcs.com

Welcome to GreenStone’s New Board Member I would like to also introduce you to our newest Board Member from Region 2.

Michael (Mike) Feight was elected to the board out of Region 2 in June of this year. He is from Tecumseh, MI in Lenawee County and has been a member of GreenStone and one of its predecessor associations for 36 years. He operates a partnership with his father and brother which

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GROW

Young, Beginning, and Small Farmer Feature

➡K risti and Nate Shopbell own 3 North Vines, a grape-to-wine enterprise in Croswell, Michigan.

While Kristi and Nate Shopbell had corporate jobs, they got into wine as a hobby. They enjoyed wine tourism and making their own wine at home, and they were having fun doing it.

Their interest then developed into the desire to start their own wine business.

Over a two-year process, the Shopbells developed their plan and educated themselves on how to do grape-towine. They worked with the librarians in Plymouth, Michigan, to research weather and soil data to see where they could feasibly grow a vineyard.

They consulted with the MSU Product Center and the national Small Business Development Center that support startups.

“In 2008, we planted 24 vines on one acre,” Kristi said. “Then the next season, we planted another acre. They were up and growing great in 2014, which is when the polar vortex hit.

It was -30 degrees, and we lost 40% of the grapes. It was terrible, and the ones that did survive still looked terrible.”

“We also attended a lot of Google University,” Kristi joked. “As we researched, I realized I’m an East side of Michigan person. Not that I don’t love the West side, but we knew we wanted to start our business here.

Then the question came – can we grow on the East side?”

“We replanted, and then the second polar vortex hit,” Kristi said. “The first years on a vineyard are a lot of pretty intense work, and now we were back to square one.”

In Croswell, Michigan, the Shopbells found 35 acres, with 17 tillable, that had been a soybean field. In 2007, they moved there from Plymouth and entered into a two-year land contract.

Shannon Arbaugh, a VP of lending for GreenStone, became a part of their business plan when they financed their first tractor. They then began planting their vineyard, but the weather didn’t cooperate.

Unfortunately, the next season wasn’t any better.

The Shopbells modified their planting plan, and eventually found hardy varietals that performed better in colder, unpredictable weather.

The land came with a house that had been on the market for four years, and it needed a lot of work. The Shopbells worked with GreenStone to finance it.

“Shannon came to look at the house as we were remodeling it,” Kristi said. “It’s an 1800s farmhouse, we had to gut it, and fix the foundation of it. Shannon was realistic, but also supportive of what we were doing.”

View a highlight reel video at: www.greenstonefcs.com/YBSFFall21

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Despite the impact of the polar vortex, in 2014 the Shopbells opened a tasting room on their farm site – 3 North Vines.

“It’s great the way the property is laid out, because it’s on top of a hill, and the barn is surrounded by vines,“ she said. “It’s a cool kind of environment, because now the tasting room is creeping into the vineyard, which makes people ask a lot of questions when they’re right next to the grapes. This gives us a chance to teach about the actual agriculture that goes into our wine.”

The vineyard tasting room in Croswell is currently open seven days a week and employs 14 part-time and two full-time people. Nate works off the farm as a project manager for Ground Effects Ltd., but he spends every spare minute on the farm managing the vineyard.

Kristi works in the vineyard and is more involved in the wine making side of the business. Over the year, she prunes the vines, cuts them back, rakes them out and cleans up the vineyard, tucks the vines, removes leaves by hand to allow for better air movement, and clips buds. She compared making wine at home to making it commercially to going from making one batch of cookies to 25.

“When you multiply your product by 25, you run into challenges like lifting a 200-gallon tank – knowing where you set it, that’s where it’s going to stay,” she said.

“You need more grapes, and once a year you have the one chance to bring it in and make everything right. It goes from field to crusher to stemmer…not many wineries in the state grow their own grapes, and I can see why. It’s a lot easier to buy them.”

The Shopbells later met Ryan Mulrenin and formed a partnership in a second tasting room in downtown Lexington. They also worked with GreenStone on the expansion “I love the downtown atmosphere, and we’re going to add a brewery and kitchen aspect to it in the future,” Ryan said.

“With our experience, it should be a good transition.” ➡S hannon Arbaugh, VP of lending for GreenStone, has worked with the Shopbells since they financed their first tractor. ➡ 3 North Vines formed a partnership with Ryan Mulrenin to open a second tasting room in Lexington.

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Shannon has enjoyed working with 3 North Vines for the last decade.

“I’m continually amazed at the research they do for everything related to opening, growing and expanding their business,” Shannon said. “They had a vision and they have made it a reality – a beautiful and successful reality.”

Shannon worked to support them through the difficult times of shutdowns in 2020.

“The pandemic obviously affected everyone, especially those with retail businesses like 3 North Vines,” Shannon said. “Nate and Kristi were very adaptive and made changes so that they could keep their business open, and as a result they actually had one of their most prosperous years ever.”

For instance, the Shopbells added an outdoor patio, additional outside seating, an updated menu and hosted several small outdoor weddings.

“To me, this is the true definition of a successful, creative and innovative business owner – adjusting to change while building your customer base all while remaining profitable,” Shannon said. “With Kristi’s bubbly personality and industry knowledge, Nate’s attention to detail, and Ryan’s knowledge and experience, they make an excellent team and truly are the recipe for success.”

Kristi, Nate, their two sons Parker (10) and Lincoln (8) are enjoying their rural life and running their growing business.

“There are days I miss sitting behind a computer, but Nate, the kids and I love where we live and work,” she said. “People coming to our farm are here for this exact experience.” ■

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AGRICULTURE – OPEN FIELDS BLOG BRIEF GreenStone publishes regular updates on our Open Fields blog. Check out some of the posts you may have missed at www.greenstonefcs.com/openfieldsblog.

Margin Protection and Why You Should Take a Look at it This Fall Crop insurance continues to be the number one method used to mitigate the financial risks involved with growing a crop.

Answering Questions About Timber Financing Cameron Rowe, GreenStone’s financial services officer and timber expert understands the specific needs for operating loans, equipment loans, leases, mortgages, and letters of credit. ■

Commodity Updates From dairy to grape to potato and beyond, get the latest updates on the diverse commodities in Michigan and Wisconsin.

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YBSF RESOURCES: FARM FORWARD MENTORSHIP Having years of wisdom and learning experiences to rely on can often turn stressful and impactful choices into simple yes-or-no decisions on a farm. While this knowledge and valuable insight isn’t gained overnight, in GreenStone’s Farm Forward Mentorship program, experienced farmers are paired with young, beginning or small farmers to be mentored and speed up the process of gaining wisdom through sharing lessons learned.

After launching in February, the nine pairings in GreenStone’s current Farm Forward Mentorship class continue to connect and strengthen their friendship. One of those pairings consist of Zac Soltvedt and Matt Wagenson, both from Outagamie County in Wisconsin.

Zac, a 27-year-old row crop farmer, didn’t have a strong support system to turn to for guidance for his farm. That is partially why he jumped at the

chance to join the program as a mentee with a goal of gaining foresight on making tough decisions – something he was able to achieve with the help of his mentor Matt, who farms 2,000 acres and 400 head of cattle with his brother.

After meeting at each other’s farms, via phone conversations and now texting on a weekly basis, Matt and Zac have created a strong foundation based on honesty. Because Zac is usually farming by himself,

without a partner or earlier generation to turn to with questions, Matt has helped fill in the gap by sharing advice and has been a reliable sounding board.

“It’s been like having another avenue to get information from or reassurance when I am thinking about new ideas,” Zac says. “To converse with someone else who maybe has already been through a similar situation has been very helpful.”

Matt, who joined the program to help the younger generation of upcoming farmers, has already made an impact with Zac by passing along some of his values.

“The message I really tried to drive home to Zac is that surrounding yourself with people you trust is so important,” Matt explains.

“Our first loan officer with GreenStone was a family friend we had known forever. Our accountant, who is also a family friend, has been our accountant since 1993. Same with our crop insurance agent. The people you surround yourself with, not only personal friendships, but in business, want to see you succeed and building those strong relationships is extremely important.”

Like in many of the mentorship pairings, despite holding the role of mentor, Matt has also been reminded of important life lessons from Zac. “What I like about Zac is that he doesn’t have the ‘This is how we’ve always done it’ mindset. He’s great about trying new things and figuring out what works for him,” Matt says. “It’s refreshing!”

Even after the program concludes, the foundation and trust built through the program will allow Zac and Matt to continue to meet and lean on one another for support, leading to a longlasting friendship. For more information on GreenStone’s Farm Forward Mentorship, visit www.GreenStoneFCS.com/ YBSF. ■

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GROW FORWARD GRANT GreenStone recognizes the importance of young, beginning, and small farmers and the role they play in sustaining rural communities and agriculture. To provide this pivotal cohort of producers with the educational opportunities and support necessary for success, GreenStone once again is committing up to $40,000 to young, beginning, and small farmers through the cooperative’s 2021 Grow Forward Grant program.

i KNOW MORE...

Knowing where or who to turn to when you have questions about your operation is critical when it comes to making decisions– especially as a young, beginning or small farmer. In addition to the grants and mentorship opportunities offered through GreenStone’s Young, Beginning and Small Farmer program, the resources below could be a valuable asset to your ongoing learning:

Since launching the Grow Forward Grant program in 2018, individuals have taken advantage of the opportunities this grant provides by participating in a variety of programs. From forestry management, on-farm consultations, and even workshops to educate farmers on effectively communicating with consumers, each grant provides farmers a chance to gain valuable knowledge and personal growth.

current customers and up to $500 to non-GreenStone customers. Farmers, producers and loggers like Cameron who qualify as a young, beginning or small farmer are encouraged to apply for the grant today: www. greenstonefcs.com/ybsf.

After purchasing 160 acres to expand on his family’s original 40-acre tree farm in the upper peninsula, Cameron Morford took advantage of GreenStone’s grant to expand his knowledge and set his up his land as a qualified forest. Using the money from the grant, he was able to work with Grossman Forestry and a consultant to formulate a forest plan. Dollars from the grant enabled Cameron to build upon the knowledge he already possessed from growing up around logging and learn through hands-on experience with experts.

– Farming for less than 10 years, or

When asked about advice he would give to someone thinking of applying for the Grow Forward Grant, Cameron said, “Definitely do it because it is a huge benefit and you learn a lot.”

The grant provides up to $1,000 to

• Beginning Farmers. Focused on educating new and beginning farmers, BeginningFarmers.org provides a high-level overview on farming practices for those who are just getting started or looking to broaden their current streams of revenue. Check out their weeklyupdated content here: www. beginningfarmers.org.

Eligibility: • Young, beginning or small farmer – 18-35 years of age, or – Sustain annual gross sales from agricultural production of less than $250,000 • Must be eligible to be a member of GreenStone by residing in Michigan or northeast Wisconsin Intended grant use must fall within one of the following categories: • Agricultural programs/events: educational course/program (on-site or online), conference fees, etc.

• GreenStone resources: first time use of accounting and tax services, technology support, etc.

• Non-GreenStone services: business and farm consultants, etc.

• Michigan State University Extension.

Dedicated to providing updated and relevant information to beginning and small farmers, the vast online resources from MSU-Extension are categorized by commodity and updated often by local field experts. Find their articles, podcasts, publications, videos and updated events on their website: www.canr. msu.edu/agriculture.

• AgriVision Podcast. Developed by the University of Wisconsin Extension, the Farm Management AgriVision podcast interviews extension experts and captures their insight on how farmers can better their management skills.

Each episode takes a deep dive into common obstacles farmers face and are available for free here: www. farms.extension.wisc.edu/programs/ agrivision-podcast. ■

For complete guidelines and the application, visit www.greenstonefcs. com/ybsf. ■

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Fall Market Outlook:

Growing Pains

By Matthew Naeyaert, GreenStone Capital Markets Senior Credit Analyst, and Nick Jablonski, GreenStone Capital Markets Credit Manager

The U.S. economy experienced a rapid recovery during the first half of 2021. In fact, second quarter GDP output represented a quarterly record, surpassing the previous peak reached in Q4 2019.

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While we aren’t lacking for GDP growth, a supercharged rebound in consumer demand combined with labor scarcity and raw material sourcing challenges has resulted in supply-chain bottlenecks and rising prices for both producers and consumers. These challenges, combined with uncertainty around new COVID variants and how they might affect consumer demand, are top of mind for producers, processors, and manufacturers across the country.

To put the post-COVID economic rebound in perspective, U.S. GDP increased at an impressive, annualized rate of 6.6% in the second quarter of 2021, which tops the 6.3% annualized growth rate reported in the first quarter. However, due to uncertainty around the Delta variant and a general regression to the mean, most economists are projecting more moderate growth rates for the final two quarters of 2021 (consensus forecast of 4-6% annualized). The increasing COVID case numbers seen in the late summer/early fall resulted in reduced consumer confidence and spending, with the restaurant and travel sectors unsurprisingly seeing the biggest pullbacks in activity during that period. While consumer activity has been dampened somewhat in the short run, the fact that a majority of states (including Michigan) are seemingly unwilling to re-impose the type of strict mobility restrictions seen in 2020 supports the consensus view that economic output will continue on a generally positive, albeit more moderate, trajectory in the medium term.

Labor availability is top of mind for virtually every business it seems, and the data on U.S. employment continues to tell the story of a steady but uneven recovery in the job market. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the U.S. added 235,000 jobs in August, with the official unemployment rate declining to 5.2%.

This level of payroll additions represents a sharp drop off from the 962,000 and 1.1 million and jobs added in June and July, respectively. The reduction wasn’t totally unexpected given the fact that the steep pace of job gains reported in recent months represented a rebound following an unprecedented spike in joblessness during the initial days of the pandemic, especially in the hospitality and retail sectors.

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Many employers are increasing wages in an attempt to retain key talent and attract new employees, however that strategy has come with mixed results for many operations.

While enhanced unemployment benefits have been a factor in causing potential job seekers to delay re-entering the labor market, other factors limiting the supply of labor include the inability to find adequate and affordable childcare, as well as continued voluntary exits from the labor market due to virus related concerns or personal choice.

Many employers are increasing wages in an attempt to retain key talent and attract new employees, however that strategy has come with mixed results for many operations. With the expiration of enhanced federal unemployment benefits in September, as well as the fact that we seem to have crested the “Delta” wave of COVID, we remain optimistic that the labor market will continue to stabilize throughout the remainder of the year.

As has been the case for several quarters now, rising prices deserve mention in this space.

The U.S. has experienced levels of inflation this year that have not been seen since at least 2008, with sharp price increases reverberating through many key sectors due to a combination of strong consumer spending coming out of 2020 and the ensuing supply chain log jams that have become common as businesses scramble to meet increasing demand while also managing through COVID related concerns and restrictions. The most recent inflation data suggests that the pace of price increases has begun to moderate in the third quarter, with the Bureau of Labor Statistics reporting that the CPI increased by 0.3% in August. This represents a declining trend compared to the 0.9% and 0.5% monthly price increases reported in June and July, respectively. For context, the August data suggests year-over-year inflation is running at 5.3%, significantly above the FED’s stated long-term 2% inflation target.

Transportation and logistics challenges have been particularly acute as of late, with delays and cost increases in maritime container shipping causing reverberations throughout the economy. As of the writing of this article there are approximately 40 mega-container ships anchored off the adjacent ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach, according to a recent report from the Marine Exchange of Southern California. Ordinarily there are 1 or 2 such ships (if any) at anchor at any given time according to the Marine Exchange. These delays have unsurprisingly driven the cost to ship products internationally to record highs, with the average composite cost of shipping a 40-foot container on eight major East-West routes hitting $9,613 during August, up 360% from a year ago. Further, a large terminal at the Ningbo-Zhoushan Port south of Shanghai has been at least partially closed since August 11 due to COVID concerns, which has further exacerbated the global shipping backlog and limited the availability of many products, specifically those that require raw materials produced only in specific regions of the world. The sweeping downstream ramifications of these logistical challenges has highlighted the ever-increasing complexity and interconnectedness of global supply chains and portends potential vulnerabilities with regards to raw material sourcing.

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The USDA’s latest WASDE report projects tighter supplies and lower ending stocks for U.S. corn as compared to initial forecasts from earlier in the year.

Turning our focus to the agricultural economy more specifically, the USDA’s latest WASDE report projects tighter supplies and lower ending stocks for U.S. corn as compared to initial forecasts from earlier in the year. The most recent NASS projection for the national corn yield is 176.3 bushels per acre, a 3.3-bushel reduction from the prior estimates but still above last year’s crop yield of 172.0 bushels per acre. Record high yields are forecasted throughout much of California, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, and

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Pennsylvania. However, the impact of the ongoing drought in the northern states of North Dakota, South Dakota, and Minnesota has significantly reduced expected yields in those regions. Total U.S. corn production is projected to total 374.7 million tons this harvest season, which would equate to a 14.4-million-ton (or 3.9%) year-over-year increase. It should be noted that the latest USDA report included a 15.0-million-ton year-over-year reduction in forecasted Brazilian corn production due to drought during the growing season, as well as late frosts that negatively impacted the country’s second-crop corn. This development has further tightened global grain supplies, which should help to support commodity prices in the short/medium term.

The outlook for U.S. soybean production is following the same trend as corn, with the latest NASS survey results projecting soybean yields to average 50.6 bushels per acre, which would be largely in line with last year. Like corn, record high yields are projected for a number of states, including Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Maryland, Mississippi, Missouri, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Virginia. But, once again, the unfavorable weather conditions of higher temperatures and lower levels of rainfall for Minnesota, North Dakota, and South Dakota are dragging down the national soybean yield forecasts. For reference, Minnesota and the Dakota’s account for 23% of the total U.S. soybean planted acreage and their yield estimates are down between 6 and 9.5 bushels per acre when compared to 2020. In spite of the lower yields across these states, the USDA forecasts total U.S. soybean production to equal 4.34 billion bushels, which represents a 4.9% increase compared to the prior year. ■

MAEAP Reverification: A Commitment to Tomorrow As stewards of the land, farmers carry a great responsibility of implementing safe farming practices with both the next generation and the environment in mind. To support this responsibility, the Michigan Agriculture Environmental Assurance Program (MAEAP) is committed to providing farmers the opportunity to show that the correct steps are being taken to prevent or minimize agricultural pollution by becoming MAEAP verified.

This summer, the agriculture industry celebrated a milestone achievement of 6,000 total farms becoming MAEAP verified since the program began 23 years ago.

“It’s imperative for farmers to understand the environmental laws and regulations, and that they are operating within them for their own liability and peace of mind,” says Joe Kelpinski, Program Manager for the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (MDARD), Environmental Stewardship Division. “Potential risks on a farm are potential liabilities.

Minimizing those risks is important in protecting themself, their farm and even their family.”

maintaining the legislated certainties the program offers.

This reverification is essential to confirm their ongoing farm practices as well as any new or major changes align with evolving environmental standards set by MAEAP. Since much of the leg work and preparation has already been completed during the process of earning the initial verification, the reverification process is relatively simple. Similar to the first risk assessment, technicians will do a walk-through of the farm to ensure the operation aligns with the set standards.

If improvements are needed, farmers work on their own time to make those changes.

“When it’s time to be reverified, most farmers already understand what the expectations are. As they incorporate new changes, they keep MAEAP standards in mind and it often becomes part of their routine,” Joe says. “Our reverification process has over an 80 percent retention rate!”

Working with your MAEAP Technician

MAEAP Reverification

The reverification process is often quite simple, in part due to the strong relationship MAEAP technicians build with the farmers they work with.

While becoming MAEAP verified is a big step in being more environmentally conscious, it is just one of the many steps that must be taken in the ongoing process of minimizing the environmental impact. Once verified, it’s important farms get reverified every five years to ensure their operations still meet the best management practices while

“Farmers utilize their technicians as resources. If they are putting in a new well, they’ll turn to their tech for guidance on where the well should be placed so they meet their setbacks for chemical or fuel,” Joe explains. “Since they are already being guided down the right road, it helps prevent any problems during the reverification process.”

“

It’s imperative for farmers to understand the environmental laws and regulations, and that they are operating within them for their own liability and peace of mind.

By having a good relationship with their technician, farmers can continuously turn to them for advice as they implement new changes, buildings and structures to their farm – anytime, not just during the reverification process.

This limits the number of improvements or adjustments that need to be made during

reverification and ensures farms remains environmentally conscious for a cleaner tomorrow.

For more information on getting MAEAP verified, the reverification process or how your farm can become more environmentally friendly, visit www.MAEAP.org. ■ Partners — Fall 2021

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Agriculture As we go through our daily lives, individually and collectively, we leave a “footprint on the environment.”

As our population has grown, so has our collective environmental footprint. When we numbered about 1 million humans around 1000 BC, our footprint was relatively small and localized.

Today our population is somewhere around 7.8 billion and expected to continue to grow to 10 to 11 billion by the end of the century, when the population will begin to fall.

Regulating, measuring, and limiting our environmental footprint is relatively new. In the United States, the Environmental Protection Agency wasn’t established until 1970. Up until then, there were a smattering of laws concerning the environment including the Rivers and Harbors Act (1870), Oil Pollution Control Act (1925), and the Federal Water Pollution Control Act (1948).

Protecting our environment is essential for future generations. Protecting the environment requires that we have scientific facts before offering solutions. Unfortunately, hyperbole often muddies the waters.

The Environment

By Alan Hahn Environmental Scientist at Dragun Corporation Environmental Advisors

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Fall 2021 — Partners

When it comes to atmospheric science and understanding how we are influencing the climate, it is often the hyperbole that is ahead of the science. In recent years, there has been a lot of misinformation about how agriculture may be affecting the climate.

Greenhouse Gases

Much of the environmental concern related to agriculture has focused on man-made (or anthropogenic) Greenhouse Gases (GHGs).

One of the early, detailed looks at GHGs from agriculture was from the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). The 2006 report, “Livestock’s Long Shadow” set the tone for debate and more detailed studies on agriculture’s emissions.

Miscalculation

The FAO concluded in their extensive study that globally, livestock was responsible for 18% of all the GHGs. This meant that livestock is responsible for more GHG emissions than all of transportation combined. Logically, this does not make sense. As it turns out, there was an error in methodology. When calculating livestock emissions, they used a life-cycle assessment (basically taking every input into consideration from field to fork).

When evaluating transportation, they looked only at tailpipe emission. This inconsistency is a glaring error when comparing the resulting GHG emissions. There were some environmental groups that used this report to call for greater controls on agriculture. To be fair, FAO owned up to their mistake.

The Science

The GHGs associated with agriculture are primarily nitrous oxide and methane (from ruminant animals). It is primarily methane that gets the attention, as methane’s global warming potential (GWP/100 years) is 24 times greater than carbon dioxide.

However, while methane is a more potent GHG, it remains in the atmosphere only 20 years. Carbon dioxide stays in the atmosphere for another 80 years. Accordingly, the climate impact from livestock is relatively short-term and doesn’t accumulate over near the same duration as the impact from fossil fuels.

Further, farming’s impact on the environment in the United States is very different than it is in developing nations that have not adopted modern farming practices.

Latest Research

Thanks in large part to Frank Mitloehner, Ph.D. Professor, Department of Animal Science University of California, Davis, we are learning

“

The United States Department of Agriculture estimates that 30-40% of our food is wasted.

Much of this is at the retail and consumer level.

much more about the true global warming footprint from US Farms.

Food Waste and Consumer’s Role

Dr. Mitloehner in his testimony before the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry (U.S. Senate) said among other things, “In the United States, we rely heavily on the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to supply us with GHG data. Based on EPA’s 2016 report, the following sectors/ activities contribute to GHGs accordingly: transportation – 28%, energy – 28%, industry – 22% and agriculture – 9%. The agricultural figure includes animal agriculture at 3.9%.”

Another factor in GHGs associated with agriculture is food waste. Few people consider how our daily lives, including wasted food, influences the environment. The United States Department of Agriculture estimates that 3040% of our food is wasted. Much of this is at the retail and consumer level. Some retailers are offering incentives to buy “ugly food.”

This fruit may be perfectly fine, but for a few bruises. Our World in Data estimates that 6% of the GHGs come from food loss and waste.

Better Productivity = Smaller Footprint

Concluding Thoughts

Again from Dr. Mitloehner’s testimony, “According to the United Nations Food and Agriculture’s statistical database, total direct greenhouse gas emissions from U.S. livestock have declined 11.3% since 1961, while livestock production has more than doubled.”

Agriculture has developed or is participating in many different environmental stewardship programs. Research is ongoing at many levels to find ways for agriculture to be more sustainable. Universities are now offering degrees in agriculture sustainability programs. Many states, including Michigan and Wisconsin, have voluntary stewardship programs.

He points out later in his testimony, “in 1950, there were 25 million dairy cows in the United States. There are 9 million presently, but today’s herd produces 60% more milk than their ancestors did.” Mitloehner says that means over this time, the carbon footprint of a glass of Both agricultural science and atmospheric science are complex and nuanced. The milk has been reduced by two thirds. intersection of these sciences is a relatively new Dr. Mitloener credits these gains to efficiencies study. As we learn more, we will find greater in reproduction; better health, brought about in part by vaccinations and advances in health efficiencies to meet the demands that lie ahead in the coming decades. These advances have care; the application of “high-merit” genetics; been and will remain possible as we continue and more energy-dense diets. Other countries (developing countries) that have not shared to embrace on the scientific understanding of in these advances do not show the same our many environmental challenges. reductions in emissions.

In a study by Jude Capper and Roger Cady, they found that compared to 2007, producing a gallon of milk in 2017 required almost a quarter less land, 30% less water, along with a 19% reduction in our carbon footprint.

(Journal of Animal Science, Volume 98, Issue 1, January 2020).

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Alan Hahn is an Environmental Scientist at The Dragun Corporation in Farmington Hills, Michigan.

The opinions stated herein are not necessarily those of GreenStone Farm Credit Services.

Partners — Fall 2021

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CONNECT

NEWS: GreenStone Connect Reception at 2021 Great Lakes Fruit and Vegetable Expo Join us for the GreenStone Connect Reception at the Great Lakes Fruit, Vegetable and Farm Market Expo/Michigan Greenhouse Growers Expo. Customers are invited to stop by to connect with their GreenStone team and enjoy refreshments as our appreciation of your ongoing partnership with GreenStone.

A brief cooperative update will also be provided.

We invite you to connect with your local GreenStone team at the GreenStone Connect Reception this December: • Tuesday, December 7 • 4:00 – 6:00 p.m.

• Monroe Room of the DeVos Place • Grand Rapids, MI ■

EMBRACING FEEDBACK Customers confirmed it was a trying year, with plenty of bright spots among the struggles. Thanks to the comments and feedback shared through the annual customer satisfaction survey, GreenStone has gained even stronger insight into the preferences of our customers.

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Once again it was made crystal clear it’s the people who make any partnership special; and relationships will remain the foundation of GreenStone’s culture! Yet, the financial value is never ignored; simple, quick loan conversions saving thousands of customers millions of dollars each year, and $105 million paid back to members through Patronage were just two of the many examples enthusiastically quoted in customer comments.

support customers as much as possible with these additional programs and the extraordinary changes, on top of what you might consider our “normal” work, unfortunately impacted speed and clarity of communication in some cases. Nonetheless, timely and transparent communication with customers is our standard, and an area we as an association will continue to address.

The fewer challenges shared by customers came primarily as a result of COVID impacts, starting with the impacts of offices needing to be temporarily closed as a result of executive order compliance. This change in service delivery was amplified with an onslaught of new government financial support programs, such as PPP, through which we strived to assist customers in securing necessary support. Ultimately, our efforts to

While overall satisfaction dropped slightly to 92%, respondents who said they are definitely willing to apply for a new loan with GreenStone increased slightly, and more customers thought our overall performance improved from last year.

We care about providing the service you need, and we are grateful for the candid feedback to ensure we continue to deliver the value and service you expect from our partnership. ■

Fall 2021 — Partners

GreenStone Connect Reception at 2022 Great Lakes Crop Summit You're invited to join your local GreenStone team at the Connect Reception during the 2022 Great Lakes Crop Summit. Light appetizers and refreshments will be available as a thank you for your ongoing partnership with GreenStone.

We invite you to connect with your local GreenStone team at the GreenStone Connect Reception in January: • Wednesday, January 26 • 5:00 – 6:00 p.m.

• Soaring Eagle Casino Reception • Mt. Pleasant, MI ■

YEAR-END IS NEAR! Year-end financial reports allow for a review of your financial progress over the past year while also providing critical information necessary to evaluate future business needs. Beyond the benefit to your business management, it also supports your future loan needs.

GreenStone works with many of its members to gather their year-end financial information, inputting the data into our systems to be able to help evaluate the financial position of each farm. Getting this done at year-end provides them a direct benefit throughout the year when additional financing is needed. With the financial information already entered in our system and analyzed, GreenStone is able to evaluate and process loans in a more timely and responsive manner.

NEW This Year: Members who received this annual request to submit year-end financials to GreenStone will notice a few changes. The mailing will come to those members in December in a separate envelope for each entity/individual, even if it is the same address, to ensure privacy of your financial information.

The balance sheet will look a little different this year and there will not be a full machinery/equipment and vehicle listing as our process have evolved. More specific instruction will be included in the package! ■

“

“

On behalf of the WI FFA Foundation Board or Directors, I would sincerely like to thank you for your generous donation to the WI Association of FFA. Your donation offers 21,000+ students the ability to experience premier leadership, personal growth and career success. It is because of people like you we are able to accomplish our mission by ensuring access to agricultural education and FFA for all students in WI. From the bottom of my heart, Thank you!

”

— -Katie Holewinski, FFA Foundation Board Member

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“Thank you for sponsoring the Michigan State University Dairy Challenge program. This year Dairy Challenge looked a little different than in years past but continued to be an incredibly valuable experience for our team. We were thankful for the opportunity to compete virtually at the Midwest Regional contest in March as well as the National Dairy Challenge contest in April. At the National contest, we are excited to share that MSU captured our third consecutive national championship! We deeply appreciate your continued support which has helped our program reach our fullest potential. Thank you,

”

Thank you for your support for the 2021 Michigan Out-ofDoors Youth Camp Charity Shoot. Your contribution helps us to continue doing our work of educating youth about the importance of conservation and nature.

— 2021 MSU National Dairy Challenge Team, Beka McDonald, Kristen Burkhardt, Miriah Dershem, and Lynn Olthof

”

—Ian FitzGerald, Policy and Special Events Coordinator

...Candid Comments

Partners — Fall 2021

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WIN DOLLARS WITH YOUR DEER IN WISCONSIN AND MI U.P. This hunting season, GreenStone will be giving away $1,000 in cash prizes during their Annual Deer Challenge. Hunters in northeast Wisconsin or Michigan’s Upper Peninsula are invited to participate for the chance to win big bucks now through Friday, December 3, 2021. The contest features both adult and junior classes, with grand prizes will be awarded in each group!

Big Buck Contest Adults (18 years and older) • First Place - $400 • Second Place - $200 • Third Place - $100 Junior Buck (17 years and younger) • First Place - $200

Along with the grand prizes, all entrants who harvest a deer with any legal gun, bow, muzzleloader or crossbow will be entered into a drawing to win a game camera or a $25 gift card. Trophies will also be awarded to junior hunters who harvest their first deer.

To qualify, deer must be harvested in northeastern Wisconsin or Michigan’s upper peninsula. The completed form can be dropped off at one of our five Wisconsin branches in Clintonville, Coleman, Little Chute, Manitowoc or Sturgeon Bay, or online by visiting www.

GreenStoneFCS.com/ DeerChallenge. ■

• Second Place - $100

Pause for Applause...

SERVICE ANNIVERSARIES Help GreenStone congratulate and thank these staff who are celebrating an employment milestone. From five to 40, the years represent the dedication and service all employees provide our members.

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Fall 2021 — Partners

October Betsy Griffes 5 Jeanie Anello 5 Mathew Meals 5 Julie Adams 10 Francesca Knot 10 Emilie Reyome 10 Keri Southwell 25

November Danielle Hudson 5 Kristin Nienhuis 10 Kay Logan 25 Pamela Jacobson 35

December Sara Blanchard 5 Sarah King 5 Neeli Warren 5 Nate Buning 5 Michelle Moder 5 Jacob Shanafelt 5 Josiah Ringelberg 5 Marlene Langerman 5 Michael Niesyto 10 Yvette Hukill 20

SUMMER INTERN WRAP-UP As GreenStone’s summer interns pack their bags and head back to their college campuses for the fall semester, they can all say they took crucial skills with them from their summer here. This group of 26 interns were challenged and rewarded with projects that brought them a professional working environment, time management skills, and problem-solving skills to be able to take on real-world tasks.

Since the interns began their internships in May or earlier, they spent time both utilizing a “work-from-home” atmosphere, as well as being in the office. Enabling them to experience both remote and in-person work was crucial to learn a professional environment in multiple ways, while also getting the tools to advance their careers.

Intern positions varied, as they all worked on different projects ranging from analyzing financial statements and credit narratives, to learning how to appraise items on a farm, to recruiting GreenStone’s new hires, and so much more.

As the interns complete work important to the success of the company, they were able to present to executives and coworkers what they accomplished over the summer virtually. The interns really dove into their role at GreenStone and

utilized this opportunity to explain what they learned along the way.

“Internship presentations are a great way for interns to show the work we have put in while at GreenStone. It was a daunting experience at first knowing we would be presenting in front of [so many staff], but I think that made the experience even better”, states Alexis Rosa, the learning and development intern. “It took all of us out of our comfort zones and gave us real life experience with presenting in a work environment. I look forward to those experiences that pull me out of my comfort zone because GreenStone has taught me those moments are the ones you learn from most.”

To allow the interns to network and get to know one another, GreenStone hosted intern events both in-person and remotely throughout the summer. Interns participated in trivia events and joined lunch and learn events on various topics.

They also visited a dairy farm and creamery to learn more about how GreenStone employees interact with customers - while enjoying a day together learning about dairy industry and eating ice cream!

“The intern events this summer helped me better understand how various employees within GreenStone work together to

serve our customers,” says Camryn Lewis, GreenStone’s event and outreach intern.

“GreenStone employees go above and beyond to serve our customers and put them first! Because I work in the marketing department, it is crucial for me to understand how GreenStone employees interact with customers.”

While the 2021 summer internship program has come to a close, they left having helped GreenStone move in the right direction, while also bringing a new and fresh perspective to every department.

“My GreenStone experience has helped me develop communication skills in the professional workplace, and how to interact in a manner that reflects the culture of the company and my personal values,” says Eric. “This experience will help me succeed in my future endeavors by knowing how to communicate and behave in a professional setting.”

Congratulations to the summer 2021 class of interns and best of luck on your future endeavors.

GreenStone is now recruiting for 2022 summer internship opportunities. If you or someone you know may be interested in a collaborative, yet challenging experience, visit greenstonefcs.com/careers. ■ Partners — Fall 2021

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BEHIND THE SCENES In this behind the scenes, two GreenStone employees from the appraisal team speak about how their daily work supports customers and improves the overall customer experience.

Shane Kenner 23 years of service Senior Appraiser Adrian, MI What advancements has GreenStone made to better serve their customers?

The appraisal is an important part of the loan process and GreenStone has implemented some significant advances regarding how appraisals are ordered and submitted. This process change was one of the most significant I have seen during my tenure. It has streamlined the appraisal process by providing an easy user interface for the staff ordering the appraisal and the appraiser, making the process faster and 21

Fall 2021 — Partners

providing the convenience for the appraiser to access to all information online.

Additionally, this allows for easier appraisal tracking and overall data analysis.

What was the significance of the land value benchmark project?

The land value benchmark process was implemented to track market trends of farmland prices. Early in the annual process, appraisal staff would appraise an actual farm each year to see what value change had occurred. Today we appraise a “virtual farm” as well as transitional land, or land in areas of non-farm influence.

The process has become more important in the past fifteen years as we have seen more significant land value changes.

Benchmarking allows GreenStone to effectively track land values by region, aiding in customer buying decisions and general lending evaluation. The benchmark process allows GreenStone to rely upon appraisal values for a longer period, saving the customer money in the long run as a new appraisal does not to be ordered and paid for every time a loan is requested.

“

I really love getting out and meeting our borrowers in person. The southeast appraisal team covers 13 different counties.

What do you enjoy about your role?

I really love getting out and meeting our borrowers in person. The southeast appraisal team covers 13 different counties, and I am often called to work in any of them. This has led me to several small rural communities throughout the region. I’m convinced that we have the best borrowers

of any lending institution, as I’ve met an unbelievable number of enjoyable people though this job. I’ve appreciated how down to earth and genuinely nice everyone has been and have had some wonderful conversations over the years meeting farmers, professionals, entrepreneurs, and executives alike.

What do you enjoy doing in your free time?

I enjoy most spending time with my 2-year-old son and my wife. My wife and I also enjoy visiting wineries around Michigan when we have time, especially one of the local borrower--owned establishments. I’m also quite a “car guy” - I’m one of the few appraisers in the department you’ll see driving a sporty sedan instead of a pickup truck. A good amount of my time, however, has been spent improving our 150-year-old farmhouse.

Lyndsy Bock 15 years of service Senior Appraiser Mount Pleasant, MI What advancements has GreenStone made to better serve their customers?

We have implemented different projects to shorten the time it takes to complete appraisals. In addition, we have added programs that have led to faster writing and streamlined our report requirements.

Our department has doubled in size in the last decade, allowing us to focus on quality appraisals with less wait for the reports to be delivered to the credit staff, ultimately benefiting our customers and their timeline.

GreenStone is committed to evolving technology. Our department has access to new technology that enables us to be more efficient, from office equipment to tools for use on inspection sites. When I started, we were still using digital cameras. Now we do it all from our smart phones, which also provides us access to anything we might need on our computer in the office from our phones. It’s nice to look up information onsite when meeting with customers.

What was the significance of the land value benchmark?

The benchmark is a type of valuation that is based on the appraisal department’s study of annual market changes. The study applies year over year benchmark changes to an appraisal of properties. Using the benchmark study

“

Our customers have been more than generous with their life lessons, advice, and knowledge over the years.

There is always something to be learned.

for valuations allows for appraisals to have a longer shelf life for credit decisions. Ultimately, it helps shorted the time from application to closing the loan. If a loan meets the criteria using the benchmark study, it eliminates the need to have another appraisal completed, and saves the customer money on an appraisal and quickens the closing process!

Mark Your Calendar...

NOVEMBER

3 25

Michigan Farm Bureau Annual Meeting (11/3-12/1) Amway/DeVos, Grand Rapids with virtual options GreenStone Offices Closed In honor of Thanksgiving (25-26)

DECEMBER

3

Wisconsin Farm Bureau Annual Meeting and Young Farmer and Agriculturist Conference (3-6) Kalahari Resorts and Conference Center, Wisconsin Dells, WI

7

Great Lakes Fruit, Vegetable and Farm Market Expo/Michigan Greenhouse Growers Expo (7-9) Devos Place Convention Center, Grand Rapids, MI

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GreenStone Offices Closed In honor of Christmas (23-24)

What do you enjoy about your role?

Every day is a new project! The appraisal requests I complete can be anywhere from a vacant 40-acre recreational tract to a 3,500-cow dairy facility. I have met some incredibly smart and interesting people over the years doing inspections. We have the most incredible customers that are always happy to answer the “whys” and “what do you thinks” I typically ask. These are their family farms, or their startups, or their dream retirement properties that they have poured their lives into. Our customers have been more than generous with their life lessons, advice, and knowledge over the years. There is always something to be learned.

JANUARY

1

GreenStone Offices Closed In Honor of the New Year (23-24)

8

Michigan Sheep Breeders Association Shepherd’s Weekend –Virtual (8-10)

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Dairy Strong Conference (19-20) Monona Terrace, Madison, WI and virtual

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Great Lakes Crop Summit (26-27) Soaring Eagle Resort, Mt. Pleasant, MI

What do you enjoy doing in your free time?

My husband and I also have a small cash crop operation outside of our day jobs, and two boys. Between them, their sports, and our farm, I am not sure about too much free time.

However, when we do have free time, we are camping in the summer, snowmobiling in the winter, or just enjoying a quiet night at home. ■

Partners — Fall 2021

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The GreenStone Story:

Value Beyond the Loan All land owners know what’s going on in their own area, but without actual numbers from the region, how can you make the best business decisions?

Tracking sales data generated from land purchases across Michigan and northeast Wisconsin allows our property appraisers to accurately value land. This is critical to both the customer and lender. Providing this analysis to our customers helps you to accurately evaluate your business options. Tracking the data annually, as GreenStone has done for over three decades, keeps us all aware of the trends and helps predict where values are headed to prevent any big surprises, while also being a valuable tool to provide the necessary data for accurate and current appraisals. This later benefit is of particular value to customers seeking financing;

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Fall 2021 — Partners

when we can use this existing analysis on a similar property being financed, we can avoid an additional appraisal – thereby saving the customer money and eliminating the time normally needed for appraisals.

Beyond the cost and time savings, benchmarking helps in three main ways: setting goals, understanding your business environment, and discovering new opportunities.

Setting goals

For instance, when you know what the average land values are in your area, it helps you make better purchasing decisions. Is it worth getting a loan? Is it better to rent? Check out the percentages this year and over time to see where your money will make the most of a difference. If the price seems too high, readjust your purchasing goals for the future.

Understanding your business environment

Even if you know who is selling today, and for how much, this doesn’t give you the perspective on what’s been happening over the decade. If it is increasing or decreasing, this can help you understand the cycles in your area. If there is a pattern you’re seeing, then you can work with your advisors to figure out the best time to buy or sell land.

Discovering new opportunities

If prices are higher in your area, you can use this information to work with the sellers. Also, if another area looks more attractive, it is possible you can expand toward that direction. Land will always be valuable of course, and the more information you have, the better you can compare, analyze, and improve your selling and purchasing practices.

Making informed decisions

GreenStone’s appraisal professionals constantly monitor public and private

property sales data to understand market trends within 13 benchmark areas.

This data is tabulated annually to measure value trends over the prior year., The areas of study are segmented by value influence (geographic location, property type, improvements, etc.) allowing GreenStone to isolate specific trends.

For farmers, this annual information helps them evaluate these trends to make even more informed decisions.

We collect, curate, and deliver this market intelligence in order to arm customers with competitive strategies to use for their businesses. While GreenStone’s analysis is focused locally, Farm Credit associations across the country do a similar annual process.

When combined, this national trend data allows farmers and ranchers across the country to understand marketplace trends for evaluating business decisions. With these resources from your financial partner, farmers can stand out in a competitive market, make improvements, and adjust strategies for the upcoming year.

GreenStone’s 2021 analysis identified either an increase or stagnation in all 13 benchmark areas, which may come as somewhat of a surprise considering the uncertainty of the COVID-19 pandemic and other governmental influences.

Digging into the data Dairy

Value trends of Michigan and Wisconsin dairy farms experienced value increases, reflecting higher construction costs and a stabilizing market.

Michigan saw a significant increase (13.5%) from 20202021, while Wisconsin also measured an increase of 2.9% after several years of value decline.

Land Value Benchmark Analysis 2021

TEN YEAR

CASH CROP Southwest Michigan

3.9%

32.5%

Southern Michigan

14.3%

42.9%

Mid-Michigan

0%

29.9%

Northern Thumb Michigan

2.9%

42.2%

Saginaw Valley Michigan

3.3%

44.2%

Southeast NE Wisconsin

3.0%

47.1%

Western NE Wisconsin

6.7%

56.3%

TRANSITIONAL Southeast Michigan

11.9%

98.5%

Southern Thumb Michigan

5.0%

33.3%

Central NE Wisconsin

0%

59.1%

RECREATIONAL Northern Michigan

5.3%

33.3%

LARGE DAIRY Michigan

13.5%

20.6%

SMALL DAIRY Wisconsin

2.9%

33.3%

Value change from 2020

Recreational and transitional

Land used for recreational and transitional purposes all saw value increases. Various factors influenced this surprising trend, as it is unusual to see blanket increases across the board: increasing remote work options, desire to live in the country, plus a return to nature attitude, etc. With these factors in mind, recreational land in northern Michigan is up 5.3%, while transitional land in southeast Michigan is up 11.9%. Transitional land in central northeastern Wisconsin remained stagnant after multiple years of increasing values.

Cash crop

The general positivity in commodity prices has combined with low cost of borrowing to create a favorable environment for stabilizing and/or increasing land values.

The greatest increase was

Value change since 2011

noted in southern Michigan (primarily an area of cash crop influence), which saw a 14.3% increase in 2021. MidMichigan land value trends remained stagnant following a nearly 30% increase over the past ten years. Cash crop categories in Wisconsin also both saw gains, with increases of 3% in the southeastern part of GreenStone’s northeast Wisconsin territory, and 6.7% in the western part of the territory.

GreenStone has a long history of working with our customers to make the best decisions, and we will continue to gather, prepare, and present this valuable data. As you focus on your business, we will work to help you make good financial choices and remain profitable.

Monitoring land values is just one part of how we aim to provide the fairest and most equitable assessments to you. ■ Partners — Fall 2021

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Adding Leasing to Your Financial Toolbox Leasing is one of the most important tools every farmer and rancher should have in their financial toolbox. From cash preservation in uncertain times, to the tax advantages of accelerated write-off, leasing offers the ideal solution to help grow your farming operation in the near-term while planning for transition to future generations in the long-term.

To provide you with the latest information and expertise on agricultural leasing, GreenStone Farm Credit Services partners with CoBank Farm Credit Leasing - a member of the Farm Credit System and one of the largest providers of lease financing to rural America.

Through our partnership, we offer flexible lease payment structures on equipment, vehicles, packaging and processing lines, as well as all types of agricultural facilities, including: machine sheds, grain storage, livestock and dairy buildings, greenhouses, and farm shops. GreenStone’s partnership with CoBank Farm Credit Leasing also brings to the table decades of experience in structuring leases for more unique assets, such as solar arrays and commercial buildings. Leasing these types of assets can provide tremendous tax advantages, but it requires expertise to achieve a properly structured lease to unlock these tax advantages.

For instance, farmers considering a solar array to save on their electric bill may benefit from a lease where the tax credits are passed back in the form of a low or negative lease rate, making the total cost 25

Fall 2021 — Partners

next generation, keeping the assets out of the estate, and offering tax benefits. At the end of the lease, when the residual comes due, the next generation can purchase the assets for the residual amount, and ownership of the assets transfers directly from the leasing company to the next generation. This offers an incredible tax advantage for future generations.

Preserve Working Capital

to own less than the acquisition cost. Similarly, with a properly structured commercial building lease, farmers can accelerate the write-off of a 39.5 year property in seven or ten years.

Our extensive investment in developing a leasing option for these assets makes this a unique product not offered by other agricultural lenders.

Lease vs Buy Considerations

Whether you’re looking to upgrade your equipment or expand your current operation, there are some key things to think about when considering whether to buy or lease your next agricultural asset.

Tax Advantages

Leasing offers a variety of tax advantages. Not only may lease payments be fully deductible, but expensing lease payments over the term may reduce taxable income. Leasing a 20 year property, like a pole barn, allows the farmer to write off 70-80% of the facility in five to seven years instead of 20. In addition, writing off

the payments over the course of the lease provides for level deductions that enable the farmer to plan for annual write-offs rather than taking depreciation in a lump sum with limited write-offs in future years.

We all know tax rules can change every year. By utilizing a lease, a farmer can know exactly what expenses to plan for over a longer period. As every farmer knows, it’s best to take the tax advantages when you have the opportunity.

Estate Planning

Beyond the tax advantages of payment deductibility, leasing also is a key tool to consider when planning for the transition of your farming operation to the next generation. With all the uncertainty around potential changes in estate taxes and the corporate tax rate, there is no better time than now to consider leasing. It’s important to note that leasing allows farmers to seamlessly transfer leased assets to the

Sometimes farmers or businesses may not have the cash on hand for a loan down payment, or even if they do, they may want to use the capital elsewhere. With a lease, farmers can preserve working capital and save money for other expenses. Leasing can provide 100% financing with no down payment required.

Often the only cash required upfront is the first lease payment, which is significantly less than a down payment on a loan. This helps save money while still obtaining the equipment or facility needed to grow the business.

For any farm business, the real value of equipment, bins, or buildings lies in using it, not owning it. With GreenStone Farm Credit Services and CoBank Farm Credit Leasing, you can work with any manufacturer, negotiate the best price, and we’ll step in with the financing needed to help run your business effectively and profitably.

For more information on leasing, reach out to your local GreenStone branch or visit GreenStoneFCS.com. ■

Director’s Perspective :

Michael Feight This past spring, GreenStone members elected Michael Feight to the cooperative’s Board of Directors. With decades of a diverse farming background, a father’s footsteps to follow, and the experience of financing in the 80s all a part of his foundation, Michael shares a bit more about his farm and perspective of being the newest member on GreenStone’s Board of Directors. Be sure to watch his video bio for an inside view!

Michael’s Perspective

When I received the call from the nominating committee representative to consider running for a GreenStone board position, I can say the I was completely surprised and honored to be considered.

We all have times and occurrences in our lives that seem to happen when you are not looking in that direction at all, but after many trips across the field in auto mode, you realize that those occurrences can be unforeseen opportunities. For me, it was one on of those times when I realized it was a good fit for where I am in life. So, with the support of the voters of Region Three, I was elected to the board of directors for GreenStone this past spring.

I farm with my father Fred and brother Doug in Tecumseh, Michigan, located in Lenawee County. In 2018 we sold our dairy herd and now focus on cash crops. We have 2,500 acres of corn, soybeans, and wheat. In addition, we’ve also diversified and grow 60 acres of carrots for Campbell’s Soup.

The farm was started by my great grandfather and his brothers who came over from Ireland and began farming in 1870. The farm was unable to survive the Depression of the 1930’s, but my father was gradually able to reacquire the land to continue farming.

It is hard to describe all the uniqueness that being involved in the business of agriculture has to offer. Dealing with land and nature touches one in a way that few occupations have to offer. At the same time, we must be well aware of the business aspect of farming because in the end, in order to keep doing what we love, it has to be a viable way of making a living. This is where having the understanding and integrity of GreenStone gives those in the production of food and grain the financial stability that is needed.

In my first few months of getting oriented onto the board and becoming even more acquainted with GreenStone, there were two things in particular that surprised me about the organization. One being the scope of lending that the cooperative handles - from the family farm operation like mine to the large food and timber companies. The second thing was the outside regulatory

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Like any business, there’s much more behind the scenes than anyone realizes.

process and guidelines that GreenStone has to abide by.

Like any business, there’s much more behind the scenes than anyone realizes; the awareness I have gained recently gives me even more appreciation for the organization I now serve.

I would like to thank all the board members and staff of GreenStone for making me feel welcome as the newest board member. I look forward to working with everyone! ■ View Michael Feight’s profile video: www.greenstonefcs.com/michaelfeight

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Legislative Matters:

GENERATIONS OF AMBER WAVES OF GRAIN

ventures successful. Deep within the design is a structure to assure food and nutritional resources reach the plate. The resources within USDA deserve almost constant study and review to maintain success.

Reflecting upon what makes the American farmer and the generations they came from is a complex and unique genealogy.

Appreciation and respect are in the forefront of thought as witnessed with a blessing of grace and thanksgiving at each meal. The picture of amber waves of grain comes from these blessing and brings a warm smile to every face across the world.

Still, most of those faces do not have much awareness for how it all gets created. The story needs be told over and over, again and again, lest the best agriculture system in the world be diminished.

Many components make for a successful farming operation. It always starts with a farmer and gears up from there. There are essential foundations important for a farmer and unique to each operation, but some are more critical than others. Access to 27

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capital for routine operations and growth cannot be taken for granted and fortunately exists with GreenStone Farm Credit Services.

GreenStone was formed as a cooperative over a hundred years ago to serve as that lender with the capacity to understand agricultural operations and deliver financial resources and services. As farms have evolved over generations, so has the Farm Credit System to better serve the demands of producing food and fiber.

A century ago, the United States Congress passed legislation which provided for 12 Federal Intermediate Credit Banks intended to finance short-term commercial loans and to make direct loans to cooperatives like GreenStone. Generations of innovation followed to meet the needs of an ever-changing marketplace. Legislation played

a key role in the evolution and history. This rich history has helped us build an extraordinary depth of understanding of rural credit needs. We appreciate the challenges and opportunities for agriculture and more specifically for the individual crop sectors and livestock breeds unlike anything in the world.

Today, we support rural families, infrastructure providers and farmers by helping to keep American agriculture competitive in global markets and our rural communities viable and thriving.

Amongst many critical partners is the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). The USDA has been built over time to be a critical partner for the development of our nation’s agriculture infrastructure. There is a tremendous volume of information available within the USDA to assist in making the diverse range of farming

Just as decisions over generations influence current decisions on the farm, the decision makers need to maintain vision and purpose to assure amber waves of grain continue to flourish. The best decisions are made with knowledge and communication with collaboration and action.

In times where challenges are abundant in agriculture and innovation is demanded, now is the time to stand loud and proud with the strength of generations. Farmers are necessary and appreciated with voices that need to be heard.

Legislation long ago solved a problem; we need to stay engaged to ensure future legislation also solves problems and doesn’t create them. The issues of labor, taxes, weather patterns and trade are in flux and of high focus. Stay engaged and show gratitude. Future generations are dependent upon this engagement. ■

PAC Progress:

LEGISLATIVE OUTREACH: Strong relationship foundations continue to be built to support rural communities and agriculture.

Heads up that the 2022 MI GreenStone PAC and WI Farm Credit PAC drives will be taking place January 1-31, 2022. Watch out for the voluntary pledge and contribution card in late December.

Remember, PACs allow us to publically demonstrate support for elected officials that support our rural communities, agriculture, and Farm Credit. We hope you will participate to continue these important messages.

All throughout the year, action has been taken through the Farm Credit Political Action Committees (PACs) to disburse funds, build relationships, and provide education. This has allowed your GreenStone team, board of directors, and fellow members to be involved in dialogue with legislative leaders that are interested in and eager to support the agriculture industry. Those discussions center around providing education on the structure and value of GreenStone and the Farm Credit System, and providing insight into rural communities and agriculture.

In Michigan, over 20 meetings have occurred with Senators and Representatives.

Michigan legislators have expressed deep appreciation for the relationships built to provide trusted resources in the constantly evolving political landscape, and for the financial support provided through the MI GreenStone PAC. In addition, the Michigan House of Representatives Financial Services Committee invited and heard from GreenStone’s leadership, Dave Armstrong, CEO, and Paul Anderson, Chief Credit Officer. The testimony focused on GreenStone’s involvement in the Payroll Protection Program, and time was also spent explaining GreenStone’s structure, and products and services. It was followed by great questions and offered further opportunities to share the importance of agriculture and rural communities to the State.

In Wisconsin, there was a unqiue opportunity to participate in three events that gave the three Wisconsin Farm Credit associations interactions with over 20 elected officials. While the conversations where introductory in nature, it was evident there is special interest in agriculture and rural communities.

These foundational discussions will continue to be built upon to intersect different interests and grow the advocates for Wisconsin agriculture and rural communities.

Federally, over 20 meetings have taken place with U.S. Senators and Representatives on a variety of topics. There have been conversations about the Payroll Protection Program, sustainability, carbon markets, labor, supply chain and even the start of the 2023 Farm Bill. In addition, a special Farm Credit marketplace reception is taking place in Washington, D.C. in early November where Michigan dried cherries and Wisconsin cheese curds will be featured. It will be a great opportunity to share special products from our territory that not everyone has had the pleasure of tasting, and more importantly to use those products as a representative to showcase thecontributions to our economy while demostrating buisness and environmental sustainability.

Pac Updates:

As stewards of the Farm Credit System and partners in the agriculture industry, the highest significance is placed on communicating the importance of Michigan and Wisconsin agriculture to our communities, country, and world. This is not possible without your support and we thank you for it. Strong relationships continue to be built to ensure support for rural communities and agriculture for years to come. ■

Michigan: 21 meetings for $12,850 Wisconsin: 3 meetings for $8,750

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LANDING THE DREAM!

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LIVE

Country Living Customer Feature

Jeremiah Mostrom lived in Richmond, Texas when he found a job in West Michigan with the human resource services firm Axios HR. Originally from Minnesota, he was attracted to the idea of the opportunity to buy land, have space, and form a family connection to a piece of the country.

Jeremiah, his wife Carrie, and their daughter Sadie closed on a house on five aces in Alto, Michigan. There were 30 acres adjacent to the land, but the owners weren’t quite ready to sell.

However, the day the Mostroms closed on the house, the owners put it up for sale.

It was a chaotic time for them; they were in the middle of a move, still owned a house in Texas, and weren’t expecting the opportunity.

“Our realtor said – get ahold of Cameron Bongard right now. I did, and we closed the loan in 19 days. It was seamless,” Jeremiah said. ”Cameron was fast, easy to work with, and just like that – we had the land we had dreamed of owning.”

Not only did they have a good working relationship, but they also had a good personal one.

“Cameron knew it was a super cool opportunity for us to purchase this land, and he really, truly wanted to see it happen, and he made it happen,” Jeremiah said.

“He also is a hunter, and he lives in my area, and all of it made it easy to work with him.”

Cameron also enjoyed the process with the Mostrom family.

“Jeremiah was so great to work with, because whenever I needed anything, he had it within the hour… and he was still in Texas,” said Cameron. “We also connected on a personal note, because recreational or vacant land loans are my favorite things to do as a lender. It’s the perfect scenario to walk out your door and have your own acres, and I’m happy we could help make that happen.”

Increasing the beauty

The Mostroms immediately began beautifying their recently-purchased land.

Jeremiah enjoyed dealing with Cameron, who is a financial services officer for GreenStone, in part because of his communication skills.

“He did a great job of understanding what we needed,” Jeremiah said. “His communication was great, and I was never left wondering what was going on. No hidden fees, very straightforward process, and with the co-op you even get money back from the Patronage Program.” ➡ J eremiah, Carrie, and Sadie Mostrom bought land in Alto, Michigan to fulfill their dream of owning and maintaining land their family can enjoy for generations.

View a highlight reel video at: www.greenstonefcs.com/CLFall21

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Their road is part of the State of Michigan’s Natural Beauty Roads program, which preserves roads in an undisturbed condition. As part of their plan, Carrie enrolled in MSU Extension master gardener class, they planted a few gardens on their property, and Jeremiah bought a tractor.

“I was riding along in my tractor, and I was pinching myself, like – am I alive?”

Jeremiah said. “This has been our dream, and here I am brush cutting trails on my land. This is exactly what I wanted.”

The property has grapevines and apple trees, as well as an 1850 barn they’re restoring. For this big project, they’re currently working with the Michigan Barn Preservation Network.

“Our intention is to keep the land how it is, and pass it down,” he said.

Sadie’s Sunset Farm

One of the most exciting opportunities for the Mostroms was the chance for their daughter, Sadie, to start her own business. Out of her own garden, she grows fresh produce, like sweet corn, carrots, zucchini, beans, tomatoes, chili peppers, and herbs, and then she sells them from a roadside stand on their property. She plans on expanding her offerings to pastured meats and more products, and her parents are helping her along the way.

“We love that our daughter is learning to be an entrepreneur, the importance of agriculture in our communities, and that we’re able to do that here,” Jeremiah said.

Enjoying the land

Not only do they have a small business, but they also love having the land for recreational purposes. Jeremiah particularly enjoys hunting on his land, as he’s been a hunter his whole life.

“There are really a lot of beautiful deer out here, and I’ve planted a whitetail habitat with food plots and bedding areas to help supplement the alreadyhealthy herd,” he said. “It’s such a big blessing to be able to walk outside your door to go hunt, instead of driving six hours to get to land you lease in Texas… and worry about poisonous snakes and spiders.”

Not only has he hunted with his family members, but he also likes the camaraderie of hunting with friends.

“My neighbors and I are planning on getting the kids together, setting up some old campers away from the houses, and having a deer camp during the youth hunt,” he said. “We just want to do something special in honor of that time of year.” ➡T op of page: The Mostroms are working with the Michigan Barn Preservation Network to restore an 1850s barn on their property. ➡A bove: Sadie Mostrom runs her own farmstand, Sadie's Sunset Farm, right from home.

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The Mostroms definitely feel they have the connection to the land they were originally seeking.

“We want to keep the land beautiful the way it already is, hike, hunt, grow food, and just enjoy West Michigan,” he said.

“We’re so excited to have this place for all of us to connect with the land.” ■

i

COUNTRY LIVING – OPEN FIELDS BLOG BRIEF GreenStone publishes regular updates on our Open Fields blog. Check out some of the posts you may have missed at www.greenstonefcs.com/openfieldsblog.

What you might not know about home construction loans Whether you’re building your first home or your third, there are many factors to consider when you’re looking at a home construction loan.

Everything you wanted to know about recreational vacant land loans Vacant land, home site and recreational property loans have recently become especially popular as families look for ways to get away and enjoy nature. Now you can get all the details you need to begin enjoying your own property!

Top three benefits to owning recreational land Can you imagine … a wide open space, completely private, and ready to host your relaxing weekend?

GreenStone is your partner for making this a reality with recreational land loans.

Top questions about rates and fees for land What are the three questions you need to ask when purchasing vacant land? Ashlee Guerrero, VP of Lending at GreenStone, shares her financing expertise.■

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5 TIPS FOR TIME MANAGEMENT FOR PARENTS We all know that keeping up with our families’ schedules and time managing can be an extreme task. Finding new ideas to excel at this is challenging – which is why we are here to share some ways that might help you to rock parenting this year!

1. Keep an organized family calendar. There are several apps out there for keeping track of family events, school, work, and so on. Our director of information security, Matthew Cosgrove, recommends the Apple Calendar on the iPhone or Google Calendar for those who have other brands of smartphones.

“The Apple calendar leverages the iCloud, so anybody with an iCloud account can be invited to the shared calendar and the owner can choose who is able to make edits to the events,” states Matthew. “This goes for access to Google Calendars as well.”

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what to eat during the week.

This can also save money, as you’ll have a focused grocery shopping list and you will not go out to eat or spend money on take-out when you feel stressed trying to figure things out in the moment.

It can be hard telling everyone in your extended family what is going on with everyone’s lives.

Utilizing this option can help clear up any confusion and it always keeps everyone in the loop!

3. Use alarms or timers to keep track of your time. Alarms or timers can be used for several everyday items! You can use a timer to alert you when it's time to get your family ready for an event, a reminder for your kids' TV or tablet time, or when you are cooking your food! Having the timer go off can really help you stay focused, and keep you moving onto the next thing you need to do before the day ends.

2. Meal planning saves time and money. Planning out your meals for the week can be such a helpful tool, especially when your family is always on the go.

Getting your meat out in time for it to be thawed when you need it, prepping any vegetables or fruits the night before, or even just putting what you want to make on a calendar can help you save the time of deciding

4. Say no more. Sometimes, saying no is not a bad thing and more people need to understand this! You can say no to the extra things and special requests when you need to instead knock things off your to-do list at home. Everyone has a hard time with this tip, but it offers many benefits – not only to get things done, but also to improve your state of mind. It can really

work if you are trying to better manage your time for the things that are most important in your life!

5. Cut down your to-do list.

Often, we make to-do lists that are way too long to get done in a manageable amount of time.

You need to prioritize this list to make sure it can get done and leave you feeling satisfied and accomplished. Instead of an unrealistic long list, consider making two lists: one being short-term such as immediate chores, and another with longer term items such as future chores and bigger projects like home renovations. Simply getting a to-do on a list can give a sense of calm, and making the list manageable can help you maintain the feeling. Saying no to outside requests can sometimes be easier than telling yourself no. Do both!

Managing your time as a parent can be a struggle; we hope these tips are able to help you! ■ Source: 5 Tips For Time Management For Parents (homestorage-solutions-101.com).

Commodity Cuisine...

Easy Apple Cinnamon Rolls Makes 9 rolls Prep Time: 15 minutes Cook Time: 27 minutes Ingredients • 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted, divided • 2 tablespoons light brown sugar • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon • Pinch of kosher salt • 1 tube (8 ounces) crescent dinner rolls • 1 Michigan Braeburn apple, finely chopped For the Maple Cream Cheese Glaze: • 1/4 cup cream cheese • 2 tablespoons pure maple syrup • 2 tablespoons powdered sugar Instructions 1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Brush 9-inch cake pan with 1 tablespoon butter.

2. In small bowl, stir together brown sugar, cinnamon and salt.

3. Unroll crescent roll dough on work surface. Press and pinch all perforations to seal.

4. Evenly brush dough with remaining 1 tablespoon butter. Sprinkle sugar mixture over butter. Evenly spread chopped apple over dough, leaving 1/2-inch border at long edges of dough.

5. Starting from one long edge of dough, roll dough up into long tube; pinching edges to seal. If any perforations in dough have opened, pinch to seal before cutting rolls. Using sharp knife, cut dough into 9 pieces. Arrange pieces, cut side up, in prepared pan. Flatten each roll slightly.

6. Transfer to oven and bake 20 to 22 minutes or until rolls are golden brown and dough is cooked through. Transfer to wire rack to cool 5 minutes before transferring rolls to serving platter.

7. Meanwhile, make the Maple Cream Cheese Glaze: In microwave safe bowl, heat cream cheese on high 20 seconds. Add maple syrup and powdered sugar; whisk until smooth. Drizzle glaze over warm rolls and serve immediately. ■

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BUDGETING FOR YOUR NEEDS AND WANTS Keeping on top of budgeting your money and how you spend it can become a difficult task for any age. Whether you are in college trying to keep track of the way you spend, or you have a family you need to save for, budgeting is a great tool to use when determining the difference between needs and wants.

What are needs in terms of financials?

Needs are items that are necessary to live, and like it or not, they normally take up the majority of income. These things could include rent or a mortgage, utility bills, groceries, insurance, a vehicle and gas, healthcare expenses, etc. Some might consider these the “no fun” items that are a part of most everyone’s budget.

What are wants in terms of financials?

Now here is where the fun comes in, and where people struggle most: wants. Wants are items that you choose to buy but could live without. These are the expenses you balance to fit within the little portion of your income remaining after your needs are fulfilled. This wants list varies widely by person, some common things could be going out to eat, entertainment, traveling, electronics, new clothing, memberships, and so on. Wants often come faster than the cash to afford them, which is why you must prioritize and budget to plan for them. Wants are much more fun to spend your money on – which also means it’s usually easier to hold yourself to a budget for them.

What about savings?

Hopefully somewhere in your budget is savings or investments. While using a portion of your income as part of your financial plan won’t feel like an immediate benefit to you, it’s necessary to provide you the funds necessary to sustain both your needs and wants long into the future. The more you save now, the more fun items you can have later!

How can I budget for needs, wants, and savings?

Many people know to use the 50/30/20 rule, and it could help you too. The math is simple, the actions necessary to

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accomplish it may be more challenging!

You put 50% of your income into the needs section of the budget, 30% into the wants section, and 20% into your savings account. Although many financial advisors recommend this a basis to try to follow, any rule you use needs to be somewhat flexible as situations may require you need to move money around. The 50/30/20 rule is a good place to get you started on budgeting, and working with a financial advisor will help you customize a plan to your goals.

Budgeting is something that many people struggle to do. Having a plan in place can help you save money and even give you a little more wiggle room when you need it.

All three – needs, wants, and savings – are very important.

It’s even a good rule to help your children embrace as they start to earn cash, even if it’s money from raking leaves or as they start their first job – although you may need to revise the ratios to more heavily supplement their savings.

Take the time now to budget and create a strong financial strategy for yourself and your family! ■ Sources: Needs vs. Wants: How to Budget for Both - NerdWallet Wants vs. Needs: Understanding the Difference (thebalance.com)

“

Mornings in the marsh chasing waterfowl differ significantly from mornings spent in a tree.

never tried. One of the activities I first experienced as a cameraman, that eventually became a hobby of mine, is duck hunting. Nowadays, the whistle of a wood duck and the whimper of a dog ready to retrieve are a regular part of my fall hunting season.

Mornings in the marsh chasing waterfowl differ significantly from mornings spent in a tree. For one, I always have the company of my 6-year-old lab, Boone, when chasing ducks. Boone is a 75-pound lab that was born to retrieve. I’d like to take credit for his retrieving abilities, but truth be told, he was good at it almost immediately. He was retrieving waterfowl at 6 months old and has been doing it ever since.

He’s not perfect, just like his trainer, but when it comes to finding and returning waterfowl, he continues to impress me. Although every trip with Boone requires a thorough bath before he steps foot in the house to resume his duties as our family pet, I can’t picture duck hunting without him.

MORNINGS IN THE MARSH By: Jordan Browne Producer, Michigan Out of Doors TV The sights and sounds of fall are something I anxiously wait for all year long. Leaves rusting in the dark, deer meandering through the timber, and the anticipation of what’s to come keep me coming back time and time again.

Deer hunting is what started my love for the outdoors and continues to occupy the bulk of my fall schedule. However, as a Producer for Michigan Out of Doors TV, I have had the opportunity to experience and take part in a wide variety of outdoor adventures I would have otherwise

There’s also a social aspect to waterfowl hunting that separates it from deer hunting. More often than not, a morning in the marsh also involves a couple of friends, a hot cup of coffee, and a breakfast after the hunt wraps up. Having the ability to talk between waterfowl encounters and give each other grief about missed shots is one of my favorite parts about waterfowl hunting. The older I get the more I value the time spent with friends and family over any other part of the hunt and it’s certainly part of the reason why I occasionally favor chasing ducks over deer.

With two young kids, my spare time is increasingly limited and when the wind and temperatures are just right, I’ll probably always choose a tree stand over the flooded timber. However, as fall approaches, I can’t help but think about the sound of duck wings beating at daybreak and watching my lab do what he was born to do. There was a time in my life when I would have never missed an opportunity to jump in a tree stand, but now I make it a point to spend some time in the marsh every year.

Whether it’s duck hunting, deer hunting, or something else, don’t be afraid to step out of your comfort zone an experience something new this fall! ■ The opinions stated herein are not necessarily those of GreenStone Farm Credit Services.

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LEARN

Unexpected Growth Crop Insurance Customer Feature

Aaron and Barb Roth got married under the terms they would not own a farm.

“I wasn’t interested in being a dairy farmer’s wife,” she said. “Then about ten years ago, we thought – what if we took over my family’s orchard? We didn’t expect it to grow as fast as it did, and sometimes we wondered what we had done, but it’s been really good.

Aaron grew up on a dairy farm, and he knew the daily work a farm requires. Instead of going into agriculture, he began working for Amway right after high school. He worked for them for 30 years in several roles, including in maintenance, plumbing, carpentry, electrical, and as a construction manager.”

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“All my experience at Amway I was able to bring to the farm,” Aaron said. However, the farm began requiring more free time than he could provide.

“The farm has grown to the point that I can’t be in two places at once, so my last day at Amway was September 3, 2021,” he said.

Long history

Barb’s great grandfather Christian Kropf started the orchard in the late 1800s when he immigrated from Switzerland. The farm is still in the same place where he planted his first acres of trees.

Barb and Aaron purchased the family’s centennial home on the farm, and the proximity made it easy for her to help.

Aaron, with his mechanical background, was a big help to her family in fixing equipment.

In 2014, the family decided to expand beyond the orchard and open a farm store, which they called the Red Barn Market.

The Red Barn Market offers a variety of food, including produce, milk, eggs, bread, honey, jams, salsas, and ice cream.

“

The farm has grown to the point that I can’t be in two places at once, so my last day at Amway was September 3, 2021

With the market open seven days a week during the summer, and closed Sundays in the winter, they rely on a great team to make it all run.

“Our team is just fantastic,” Barb said.

“I’ve had great adults that have been here for years, and I have some teens that are probably the best crew I’ve ever had at one time. We are blessed to have our staff.”

In 2017, Aaron and Barb decided to buy the farm from Barb’s parents, Roger and Pat Kropf, and in 2019, they also purchased the Red Barn Market.

After these large purchases, an opportunity arose that they didn’t anticipate.

“We’d expanded year after year, and then the Loughlin family came to us and asked if we wanted to buy their cidery,” Aaron said. “We told them no three times, but the opportunity seemed so good. We went through the numbers, and we thought – this could be a huge, game-changing chance for us. We got excited about it and the potential, so we did it.”

The Roths quickly found success in their cidery operation – Painted Turtle Hard Cider. The first cider they created, named Buzzing Blackberry Cider, won a bronze medal at the 2021 Great Lakes International Cider and Perry Competition.

➡N oah works full time on the farm with his parents, Aaron and Barb Roth.

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expansion plans. They just planted 6,000 trees in 20 different varieties for you-pick, which Noah grafted, and they planted 11,000 for commercial production.

“Part of what makes this great is that Noah didn’t have a dad that did this, so he can do it differently than anyone else,” Aaron said. “Some of my engineering background was pushing the envelope to see how we can do it cheaper or better than anyone else. Noah and I are learning that it’s great to look at things a little differently.”

Their latest endeavor is getting into the donut business, which they are making and selling out of the Red Barn Market.

Relationships

“

Aaron and Barb started from adversity, and they took every opportunity to work hard and make it.

“We are the complete farm to cup,” Aaron said. “We grow the apples, we take the fruit to be pressed, we ferment it, we blend it, we keg it, and we sell it.”

After the major expansions, the Roths were excited to ramp up their business, but then the shutdowns of Covid in 2020 occurred.

“We’d just opened the tasting room, and then we were forced to close it,” he said.

“We were supplying 40 locations with hard cider, and they were all shut down by the governor. We were really worried about what we were going to do, but then an amazing thing happened – our sales went up 200%.”

To make this happen, the Roths transformed their Red Barn Market into a 39

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grocery store. People who didn’t want to go to a large grocery store came to them.

They sold toilet paper and sanitizer along with their food and hard cider, they needed three people to pack curbside groceries every day, and all of it increased their sales.

“We were exceptionally busy, and it was an incredible year for the whole situation. It was just unbelievable,” he said. “We’re up even more in 2021.”

Family business

Barb and Aaron have four children, Rebecka (Aaron) 26, Noah (Zoe) 24, Diana 20, and Jonah 15. They also just welcomed their first grandchild.

Their son Noah works full time on the farm, and they are continuing their

The Roths have been able to work with many mentors along the way.

They were first paired with Kevin Winkle as part of GreenStone’s Farm Forward Mentorship program – which is focused on supporting young, beginning and small farmers like the Roths through an experienced mentor like Kevin.

“We got so much out of that program, and I give it credit to where we are today,” Aaron said. “Kevin spent a lot of time with me, teaching me what I needed to grow fruit.

It is an incredible relationship. He’ll spend time with me on the phone, he’ll jump in his car and see me – our mentorship didn’t end at the end of the program.”

The Roths also take advantage of GreenStone’s crop insurance, accounting, and financial services.

Phil Preston has been their crop insurance agent since 2018. He meets with them at least once a quarter to make certain they are as protected as possible from unforeseen events.

Phil has worked with the Roths on planning, programs, and risk management.

“Phil’s a constant source of good information,” Aaron said. “He lets me know about all the programs the USDA is offering. He helps us decide on frost and hail policies. He introduces us to people,

plus he’s a great guy and a great cheerleader.”

Phil enjoys working with up and coming farmers, and he likes fostering long-term customer relationships.

“Aaron and Barb started from adversity, and they took every opportunity to work hard and make it,” said Phil.

“They went from survival to thriving, and we’re happy we were able to help them through it.”

➡O pposite page: Phil Preston has been the Roths' insurance agent since 2018.

View a highlight real video at: www.greenstonefcs.com/CropFall21

Barb works closely with Scott Martin, tax and accounting manager, on the GreenStone accounting team. Scott oversees their payroll, quarterly and year end taxes, and helps answer their QuickBooks questions.

Aaron works mostly with Phil and their financial services officer, Matt Platte.

“Matt grew up on a dairy just like I did, and he’ll just spend a day following me around the farm, learning about apples,” Aaron said. “I showed him the past frost damage, I showed him what we’re doing with bees, and all of this helps him help us make our best financial decisions.”

The future

Through all their changes and expansions, there has been one constant.

“Not only has GreenStone been great, but the apple community has been fantastic, too,” Aaron said. “They take the time to walk me through everything, explaining why this worked and what doesn’t.”

The Roths look forward to the donuts, cider, apples, and market adventures in the future.

“Even though I didn’t want to be married to a farmer originally, it’s just home for me,” Barb said. “We live in the house I grew up in, and even when I stayed home to raise our kids, we were still connected to it. You’re never far away from the farm – it’s always home.”. ■

Partners — Fall 2021

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CROP INSURANCE NEWS: SWEET CHERRY INSURANCE CHANGE

Growers can now have optional units by type, where they can have independent coverage for canner and briner type Processing Sweet Cherries. Contact your crop insurance specialist for more information. ■ END OF INSURANCE PERIOD • Total destruction of the crop • Harvest • Final adjustment of loss •A pplicable calendar date in the crop or special provisions • Abandonment

APH REVIEWS The Risk Management Agency (RMA) threshold for an Actual Production History (APH) policy review is $200,000. An APH policy review is simply the process of verifying the accuracy of the insured reported production, share and acres. Accurate and complete records will simplify the process along with following these guidelines: • Production records must be separated by crop, practice, type, unit and the actual crop year.

• Records must be sorted by the 578 producer prints, settlement sheets and soft records.

• The insured must keep three years of production records.

• Daily livestock feeding should be recorded daily.

• Printed combine monitor records should be stored with settlement sheets.

• The insured cannot split truckloads, tickets and bins between units without proper soft records for comingled production.

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• Co-mingled production needs to be measured by a disinterested third party.

•O r, as otherwise specified in the Crop Provisions

• The insured should keep original records and provide the Approved Insurance Providers (AIP) with copies.

Hard records are production records that prove the final disposition of the total crop and are verifiable by a third party. Soft records are the documents an insured must provide if production is separated by unit, practice, type or variety. Soft records must include all units; missing or incomplete soft records may result in comingled production and the loss of optional units. This may result in a lower guarantee.

If you think you will be submitting a claim that will be above the $200,000 threshold, please contact your agent to begin the APH review process.

Most claims will not be paid until the review is completed. The earlier the process begins, the earlier a claim can be paid. For more details, please contact your local GreenStone crop insurance specialist. ■

Provisions require a Notice of Loss (NOL) within 72 hours of damage discovery but not later than 15 days after the end of insurance period. Revenue losses must be submitted no later than 45 days after release of Harvest Price. It is the insureds responsibility to contact their crop insurance specialist if they have or think they have a loss. ■

APPLE REMINDERS

Crop Insurance Calendar...

November 20, 2021 is the sales closing deadline to change your current coverage or take out a new policy for the 2022 crop year. Premiums are not billed to you until August 15, 2022 and are due September 30, 2022. Your current coverage will carry over for 2022 if you do not change anything in writing by November 20.

OCTOBER

January 15 is the acreage and yield reporting deadline for fruit. PLEASE REPORT ACRES AND PRODUCTION AS EARLY AS POSSIBLE! The County Transitional Yield (T-Yield) and 2022 prices have been recently announced. That information will be included in your renewal information or you can contact your crop insurance specialist for more details.

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Forage Underwriting Report Signature Due

25

Wheat Final Plant Date*

31

End of Insurance Period (loss reporting deadline) for Fall Crops

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Final Claim Reporting Date for Dry Beans

NOVEMBER

5

End of Insurance Period (loss reporting deadline) for Apples

14

Wheat Production Reports Due

15

Wheat & Forage Acreage Reports Due

15

Final Claim Reporting Date for Sugar Beets

20

Fruit Sales Close Date & End of Insurance Period for Grapes

DECEMBER

10

End of Insurance Period (loss reporting deadline) for Spring Crops

JANUARY

15

CO-MINGLED PRODUCTION

Fruit Acreage/Production Reports & Pre-Acceptance Worksheets Due

Please be aware that any production from 2020 being carried over into the 2021 harvest needs to be measured or marked by an adjuster prior to adding the current year’s production. Added production needs to be kept separate by unit through bin markings. If you need a bin measurement, call your crop insurance specialist. ■ ACREAGE & PRODUCTION REPORTS It is the customer’s responsibility to report the crop that was planted in each section, the planting date, the percent share of that crop and the quantity harvested.

Reporting your crop accurately and double checking everything is very important.

Corrections or changes cannot be made after the reporting deadline. If you have any questions or would like assistance, just contact your local GreenStone crop insurance team. ■

* P lease note that some dates can vary by County. Please check with your Crop Insurance Specialist for specific dates if you are unsure.

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Tax Planning in 2021 It’s nearing the end of the year, and that means time is running out to make educated business decisions that minimize your income tax liabilities.

Tax planning is important every year – it’s been an extremely volatile process the past few years with significant fluctuations in commodity pricing and all of the government aid that farmers have received. This year is no different! 2021 offers a few wrinkles to consider with existing and potential tax law changes; however, many steps in the tax planning process remain unchanged.

First steps

Your financial records must be in order, accurate, and up to date!

Help your tax accountant help you. At the very least, you need a computer accounting program or worksheet that reconciles bank and loan statements to account for cash in and out of your operation. If you don’t have this completed, assign it to a member of your operation or contract with a professional. It’s always best to stay on top of it on a monthly basis – the past few years, maybe more than ever, have shown the importance of being able to produce accurate records at the drop of a hat. Not only is it extremely helpful in making educated business decisions, but many times it’s been a requirement to take part in and meet mad dashes for COVID-19 government aid initiatives.

Keep it up

Putting your accounting records off until the end of the year makes it tough on everyone.

Effective tax planning is not easy and in order for a tax accountant to do a good job for you, they need good information. If you haven’t started yet, develop a plan to get caught up.

Set up a schedule to keep yourself on track.

The goal is less stress and better outcomes!

Make informed decisions

Sometimes farmers make decisions they shouldn’t because they are following what they did last year. Considering buying the same amount of prepaids or making a capital expenditure because you had to last year?

This year may be markedly different than last year. Good financial records help in making these decisions.

Everything is important

For example, you might not think an equipment purchase was important because you haven’t made a payment yet, but your tax preparer needs to know about it. It’s also easy to let things that happened early in the year slip your mind by the end of the year, so keep excellent records.

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Take control

Meet with your accountant before the end of the year to discuss your financial situation and what tax bracket you’re going to be in. With enough time, you may be able to bring in additional income if you’re facing a net loss, or you make a purchase if your income is too high.

Frequent tax planning strategies

There are a variety of ways to decrease and increase taxable income that can be used year in and year out. Not all of them may be applicable given your operation’s circumstances but are important for you to have on your radar.

Methods to decrease taxable income

• Farm income: Averaging all or some of your farm income using rates from the three prior years.

• Common expenditures to reduce taxable income: Prepaying inputs and other allowed items, capital expenditures, and retirement contributions. Depending on your entity structure, retirement plan contributions can be significant, especially for selfemployed individuals via a SEP, simple or other qualified plan. This also establishes retirement assets outside of the farming operations. Diversification is a good thing!

• Healthcare deductions: Create an employee benefits deduction to allow for business deduction of these expenses.

• Selling under a deferred contract: You can sell grain before the end of the year, but not be paid until after the first of the next year.

You then have flexibility to decide, after the fact, if you need additional income in the year that the crop was sold. Make sure you sell in several small contracts rather than one large contract to provide more flexibility for when to show income. Also, consider the risk of collection in your decision-making process.

Methods to increase taxable income

• Election to capitalize repairs rather than expensing them: It can be adjusted annually.

• Maximizing depreciation methods, including direct and bonus expenses: Try to never depreciate your way out of standard deductions and exemptions.

• If a farm loss is inevitable, common ways to increase income include: IRA distributions, IRA to Roth IRA conversions, and sale of non-farm capital assets (i.e., stocks). An IRA to Roth IRA conversion generates taxable

income on the tax return, but the earnings are tax free. Any farm losses may be offset by the income generated from the rollover and no income taxes would be owed on the money rolled into the IRAs. 2021 tax changes to think about

Advance Child Tax Credits: If you have qualifying children under 18, and did not opt out of receiving monthly payments, by now you have received months of advance payments in 2021. These payments will impact your net tax position when you file your 2021 tax return. Keep good records of the payments you’ve received and give it to your tax accountant! More details on this topic can be found in the article, Advance Child Tax Credits on our website, www. greenstonefcs.com.

Payroll Protection Program (“PPP”) proceeds are tax free: This goes into the bucket of “everything is important”. Make sure your tax accountant knows where you recorded this in your records. If not communicated, these amounts could be erroneously included in taxable income or as a reduction of expense on your income tax return.

Overcommunicate!

Potential changes in tax rules under Biden’s American Families Plan (AFP) proposal: President Biden’s AFP proposal outlines tax law changes – predominantly focusing on individuals that earn more than $400,000 annually. The proposal includes higher tax rates for ordinary income, higher tax rates for capital gains, elimination of tax-free-like-kind exchange gains exceeding $500,000, and numerous other items. The AFP has not been passed and as of the date of this article we’re not aware of when Congress may vote on the plan. Keep watch for updates and discuss the potential impact with your tax accountant.

Farmer March 1 tax deadline – buy yourself some time by making an estimated tax payment!

Many farmers have the understanding that their income tax returns are due by March 1 each year. While that is one of the deadlines, it doesn’t have to be the case for all farmers.

Read our article titled “Why you may want to plan to not file your taxes by March 1 each year” on our website, www.greenstonefcs.com, to learn how to buy yourself until at least April 15, maybe even October 15, to file your return by simply making an estimated tax payment

by January 15. Ask your tax accountant when your return is actually due and if making an estimated payment is an option for you. We’re

Tax Calendar...

OCTOBER

15

Individuals file a 2020 income tax return (Form 1040) if an automatic six-month extension was requested (5 months from extended tax deadline of May 17 in 2021 due to COVID-19).

Corporations file a 2020 calendar year income tax return (Form 1120) if you requested an automatic six-month extension (5 months from extended tax deadline of May 17 in 2021 due to COVID-19).

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Non-farm employers file Form 941 for the third quarter to report wages paid, and social security, Medicare, and income tax withheld from wages, and compute employer matching social security payments.

DECEMBER

15

Corporations deposit the fourth installment of estimated tax for 2021.

finding this option more and more helpful to farmers given all the tax complexities and the timing of receipt of year end forms.

Paying some tax is actually a good thing!

You’re probably cringing reading that line – but it’s true. Paying tax means you’re making money, which should be the goal of running a successful farming operation. Paying federal income tax builds up your future Social Security / disability earning potential.

You should always manage to maximize the 10% and 12% effective tax rate brackets.

Try to avoid taking out loans simply to buy equipment to avoid taxes. You save taxes in year one, but you have the loan payment for years to come, which can cause you to continue to feel cash poor.

An ever-changing 2021

Every operation needs special attention, especially in more-complicated years. Our tax accountants at GreenStone Farm Credit Services realize this, and we’re ready to work with you on your individual needs. Please don’t hesitate to contact us - it’s never too early to plan for taxes. ■ Partners — Fall 2021

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i

Tech Tip: From School Needs to Tech Gifts Matthew Cosgrove GreenStone VP of Information Security

It’s that time of year again, school is well underway and we’re about to start looking forward to the holidays. Whether your child is back in the classroom or taking advantage of remote learning opportunities, chances are their technology and internet use is ongoing. This is a great time of year to review your home network settings, making sure you and your family are secure while online.

According to a recent survey, the average household has over 10 devices connected to their home network. In my home, I’d guess we have no less than 60 devices connected to the internet - Smart TVs, game consoles, computers, tablets, phones, and IoT-connected devices like smart light bulbs and plugs. A recent Gartner study confirmed, that number will only continue to grow for most households. They predict that by 2021 there will be 25 billion IoTconnected devices worldwide.

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What is a home router?

If you ask anyone in my household, they will tell you that the router is the most important device in the house. If the internet goes down, one of my children will be quick to let me know that they just lost their current game of Fortnite or ROBLOX. The router is the hub of your home network. All our home devices connect through the router to access the internet – it’s the middleman between the internet modem and your devices, and

provides the Wi-Fi to connect wirelessly. It is also the device that helps protect all the devices from the bad guys on the internet.

Without a router, any device connected directly to your cable or DSL modem might be exposed directly to the internet.

Fear not, all is not lost – here are some tips that can make sure your home network is secure: Secure your Wi-Fi, NOW!

Users today purchase a home router to make sure that they have wireless internet access throughout their home. Because these routers are broadcasting wireless information, they make an easy target for someone to attack if the bad guys are within range of your wireless network. If the bad guys can access your home network, they might see your internet activity, including usernames and passwords.

Change the Service Set Identifier (SSID)

from the default name to something unique. Most manufacturers use the same SSID for all models of their home routers.

By keeping the SSID the default, you are

exposing the make and model of your home router to the bad guys, they could use this information to get the default username and passwords to your router or use that information to determine if any vulnerabilities could be exploited.

Change the password when you purchase a router. The first thing you should do is make sure that you update the default password. If you have read previous Tech Tips in our Partners magazine, you know you should use a strong password that comprises at leave 15 characters. The password should be unique to this device and, for extra points, store these passwords in a password manager. Changing this password will make sure that bad guys cannot access the administrator settings for your router.

Make sure that WPA is enabled. This makes certain that information going from Wi-Fi devices inside your network to your router is secured. You can easily determine if your home network is secured today because there will be a lock icon by the SSID name and when you connect to that Wi-Fi, it

“

for your devices to establish a connection and access your home network.

The first thing you should do is make sure that you update the default password.

will prompt you to enter a password. At a minimum, if all your devices support it, make sure your Wi-Fi security is configured for WPA2. However, newer routers might offer support for WPA3 security, which offers additional security benefits.

Update the passphrase once you configure the WPA setting. Make sure that you are updating the default passphrase to a strong, unique passphrase. The passphrase is used

Update the software of your router

sometimes known are firmware, just like you update your mobile devices or home computer. Your router also needs to be updated. These updates typically provide fixes for recently discovered security vulnerabilities as well as fixes to software issues. Make sure you are using a device that is connected to the router using a wired connection before you attempt to upgrade the firmware.

Enable additional security settings available for your router if available, newer routers have very robust easy-to-configure firewalls that provide additional protection to what may access devices inside your network.

The average household has never been more reliant on its home network – hopefully, these tips will provide you with additional peace of mind that your home network is secure! ■

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3515 West Road East Lansing, MI 48823

Fall feature highlight...

Jeremiah Mostrom lived in Richmond, Texas when he found a job in West Michigan. Originally from Minnesota, he was attracted to the idea of the opportunity to buy land, have space, and form a family connection to a piece of the country.

Read more on page 29.