The Top Ten Mistakes

“The Top Ten Mistakes That Break Up a Family Business” is one of two topics that Jolene Brown, a family business consultant, will address during the National Hard Spring Wheat Show on Tuesday, February 5.

Jolene is an award winning communicator who has spent many hours sitting around kitchen tables and family business meeting rooms. She has learned what works and what doesn’t. During her first presentation she will discuss the following: 1)The top ten assumptions that create major problems for intergenerational and family businesses, 2) explore questions that must be answered before someone is allowed to join or work for a business, 3)identify the hidden areas of business agreements which often start as a conversation, but must end in written documentation, 4) the value and the impact of in-laws, off-site family and employees, 5) the egos, emotions, and decisions involved in estate and management transfer planning, 6) tools to insure productivity, profitability, and document the succession of a business and 7) the need for courtesy and celebration.

During her many years of consulting with family businesses, Jolene has learned that most failed businesses share ten disruptive behaviors. She says “these can be avoided”.

Jolene will come to us with very high recommendations. Some members have attended meetings when she has spoken. These members promise that her presentations are eye-opening, delivered with much enthusiasm, and will deliver proven working tools to take home.

Her second presentation “It’s a Jungle Out There! Blazing New Trails For Agriculture” will provide even more laughter and real life stories. Because the pace, the people, the process and the products for agriculture have all changed she believes it is time for agriculture to blaze a new trail. During this fun-filled, eye-opening presentation we can expect to learn today’s top influences on our customers.

Did You Know?

One percent of organic matter contains about 900 pounds of nitrogen per acre. Each percent of organic matter in the soil releases 20 to 30 pounds of nitrogen, 4.5 to 6.6 pounds of P2O5and 2 to 3 pounds of sulfur per year. The nutrient release occurs predominantly in the spring and early summer.

One acre of soil measured to a depth of 6 inches weighs approximately 2 million pounds. This means that 1 percent organic matter in the soil should weigh about 20,000 pounds per acre.

Organic matter behaves like a sponge with the ability to absorb and hold up to 90 percent of its weight in water. Research has shown that within all texture, as organic matter increased from 1 to 3 percent, the available water capacity doubled. When organic matter content increased to 4 percent, it then accounted for more than 60 percent of the available water capacity of the soil.

Roots of plants can produce more organic matter than above ground material. A study in the Upper Great Plains showed that a mixed prairie had an above-ground (shoot) yield of 1.4 tons of organic material per acre while the root yield was above 4 tons per acre.

To learn how a farmer near Trail City, S.D. has applied these principles to improve yields, reduce fertilizer costs, and improve profitability, plan to attend this year’s Wheat Show on Wednesday, February 6. Rick Bieber will share the practices he is using which have increased the profitability of his western South Dakota farm.