It isn’t every day that your Congressman takes the podium to recognize your achievements on the floor of the House of Representatives. So it was one of the proudest moments of my life when U.S. Rep. Rodney Davis rose to say a few words about my receiving Parkland College’s V. Dale Cozad Entrepreneur of the Year.
News & Insights
All things equal: High quality land produces greater returns and holds its value better
May 20, 2014From the beginning of my career in agriculture, I’ve preached quality. Productive land with quality soils, good drainage and a good location will tend to be a sounder investment in all types of markets. It isn’t the only factor, to be sure. There are farmers and investors who have made good income and profits in [...]
Farmland price market adjusting to lower grain prices, but long-term outlook remains positive
March 10, 2014Every year, Illinois Public Media and WILLAg.org bring together some of the Midwest’s most influential landowners for an all-day Ag Outlook Meeting, and it was my pleasure to join them recently. Todd Gleason and the other good folks at WILLAg.org did a great job on the event and were kind enough to get a video [...]
My favorite kind of market – one that discriminates!
February 10, 2014Weak commodity prices. Concerns about falling farm income. Unsettled world grain markets. Uncertainty all around. It’s my favorite kind of market. The kind where the marketplace presents challenges and those of us who market farmland have to earn our keep. When a job is easy, people get the idea that anybody can do it. And [...]
As I write this, China has just rejected two cargoes of DDGs from the United States after detecting MIR 162 – a GMO species not yet approved for import into China. According to various reports, the world’s largest corn importer has turned away 665,000 metric tons of corn since November because of the issue. To [...]
Farmland price increases are flattening out. So What?
September 30, 2013At last, we’re seeing signs that the bull market for farmland might be taking a breather. Over the past few months, we’ve seen prices in many areas begin to flatten, especially compared to the dramatic rises we’ve seen for three years. Over a 12-month period, the numbers are still impressive. For example, the Chicago Fed’s [...]
Successful East Coast Brokers and Packers auctions were culmination of long journey and amazing teamwork
September 23, 2013In all my long career, I’ve never been more proud of an effort. Last week, we finished a series of seven auctions on a bankruptcy project so complicated that nobody dared dream of such an outcome: Approximately $75 million recovered for the creditors. This has been a very long journey that began in the summer [...]
I’ve been part of a lot of auctions in my career – many of them very big ones. Thousands of acres of land, offered in dozens of tracts. It’s exhilarating. Right now, we at Murray Wise are awash in exhilaration – preparing for an incredibly complex set of auctions to sell a wide range of [...]
There has been a great deal of interest in the upcoming auction of the farms, packing facilities, equipment and other assets owned by East Brokers Brokers and Packers and the Madonia family. As noted in the press release elsewhere on our site, the Chapter 11 Trustee has now filed papers with the United States Bankruptcy [...]
As farmers, we are careful to plant our crops at the right time, in proper fertility and properly prepared soil. We know the right techniques for growing a good crop, and we implement them religiously. We’d never dream of sowing our seeds randomly, at the wrong time of the year, and expecting a good yield. [...]