Leopold Center for Sustainable Agriculture

Completed Competitive Grant

Producer machinery and labor sharing arrangements workshops

Project ID: M2008-02

Abstract

Four case studies were developed for Iowa farm operations that have successfully used machinery and labor sharing arrangements for intergenerational transfer of farm assets. Results were shared at workshops and through publication of a resource manual.

Key Question: What are the key strategies that farm families should follow to successfully reduce machinery and labor costs through sharing the use and ownership of these resources?

Findings: In-depth interviews with four farm families explained how they have implemented sharing arrangements to reduce costs, improve efficiency, and transfer use and ownership of farm assets to the next generation. This information was integrated into educational materials developed for earlier efforts, and presented to three diverse audiences.

Lead investigator: Darren Jarboe, ISU Center for Crops Utilization Research

Co-Investigator(s):

Roger Ginder and William Edwards, ISU Economics; and Georgeanne Artz, visiting professor

Year of grant completion: 2011

This competitive grant project was part of the Leopold Center's Marketing Initiative.

Topics: Business management, distribution and marketing, Farmer profitability, enterprise budgets