Different strokes for different folks true in farming

Here is a farmer aptitude quiz. See how you fit in.

You have extensive knowledge of crop protection products. You un-derstand herbicide groupings and know a lot about mode of action. You know which products have re-cropping restrictions and which require extra sprayer clean-out procedures.
You stick to products you’ve used in the past and seek the advice of others on product selection and use.
Fertilizer concepts are well understood. You know which nutrients are mobile and what application techniques are likely to be successful.

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Fertilizer blends are a bit of a mystery and you have to think to come up with what each number in the nutrient analysis stands for.
Dealing on equipment is your thing. You understand makes and models, the options and the relative values. You can spot a deal at an auction or on the dealer’s lot. You are always in the upgrade mode.
You don’t spend a lot of time poring over the latest equipment sales fliers. You’ll shop for something newer or better only if you have identified a particular need to upgrade.

Repairing equipment and keeping it running gives you a sense of satisfaction. You fix a lot of things that others would send to a repair shop.
You despise equipment repair and run a nearly new line of equipment to avoid repairs and down time.
You’d something of a techie. Variable rate application is the way of the future. You analyze yield maps and would like to integrate the use of a drone to gather more information.
You just want the GPS hands-free guidance to continue working without any issues. Many of the bells and whistles that come with newer equipment are not really necessary.
Discussions with your accountant and lender are stimulating. You find financial ratios highly enlightening. Tax and investment planning are priorities.

You have money in the bank and grain in the bin so you know you’re doing well financially. Your accountant will advise on actions you should take to minimize tax.
You’re a people person. Your farm attracts seasonal and/or full time employees because people like working for you.
Finding and keeping employees is a challenge. Bigger equipment compensates for a lack of bodies.
There’s a firm succession plan. It’s discussed regularly and everyone understands how the farm and the management of the farm will be transitioned.
Succession isn’t talked about much. No one is clear on the long-range plan. You’ll figure it out as you go along.

You’re always on the lookout for new cropping options and are often the first in your area to try a new crop or new crop variety.
Let others try a new crop and prove that it works. Then you may be interested. Sticking with what has been working is the best strategy.
You love marketing and you follow the latest supply and demand estimate and subscribe to one or more market advisory services. The cost of production for each crop is accurately determined to develop the overall marketing strategy.
Analysts are wrong half the time so you just sell when the time seems right.
Financial risk doesn’t bother you and the farm is highly leveraged to attain continual growth.
You try to minimize debt, with incremental expansion coming mainly from money in the bank.