The document discusses the changing demographics in agriculture, noting that while there are around 2 million farmers, a small percentage produces the majority of agricultural value, leading to a bifurcation between large commercial farms and smaller, niche-market farms. It emphasizes the importance of e-commerce and value chains in modern farming, alongside ongoing challenges in environmental and animal welfare regulations. Additionally, it provides ten suggestions for managing volatility in farming, focusing on proactive planning and risk management.

1. 2011 Commercial Farmer’s Symposium
Daryl Oldvader, CEO

2. The Changing Demographics In Agriculture
• Agriculture is getting smaller. Although we
have approximately 2 million farmers, 10% of
those produce 90% of the total value of
agriculture.
• Traditional farming is no longer traditional.
Driven by economics, family farms have
become more specialized or niche-market
oriented.

3. The Changing Demographics In Agriculture
• Bimodal distribution continues in agriculture.
The traditional farm sector is evaporating into
either the larger commercial sector or the
smaller part-time farm sector.
• Selective Farming: Commodities vs. Products.
It’s no longer simply #2 yellow corn or a
pound of meat or milk, rather it’s a product
with distinguishable traits produced for a
specific audience.

4. The Changing Demographics In Agriculture
• Commercial producers are linking into value
chains…to extract additional product margins
by becoming part of mega complexes and
networks.
• Commercial vs. Lifestyle Farming: Is the
country big enough for both? Environmental
and animal welfare regulations will continue to
challenge production agriculture.

5. The Changing Demographics In Agriculture
• The rural infrastructure continues to
regionalize based on locations of primary
employers, health care and educational
opportunities.
• E-commerce will hasten disintermediation in
agriculture. The trend will shift more from
shopping prices to acquiring products.

6. Top Ten Suggestions for Managing Volatility
1. Control your destiny, or at least plan like it.
2. Develop a dashboard and monitor it.
3. Remember risk.
4. Sell for profit, not for bragging rights.
5. Seek several sources.
6. Beware of bubbles.
7. Tell your story.
8. Success makes a lousy teacher.
9. Never let your ego exceed your intelligence.
10. Farm for a living; don’t live for farming.