Internet Links

What’s New on Farm.doc?
http://www.farmdoc.uiuc.edu/

• The Financial Ratio Benchmark reports have been updated to include data from 2002 to 2003. These reports are useful in providing peer group financial ratios across different farm characteristics.
• The newest AgMAS report reviews the evidence on the profitability of technical analysis. To achieve this purpose, the report comprehensively reviews survey, theoretical and empirical studies regarding technical trading strategies.

The New Entrepreneurial Agriculture
http://www.mlui.org/downloads/newag.pdf
Farmland in Michigan is currently more valuable for building superstores and subdivisions than growing corn or strawberries, because global markets pay little for the state’s farm products. But a new crop of innovative farmers is making money and keeping land in agriculture. New Entrepreneurial Agriculture explains how communities can help their farmers switch to profitable markets and reap the many benefits of working farmland. By Patty Cantrell and Jim Lively

Minnesota Greenbook 2004 Highlights Sustainable Ag Research
http://www.mda.state.mn.us/esap/greenbook2004/default.htm
This book highlights the efforts of creative and innovative farmers and researchers involved with the Sustainable Agriculture On-farm Demonstration Grant Program. Greenbook 2004 contains articles that highlight the results of the grantees’ projects and provides practical and technical information. Each article includes personal observations and management tips from the participants.

E-Commerce Extension Initiative Launched
http://srdc.msstate.edu/ecommerce
The Rural E-Commerce Extension Initiative has announced the first edition of "e-News," the Initiative's electronic update and news on issues surrounding the development of rural e-commerce.

Energy and Agriculture Papers and Presentations
http://www.farmfoundation.org/projects/03-35AgAsEnergyProducerAndConsumer.htm
Papers and presentations from a USDA conference held this summer on agriculture’s need for and ability to produce energy are now available online. The conference, Agriculture as a Producer and Consumer of Energy, was the first major comprehensive examination of agriculture’s energy role in a decade. Conference speakers included the authors of four commissioned papers: Vern Eidman of the University of Minnesota, John Marinowski of Iowa State University, Otto Doering of Purdue University, and Kevin Lindemer, director of strategy and business development for Irving Oil Ltd. Other featured speakers included Keith Collins, Chief Economist, USDA; and C. Boyden Gray of the Energy Future Coalition. The program is available, as well as summaries of plenary session presentations, and selected paper sessions.

What the Public Values about Farm and Rand Land
www.cas.nercrd.psu.edu/
This new publication from the Northeast Regional Center for Rural Development summarizes the results of a workshop held November 2003 in Baltimore, MD, to facilitate exchange between economic research, policy makers, and program managers who are engaged in farmland protection research and programs.

Listserv Established for Farmer Learning in North America
www.fao.org/farmingsystems/ifsa_en.htm
The North American Farming Systems Association, one of six regional associations of the International Farming Systems Association, is being revitalized. The Center for Rural Affairs is beginning with a Listserv to share information about projects related to on-farm participatory research, whole farm systems approaches, and farmer learning in the United States, Mexico and Canada.