Two things will largely govern farmers' fortunes during the next 12 months. The first in weather: How this year's corn crop turns out. The other is business: Whether prices hold up or we have a let-down in business.

Would you like to have your farm stay in the family for 100 years?

You can double your grazing yields if you remodel that old bluegrass pasture. That's what we learned from a new series of experiments started 2 years ago near Albia, in Monroe County. This land has been in permanent bluegrass pasture ever since the timber was removed many years ago.

Does the 50-50 crop share rent method work for you? Or is it just a clumsy way of doing business?