In this Farm4Profit Podcast episode, we shift gears from our usual focus on succession planning to tackle another critical piece of the future: retirement planning. While we often think of retirement in the context of W-2 workers with 401(k)s and pensions, farmers, small business owners, and self-employed professionals face very different challenges.

Guest Levi Morrissey of Financial Architects, Inc. joins us to explain why retirement planning isn’t optional—and why it looks different for those who don’t fit the “traditional” mold. We explore the looming reality that two-thirds of Iowa farmland is owned by people over the age of 65, meaning a tidal wave of transitions is already reshaping small-town economies and family farms.

Key takeaways from our conversation include:

The psychology of retirement: How financial readiness and personal identity both play roles in deciding when (and how) to step back.

Farmers vs. W-2 workers: Why relying on land equity alone may not be enough, and how tax-advantaged accounts like SEP IRAs, Solo 401(k)s, and SIMPLE IRAs can provide real security.

Phased retirement strategies: Leasing land, crop-share agreements, or custom farming as ways to transition without walking away entirely.

Tax benefits for farmers: Including Iowa exemptions on retirement income for those who’ve materially participated in farming for 10+ years, as well as incentives for cash rent to beginning farmers.

The bigger picture: Retirement planning doesn’t just protect one family’s legacy—it sustains rural communities, preserves farmland, and strengthens the next generation of producers.

We wrap up by asking listeners to consider an important question: What does life after the farm—or after the business—look like for you? Retirement doesn’t have to mean loss of identity. With intentional planning, it can be the foundation for personal freedom, family security, and thriving rural communities.

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April Hemmes, a farmer, rancher, and ag leader whose influence spans from Franklin County, Iowa, to international policy discussions. April operates her family’s century farm—1,000 acres of corn, soybeans, and pasture—while serving on an impressive list of boards and advisory councils, including the United Soybean Board, USDA Foreign Ag Service Ag Technical Advisory Council, and multiple Iowa ag organizations.

April’s story starts with a degree in Animal Science from Iowa State University and early work in banking, ag research, and policy. In 1993, she took over the family farm, transitioning from a farrow-to-finish hog and cattle operation to a highly productive, tech-driven grain farm. She’s never plowed her land, instead adopting no-till, buffer strips, wetlands, filter strips, and pollinator habitats to protect soil and water.

She also leads a women’s grain marketing group with economist Kelvin Leibold, empowering members to increase their farm incomes by $10,000 to $30,000 through smarter marketing strategies. Her leadership has earned her numerous honors, including Iowa Master Farmer, Monsanto’s Farm Mom of the Year, and induction into the FarmHer Hall of Fame.

In our conversation, April shares:

How she balances technology investments with a used machinery strategy.

Why conservation practices have been non-negotiable on her farm.

How serving in leadership roles at the state, national, and global level influences her farm decisions.

What she’s learned from 40 years of running a farm as both owner and operator.

Why building strong marketing skills is one of the best returns on investment for any farmer.

We also lighten things up with a rapid-fire “Would You Rather” segment—revealing whether April prefers harvest or planting, beef or pork, and if she’d rather talk to animals or speak every human language.

Whether you’re interested in leadership, conservation, technology, or marketing, this episode offers inspiration and practical takeaways from one of the most respected voices in agriculture.

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Website: www.Farm4Profit.com

Shareable episode link: https://intro-to-farm4profit.simplecast.com

Email address: Farm4profitllc@gmail.com

Call/Text: 515.207.9640

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Negotiation happens every day in agriculture—whether you’re selling used equipment, renewing a land lease, or buying seed. But too often, farmers head into these conversations without a plan. On this episode of the Farm4Profit Podcast, we sit down with Attia Qureshi, an international negotiation consultant, educator, and farmer’s spouse, to learn how her Seven Elements of Effective Negotiation can transform the way you do business.

Attia begins by walking us through her framework—Interests, Options, Legitimacy, Communication, Relationship, Alternatives, and Commitment—and shows exactly how each applies to farm life. She shares why Relationship is the most overlooked element in ag negotiations, especially when working with the same buyers, suppliers, or landlords year after year.

We explore four common farm negotiation scenarios:

Private Sales & One-on-One Deals – Selling used equipment or buying livestock while using tactical empathy, anchoring, and mirroring to reach a fair price.

Value-Based Negotiation with Retailers – Moving the conversation from “lowest cost” to “best value” when working with seed and input suppliers.

Volume & Group Negotiation – Harnessing collective buying power without falling into the trap of misaligned goals.

Land Lease Agreements – Approaching tough talks in the fall, preserving relationships with absentee or long-time landlords, and handling “I’ve had a higher offer” moments without damaging trust.

Throughout the conversation, Attia blends professional insights with personal stories from life on the farm. She offers practical tips on reading non-verbal cues, understanding the power of timing, and defusing tension in high-stakes discussions.

We wrap up with Attia’s lightning-round favorites, from her go-to negotiation book to the biggest myth about negotiation. Whether you’re preparing for lease renegotiation season or just want to feel more confident in daily farm conversations, this episode delivers strategies you can put to work immediately.

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Website: www.Farm4Profit.com

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Email address: Farm4profitllc@gmail.com

Call/Text: 515.207.9640

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