NIVENS’ NOTES
Greetings from the Board Room:
Here I am at mid year and well
above average for rain. Nothing
really note-worthy about that
except from mid-April to mid-
May, I received half of an average
annual rainfall. I don’t know that
I have ever seen a time when there
has been as much corn replanted
in this area. If it had been planted
very early, it might look good. If
planted just prior to the flooding,
it may have been replanted and
replanted and still not look like
much. With wheat harvest just
now underway, impact on that
crop will soon be determined. And
I feel certain that some of the hay
that has been baled has as much
nutrition in the wrap around the
bale as what is inside. Grass is
finally abundant and the excess
moisture apparently sprouted every
hard clover seed. Rain has also
caused a good growth of thistles.
I would be afraid to guess how
many gallons of spray we have put
through a 25 gallon tank in the
side-by-side. This spring, my wife
Carolyn, has been with me spot
spraying while I check cattle. I
have yet to throw her out when she
is leaning right to reach a thistle
and I turn left to see a cow’s tag.
Did run over a short piece of a
hedge post that flipped up and
resulted in a concussion. She’s
awfully skittish now with each
unexpected bump.
FCS Financial has an annual
election for board members and
to select a nominating committee
for the next year. A board term
is three years and four members
are elected each year. The 2017
election results were tabulated
May 31. We have two returning
incumbents, Sherry Jones and Rick
Rehmeier. Michael Bruce from
the Nevada area will be replaced
by Jared Wareham, Deepwater,
Mo. Mike served on the board
since 2002. He could always be
counted on to think of the impact
on the member first of any board
action. Stacy Hambelton, Gaines-
ville, had the opportunity to serve
for one term. His work experience
and background brought him to
the board as well prepared as any
new member I have seen. Stacy’s
replacement is David Stubblefield
of Alton, Mo. From their bios and
short discussions that I have had
with Jared and David, I feel they
will be fully participating members
in a short while. Thanks to Mike
and Stacy for their commitment
and time and to Sherry and Rick
for a willingness to continue to
serve FCS Financial.
At the time this issue of
HeartBeat is being put together,
the board has reviewed the results
of the first quarter of 2017. The key
indicators are on a par with last
year and are as good or better than
what was projected for 2017. There
is a slight decline in loan quality
James Nivens, Chairman of the Board
and an up-tick in delinquencies.
Neither quite as high as was an-
ticipated and both of these figures
are well below what would be an
historic norm. One of the numbers
that we have missed is the need for
short-term loans. My interpreta-
tion would be a loss of appetite for
machinery purchases.
My recent experiences has just
reinforced that I am not very good
at forecasting the weather, markets
or elections. Don’t really need to
forecast. Weather will average out,
markets will change and elec-
tions are held on a regular basis
for a reason. Just need to keep it
in mind and react appropriately.
Recent events also remind me that
not only is there a financial risk to
farming, there is something of a
health risk.
Take care,
HEARTBEAT | SUMMER 2017 31