THOUGHT PIECES

Team Spotlight: Kari Rickenbach, Permanent Crop Associate Kari brings more than 20 years of experience in the permanent crop industry to Root Ag Advisory. With a background in farm operations, financial management, and horticulture, she understands the decisions producers face from both the field and business side of an operation. Her experience helps support Root… Employee Spotlight: Kari Richenbach

🌾Farm succession is not just about who gets the land. It is about protecting the operation, preserving family relationships, planning for taxes, assets, water, leases, and long-term goals… And making sure the next generation has a clear path forward. Consider the following when creating your farm’s succession plan: – The earlier the conversation starts, the… Farmland Succession Planning

Meet Root Ag Advisory’s Maryellen Zeise, VP of Permanent Crops. 🌱 Maryellen brings financial expertise, operational insight, and a strong commitment to land stewardship to our permanent crop clients. Her work supports smart decision-making across budgeting, reporting, agronomic research, and long-term asset value. She brings experience in conservation finance and carbon program development, Maryellen helps… Employee Spotlight: Maryellen Zeise

💧 Water planning is back at the center of the conversation for Northwest agriculture. The Upper Snake Basin is facing a below-normal runoff year, with forecasts sitting at 70% of normal and key reservoirs still below average. Some systems are in stronger shape than others, but the bigger takeaway is clear: conditions vary by basin,… Water Assessment Awareness

🌱 Access to capital matters when you’re trying to keep an operation moving forward. Whether it’s buying land, replacing equipment, expanding, restructuring, or planning for the next generation, financial planning plays a major role in the decisions farmers and ranchers make every year. A recent PNW Ag Network article highlights the continued role farm banks… Banking in Agriculture

🥛 June is National Dairy Month. Idaho ranks #3 in U.S. milk production, while Washington and Oregon remain important contributors to dairy production across the Northwest. Dairy production supports more than the products we see on shelves. It helps sustain rural communities, strengthens local economies, and keeps agricultural land working. At Root Ag Advisory, we’re… National Dairy Month!

🌽 Happy National Corn on the Cob Day! In the Pacific Northwest, corn plays a direct role in feeding livestock, supporting dairy production, and moving food through the supply chain. U.S. farmers produced a record 17.0 billion bushels of corn, with an average yield of 186.5 bushels per acre in 2025. Corn supports the supply… Happy National Corn on the Cob Day!

Drought pressure and wildfire risk are already part of the conversation across the Northwest. Low snowpack, tighter water outlooks, and rising fire potential can start shaping decisions long before smoke is in the air. 👉 For growers, that can mean harder calls around irrigation timing, crop stress, input strategy, and harvest windows. 👉 For livestock… Effects of Drought & Wildfires for Farmers

🌎 Happy World Environment Day! To the farmers and ranchers across the Pacific Northwest: thank you for the work you do every day to care for the land. 👉 You manage water responsibly. 👉 Improve soil health. 👉 Maintain pastures, forests, and rangeland. 👉 Protect open space and wildlife habitat. 👉 Make decisions today that… Happy World Environment Day!

What KPIs are driving your decisions? Tracking the right metrics can help growers and landowners move from reacting to planning. At Root Ag Advisory, we recommend monitoring key agronomic KPIs including: ➡️ Soil Organic Matter ➡️ Stand Count ➡️ Water Use Efficiency ➡️ Nutrient Use Efficiency ➡️ Yield Variability These numbers tell a story, helping… Important KPIs to Watch