Check your accounts 24 hours a day with online banking. 

 How to enroll:

• You can sign yourself up here. Or request this service by email, calling 507-553-3155, or in-person.
• Once enrolled, we'll send you an auto-generated password that you can change once you begin using online banking. 

Mark Warmka, Vice President     

Harvest Heroics--- The annual fall work will begin in earnest in a week or so…..please remember to work safely.  Take the extra few moments to check out machinery, display warning flashers, put safety shields in place etc.   And remember to never work in a bin or around augers alone.  Make sure someone knows where you are and when they should expect you to return.  Don’t make this your last harvest!

Stalk Talk--- We are seeing some stalk rots this year, so be sure to be checking your fields for stalk integrity.  We have a nice crop out there, so we should make a good effort to get it into the bin before we have standability issues.  This will be a varietal problem, so monitor each type so you know which to take early if we have adverse weather or rapid plant deterioration.

Fertilizer Funding--- Margins are tight in farming these days, so carefully review your fertility program.  You may only have so many dollars to invest, make sure that the right product goes to the right spots and know what areas you may be able to reduce applications on without hurting yields.  Soil tests are a must.

FSA Follies--- Final warning!!!!!  If you have not completed the final sign-up for the ARC/PLC program, you have only until September 30th to do so.

Insurance Insight--- Have a recordkeeping system for tracking production on each unit of production this fall.  Even without a crop insurance claim, you will need the information for reporting your production for the year.

Management Miscues--- With lean times, proper management becomes critical.   Here are a “crazy eight” collection of farm management mistakes.

1.     Failure to maintain working capital

2.     Excess family living taken from farm

3.     Not knowing your cost of production

4.     Poor/no financial records system

5.     “Spending” your way out of paying income tax

6.     No marketing plan

7.     No succession plan

8.     No continuing education in production or management

This is not a complete list of all priorities in overseeing an agricultural enterprise, but it is a place to start.  If you are guilty of some or all of these vices, it is time to change.  When corn is $6 or $7 per bushel, these things don’t hurt as much, but at $3.25 they can become fatal to the business.

Sharing Time--- Do you have someone close to talk things over with?  Your spouse, your sibling, your son or daughter, close friend….  You need to get out of your shell sometimes and share your thoughts, bounce business ideas, seek help with concerns etc.  Don’t let these build up and cause you physical or mental stress.  Also, there are times when another opinion can confirm a business decision or help you avoid an error in judgement.  Reach out sometimes and also be there for others.

Routine Maintenance--- This fall you will set your clocks back when the time changes and that is also a good time to change batteries in smoke detectors and fire alarms.  Add to that list----update passwords on your private computer-related programs.  These also need to be changed regularly just like the oil in your pickup or tractor, to avoid the headache of fraud or identity theft.

Grain Bin Guru--- You may be storing more grain than usual this fall with the bigger yield and lower price.  Don’t take shortcuts with older structures.  Make sure the leaking areas are repaired and have some sort of aeration to keep grain in condition.  Spoiled grain is a lot worse than cheap grain.

Good Luck,

 Mark             

Peoples State Bank SHAZAM Debit Card

Tired of writing checks? Your debit card is an easy
way to get cash from ATMs, shop online, or buy your groceries.

It's linked right to your checking account so you don't have to worry.   

Contact Josh for more information. 

Find the right checking account for you ›

Lost or Stolen Card?

If your card is lost or stolen, call 1-800-383-8000. 24 hour service.