Farm Journal Media creates peer-to-peer network

February 29, 2012 -- Farm Journal Media has launched the first national peer-to-peer network for executive producers. Called Farm Journal’s Top Producer Executive Network, the program will bring together small groups of top farmers and ranchers to act as reciprocal advisory boards for each other.

Each year, group members will visit two members’ farms and offer perspective and recommendations on their operations. Groups will also be benchmarked across key metrics – both within their group and across groups. “We are targeting four to six groups this year and 20 more in three years,” said Steve Custer, president of publishing at Farm Journal Media.

An annual signature event brings all the groups together for a high level business conference featuring speakers who are experts in fields both in and outside of agriculture. Danny Klinefelter, director of TEPAP (The Executive Program for Agricultural Producers at Texas A&M) will serve as the chairman of the Advisory Committee for the peer-to-peer network.

The Top Producer Executive network is a paid membership model (with Farm Journal selling sponsorships as well).

“This is a natural extension of our Top Producer franchise,” said Farm Journal Media president and CEO Andy Weber in a statement. “Producers have been increasingly asking us to help them organize an effort like this—in fact, a number of producers have loosely organized into groups on their own, testifying to the need. The Top Producer Executive Network will be a substantial new division of Farm Journal Media that is designed to help our leading producers improve their executive skills.”