Jonathan LaPorte
Jon LaPorte is a Farm Business Management Educator with Michigan State University Extension. His main focus is to guide and educate farmers and agribusinesses in farm business principles with an emphasis on production economics and risk management. His work focuses on strengthening farm decision‑making through applied education in grain and input markets, cost of production, risk management, farm policy and return on investments.
As a certified crop advisor (CCA), he works closely with agronomy specialists to connect production decisions with farm profitability. Jon leads the nationally recognized MSU DEMaND Series program which provides financial and business resources to new farm managers. He also served as co-lead of the Beginning Farmer Resource & Decision-Making Guide development team organized by USDA and Michigan State University Extension.
Jon provides expertise and support at both the state and local county level. Counties supported include Allegan, Barry, Berrien, Branch, Calhoun, Cass, Kalamazoo, Kent, Ottawa, St. Joseph, and Van Buren Counties.
Areas of expertise and support include:
County-level Support:
- Farm business start-up and transition
- Farm-based analysis
- Income tax education
Statewide:
- Cost of Production (field crops)
- Farm Bill and Ag policies
- Grain marketing
- Insurance (crops and livestock)
- Land access
- Loans and financing (non-grant)
Related Work
-
2026 Farm Bill Commodity Program Decisions: What Fits Your Farm?
Published on September 21, 2026
-
What’s an acre worth? The answer can change acre by acre
Published on September 15, 2026
-
2027 Wheat Projected Cost of Production
Published on September 10, 2026
-
New to Agriculture? We’ve got a guide for you!
Published on September 10, 2026
-
Buy now or wait? Best practices for securing next year’s farm inputs
Published on September 2, 2026
-
Integrating High-Oleic Soybeans into Farm Systems: Animal Performance and Dairy Feeding Strategies
Published on September 2, 2026
-
USDA releases farmland cash rental values for Michigan counties
Published on August 27, 2026
-
USDA Farmland Cash Rental Rates
Published on August 25, 2026
-
Elevate your market prices with Grain Gains
Published on August 7, 2026