Method for using environmental classification to assist in financial management and services

Abstract

Managing risks of crop production can be performed by understanding the relative performance of different agricultural inputs under the same or similar environmental conditions. In addition, managing of crop production risks can be performed by understanding variations in the performance of the same agricultural inputs over a range of environmental conditions. By being able to describe and understand these variations in performance, decisions can be made which are consistent with overall business and/or production objectives and limit risk associated with variations in environmental conditions. In addition to producers there are other stakeholders in the crop production process, such as financial institutions, insurance providers, users of crops produced, and input suppliers. These and other stakeholders can provide financial incentives to producers for managing crop production risks through use of environmental classification and/or genotype-by-environment information.

What is claimed: 
     
         1 . A method comprising:
 evaluating, according to an environmental classification system, a predicted performance of an agricultural input for crop production in a land base, the land base associated with a producer and classified with an environmental classification according to the environmental classification system, wherein the predicted performance of the agricultural input is evaluated based on an actual performance of the agricultural input in the environmental classification of the land base; and   determining, via a processor, lending terms for a lender to finance the producer for the crop production using the agricultural input, wherein the lending terms are determined at least partially based on the predicted performance and a producer profile of the producer.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the producer profile comprises at least one of a risk tolerance of the producer or goals of the producer. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the producer profile is associated with an end use of the agricultural input. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the end use comprises at least one of ethanol production, bio-diesel production, livestock use, or food manufacturing. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the lending terms are further determined based on a history of the producer. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the predicted performance is based on at least one of a yield associated with the agricultural input, a content associated with the agricultural input, or a quality associated with the agricultural input. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the content comprises at least one of an oil content, a protein content, a starch content, or a moisture content. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , the method further comprising determining whether to finance the producer based on a result of the evaluation. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the predicted performance of the agricultural input is based on a proposed use of the agricultural input for an upcoming growing season. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein evaluating the predicted performance of the agricultural input further comprises:
 correlating, via the environmental classification system, an environmental classification of the agricultural input with the environmental classification of the land base.   
     
     
         11 . A system comprising:
 a memory comprising executable instructions; and   a processor in communications with the memory, the instructions, when executed by the   
       processor, cause the processor to effectuate operations comprising:
 evaluating, according to an environmental classification system, a predicted performance of an agricultural input for crop production in a land base, the land base associated with a producer and classified with an environmental classification according to the environmental classification system, wherein the predicted performance of the agricultural input is evaluated based on an actual performance of the agricultural input in the environmental classification of the land base; and 
 determining lending terms for a lender to finance the producer for the crop production using the agricultural input, wherein the lending terms are determined at least partially based on the predicted performance and a producer profile of the producer. 
 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the producer profile comprises at least one of a risk tolerance of the producer or goals of the producer. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the producer profile is associated with an end use of the agricultural input. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein the end use comprises at least one of ethanol production, bio-diesel production, livestock use, or food manufacturing. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the lending terms are further determined based on a history of the producer. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the predicted performance is based on at least one of a yield associated with the agricultural input, a content associated with the agricultural input, or a quality associated with the agricultural input. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 16 , wherein the content comprises at least one of an oil content, a protein content, a starch content, or a moisture content. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the processor is further configured to execute instructions to effectuate operations comprising determining whether to finance the producer based on a result of the evaluation. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the predicted performance of the agricultural input is based on a proposed use of the agricultural input for an upcoming growing season. 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein evaluating the predicted performance of the agricultural input further comprises:
 correlating, via the environmental classification system, an environmental classification of the agricultural input with the environmental classification of the land base.   
     
     
         21 . A system comprising:
 a memory comprising executable instructions; and   a processor in communications with the memory, the instructions, when executed by the   
       processor, cause the processor to effectuate operations comprising:
 evaluating, according to an environmental classification system, a predicted performance of an agricultural input for crop production in a land base, the land base associated with a producer and classified with an environmental classification according to the environmental classification system, wherein the predicted performance of the agricultural input is evaluated based on an actual performance of the agricultural input in the environmental classification of the land base; and 
 assessing a risk associated with the producer using the agricultural input for the crop production, the risk at least partially assessed based on the predicted performance and production information. 
 
     
     
         22 . The system of  claim 21 , wherein the production information includes at least one of maturity days, input traits, output traits, seed treatment, tillage practices, a planting population, a nitrogen utilization, or soil type. 
     
     
         23 . The system of  claim 21 , wherein the assessed risk is further based on a range of environmental conditions. 
     
     
         24 . The system of  claim 21 , wherein the producer selects a combination of agricultural inputs based on the assessed risk, thereby managing the assessed risk. 
     
     
         25 . The system of  claim 21 , wherein the production information includes production records associated with the land base.