Managing Weather and Marketing Risk Conference, February 28, Decatur, IL

Will the drought continue into the spring and summer?  Should marketing plans be created for a big crop and low prices or a short crop and high prices?  How should a farmer manage risk in 2013?  Those issues and others will be explored Thursday, February 28, 2013 at the Managing Weather and Marketing Risk Conference, scheduled for Decatur, IL.

The morning session will focus on the moisture, weather, and agronomic challenges that farmers will face in the 2013 growing season.  Illinois State Climatologist Dr.  Jim Angel begins with an overview of soil moisture supplies just ahead of planting season.  Farm Progress meteorologist Greg Soulje will assess the weather dynamics that will dominate the growing season.  University of Illinois crop specialist Dennis Bowman will discuss some of the agronomic challenges that farmers will face in 2013.

Kansas State University marketing specialist Dr. Dan O’Brien will provide an analysis of corn and soybean market fundamentals and income risk in his outlook.   The featured lunch speaker will be U.S. Congressman Rodney Davis (IL-13), a member of the House Agriculture Committee, who provides his insight into the Congressional temperament about crop insurance funding in the new Farm Bill.

The afternoon session features University of Illinois agricultural economist Dr. Nick Paulson who will outline risk management opportunities and announce the spring guarantees for crop insurance that will be set that day.  Matt Bennett of TGM Marketing will suggest ways to integrate crop insurance into your marketing program and a panel of farmers will detail their risk management strategies for 2013. 

The conference, scheduled from 9:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., is presented by AgEngage, and is sponsored by ADM Crop Risk Services.  Registration begins at 8:00 a.m.  It will feature table top exhibitors with services related to managing risk in the 2013 cropping season.  The location will be held at the Decatur Conference Center and Hotel, 4191 W. Hwy. 36, Decatur, IL, 62522.  For more details and to pre-register, visit:  www.AgEngage.com . 



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