The 8th annual Cornhusker Economics Outlook meeting series will focus on the ag outlook and management decisions for farmers and ranchers at eight locations across the state in late February. The annual meeting series is offered by University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension and the Department of Agricultural Economics and is available free to participants with grant support from the Nebraska Corn Board and the generous sponsorship of Great Western Bank.
The outlook meetings are scheduled for a concise, fast-paced discussion of crop, livestock, and policy outlook:
- Paul Burgener, Market Analyst and writer for Farm Futures Magazine and Farm Progress Companies, will provide the crop outlook for corn, soybean, and wheat producers. Paul writes his marketing columns from Scottsbluff and travels the country to share his marketing expertise. Making crop production and marketing decisions in 2013 will require balancing lingering drought concerns and production risks with market opportunities. Burgener’s insight will help pave the way for making sound production, marketing, and risk management decisions.
- Kate Brooks, Extension Livestock Economist will provide outlook and analysis for the beef and pork producers. Kate is a new specialist at UNL with a Central Kansas background and experiences in Oklahoma and Texas before coming to UNL in January. Brooks will digest the emerging livestock market fundamentals of shrinking herds, meat supplies, and meat demand along with grain supplies and feed prices to assess producer profit potential and sound marketing and production decisions in 2013.
- Brad Lubben, UNL Extension Policy Specialist will provide perspectives on the policy environment in Washington and the implications for ag policy and the farm bill. With seemingly ever-growing fiscal challenges in Washington, the road ahead could be even more challenging to get the farm bill done again before the current extension expires in September. In the meantime, producers will need to recall the existing safety net programs of ACRE and DCP for 2013 program participation decisions. Lubben will discuss the policy outlook and program alternatives to help producers effectively combine farm programs, crop insurance, and marketing strategies for success.
This outlook agenda is packaged into a 2 ½ hour format to provide producers the best available information and send them home ready to make 2013 management and marketing decisions. The series runs from February 25 through February 28 and varies in time by location. Locally, a session will be held in Geneva at the Fillmore County Fairgrounds on February 25th from 2:30 to 5:00 p.m.
Although there is no cost to participants, pre-registration is encouraged to plan for facilities, refreshments, and materials.
More information and details on all eight of the meetings is available on the webpage. Register by contacting the local Extension office listed for each location. You can also contact Lubben at 402-472-2235 or our office at (402) 759-3712 or myself at brandy.vandewalle@unl.edu.
Views from VanDeWalle 