Cornhusker Economics Outlook Meetings to be Held in March

Feb. 3, 2014

LINCOLN, Neb. — The ninth annual Cornhusker Economics Outlook meetings will focus on the agriculture outlook and management decisions for farmers and ranchers.

The series, scheduled in nine locations, is offered by University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension and the Department of Agricultural Economics and is available free to participants with the series support of the Nebraska Corn Board and the Great Western Bank along with several local sponsors.

The outlook meetings are scheduled for a concise, fast-paced discussion of crop, livestock, policy and land outlook.

Several people will present at the meeting. They are:

Kate Brooks, extension livestock economist at UNL: Brooks will provide outlook and analysis for beef and other livestock producers. Brooks' expertise is in market analysis and production economics. She recently led a study of livestock industry trends in Nebraska. She will interpret emerging livestock market fundamentals, meat supplies and meat demand to assess producer profit potential and sound marketing and production decisions in 2013.

Cory Walters, a new extension crop economist at UNL: Walters is new to Nebraska. His expertise is in crop marketing and risk management, with substantial research on crop marketing and crop insurance strategies and decisions. Walters brings experience from both Kentucky and a farm background in Montana to his new role in Nebraska. He will discuss the outlook for corn, soybeans and wheat to help producers make sound production, marketing and risk management decisions.

Brad Lubben, extension policy specialist at UNL: Lubben will provide perspectives on the policy environment in Washington and the long-awaited farm bill. With the efforts of Congress in January and early February, producers finally appear ready to focus on farm program decisions instead of continuing deliberations. Lubben will discuss the policy outlook and program alternatives to help producers effectively combine farm programs, crop insurance, and marketing strategies for success.

Local UNL extension educators will provide additional input during the outlook meetings with a discussion of current land and leasing economics. With the recent climb of land prices and rental rates running into declining crop price and profitability projections for 2014, producers will need to push an even sharper pencil on land decisions and production plans. This presentation will assess current developments and decisions for producers in land and leasing economics.

This outlook agenda is packaged into a 2 1/2-hour format to provide producers the best available information and send them home to ready to make 2014 management and marketing decisions. The series runs from March 3-7 and varies in time by location.

Although there is no cost to participants, pre-registration is encouraged to plan for facilities, refreshments, and materials.

The schedule and contacts:

Hastings: Monday March 3, 9 - 11:30 a.m. CST, Adams County Fairgrounds, Contact: Ron Seymour, UNL extension educator, Adams County, Office: 402-461-7209, email: ron.seymour@unl.edu

Gothenburg: Monday, March 3, 2:30 - 5 p.m. CST, Gothenburg (Monsanto) Learning Center, 76268 Hwy 47, 2:30-5 p.m. CST, Contact: Bruce Treffer, UNL extension educator, Dawson County, Office: 308-324-5501, email: btreffer1@unl.edu or Chuck Burr, UNL extension educator, West Central Res. and Ext. Center Office: 308-696-6783, email: cburr1@unl.edu

Sidney: Tuesday, March 4, 9 - 11:30 a.m. MST, Holiday Inn, 664 Chase Blvd, Contact: Karen DeBoer, UNL extension educator, Cheyenne County, Office: 308-254-4455, email: kdeboer1@unl.edu

Chadron: Tuesday, March. 5, 2:30 - 5 p.m. MST, Dawes County Fairgrounds, East Norfolk Avenue, Contact: Jaime Goffena, UNL extension educator, Sioux County, Office: 308-432-3373, email: jgoffena2@unl.edu or Jessica Johnson, UNL extension educator, Panhandle Res. and Extension Center, Office: 308-632-1247, email: jjohnson@unl.edu

Valentine: Wednesday, March 5, 9 - 11:30 a.m. CST, Niobrara Lodge, 803 East Highway 20, Contact: Jay Jenkins, UNL extension educator, Cherry County, Office: 402-376-1850, email: jjenkins2@unl.edu

O'Neill: Wednesday, March 5, 2:30 - 5 p.m. CST, Holt County Annex, 128 N 6th Street, Contact: Gary Stauffer and Amy Timmerman, UNL extension educators, Holt/Boyd Counties, Office: 402-336-2760, email: gstauffer1@unl.edu or atimmerman2@unl.edu

West Point: Thursday, March 6, 9 - 11:30 a.m. CST, Nielsen Community Center, Anna Stalp Ave, Contact: Larry Howard, UNL Ext. Educator, Cuming County, Office: 402-372-6006, email: lhoward1@unl.edu

Lincoln: Thursday, March 6, 6:30 - 9:00 p.m. CST, Lancaster County Extension Office, 444 Cherrycreek Rd, Contact: Paul Hay, UNL extension educator, Gage County Office: 402-223-1384, email: phay1@unl.edu

Nebraska City, Friday, March 7, 9 - 11:30 a.m., Kimmel Education and Research Center, 5985 G Rd, Contact: Monte Vandeveer, UNL extension educator, Otoe County Office: 402-269-2301, email: monte.vandeveer@unl.edu

More information and details on the meetings are available on the web at the Department of Agricultural Economics homepage at http://agecon.unl.edu or directly at the webpage with meeting information at http://agecon.unl.edu/ceo. Register by contacting the local Extension office listed for each location. You can also contact Lubben at 402-472-2235 or any one of the extension educators listed with the meeting locations for additional information.