Growing Forward 2007 – Part II offers glimpse into weather

The South Dakota Corn Growers Association (SDCGA), in partnership with Farm Credit Services of America and the USDA Risk Management Association (RMA), will present “Growing Forward 2007 – Part II,” a risk management series designed to help producers gain valuable insights and opportunities for growing their operations in 2007.

Hundreds of producers attended Part I of Growing Forward 2007 held in November. Part II will deliver completely new information from the first offering and will highlight unique speakers. The seminars will be repeated five times during the week of Feb. 19-22 in separate cities to offer producers the opportunity to attend a program in their area. The schedule is the following:

• Feb. 19: Sioux Falls Ramkota, registration 9 a.m., program 9:30 a.m.
• Feb. 19: Watertown Events Center, registration 3 p.m., program 3:30 p.m.
• Feb. 20: Aberdeen Ramkota, registration 9 a.m., program 9:30 a.m.
• Feb. 21: Huron Crossroads, registration 9 a.m., program 9:30 a.m.
• Feb. 22: Yankton Elks, registration 9 a.m., program 9:30 a.m

“Producers who attended Part I of ‘Growing Forward 2007’ and found it useful, won’t want to miss the information at Part II,” said Reid Jensen, president of the SDCGA “And anyone who didn’t attend Part I, won’t want to pass up this opportunity to get a glimpse into what 2007 might hold for their operation.”

Dynamic speakers will offer a unique program looking at how to manage risks of higher crop prices and minimize production cost increases. Learn about which insurance products can help mitigate risk, how to improve crop marketing strategies, what impacts the climate has on production and markets, and climate trends. Whether producers want to know if a drought is likely to hit the Midwest again this growing season or how to position themselves in a strong corn market, the presenters will offer the best outlooks available.

Speakers include Steven Johnson, farm and ag business management field specialist, Iowa State University; and Elwynn Taylor, Extension climatologist at Iowa State University.

Johnson is a highly-valued speaker for his insight related to grain marketing, government farm programs, crop insurance and other risk management strategies. His presentation, “Economic Strategies for Growing Forward” will address managing risks of higher crop prices, minimizing production cost increases, utilizing crop insurance revenue products and improving crop marketing strategies.

Taylor is well known for his analysis of weather influence on the Midwest and the complexities of long-term weather variability. His explanations of Global Warming, Ozone Depletion, the El Nino, and other weather events and how they impact life and our economy are clear, insightful and often humorous. His presentation, “Managing Weather Risk in 2007 & Beyond” will focus on the changing climate, climate impacts on production and markets, climate trends and how to use the leading weather indicators.

Also during the programs, a Farm Credit Services of America crop insurance specialist will discuss affordable ways to manage risk, how to tailor coverage to assist cash flow and ensuring maximum protection not maximum cost.

The programs are offered at no cost but pre-registration is required. To register call the SDCGA office at 605-334-0100 or go to www.growingforward2007.com.