FARMLAND MARKETS: PROFITABILITY AND FUTURE PERSPECTIVES CONFERENCE SET FOR NOV. 13

Lindsay Mitchell

Oct 28, 2013  |  Today's News

Lower commodity values may have softened prices being paid for farmland, but the demand remains strong, according to the recently-released Beige Book of the Federal Reserve Bank.  Many farmland owners and operators are currently negotiating leases for 2014 and wrestling over rental agreements to fairly address both high land values and lower prices for corn and soybeans.  The Farmland Markets Conference may provide many answers to challenging questions. It is scheduled for Wed., Nov. 13, 2013, at Champaign, IL presented by the TIAA-CREF Center for Farmland Research at the Univ. of Illinois

Speakers include Dr. Joseph Glauber, Chief Economist for the U.S. Department of Agriculture, who will outline the factors influencing commodity prices and ultimately the revenue generated by farmland for both owners and operators.  Univ. of Illinois agricultural economists Gary Schnitkey and Bruce Sherrick will detail the sharing of financial risk in land and how farmland is performing as an investment asset.

Other speakers will focus on dynamics in the commodity market and the long-debated Farm Bill.  Ag economist Scott Irwin will outline the RFS impact on commodity prices, and Jonathan Coppess will address the Farm Bill and its program options. A new addition to the Univ. of Illinois faculty, Coppess has served as Chief Counsel for the Senate Agriculture Committee. They will be joined by Tim Hopper, chief economist for TIAA-CREF lining out the reasons why your farm is worth what it is.

A special lunch guest and speaker will be Univ. of Illinois Athletic Director Mike Thomas.

The conference, scheduled from 9:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., will be held at the Hilton Garden Inn at 1501 S. Neil St., Champaign, IL, 61820. The registration fee is $85 per person through Oct. 31. The fee will be $99 Nov. 1 and after and at the door.  The conference will include exhibits from vendors and a buffet lunch.

The conference is organized and facilitated by AgEngage.  For details and pre-registration visit the conference website:  http://www.agengage.com/farmlandmarkets2013/