2011 IL FARM ECONOMICS SUMMIT ?EUR" THE PROFITABILITY OF IL AGRICULTURE: MANAGING IN A TURBULENT WORLD

Nov 29, 2011  |  Today's News

In an era of unstable markets, the last year may be hard to top. Outside markets have endured near financial meltdowns in Europe, a downgrade in the U.S. credit rating, and political turmoil in the Middle East. In the midst of all this, Illinois agriculture generally experienced another year of exceptional returns. To no one's surprise volatility has also been very high. Exhibit A is the 20% drop in corn and soybean prices in September 2011. Understanding the sources of this volatility and how to deal with these large risks is front and center in the minds of all producers. The University of Illinois Extension and members of the farmdoc team from the Department of Agricultural and Consumer Economics will be holding a series of five Farm Economics Summit meetings to help producers navigate this uncertainty.

Speakers from the farmdoc team at the University of Illinois will explore the farm profitability outlook and management challenges from several perspectives, including the direction of prices, government reports and data, estate planning, forecasting returns, crop insurance choices, and changes to farm programs. The format for the meeting will be fast-paced and allow plenty of time for questions from the audience.

 

Dates & Locations

Monday, December 12, 2011 - Champaign, IL I Hotel and Conference Center
Tuesday, December 13, 2011 - Sycamore, IL Center for Agriculture
Wednesday, December 14, 2011 - Galesburg, IL Best Western Prairie Inn
Thursday, December 15, 2011 - Mt. Vernon, IL Holiday Inn
Friday, December 16, 2011 - Bloomington, IL Doubletree Hotel

Agenda

7:45 - 8:15 Registration and Coffee
8:15 - 8:30 Introduction and Overview
8:30 - 9:00 Crop and Livestock Price Prospects for 2012
9:00 - 9:30 USDA ' NASS Revealed: Procedures in Setting Crop, Livestock and Economic Estimates
9:30 - 10:00 Estate Planning in Uncertain Times
10:00 - 10:30 Break
10:30 - 11:00 Stress Testing Agricultural Returns in 2012 and Beyond
11:00 - 11:30 Crop Insurance ' New Features, Programs, and Performance
11:30 - 12:00 An Overview of Proposed Changes to Farm Policy
12:00 - 12:30 Question & Answer / Wrap-Up
12:30 - 1:30 Lunch (Included)


Speakers

Todd Gleason, Media Communications Specialist, University of Illinois
Darrel Good, Professor Emeritus, University of Illinois
Brad Schwab, USDA-NASS
Mark Schleusener, USDA-NASS
Gary Hoff, Extension Specialist, University of Illinois
Gary Schnitkey, Professor, University of Illinois
Bruce Sherrick, Professor, University of Illinois
Nick Paulson, Assistant Professor, University of Illinois


Registration

The advanced registration fee for each location is $50 per person.  This fee includes all meeting materials, break refreshments, and lunch.  Registration at the door will be $65 per person as space permits.
All details are available at: http://farmdoc.illinois.edu/ifes/2011/index.html


More Information

For any questions you may have, please contact:
Sue Esposito | Phone: 217-333-5506 | Fax: 217-333-2312 | email: sesposit@illinois.edu