At the 2016 Ag Outlook meeting in Greenville, Matt Roberts (associate professor and OSU Extension and Grain Marketing Expert) said that the grain market outlook for the next couple of years doesn’t look very positive and that “if farmers are not treating their on-farm storage like a commercial elevator, they are ‘crazy’.” Well, there is a Grain Marketing Educational meeting being held on Thursday, March 10, to help you figure out how to do that!
Because of today’s prices for corn and beans, it’s important to develop a marketing plan that tries to capture potential profits while minimizing risk. Jon Scheve of Superior Feed Ingredients will be talking about what can influence markets in the upcoming year and how to better prepare for the opportunities and challenges.
Jon grew up raising corn and soybeans and became a grain merchandiser after graduation from The University of Nebraska. He has been trading corn, soybeans, and other grains for the last 20 years. Ten years ago, he started helping farmer clients market their grain based upon his principals of farmer education, reducing risk, understanding storage potential, and using basis strategy to maximize individual farm operation profits. Jon will explain how on-farm storage combined with forward selling, market carry, and basis appreciation can provide added income. He will also provide education on how hedging with futures protects from risk and how options can be a great addition to a marketing tool box.
This meeting will begin at 9 a.m. at Romer’s, 118 E. Main St., Greenville, and includes lunch. Registration is free and must be received by March 5. A registration flyer can be downloaded at http://go.osu.edu/grainmarketing or call the Darke County Extension office at 937-548-5215 to reserve your spot. Seating is limited to 100!
The last recertification meeting in this area for Private Pesticide Applicators is next week, Thursday, March 10th in Hardin county. This will be held at the Plaza Inn Restaurant, Mount Victory, with Pesticide Recertification 9 a.m. to noon and Fertilizer Certification from 1 to 3 p.m. You can get more information and register at pested.osu.edu, under “Private Applicator/Recertification.”
The Shelby County Dairy Banquet will be on Thursday, March 10, at the Palazzo in Botkins, beginning at 7:30 p.m. The price for the dinner is $10. Send your reservations to President Greg Borchers at [email protected] or 937-596-6772 by March 1.
March 4 is the deadline to register for “Growing Women in Agriculture, An Empowerment Celebration.” This event will be held Thursday, March 17, St. Michael’s Hall in Fort Loramie, 6 to 9 p.m. In addition to the opportunity to meet and socialize with other farm women, this program offers the opportunity to learn about such things as wine-and-food pairings, canning and freezing, blogging and social media, how to work with family, etc. The cost is $20 per adult, $10 for High-Schoolers. We have fliers in the office and at Shelby.osu.edu.
We have over 100 signed up for the three-hour Fertilizer Certification classes on Tuesday, March 22, but there is still room for more! These programs will be held at the Palazzo, South Main Street Botkins. One class will be held from 2 to 5 p.m. and the other from 6:15 to 9:15 p.m. There will be supper available from 5 to 6 p.m. for those either coming or going!! These classes are designed for those who do not already hold a Pesticide Applicator’s License, but anyone can attend.
Bambauer Fertilizer and Seed is sponsoring this event, so there is no cost. However, we do need your reservations by March 15th: [email protected].
Wow! It hasn’t slowed down! But, spring’s a-comin’ and we gotta get this stuff done before we hit the fields! Master Gardener training starts this week, too!
