Extension economists offer outlook for grain and livestock for producers and ag-business professionals
Article | Thu, 10/22/2015 - 16:49 | By Ann Johanns, Chad Hart
AMES, Iowa - Iowa State University Extension and Outreach will host 12 Agricultural Outlook meetings
across Iowa in November and December. This program is designed to provide participants with a concise
evaluation of current market conditions, expected trends in crop and livestock income potential, and
management implications.
Chad Hart, associate professor in economics and extension grain markets specialist with Iowa State
University, will discuss past, current and future prices. "Farmers know today's price," said Hart. "What I
ask is how much did it cost to produce it?" Hart continued, "To make marketing decisions, farmers need
to know their production costs."
Lee Schulz, livestock economist with ISU Extension and Outreach, will explain factors that are
influencing calf prices and how producers can use that information to make decisions about selling at
weaning, backgrounding, or finishing.
Alejandro Plastina, assistant professor and extension economist at Iowa State University, will address
how to manage a farm business with low to negative crop margins. "It is important for producers and ag-
business professionals to have a clear understanding of the profitability analysis for corn and soybeans in
the state of Iowa, as well as on their own operations," said Plastina. "Profit analysis, as well as being
aware of possible strategies to cope with low- to negative-profit margins are key to managing in 2016."
Each program will feature information presented by specialists from Iowa State University Extension and
Outreach. Some locations will also provide expertise from Iowa State University agricultural legal experts
and Extension field agronomists, who will give participants a realistic expectation of production prices
and tactics to decrease costs to get to a profitable margin. Specific topics will vary to provide a regional
focus for participants.
The sessions are open to the public, however pre-registration is requested two days prior to the date of the
event. A meeting is planned for November 5, 2015 in Iowa City, IA. Please visit
www.extension.iastate.edu/agdm/info/meetings.html for more information.
Article | Thu, 10/22/2015 - 16:49 | By Ann Johanns, Chad Hart
AMES, Iowa - Iowa State University Extension and Outreach will host 12 Agricultural Outlook meetings
across Iowa in November and December. This program is designed to provide participants with a concise
evaluation of current market conditions, expected trends in crop and livestock income potential, and
management implications.
Chad Hart, associate professor in economics and extension grain markets specialist with Iowa State
University, will discuss past, current and future prices. "Farmers know today's price," said Hart. "What I
ask is how much did it cost to produce it?" Hart continued, "To make marketing decisions, farmers need
to know their production costs."
Lee Schulz, livestock economist with ISU Extension and Outreach, will explain factors that are
influencing calf prices and how producers can use that information to make decisions about selling at
weaning, backgrounding, or finishing.
Alejandro Plastina, assistant professor and extension economist at Iowa State University, will address
how to manage a farm business with low to negative crop margins. "It is important for producers and ag-
business professionals to have a clear understanding of the profitability analysis for corn and soybeans in
the state of Iowa, as well as on their own operations," said Plastina. "Profit analysis, as well as being
aware of possible strategies to cope with low- to negative-profit margins are key to managing in 2016."
Each program will feature information presented by specialists from Iowa State University Extension and
Outreach. Some locations will also provide expertise from Iowa State University agricultural legal experts
and Extension field agronomists, who will give participants a realistic expectation of production prices
and tactics to decrease costs to get to a profitable margin. Specific topics will vary to provide a regional
focus for participants.
The sessions are open to the public, however pre-registration is requested two days prior to the date of the
event. A meeting is planned for November 5, 2015 in Iowa City, IA. Please visit
www.extension.iastate.edu/agdm/info/meetings.html for more information.
