STERLING, Colo. — Producers know their costs of producing crops and livestock continue to be high while market prices are going down. As profits decrease or there are losses, producers may have difficulty securing operating loans or have to take money from the savings they accumulated over the past few years of good prices. What are they to do?
Colorado State University Extension will host an Agriculture Outlook and Strategy Forum in Sterling on February 14th. Producers participating in the forum will learn about the outlook for commodity prices, production costs for each area, and various strategies for being profitable when prices are low.
Dr. Stephen Koontz, CSU agricultural marketing expert, will present current outlook information for commodities common to northeastern Colorado. Koontz is well known throughout Colorado and the U.S. for his knowledge of the domestic and world factors that drive market prices for such things as corn, wheat, cattle, oilseeds, and hay. He is also familiar with imports and exports.
Dr. Brent Young, CSU Agricultural and Business Management Economist and Kelly Huenink, Professor of Ag Business and ABM Coordinator at NJC will discuss the costs and returns for various commodities. They will also explore strategies, including developing marketing plans, industrial hemp and hydroponic production as alternative enterprises.
The program is scheduled for Wednesday, February 14th in the ballroom of the Hays Student Center on the NJC campus, and will be held from 10:00 am to 1:30 pm. Lunch will be provided by Bank of Colorado and Smithfield Foods.
Registration is required and the fee is $10. To register online go to https://sterlingagoutlook.eventbrite.com. Space is limited and the registration deadline is Friday, February 9th.
For more information about the forum, please contact Brent Young at 970-522-7207 or by email at brent.young@colostate.edu.
— Colorado State University Extension
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