Overview:

Marketing and pricing decisions can be the difference between a profit or loss in your hog operation. To be as effective and profitable as possible, these decisions need to be made within a framework of previously considered plans.

A module by module introduction to the course is available.

Registration is available online.

Webster defines a plan as "a method of doing something" or "a detailed program of action" or "an orderly arrangement of parts of an overall design or objective." A strategy, according to the same source, is "the art of devising or employing plans or stratagems toward a goal." Marketing plans and strategies are ways to introduce some system or discipline into your marketing and pricing decisions. Some flexibility is always needed, so you can adjust to particular market situations. But you should know what price is needed to obtain specific levels of profit or cost recovery and have a general plan for trying to achieve that price.

Course Modules

• Marketing Plans and Strategies
• Hog Production Cycles
• Choices for Hog Pricing
• Forward Cash Contracting
• Hedging Hogs with Futures Contracts
• Using the Hog Options Market
• Hog Market Analysis and Forecasting
• Using the Tools