AMES, Iowa -- Iowa pork producers are invited to sharpen their risk management skills in a daylong hands-on workshop being offered in several locations during August. Iowa Pork Industry Center (IPIC) extension program coordinator Colin Johnson said the workshops are designed for hog producers who want to learn more about the various risk management tools available today and have the opportunity to practice using the tools with the assistance of experts from Iowa State University (ISU.)
“With current tight margins due to hog price volatility and rising feed costs, this workshop is a timely opportunity to learn strategies to help survive these times,” Johnson said. “We’re happy to be partnering with the Iowa Farm Bureau Federation to be able to provide this opportunity to as many people as possible.”
The hands-on workshops will cover price risk management tools, including hedging, options, Livestock Gross Margin and Livestock Risk Protection insurance, and will be led by ISU Extension swine field specialists and ISU agricultural marketing specialist Shane Ellis.
Participants will use computers and a specially designed program, Hog Margin Maker, to test out strategies and learn which tools protect risk for their operation. Workshop leaders will help participants navigate the workshop through interactive learning designed to practice the strategies in a market simulation environment.
All workshops will be conducted from 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Dates, locations and registration phone numbers follow:
Aug. 5. Cherokee County Extension Office, 209 Centennial Drive, Suite A, Cherokee; (712) 225-6196
Aug. 12. Carroll County Extension Office, 1205 West US Hwy 30 Ste G., Carroll; (712) 792-2364
Aug. 20. Buchanan County Community Room, 1413 1st Street West, Independence; (319) 334-7161
Aug. 22. Sioux County Extension Office, 400 Central Ave NW Suite 700, Orange City; (712) 737-4230
Aug. 25. Comfort Inn & Suites, 910 W. 16th, Pella; (641) 842-2014
Aug. 26. Henry County Extension Office, 127 N. Main, Mount Pleasant; (319) 385-8126
Cost is $25 per person, but Farm Bureau members may attend at no charge with this coupon from Farm Bureau http://www.iowafarmbureau.com/New%20Dim_coupons.pdf Preregistration is required to ensure adequate computers, materials and noon meals.
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