Farm News, IA
11-24-06
Farm News Ag Show showcases agriculture
By Randy Mudgett, Managing Editor
FORT DODGE — Ethanol and its impact on current farming practices plus its
potential impact on the future of agriculture will be the focus of conversation at
the fifth annual Farm News Ag Show at the Career Education Building on the
campus of Iowa Central Community College in Fort Dodge Nov. 30 and Dec. 1.
Featured speakers for the event are Jill Euken, a field specialist from the Iowa
Energy Center, Kelvin Leibold, an Iowa State University Extension farm
management specialist, and Michael Swanson, senior agricultural economist
from Wells Fargo Bank. Euken’s presentation features the renewable energy
sector and the opportunities that have been created now plus a look into the
future of renewable energy.
Euken’s presentation is titled ‘‘Renewable Energy Opportunities and Risks’’ and
will take place at 9:30 a.m. Nov. 30.
Leibold’s presentation titled ‘‘Grain Markets and Grain Storage’’ will break down
the costs and feasibilities for producers who are contemplating building additional
grain storage on their farms. Leibold said with the expansion of ethanol in Iowa
the last few years, the ability to store and hold grain in and around ethanol
facilities who tend to pay a premium for quality corn is a growing concern.
Leibold’s presentation takes place at 1:30 p.m. Nov. 30 in the conference room
adjoining the show floor.
On a more current note, Swanson will present his approach to current grain
market conditions when he speaks at 9:30 a.m. Dec. 1 during the ag show.
Swanson said many producers have always tried to outguess the markets, and
he will speak about the logic involved in having a successful grain marketing
plan.
Swanson said the recent upswing in corn prices is a perfect example of farmers
trying to outguess the markets. With prices approaching historical highs, many
farmers are still undecisive when it comes to forecasting the market.
Besides the educational aspects of the fifth annual Farm News Ag Show,
attendees will be entertained and fed well at the same time. On Dec. 1, Chris
Cakes of Rolfe will be serving free pancakes from 7:30 to 9:30 a.m. as the
specialty pancake flipping exhibition is both entertaining and delicious. It is
sponsored in part by Hagie Manufacturing of Clarion.
Lunch menu will be available each day of the show, provided by the Webster
County Pork Producers Nov. 30 and the Webster County Beef Producers on
Dec. 1. Lunch will be served by the Fort Dodge Chamber of Commerce Ag
Relations Task Force.
The fifth annual Farm News Ag Show exhibitor hours will be from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Nov. 30 and from 7:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Dec. 1.
As an added bonus, Farm News and Donelson Distributing of Ogden are giving
away a corn burning fireplace valued at $3,690 to one registered guest of the
show.
More than 50 exhibitors on the ag show floor will be on hand to speak with
producers about new products, services and technological advances in
agriculture today.
Farm News Ag Show partners include Hagie Manufacturing, VeraSun Fort
Dodge, Frontier Ethanol, Bank of America, Iowa State University Extension, the
Fort Dodge Chamber of Commerce Ag Relations Task Force, Iowa Central
Community College, the Webster County Pork Producers and the Webster
County Beef Producers.