Farm News, IA
11-10-06
Farm News Ag Show features energy impact
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.
‘‘I want to talk about the whole scope of the technologies that exist and will exist soon,’’ Euken said. ‘‘The renewable energy sector is now just beginning as future plants will utilize more technology to create a number of processes that maximize enrgy and biobased products.’’
Euken’s presentation is titled ‘‘Renewable Energy Opporunities 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.
‘‘The question that I want to help producers answer is it logical to add more grain storage?’’ Leibold said. ‘‘There are islands forming now in Iowa where the price of corn is higher in some areas than it is in others. I hope to go through the numbers with producers and try to give them an answer on the feasibility of building new grain bins.’’
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.
‘‘Often, I deal with individuals who are either scared to sell or too greedy to sell,’’
Swan son said. ‘‘I will talk about the logic in using historical markets to play the odds when it comes to developing a marketing plan that works for the individual farmer.’’
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.
‘‘We must stop this process of producers trying to outguess the market,’’
Swanson said. ‘‘We’ve done a terrible job of educating producers on existing models like crop insurance that can work to the benefit of producers and reduce their risk. I will also present an analytical approach to selling grain on the market.’’
Show highlights
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.