Wallace's Farmer, IA
12-27-07
Learn to Manage Crop Profit Margins for 2008
Compiled By Staff
Farm Credit Services of America is offering special outlook meetings on crop
prices, storage, marketing and revenue risk management in 18 locations in Iowa
and one in Nebraska in January. Steve Johnson, farm and ag business
management specialist with Iowa State University Extension, will present
valuable information and tips for understanding and managing crop margins in a
potentially great financial, but high-risk 2008 business environment.
"Higher farm margins and incomes mean a strong demand for inputs in 2008 and
subsequently, an upward spike in costs," notes Johnson. "But farmers can
counter the high cost for key inputs and keep margins from being compressed
through more efficient input use, by keeping on top of their purchasing
management game and through the use of good marketing strategies and tools."
Get the most profit per acre in 2008
FCSAmerica crop insurance specialists, together with Johnson, are responsible
for planning the Growing Forward meetings. "When you consider the likelihood of
increased input costs and uncertain government guarantees, crop insurance,
particularly crop revenue insurance, will play an important role in getting the most
profit per acre in 2008," says Doug Burns, FCSAmerica vice president.
"That's why it's extremely important for farmers to work with an insurance agent
who understands agriculture and will work with them to put together a plan that
works for the best possible return and is based on their specific needs and crop
margin objective," he says. "For these reasons, every year, more and more
growers look to Farm Credit Services of America for their crop insurance needs."
This two and one-half hour program will be held in Perry, Newton, Marshalltown,
Mason City, Waterloo, Manchester, Ossian, Cedar Rapids, Davenport, Mt.
Pleasant, Ottumwa, Webster City, Creston, Oakland, Carroll, Storm Lake,
Emmetsburg, Hospers and So. Sioux City, Nebr. Pre-registration is required.
Dates, times, locations and registration is at www.growingforward2008.com or by
calling the nearest FCSAmerica office at 800-884-FARM.
FCSA helps finance the growth of rural America, including the special needs of
young and beginning producers. With over 69,000 customers and assets of
$12.3 billion, FCSAmerica is one of the region's largest providers of credit and
insurance services to farmers, ranchers, agribusiness and rural residents in Iowa,
Nebraska, South Dakota and Wyoming. Learn more at www.fcsamerica.com.