Farmers, faculty to deliver insights on selling in today's ag marketplace

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - A new webinar series from Purdue University's Center for Food and Agricultural Business focuses on what farmers really think about the current agricultural climate, how they see it affecting their decisions and the ways sales and marketing professionals can enhance the value they bring to their customers in the midst of an industrywide downturn.

Live from the Field is a four-part series that reveals the attitudes of livestock and grain farmers through live farmer interviews and expert analysis by Purdue faculty members William Secor, clinical assistant professor and associate center director for degree programs, and Scott Downey, associate professor and associate center director for executive education.

"We created this series as an opportunity for agribusiness professionals to gain current insights about the industry in the farmers' own voices," Downey said. "Once the interviews are finished, we will help participants refine the ways they can continuously bring value to their customers, which is as critical as ever in the midst of the current agricultural downturn."

The series will be offered in November and December and each part will have a specific focus:

* Part 1 – Live interviews with Midwestern corn and soybean and livestock producers about what is important to farmers when they are making their input decisions in the midst of the current agricultural downturn. Noon (EST) on Nov. 2.

* Part 2 – Interview insights with Secor and Downey in which they offer tools to better help participants communicate with and serve customers. Noon (EST) on Nov. 9.

* Part 3 – Live interviews with a second set of Midwestern corn and soybean and livestock producers about the ways farmers are planning for 2017 and how they like to buy their inputs. Noon (EST) on Dec. 9.

* Part 4 – Interview insights with Secor and Downey in which they offer tools to be more intentional with agricultural customers and prospects to help agribusiness professionals develop a strategy over the winter season. Noon on Dec. 16.

In addition to the live webinars, participants will have access to a closed custom website that will include resources and the archived webinars.

The series is $495 per person and is limited to 80 participants. Additional registrants will be placed on a waiting list. The webinars also can be purchased in pairs (parts 1 and 2 or parts 3 and 4) for $349 per pair per person.

Learn more and register at http://agribusiness.purdue.edu/LIVE2016. Direct questions to Emily Hoeing, key account program manager, at 765-496-3099, hoeinge@purdue.edu, or Aissa Good, business development manager, at 765-496-3884, aissa@purdue.edu. 

Writer: Jennifer Stewart-Burton, 765-496-6032, jsstewar@purdue.edu

Sources: William Secor, 765-494-8350, wsecor@purdue.edu

Emily Hoeing, 765-496-3099, hoeinge@purdue.edu

Aissa Good, 765-496-3884, aissa@purdue.edu           

Agricultural Communications: (765) 494-8415;
Darrin Pack, dpack@purdue.edu 
Agriculture News Page