Purdue Ag News Roundup

June 5, 1998 1998 Top Farmer Crop Workshop takes on leases WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. -- Leasing arrangements, conflict resolution and high-tech crop management are the headliners for Purdue University's 1998 Top Farmer Crop Workshop in July. "Adjusting rents for lower crop prices will be a key topic at the workshop," said Purdue agricultural economist Howard Doster. "We also want to talk about arrangements that share some of the risks as well as the rewards." Creative leasing arrangements also will be discussed by a Maryland producer who farms 7,000 acres with 53 landlords and an absentee landlord who has worked with a custom farmer and a crop-share tenant and now wants an adjustable cash-rent agreement his wife can manage. More than 35 farmers, landlords and researchers will give their take on leasing, equipment budgeting, crop management and people management. Sessions include land-grant university research in risk management software, crop disease prevention, fertilization, grain storage and precision farming. Doster said many of the workshop's past participants have since more than doubled the size of their operations and have become regular participants. The workshop will be July 26-29 at Purdue's West Lafayette campus and costs $199 for the first person and $75 for each additional person from the same farm. Enrollment is limited, and preregistration is required. Registration covers two meals, coffee breaks and the use of computer facilities. CONTACTS: Tom Robertson for registration information, (765) 494-2975, tlrobertson@cea.purdue.edu, and Doster for program information, (765) 494-4250, doster@agecon.purdue.edu Global climate change may affect Indiana, policies WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. -- Government policy reactions to global climate change may affect people and industries more than the weather itself, according to the organizers of a Purdue University and Indiana University workshop to examine the potential impact of climate variability. Otto Doering, a resource economist and policy expert in Purdue's Department of Agricultural Economics, said climate change won't make much of a difference to some economic sectors while others may be greatly affected. But he said almost all sectors will have to adjust to government policies. "The intent of the conference is to get people together from all sectors that may be affected and start mapping out strategies to cope," Doering said. "For example, a company that emits carbon may want to invest soon in a forest that will act as a carbon trap in order to comply with expected policies. If more intense rainfall events start washing more soil into rivers and streams, farmers can expect some new rules to be passed." The Eastern Midwest Climate Change Workshop will be held June 29-30 at the University Place Conference Center, Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis. It is intended for Midwestern agricultural producers and business leaders who want to learn more about climate change and who want to help direct government's response. Following a morning of seminars on scientific consensus on climate change and industry perspectives, participants will divide into work groups on livestock, crops and agricultural inputs; electricity, coal and steel; and manufacturing and construction. In addition to policy changes, experts say the significant effects of climate change will be caused by more extreme weather events, rather than an expected incremental increase in temperatures. "Climate is not stable, and it never has been. We've already seen a statistical increase in the frequency and severity of extreme weather events," said J.C. Randolph, director of the Indiana University Midwestern Regional Center for Global Environmental Change. "There was the 1988 drought followed by the floods in 1993. We can anticipate earlier killing frosts at the end of the crop season as well as more rainfall at different times during the season." Doering said the workshop also presents a chance to find out what others may be doing. "Animal agriculture may not be directly affected by climate change, but the crop farmers who grow animal feed will be. Livestock producers will want to know what to expect," he said. The Eastern Midwest Climate Change Workshop registration fee is $30, due by June 25 to Becky Snedegar, IU School of Public and Environmental Affairs, Suite 441, Bloomington, IN 47405-9916. The workshop is organized by staff from by Purdue University, Indiana University and the University of Illinois and sponsored by the United States Department of Agriculture. The workshop is one of 18 being held throughout the country. They are coordinated by the Office of Science and Technology Policy in the Executive Office of the President. CONTACTS: Doering, (765) 494-4226; Randolph, (812) 855-4953 Compiled by Chris Sigurdson, (765) 494-8415; E-mail, sig@ecn.purdue.edu Purdue News Service: (765) 494-2096; e-mail, purduenews@purdue.edu To the Purdue News and Photos Page