Purdue News
Purdue News
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June 23, 2000 Top Farmer workshop looks at 'value-added' farmingWEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – To squeeze every ounce of revenue from his farm, an Indiana farmer builds tile machines. An Illinois farmer boosts his operation's worth by making and marketing tractors. Further west, a Kansas farmer adds to his bottom line with an electronic auction business. Throughout the Midwest, farmers are branching out into separate business enterprises to supplement their farm incomes. They're discovering the importance of "value-added" practices. The value-added concept and how it can benefit farmers is the focus of the 33rd annual Top Farmer Crop Workshop, July 16-19 at Purdue University. Fifty speakers are scheduled during the four-day event, including farmers, Purdue agricultural economists and agribusiness leaders. Each has been asked to address value-added issues. Farmers should consider value-added practices because the nature of farming has changed so much in recent years, said Howard Doster, a Purdue Extension economist and workshop coordinator. Doster said much of what farmers previously did for themselves now comes from other sources. He said farmers are in danger of becoming "serfs." "The threat is that as farmers buy more things that are ready-to-use and sell more things that other people convert into consumer products, there is less and less opportunity for farmers to add value to their operations," Doster said. "We don't produce fertilizer anymore, we don't raise our own seed anymore, we don't generate our own power, we don't produce our own fuel. We're getting further and further away from consumers." Workshop attendees will hear presentations from 18 farmers who have embraced value-added principles. "Jon Rosen of Indiana is an appraiser, in addition to helping his dad farm 5,000 acres. John Culley, also of Indiana, farms 365 acres and works full time at a refinery," Doster said. "Tim Scheetz, an Illinois farmer, has invented and is starting to make a special tractor. David Govert, a Kansas farmer, is starting a computer-based machinery auction. And John Kretzmeier of Indiana farms 1,800 acres and also is a real estate salesman." Other featured speakers include A. Charles Fischer, president of Dow AgroSciences, discussing marketing strategies; Marshall Beatty, agronomist for Litton/Emerge, who will demonstrate farm applications for Global Positioning System and Geographic Information System equipment; Willie Vogt, e-commerce director for Farm Progress Publications, talking about the Internet's impact on agribusiness; and Purdue agricultural economists Otto Doering, Philip Paarlberg and Wally Tyner evaluating farm subsidy programs. Also planned are sessions on personnel management, site-specific farming, weather and markets, and a trip to the Purdue Agronomy Research Center. Those attending will have access to Purdue's linear computer program to analyze their farm operations before making changes in crop rotation, tillage systems, machinery and acreage. Since the workshop's inception in 1968, more than 7,000 farmers have run data through the Purdue computer. Early registration is encouraged, so that participants have time to gather data for the computer analysis. Cost is $199 per person and $75 for each additional person from the same farm. The registration fee includes two meals and coffee breaks. Lodging and other meals are extra. Those wishing to stay at the Purdue Memorial Union Club Hotel should make their reservations by July 3. The hotel's toll-free number is (800) 320-6291. Additional accommodations are available at the Young Graduate House on campus, or at nearby hotels. To register, contact Tom Robertson at (765) 494-7220 or tlrobertson@conf.purdue.edu. For more information about the workshop, contact Doster at (765) 494-4250 or doster@agecon.purdue.edu, or visit the Top Farmer Crop Workshop Web site. Source: Howard Doster, (765) 494-4250; doster@agecon.purdue.edu Writer: Steve Leer, (765) 494-8415; sleer@aes.purdue.edu Purdue News Service: (765) 494-2096; purduenews@purdue.edu
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