Purdue News

Ag economists go back to the future at annual meeting series WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – A few pages are left to be turned on 2001 calendars, but Purdue University agricultural economists already are flipping ahead to 2002. They'll share their expert analysis and advice on crop prices, exports, livestock and the new federal farm bill during the 73rd annual Purdue Agricultural Outlook meeting series. The free meetings will be conducted in counties across Indiana beginning Wednesday (9/12) in Posey County. Depending on starting times, a complimentary breakfast, lunch or dinner will be served. The meetings are an opportunity for producers, landowners and agribusiness managers to learn about the issues facing farmers next year, said Chris Hurt, a Purdue agricultural economist. "For quite some time Purdue has sponsored a statewide, county-level program and ag outlook," Hurt said. "This year we're going to do meetings in about 24 counties in September and another 10 or so in November and December." Hurt is among five Purdue ag economists who'll travel the state presenting the farm forecast. Others include Michael Boehlje, Craig Dobbins, Marshall Martin and retired ag economist Bill Uhrig. The hourlong presentations will cover a range of topics. "The size of this year's crop looks quite large in Indiana," Hurt said, "so the questions of 'What are we going to do with it?', 'Are we going to store it?', 'What kind of price patterns might we see on both corn and soybeans?' and 'What pricing strategies should farmers be looking at?' will be considered. "We're also going to talk about ag trade and why we're going to see a better market overseas. Also, farm policy – huge issue this year. We're still trying to get a farm bill written this calendar year, and we'll be talking about what that bill might look like. We'll go through the prospects for the hog industry, cattle industry, dairy industry, as well as the forages. And we're going to talk about land values, cash rents and farm income prospects." An educational segment on value-added practices also is planned, Hurt said. The county outlook meeting schedule for September includes: • Adams – 6:30 a.m. Sept. 20, at county 4-H fairgrounds dining hall. • Allen – 7 a.m. Sept. 17, at county Extension office. • Blackford – 6:30 p.m. Sept. 19, at county Farm Bureau building. • Boone – 7 a.m. Sept. 14, at 4-H Community Building, Lebanon. • Cass – 7:30 a.m. Sept. 14, at county 4-H fairgrounds. • Clay/Owen – 7 p.m. Sept. 18, at Farm Bureau Building, Brazil. • Clinton – Noon Sept. 20, at county 4-H fairgrounds. • DeKalb – 6:30 p.m. Sept. 20, at Eat'n House, Butler. • Fayette/Rush/Union/Franklin – 6 p.m. Sept. 19, at Fayette County 4-H Fairgrounds. • Fulton – 7:30 a.m. Sept. 18, at 4-H Community Building, Rochester. • Grant – 7:30 a.m. Sept. 17, at Jim Dandy's, Marion. • Hendricks – 7 a.m. Sept. 13, at 4-H Community Building, Danville. • Madison – 8 a.m. Sept. 19, at 4-H Community Building, Alexandria. • Newton – 7 p.m. Sept. 13, at South Newton High School cafeteria and ag building. • Posey – 5 p.m. Sept. 12, at Redman Farm, Wadesville. • Pulaski/Starke – 7:30 a.m. Sept. 13, at Pulaski County 4-H Fairgrounds, Winamac. • Shelby – 7 p.m. Sept. 18, at county Extension office. • Sullivan – 7:30 a.m. Sept. 20, at Patrick's Restaurant, Sullivan. • Wabash – 7 a.m. Sept. 14, at county 4-H fairgrounds. • Warrick – 6:30 a.m. Sept. 13, at Schur Farms, Evansville. • Wayne – 11:30 a.m. Sept. 18, at MCL Cafeteria, Richmond. • Wells – 6:30 p.m. Sept. 17, at 4-H Community Center, Bluffton. • White – 7:30 a.m. Sept. 14, at county 4-H fairgrounds. A Hamilton County outlook meeting will take place Sept. 17, at a time and location to be announced. The November and December meeting schedule will be released in the weeks ahead. For more information, contact a county office of Purdue Extension. Source: Chris Hurt, (765) 494-4273; hurt@agecon.purdue.edu Writer: Steve Leer, (765) 494-8415; sleer@aes.purdue.edu Ag Communications: (765) 494-2722; Beth Forbes, bforbes@aes.purdue.edu; https://www.agriculture.purdue.edu/AgComm/public/agnews/ Purdue News Service: (765) 494-2096; purduenews@purdue.edu To the Purdue News and Photos Page