seal  Purdue News
____

August 28, 2003

Purdue outlook meetings provide producers a look at 2004

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – Producers and agribusiness people can get an early look into the future during the 75th annual Purdue University Agricultural Outlook meeting series.

The free meetings will take place in 26 counties spanning across the state of Indiana from Sept. 12-23.

Purdue agricultural economists will lead the meetings featuring a forecast for the general economy in the year ahead and implications for the agricultural sector in income growth, interest rates and inflation.

"A review of agricultural policy and the expected size of government payments also will be discussed, as well as Loan Deficiency Payments and how they might factor into a producer's pricing strategies and marketing," said Chris Hurt, a Purdue agricultural economist and outlook speaker. "In addition, there will be updates on agricultural export issues, land values and cash rents."

Hurt said that information presented during the outlook meetings may answer questions such as:

• What are the prospects for agricultural exports, given the drought conditions in much of Europe this summer and the extremely tight world corn and wheat stocks?

• "Now that the Canadian border is beginning to open to beef trade, will U.S. cattle prices be deflated? Will hog prices be boosted?"

• Will rising interest rates place a cap on Indiana land values

"In addition to these topics, price and income prospects for grains, meats and milk prices will be covered," Hurt said. "The objective of the meeting is to examine the factors that will influence farm incomes in 2004 and help farmers, landowners, lenders and agribusiness managers improve their strategic decision making in the coming year."

Meeting times and locations vary at each site. For more information about the outlook meetings, contact your local Purdue Extension Office or call 1-888-EXT-INFO.

Outlook meetings will take place in the following counties: Adams (Sept. 23), Allen (Sept. 15), Bartholomew (Sept. 15), Boone (Sept. 12), Cass (Sept. 18), Clinton (Sept. 15), Decatur (Sept. 16), DeKalb (Sept. 17), Fayette (Sept. 18), Franklin (Sept. 18), Fulton (Sept. 18), Grant (Sept. 16), Greene (Sept. 23), Hendricks (Sept. 17), Henry (Sept. 16), Madison (Sept. 15), Newton (Sept. 15), Parke County (to be announced), Posey (Sept. 17), Rush (Sept. 16), Shelby (Sept. 22), Starke (Sept. 22), Sullivan (Sept. 17), Vigo (Sept. 12), Warrick (Sept. 18), Wells (Sept. 15) and White (Sept. 12).

Writer: Meggie Issler, (765) 494-8402, agnews-stories@purdue.edu

Source: Chris Hurt, (765) 494-4273, hurtc@purdue.edu

Ag Communications: (765) 494-2722; Beth Forbes, bforbes@aes.purdue.edu; https://www.agriculture.purdue.edu/AgComm/public/agnews/

Related Web sites:
Purdue University Department of Agricultural Economics


* To the Purdue News and Photos Page