By Brad Cowan
With low row crop commodity prices predicted in the foreseeable future, Rio Grande Valley cotton and grain producers are urged to attend an upcoming workshop to help them improve their marketing and risk management skills, organizers say.
The Cotton and Grain Marketing Workshop will be from 9 a.m-4 p.m. Dec. 6-7 at the Texas A&M AgriLife Research and Extension Center at Weslaco.
Due to low row crop commodity prices expected in 2017, growers are urged to attend the Cotton and Grain Marketing Workshop Dec. 6-7 in Weslaco. (AgriLife Communications photo by Rod Santa Ana)
“Another large crop, surplus U.S. and world supplies and a strong dollar are predicted to make 2017 just as challenging a year as 2016,” said Brad Cowan, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service agent in Hidalgo County. “It will be critical for producers to manage costs and take advantage of marketing opportunities as they occur in order to have a successful year.”
To help growers cope with the expected trying growing season, some of the same instructors who teach AgriLife Extension’s well-known Texas Master Marketer Program will be in Weslaco to teach this workshop, Cowan said.
“In addition to those expert speakers, we’ll also have Iris Saenz, who holds a seat on the board that oversees crop insurance nationwide, a very important and prestigious position. She knows her stuff and will offer our growers a wealth of very valuable information.”
Preregistration by Dec. 2 is required and is limited to the first 50 people who sign up. Cost of the workshop is $50. To register, call 956-383-1026.
Speakers and their topics on Dec. 6 include:
— Grain Fundamentals, Dr. Mark Welch, AgriLife Extension grains marketing economist, College Station.
— Cotton Fundamentals, Dr. John Robinson, AgriLife Extension cotton economist, College Station.
— Crops Insurance Choices for 2017, Saenz, South Texas Insurance Services, Mission.
— 2017 Crop Weather Forecast for the Valley, Barry Goldsmith, National Weather Service warning coordination meteorologist, Brownsville.
— Grain Marketing Tools and Strategies, Welch.
— Cotton Marketing Tools and Strategies, Robinson.
The first day of the workshop will end with a panel discussion of cotton and grain trends led by the day’s speakers.
Speakers and topics on the second day of the workshop, Dec. 7, will include:
— Marketing Plan, Cost of Production, Budgets and Breakeven Prices, Dr. Samuel Zapata, AgriLife Extension agricultural economist, Weslaco.
— Advanced Marketing Tools and Strategies, Seasonality and Technicals, Welch.
— Do I Need Professional Help? How to Select a Pro, Robinson.
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