WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - Crop farmers will have the chance to reevaluate their farming operations when Purdue University's Center for Commercial Agriculture hosts the annual Top Farmer Crop Workshop on July 8-10.
Participants will work with Purdue University and University of Illinois Extension farm management experts, as well as other university and industry experts, to look at their operations from a business standpoint - specifically economic, agronomic and technological opportunities and challenges.
The workshop, now in its 46th year, will be at Purdue's Beck Agricultural Center, 4540, U.S. 52, West Lafayette. The program starts at 2 p.m. July 8 and adjourns at 5 p.m. July 10.
"The Top Farmer Crop Workshop is a good chance to see in one place a discussion of key issues in production agriculture today," said Michael Langemeier, Purdue Extension agricultural economist and associate director for the Center for Commercial Agriculture.
Attendees will learn about up-to-date production and economic research while networking with others in agriculture. They will be able to strategize business growth, explore ways to manage inputs and risk, and learn about new crop production technology.
In addition to the annual outlook and update reports, the workshop will include some topics not discussed last year, including precision agriculture, cover crops, environmental issues, and ethanol and biodiesel policies.
The final presentation will focus on international agriculture in Brazil. Marcos Fava Neves, a professor of planning and strategy at the University of Sao Paulo, will discuss the increase in Brazilian crop and livestock production.
According to Langemeier, the combination of production and economic topics makes the workshop unique.
"A lot of workshops that farmers go to either have production focus or, less likely, an economic focus, but not both," he said. "We're trying to incorporate both of those topics in this workshop and thus make it a better workshop."
For the second year, the workshop will be a joint effort between Purdue University and the University of Illinois with researchers and Extension specialists from both universities.
"We have different expertise, and by bringing both faculties together, it makes a much broader and better program," said Langemeier.
Registration is $400 for the first registrant from each farm and $350 for each additional registrant from the same farm. Prior registration is preferred, but not required.
Workshop attendees can earn continuing education units (CEUs) for certified crop advisers.
Source: Purdue University