Educational opportunities worth exploring
As I looked at High Plains Journal’s upcoming educational meetings and those of other organizations it reminds me the importance of continuing to stay informed. I’m not talking about the daily news cycles, rather the news that is important to the daily production and distribution of farm products.
Wheat was about $6.70 a bushel in July 2013 and today it unfortunately resides at about half that. Other grains have the same trend. Still, it does not mean producers should “tank it in.” Producers have even more opportunities than when the price was much higher to receive information to help them improve their operation’s efficiencies.
Staying informed is the lifeblood of farmers and ranchers. To their credit many of my friends who farm today talk fondly of “farming frontier” programs at John Deere dealers and informational meetings at other major line farm equipment dealers. They also spoke highly of Extension programs. Thirty to 40 years ago there was a lot more family members and neighbors who were involved in day-to-day production agriculture. Banks and suppliers and those men and women from those industries were available to help sponsor events.
The consolidation of services throughout the heartland has made it more challenging to organize programs. Still, there are opportunities from commodity groups, Extension services farm-related cooperatives and other organizations. Farm equipment dealers invite farmers to their shops or central sights to receive the latest information on new lines of tractors, combines, sprayers and implements.
High Plains Journal has long been an innovator in providing information to farmers and ranchers and by listening to those customers this publication offers educational seminars at free or reduced rates and touches on grains, hay and forage and later this month will add one on cover crops in Salina, Kansas. The topics, expert presentations and grower panels are top notch.
I brag about these programs because the team that has put them together has been thorough. The team has cultivated the speakers and panelists. Those who cover the events are professionals who are knowledgeable about the material.
Today’s farmers and ranchers have many tools and much more information available to them than what their grandparents or even their parents had at their kitchen table. The challenges are also greater. There is a greater reliance for overseas markets to help their income. They must deal with less labor availability, higher capital requirements and regulatory burdens.
Educational seminars are an opportunity to not only hear about the latest production techniques that are necessary for maintaining an efficient operation they also provide time to rub shoulders and share insight among peers. As with any educational program, the goal is not to have an attendee try to do a full makeover in his operation, rather to find an aspect he could learn and see if there is something that he could incorporate into his operation that could boost his bottom line.
Take advantage of the opportunities.
