Take off your hat and be ready to learn at U event
The latest installment of Sorghum U Wheat U is designed to provide growers with information to learn how to sharpen their production and marketing skills.
Whether they face challenging growing conditions or lower per-bushel prices, High Plains grain producers understand that getting up-to-date information and the ability to ask questions of fellow farmers and industry experts gives them a leg up.
The combination of a sorghum and wheat rotation allows producers to take advantage of limited rainfall.
High Plains Journal’s annual Sorghum U Wheat U is scheduled for 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Aug. 13 at the Doubletree by Hilton Wichita Airport in Wichita, Kansas.
What makes U events must-attend programs is the planning and industry participation. Event planners recognize that by listening to growers and industry partners they can put together a program that addresses current challenges with an eye to 2025 and beyond.
Among the headline speakers is Matt Hines of Loewen and Associates. Hines is known for providing market views that are to the point and insightful for customers. Today’s grain markets have been impacted by a strong U.S. dollar, but also other variables, and finding out avenues to maximize selling opportunities is a must.
Experts available
Growing sorghum and wheat in the High Plains takes a producer willing to sharpen his production skills. This year’s program includes highly respected researchers from Kansas State University and Oklahoma State University. K-State researchers include Romulo Lolatto and Kelsey Onefro and Oklahoma State’s Brian Arnall. These researchers are well-versed in both crops and believe in how they work together to be profitable, particularly for dryland producers.
Other speakers will focus on emerging markets, seed technology and addressing disease pressure.
The ever-popular producer panel will feature Chris Tanner, Zack Rendel and Keef Felty, who will share insight on what is happening in their operations and challenges they see moving forward. The panel’s moderator, Matt Durler with National Sorghum Producers, will help keep the audience’s interest.
Attendees participation welcomed
A plus of HPJ’s U events is that producers on the panel oftentimes will stay after their presentation to answer questions. One of the highlight comments from several years ago was hearing a panelist say he learned to be a better producer because of information shared with him after a formal presentation. Those are the stories that HPJ organizers love to hear.
No successful program is possible without the generous support from the sponsors who are willing to answer questions and provide information about services that can help a producer to succeed. This year’s list includes Kansas Wheat, Kansas Grain Sorghum, Sorghum Checkoff, DoubleTeam, Conklin AgroVantage, Heartland Soil Services, Kauffman Seeds, American AgCredit and High Plains Journal.
Two pages in this edition are devoted to a program guide for the event, and we encourage you to look at those pages. The good news is there is still time to attend this free event, but farmers need to get signed up at hpj.com/suwu.
Dave Bergmeier can be reached at 620-227-1822 or [email protected].
