Archive: 2013 Illinois Farm Economics Summit

There was no shortage of volatility and uncertainty in 2013. Just a few of the events causing notable volatility were monsoon rains in parts of the Corn Belt during planting, extended dryness during the summer growing season, lack of a new U.S. farm bill and a U.S. government shutdown. There were also some more pleasant surprises such as better than expected corn and soybean yields in many parts of Illinois. Understanding these sources of volatility and how to deal with the associated large risks continues to be front and center in the minds of all producers. The University of Illinois Extension and members of the farmdoc team from the Department of Agricultural and Consumer Economics will be holding a series of five Farm Economics Summit meetings to help producers navigate these turbulent times.

Speakers from the farmdoc team at the University of Illinois will explore the farm profitability outlook and management challenges from several perspectives, including the outlook for prices, farm income prospects and crop rotation decisions, trends in farmland prices and rents, renewable fuels policy and crop markets, the new farm bill, and health reform. The format for the meeting will be fast-paced and allow plenty of time for questions from the audience.