October 26, 2007

A Nov. 7 insurance workshop at College Park in Grand Island will help participants sort through the details of crop and livestock insurance.

"Policy and Structural Changes Affecting Agricultural Risk," jointly sponsored by extension at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Kansas State University and Colorado State University, will give producers, crop insurance agents, lenders and others the information they need to make smart risk management decisions, said Doug Jose, UNL farm management specialist in the Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources.

"The information will help producers formulate the best plan for their needs," Jose said.

Grain merchandisers, farm managers, commodity brokers, crop consultants and financial advisers also should benefit from the workshop, whick also will be offered Nov. 6 in Brush, Colo., and Nov. 8 in Salina, Kan.

Presenters will include university agricultural economists and government specialists. Topics include: 

• Whither the Farm in the Farm Bill Debate? — Brad Lubben, UNL Extension public policy specialist
• Options, Livestock Risk Protection and Livestock Gross Margin — James Mintert, K-State Research and Extension state leader in agricultural economics (Colorado and Nebraska workshops) and Kevin Dhuyvetter, K-State Extension agricultural economist (Kansas workshop)
• The Future of the Ethanol Market — Michael Woolverton, K-State Extension visiting professor in agricultural economics
• Crop Insurance in Transition: Combo Policies and Impacts of the Farm Bill — William Murphy, deputy administrator for Insurance Service, Risk Management Agency, Washington, D.C.
• How Much Can I Afford to Pay for Harvest Price Option? — Art Barnaby, K-State Extension agricultural economist
• Current Issues — Rebecca Davis, director, regional RMA office, Topeka, Kan.
• Water Issues in Colorado/Nebraska/Kansas — James Pritchett, CSU agriculture and natural resources economist (Colorado workshop), Dave Griffith, Natural Resources Conservation Service water resources planner (Nebraska workshop), and Lyle Fees, NRCS water quality specialist (Kansas workshop)

Application has been made to Colorado, Kansas, Nebraska, South Dakota and Wyoming insurance departments for continuing education credits.