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2015 Crop Outlook

This is the time of year when farmers are spending time learning and planning for the coming crop year. Last week farmers gathered in Paullina to hear  three speakers talking about topics ranging from the outlook for ethanol, transitioning the farm to the next generation and the price outlook for 2015. There was good news and not so good news.

Randy Ives, the ethanol services director for Gavilon, told the audience that ethanol exports may be the key to supporting corn prices.


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David Baker, Farm Transition Specialist at the  Beginning Farmer Center shared the keys to transitioning the farm operation from one generation to the other. He also is working with an organization to bring the new generation of veterans into agriculture.



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And the final speaker was Chad Hart, Extension Economist with his outlook for farm prices for 2015. His outlook was not optimistic. His figures and Extension Climatologist Elwin Taylors forecast point to a 2015 corn crop identical in size to the crop from 2014, 171 million bushels. That will put pressure on corn prices,

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Crop Fair will have timely information for producers

This is the time of year where farmers and ranchers are busy not in the field, but at meetings, trade shows and seminars. As the business of food and fiber production becomes more complex, continuing education becomes a vital part of a solid business plan. Farmers and ranchers will spend a considerable amount of time over the next 2 months learning. One of those opportunities is on Wednesday, February 4th. The Iowa Corn Crop Fair will be held at the American Legion in Paullina. Doug Ebel of Iowa State Bank to talk about the event,



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Here are those details again:  February 4, 8:30-12:30 American Legion, Paullina IA.
Contact the bank by end of day February 2nd so they can get a good count for lunch.