Understanding the Impacts of an Extraordinary Year and Implications for the Future
2019 was a truly historic and in many ways unbelievable year for Illinois agriculture. The ongoing trade war with China and the on- and off-again efforts to reach an agreement dominated headlines much of the year. As if this wasn’t enough uncertainty for one year, Illinois was hit by one of the wettest spring planting seasons on record. Looking forward, the story of Illinois agriculture will continue to be one of managing volatility and financial difficulties. The stress of a prolonged period of low corn, soybean, and wheat prices, was amplified for producers experiencing low yields this year due to poor planting and summer growing season weather. Producers and landowners continue to face a series of difficult management challenges as they grapple with adjusting to this highly volatile economic environment. What is the prospect for a recovery in grain prices? Should cash rents be lower? And if so, how much? How much will government programs offset some of the financial stress? The members of the farmdoc team from the Department of Agricultural and Consumer Economics and University of Illinois Extension will be holding a series of five Illinois Farm Economics Summit meetings to help producers navigate these tumultuous times.
Registration
The registration fee for each location is $85 per person. Save $5 by registering online for $80. This fee includes all meeting materials, break refreshments, and lunch. Registration at the door will be $90 per person, as space permits.
For registration questions contact Nancy Simpson at 217-244-9687 (8am to 4pm CST) or nsimp1@illinois.edu.
The registration deadline is December 9th, 2019.
Dates and Locations
- Monday, December 16 – Mt. Vernon Holiday Inn
- Tuesday, December 17 – Springfield Crowne Plaza
- Wednesday, December 18 – Peoria Par-A-Dice Casino
- Thursday, December 19 – Dekalb Faranda’s Banquet Center
- Friday, December 20 – Champaign I Hotel
Presentations:
2019: THAT Just Happened - Scott Irwin, Professor, Department of ACE, University of Illinois
What Did We Learn with Delayed Planting? Farm Management Implications - Gary Schnitkey, Professor, Department of ACE, University of Illinois
Illinois Farm Income: 2019 Projections and Outlook for 2020 - Dale Lattz, farmdoc Research Associate, Department of ACE, University of Illinois
The ARC/PLC Decision in the New Farm Bill - Jonathan Coppess, Assistant Professor, Department of ACE, University of Illinois
Trade, MFP, and Policy Directions - Nick Paulson, Associate Professor, Department of ACE, University of Illinois
Grain Price Outlook for 2020 - Todd Hubbs, Assistant Professor, Department of ACE, University of Illinois