Looking to the future, farmers around the Marshall area and across the nation are hoping for the best as we head into spring and a new year of farming. Good weather and healthy livestock, though both important, aren’t all it takes to be well off in the agricultural industry. By considering every aspect that will affect this year’s season, farmers will have a better idea of where, when and how to act.
The 29th annual Farm Outlook Seminar (2013) was held Wednesday, March 13 from 8 a.m.-4 p.m. at Southwest Minnesota State University in the conference center. Several topics were discussed, from economic outlooks to stock reports as well as an overview of several agricultural markets.
Highly prominent topics at this event included markets such as livestock, grain and energy. Other topics included the economic outlook, stock reports, commodity perspective and price projections for the upcoming season.
Three speakers were in attendance for the Seminar, which included Gulke Group members Jerry Gulke, Dr. Vince Malanga and Roger Wallace.
Dr. Malanga, president and chief executive of LaSalle Economics Inc., was first to speak. LaSalle Economics Inc. is a consulting firm specializing in financial market analysis and economic forecasting. His focus centralized on the economic outlook for the season.
Following this speech, Jerry Gulke, founder of Gulke Group, discussed the 2013 fundamental outlook as well as Jan. stock reports and how it will affect the season. Gulke Group is a research and information analysis firm which provides strategies in marketing relating to agriculture.
Roger Wallace, management operations of Walras Farms, LLC, partner in EVFS (Elkhorn Valley Feedyard Services), LLC and part of the board of directors for Cottonwood Feedyard, LLC, continued the event with his speech on the status and outlook of the livestock industry and commodity perspective.
Gulke finished the event with a presentation that included several charts, technical analyses, future options, cash flow projections and price projections for the upcoming season.
Proceeds from this event will go to SMSU agricultural-related scholarships and programs.
Sponsors for this event include Bremer Bank; CHS Inc.; Granite Falls Bank & F&M Bank Minnesota in Clarkfield, Renville and Olivia; Minnesota Corn Growers Assn.; Ralco Nutrition, Inc.; United FCS; Wells Fargo Bank-Marshall; Marshall Radio; and Minnwest Bank.
