• 
• CLASS
• JOBS
• AUTO
• HOMES

Dairy management "through mayhem" workshops

Here's a news release from the new "Farming through difficult times" Web site hosted by the UW Extension.

If you haven't visited the Web site yet, I would recommend it. It's crammed with information.

Here's the skinny on the workshops. One is in Elkhorn.

University of Wisconsin-Extension’s Farm and Risk Management (FARM) Team and the Center for Dairy Profitability – are offering five workshops in November for Wisconsin producers on managing their profit margin.

The Deal or No Deal - Managing thru the Mayhem workshops will have a very interactive presentation on price volatility using a marketing game compiled by Kevin Bernhardt, Farm and Risk Management Specialist for UW-Extension/Center for Dairy Profitability. This presentation will sharpen our saw on the volatility we face in output and input markets, how that volatility is changing, and what it means for managing the farm business. Bernhardt will show how our marketing challenge is much more than just a “good” milk price, rather how profits are at the margin, a margin that has become much more volatile.

Presentations on determining your cost of production for different commodities will also be presented. Cost of Production (COP) is determined by the costs associated with production divided by the number of units. Learn how to calculate your cost of production through a hands-on exercise and use the information for your decision-making.

Workshops will be held at the following locations from 10 a.m. – 2:30 p.m at each location:

– Nov 2, 2009: Abbyland Truck Stop Restaurant, Curtiss, WI. Contact: Sandy Stuttgen, Taylor County Extension Office, 715.748.3327 or Maria Bendixen, UW-Extension Clark County, 715-743-5121.

– Nov. 3, 2009: Mason’s Bar & Grill, 1940 Prairie Street, Prairie du Sac, WI. Contact: Denise Brusveen, UW-Extension Sauk County, 608-355-3257.

–Nov. 4, 2009: Manawa Masonic Center, Waupaca. Contact: Greg Blonde, UW-Extension Waupaca County, 715-258-6230.

–Nov. 5, 2009: Location TBA. Contact: Randy Knapp, UW-Extension Chippewa County, 715-726-7950.

–Nov. 6, 2009: Walworth County Government Center, Room 214 W. Walworth Street, Elkhorn, WI. Contact: Heidi Johnson, UW-Extension Jefferson County, 920-674-7295.

Registration cost is between $10-15 depending on location ($25 at the door). Contact your location extension office or visit the FARM Team website http://www.uwex.edu/ces/farmteam/ to download a brochure. These workshops are sponsored by the UW-Extension’s Farm and Risk Management Team (http://www.uwex.edu/ces/farmteam), your local Extension Office (http://www.uwex.edu/ces/cty/) and The Center for Dairy Profitability (http://cdp.wisc.edu) whose missions are to help Wisconsin farmers improve business profitability and lifestyles through informed decision-making.