As we soon turn the calendar over into a new year, it can only mean one thing………the beginning of the winter Farmshow and meetings circuit.  After 30 years in this business it’s got me thinking as to what you as a grower must expect from these.

Aside from a good lunch and social time with others in our great industry, what are the real takeaways expected from these events?

Agronomy always tops the list in my mind.  Can you learn about some new crop genetics, fertility programs or soil management tricks that could give you a few more dollars per acre in return.  4R nutrient management must also be a priority for all farmers now, as we’re under more scrutiny on how nutrient resources are managed.

Management of the farm business also becomes increasingly critical.  Are you handling cashflows properly, how are your people management skills and are your time management abilities at their peak?   I’ve often thought that agricultural producers can benefit more from this type of training than from production training.

A final area that all of us in agriculture need to get better at is how we portray our industry to non-farmers.  It’s refreshing to see that many farm meetings now include sessions on how this is best done.  Producers are in a very small minority, but are the best people to educate the general public on what is being done in food production.  Take some time to learn the do’s and don’ts so that our industry is portrayed in a positive and progressive tone to non-farmers.

Go ahead and enjoy the lunch, but be sure to leave the show or meeting with some information and skills that you didn’t have at the start of the day!

– Ken B