2009 PRESS RELEASES
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September 21, 2009
DAIRY FARMERS URGED TO REGISTER NOW FOR FREE RISK MANAGEMENT WORKSHOPS
Contact: Elaine J. Lidholm, 804.786.7686
The Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (VDACS) and Virginia Cooperative Extension invite Virginia dairy farmers to attend a series of free seminars on managing risk in the dairy business. The six workshops, which feature nationally and internationally-acclaimed speakers, will address issues such as futures and options contracts, trading on the Chicago Board of Exchange, forward pricing, margin protection and other strategies to help producers stay profitable.
VDACS Commissioner Todd P. Haymore says that the dairy industry is currently facing a very difficult time due to the global economic recession. “We are working with the Secretary of Agriculture and Forestry, Extension and principals in the dairy industry to make sure that our producers have the best information and resources to weather this storm and emerge ready to take advantage of the coming economic upturn. I hope Virginia’s dairy producers will recognize the value of these workshops and take advantage of them. I also encourage them to register as soon as possible to reserve their places at the workshop sites.”
Sessions will take place on six Thursdays from 10 a.m. to noon: October 15, 22 and 29 and November 5, 12 and 19, 2009. Held via teleconference, the sessions are offered at six sites throughout Virginia: Wytheville Community College, the VDOT Residency in Culpeper, The Franklin Center in Rocky Mount (except on November 5th when it will be held at the Rocky Mount VDOT Residency), the Edinburg VDOT Residency, the Paul D. Camp Community College and Workforce Center in Franklin and Blue Ridge Community College in Weyers Cave, as well as the Alexander, North Carolina Extension office in Taylorsville, NC, and the Lancaster Farm and Home Center in Lancaster, PA. Each will have an on-site coordinator to ensure a good learning environment. Producers may choose which sessions to attend, but are encouraged to attend them all. Presenters will be located in Chicago, Missouri, Texas, Virginia, Mississippi, Wisconsin, Iowa and the CNIEL Dairy Industry Headquarters in Paris France. Registration is required to get an accurate count for handouts and lunch. Farmers unable to attend in person may view live streaming video of each session at www.extension.agecon.vt.edu/agmarketing.html.
Workshop details are available online, or participants may call Mike Roberts, Virginia Cooperative Extension, at 804.720.1993 for more information or e-mail him at mrob@vt.edu. They may register online or by phone at 804.733.2686. The workshops are sponsored by the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, Virginia Cooperative Extension and USDA/CSREES.