Ranchers, I want to encourage you to attend the Risk and Insurance Workshop 1 to 5 Wednesday afternoon at the Holiday Inn Express. I have been trying to decide how to describe the program for you. I’m not sure that I’ve done a very good job so far. I’m afraid that I’ve made Risk and Insurance sound like a dry and maybe even boring topic. But that’s not the way Dr. Hoag and Dr. Parsons teach it. I thought I understood risk pretty well. I had a couple of statistics classes in college, took a few ag econ classes. I’d even helped teach some integrated ranch management courses, so I was feeling pretty smart. But when I first heard these guys a couple years ago, I improved my understanding of risk. They really helped me be able to picture risk and “see” how different management decisions change the amount of risk we face. Not only did I learn about risk, I also learned about my risk tolerance and how that influenced my decisions.In addition to their unique perspective on risk management, they will be discussing the Federal Crop Insurance products relevant to livestock producers. They will cover Livestock Gross Margin and Livestock Risk Protection insurances. They will also touch on Pasture, Rangeland and Forage insurance. This insurance will be available in Nebraska starting next year. This insurance is already available in Colorado, so Dr. Parsons and Dr. Hoag already have some experience with it that they will be able to share with you.I think that pretty well covers it, except to tell you that they’ve managed to turn learning about risk management into a game. Chances are, you’ll actually have fun, and maybe even take home a prize. It would be helpful if you could call the office and register for the workshop. I’ll give you the details one more time, the Risk and Insurance workshop is this Wednesday, February 20 at the Holiday Inn Express from 1 -5 in the afternoon.4-Hers with market beef projects, the 4-H Market Beef Weigh-ins are coming up fast. The 4-H Livestock Committee will be weighing in market beef projects in Valentine this Saturday February 23 at the Valentine Livestock Auction from 1-2 pm Central Time. The weigh-in in Cody will be March 1 from 1-3 pm Mountain Time at Lancaster Supply. Don’t forget that your animals must be tagged before the weigh-ins. You will need to pickup your tags at the Extension Office right away.Contact the extension office at 376-1850 for more information on any of the things I’ve covered.
