“Each workshop will consist of two sessions,” said Gary Schnitkey, U of I Extension farm financial management specialist. “The morning session, which focuses on crop insurance and grain marketing decisions, is free. The afternoon session involves hands-on use of FAST Microsoft Excel spreadsheets to analyze grain storage decisions, evaluate grain delivery options, and examine crop insurance and grain marketing decisions. That session requires a $45 registration fee.

“However, if you are already signed up for one of our Using FAST workshops, a discounted rate of $25 will apply.”

Presenters at the workshops include Schnitkey; Doug Yoder of the Illinois Farm Bureau; Paul Ellinger, U of I associate professor of agricultural and consumer economics; and U of I Extension educators Steve Ayers, Kevin Brooks, Jim Endress, Ruth Hambleton, Paul Mariman, and Travis Farley.

Those interested in attending should contact Travis Farley at 217-333-2312 or register online - www.farm doc.uiuc.edu/fasttools/

Dates and locations for the workshops are:

•Jan. 4 - Vermilion County Farm Bureau, Danville
•Jan. 25 - McDonough County Extension 4-H Auditorium, Macomb
•Jan. 30 - Oblong Community Center, Oblong
•Feb. 9 - Livingston County Farm Bureau, Pontiac
•Feb. 13 - Stephenson County Farm Bureau, Freeport
•Feb. 15 - DeKalb County Farm Bureau, Sycamore
•Feb. 16 - Bureau County Extension office, Princeton
•Feb. 17 - Knox County Extension office, Galesburg
•Feb. 21 - Monroe County Extension office, Waterloo
•Feb. 23 - Champaign County Extension office, Champaign
•Feb. 27 - Montgomery County Extension office, Hillsboro
•March 1 - Macon County Extension office, Decatur
•March 3 - Washington County Farm Bureau, Nashville
•March 10 - Mason County Farm Bureau, Havana

Other sponsors of the workshops include the USDA Risk Management Agency, the Illinois Farm Bureau, and U of I farmdoc.

Published in the December 7, 2005 issue of Farm World.