Not many meetings feature “The Weather Whisperer”, a former used car salesman providing a grain market update and multiple speakers on subjects directly related to farm profitability. Add in four updates from commodity organizations and a couple of lobbyists and you have the makeup of the Dec. 13 Ohio Grain Farmers Symposium.

The Roberts Centre & Holiday Inn located at 123 Gano Road in Wilmington, Ohio, hosts this popular annual program that begins with registration at 8 a.m. and ends with the wrap up of the business meetings of  the Ohio Soybean Assoc. and Ohio Corn and Wheat Growers Assoc. at 3:15 p.m.

The 9 a.m. Market Update is tackled by Matt Roberts, associate professor in the Department of Agricultural, Environmental and Development Economics at The Ohio State University. Participants will be interested how accurate Roberts was for 2012 and what he expects in 2013.

An Election & Farm Bill Update follows, presented by Beverly Paul of Gordley & Associates, a government relations corporation. Her practice areas include crop insurance, nutrition, research, and appropriations issues. Growing up on a farm in Nebraska, Ms. Paul previously worked on agriculture and trade issues for Nebraska Senators Ben Nelson and Bob Kerry. She was a key participant in the last reform of federal crop insurance. 

OCWGA Executive Director Tadd Nicholson provides the corn and wheat organization’s update and Adam Ward, OSA’s executive director does the same for the soybean group.

“Climatology for the Future” should spark everyone’s interest in hearing from Evelyn Browning-Garriss, historical climatologist for Browning Consultants. 

Sometimes referred to as a weather whisperer due to her accuracy, she has spent over 30 years as a business consultant, editor and author. Editor of the Browning Newsletter, Browning-Garriss has authored or co-authored five books on the changing climate’s impact on water supplies, agriculture, business and terrorism. 

Just prior to lunch, look forward to hearing from Bob Dineen, president/CEO of the Renewable Fuels Assoc. as he gives the Renewable Fuels Standards Update.  

Following lunch, participants can choose 2 of 3, one hour presentations.  

Weed Resistance will be led by Ford Baldwin, weed scientist and co-owner of Practical Weed Consultants, LLC. Previously Extension weed scientist for the University of Arkansas, Baldwin is an internationally-recognized expert on weed resistance. His mission is to provide a sharp wake up call for those farmers who do not take weed control seriously. Water Quality is headed by Gail Hesse, the executive director of the Ohio Lake Erie Commission and the third breakout session on the Far.

m Service Agency is provided by Ohio FSA Director Steve Maurer. 

For those interested in attending, the registration deadline is Dec. 10. The cost is $35 for members and $45 for non-members. Checks should be made payable to the Ohio Soybean Assoc. and mailed to the Ohio Grain Farmers Symposium, 918 Proprietors Rd. Suite A, Worthington, Ohio 43085. You can also register by calling the OSA at 888-769-6446 or online at www.ohiograinfarmerssymposium.org

The Ohio Corn & Wheat Growers Assoc. advocates on behalf of corn and wheat growers throughout the state. OCWGA works in the Ohio and Washington, D.C. capitals to best represent the public policy interests of Ohio grain farmers and focuses on domestic and international issues that impact corn and wheat markets.  For more information visit www.ohiocornandwheat.org 

The Ohio Soybean Assoc. is governed by a volunteer farmer board dedicated to education and promotion, as well as to united producer interest through support of legislative activities beneficial to the Ohio soybean industry. To learn more, visit www.soyohio.org/membership Good weather conditions allowed a variety of field activities over the last couple of weeks. 

Nearly all of the corn and soybean harvest is complete and most of the wheat has emerged. Even many of the late seeded wheat fields sport good stands. Lots of fall tillage, broadcast fertilization and manure spreading is filling the agendas of farmers and agricultural businesses.  

The views and opinions expressed in this column are those of the author and not necessarily those of Farm World. Readers with questions or comments for Roger Bender may write to him in care of this publication.