International trade issues, market volatility, and crop insurance were among the topics covered at the Delaware Cooperative Extension and Delaware Farm Bureau’s Risk Management Conference on March 3 in Harrington.
The conference featured a series of sessions designed to equip farmers with the knowledge needed to make informed risk management decisions. Topics covered included the 2025 commodity crop budgets, crop insurance options, fertilizer market trends, international trade, and the grain market outlook.
Strategically scheduled early in the year, the conference provides farmers with timely insights they can apply in the upcoming growing season.
“The Risk Management Conference delivers timely farm management information right when spring crop insurance prices are discovered. It is at this critical time producers are finalizing their risk management strategies for the year before heading to the fields and the conference serves as the last chance opportunity get producers the knowledge they need,” said Nathaniel Bruce, farm business management specialist with the Cooperative Extension.
A recurring theme throughout the presentations was market volatility. Given the current economic climate, speakers emphasized the unpredictability of market conditions, highlighting the importance of having a solid marketing plan and comprehensive risk management strategies.
DEFB is also planning its annual Ag Safety Conference to be held Wednesday, March 26, at Loblolly Acres in Viola. Topics will include proper lifting techniques, irrigation safety, mental health, and grain bin safety.
For more information on the University of Delaware Cooperative Extension, visit https://www.udel.edu/academics/colleges/canr/cooperative-extension/. To get involved with DEFB or to register for the upcoming Ag Safety Conference, visit www.defb.org.
