By Andi Anderson
Iowa State University Extension and Outreach is inviting farmers and agricultural professionals to participate in a comprehensive Grain Marketing Workshop scheduled for January 5–6, 2027, in Peosta, Iowa. The two-day educational event is designed to help participants strengthen their grain marketing skills and improve farm profitability through better decision-making.
The workshop welcomes individuals with varying levels of experience, including beginners, intermediate marketers, and experienced grain producers. Organizers aim to provide practical knowledge that can help farmers build successful grain marketing plans and improve selling opportunities.
According to Paul Martin, Farm Management Specialist with ISU Extension and Outreach, the workshop offers producers an opportunity to step away from daily operations and focus on improving their understanding of grain marketing strategies. Participants will learn methods to evaluate production costs, manage risk, and make informed marketing decisions in changing market conditions.
Before attending the event, participants will complete several pre-workshop activities. These include calculating their 2027 cost of production, creating a cash-flow budget, conducting self-assessments, answering questions related to risk tolerance, and viewing educational videos developed by former Iowa State economics professor and grain markets specialist Chad Hart. Attendees will also complete a Business IQ survey designed to identify strengths and weaknesses in business management and decision-making.
The workshop features presentations from industry experts and agricultural specialists covering a wide range of grain marketing topics.
Paul Martin, Farm Management Specialist with ISU Extension and Outreach, will present “Cost of Production for 2027 and Beyond.”
Mike Rusch, Sales Director at Total Farm Marketing, will discuss “From Gut Feel to Revenue Management: How Grain Marketing Has Evolved."
Matt Campbell, Risk Management Consultant at StoneX, will present “Charts and Graphs, Basis and Other Exciting Things.”
Cully Cederberg, Commodity Sales Consultant at Total Farm Marketing, will explain “Grain Futures and Options 101: Understanding the Tools and How They Work.”
Joseph Lensing and Eric Wueve, Farm Management Specialists with ISU Extension and Outreach, will discuss “Tools in Your Toolbox and Fundamental Difference in Mindset for New Crop and Old Crop Marketing.”
Ed Usset, Grain Marketing Economist at the University of Minnesota Center for Farm Financial Management, will present “5 Common Mistakes in Grain Marketing” and “Considering All Things, Developing a Marketing Plan.”
Ryan Benes, Risk Management Consultant at Elite Ag Insurance, will discuss “Marketing with Crop Insurance as your partner.”
The program will also include a sponsor panel question-and-answer session, providing participants with additional industry insights.
Registration is open through December 26, with a participation fee of $125. The workshop is limited to 80 attendees and will be held at Northeast Iowa Community College in Peosta. Hotel accommodations are available nearby through a special conference rate.
By combining expert instruction, practical exercises, and market-focused discussions, the workshop aims to equip farmers with valuable tools to improve grain marketing performance, manage risk effectively, and strengthen the long-term success of their farming operations.
Photo Credit: gettyimages-giovanni1232
Categories: Iowa, Education