Choosing the appropriate crop insurance product, as well as the level of coverage, is not easy, according to a Texas AgriLife Extension Service specialist.

The volatility of the current environment along with the opportunity to enroll in some new risk management programs are making these decisions even more complicated, said Dr. Steve Amosson, AgriLife Extension economist.

To help sort through these important decisions, AgriLife Extension is offering a one-day short course on Jan. 29. It will be taught by one of the leading crop insurance authorities, Dr. Art Barnaby from Kansas State University, who will speak on “Profit Maximizing: Crop Insurance and Risk Management Decisions,” Amosson said.

“This is a rare opportunity to review and optimize your crop insurance decisions with the help of an expert,” he said. “In this course, Art will discuss crop insurance options and the most cost-effective levels of participation.”

In addition, time will be spent discussing the new risk management programs SURE (Supplemental Revenue Assistance Program) and ACRE (Average Crop Revenue Election), and explaining the tradeoffs and interactions between these and crop insurance, he said.

The course will run from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. and will be held at the Texas AgriLife Research and Extension Center-Amarillo, 6500 W. Amarillo Blvd. The registration fee is $75 and includes the cost of instruction, materials, lunch and breaks. Registration is limited to 50 participants on a first-come basis, so pre-registration is required.

Checks and money orders should be made payable to Texas AgriLife Account #222100-60021 and sent to Texas AgriLife Research and Extension Center, attn: Jane Planchon, 6500 W. Amarillo Blvd., Amarillo, Texas 79106-1796. For credit card payments, go online to register at http://agrilifevents.tamu.edu.

For more information and the registration brochure, go to the Master Marketer Web site, http://mastermarketer.tamu.edu or contact Planchon at 806-677-5600 or [email protected].