A highlight of the S.C. AgriBiz & Farm Expo set for Jan. 17 and 18 at the Florence Civic Center will be an agricultural economic outlook presented by Clemson University experts designed to give farmers the information they need to plan for the year ahead.

The Ag Outlook and Marketing Session will be held from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on the opening day of the expo, Wednesday, Jan. 17. Clemson economists Nathan Smith, Scott Mickey and Bernt Nelson will deliver economic forecasts and provide marketing guidance for both crop and livestock producers.

“This will be a great session to help farmers plan and prepare for a successful 2018 season. Nathan Smith, Scott Mickey and Bernt Nelson are well known and respected experts.  This is a must attend session for both crop and livestock producers as they plan for profitability for the year ahead,” says Expo Manager Jody Martin.

Smith is a professor and Extension economist with expertise in row crop production economics and risk management, commodity marketing and farm bill policy.  Mickey is an expert in crop insurance, government programs, market analysis and agriculture business management. Nelson specialties include commodity market analysis, risk management, and crop and livestock economics.

“Market prices are not expected to improve much next year, but farmers should have some opportunities for sustainable prices,” said Mickey, a farm business consultant with the Clemson Cooperative Extension Service. “We’ll be going over ways farmers can structure their business going into 2018 to take advantage of opportunities.”

Martin says the 2018 S.C. AgriBiz & Farm Expo is designed as a “one stop shop” for farmers as they plan for the year ahead. In addition to the economic outlook, educational sessions will be held on the farm bill, profitable corn and soybean production and the future of agriculture.

The expo is also important for livestock producers who need to receive Certified Animal Manure Management (CAMM) certification. On Thursday, Jan. 18, CAMM training will be held from 11 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.. A maximum of four CAMM certification hours will be offered at the expo.

“Livestock producers will have an opportunity to listen and learn from a great lineup of national speakers from Arkansas, Nebraska, South Carolina and Indiana at the CAMM conference at the expo,” Martin says.

Admission to the expo is free, however there will be a charge for the CAMM credit hours. Lunch will be included for those who register for CAMM training. For CAMM conference registration and information, contact CAMM Program Coordinator Bryan Smith at 864-984-2514 ext 112 or [email protected].

Topics discussed include “”Beef Grazing and Systems and Water Quality Protection” presented by Lee Van Vlake and Brian Beer with Clemson University Extension;  “Methods to Protect Water Quality: Travel Surfaces, Steam Protection and Off-Stream Watering by Dr. Karl VanDevender, Extension agricultural engineer with the University of Arkansas; “Managing the Impact of Agricultural Production on Surface and Groundwater Resources by Dr. Bryan Woodbury, research agricultural engineer with USDA-ARS  U.S, Meat Animal Research Center; and  “Managing Plant Nutrients in Manure” by Dr. James J. Camberato, professor of agronomy and Extension specialist at Purdue University.

“We cordially invite farmers from across the Carolinas to attend the expo,” Martin says. “Much is on tap for 2018 with passage of the farm bill expected and hope for another year of outstanding crops like we saw in 2017. The expo is designed to give farmers just what they need to plan for success...”

For more information, access the expo website at http://scagribizexpo.com/.