To assist farmers with farm management decisions, the Iowa Farm Bureau Federation is hosting a webinar January 28 at 1:00 p.m. to highlight key factors that will have an impact on farm profit and risk in 2014. With crop profit margins expected to shrink and livestock margins uncertain, this timely informational webinar will provide insight into the drivers of risk in 2014.

MANAGING TIGHT MARGINS: With lower grain and crop production costs remaining high in 2014, corn and soybean profit margins will shrink, and livestock margins are uncertain. To help you prepare, Iowa Farm Bureau is offering a Jan. 28 webinar. In other news, applications are now being accepted for members who want to go on a farm study tour of China.

The webinar is titled, 'Has the Pendulum Swung on U.S. Agriculture?' and will be presented by Nathan Kauffman, assistant vice president and Omaha branch executive of the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City.  Kauffman will present on topics such as crop and livestock profit projections for 2014, the drivers of farmland value and whether it's overvalued, market effects from export demand from China, and many more.

Farmers can access the webinar from their home or farm office by going to the Iowa Farm Bureau website, clicking on the webinar banner and entering the forum as a guest on the day of the event. Pre-registration is not required for online viewing. Participants will have the opportunity to text questions to the speaker during the webinar. "Today's farmers face numerous challenges, and many factors contribute to farm management decisions," says Ed Kordick, IFBF commodity services manager.  "Each year is unique and different, and we look forward to providing our members expert analysis and outlook for 2014 and beyond." For more information, contact Kordick at [email protected].

Capturing China's growing market potential; Iowa Farm Bureau farmers are headed to China for market study tour

In other Farm Bureau news, applications are now being accepted for farmers who want to go on a farm study tour of China.

China, home to the world's fastest-growing middle class, holds the key to market demand of Iowa's corn, soybeans and pork. Iowa Farm Bureau is now accepting applications for its members to help Iowa farmers capture that market with knowledge they gain through the IFBF's annual Market Study Tour. The tour is exclusive to members who apply and are selected.

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"By going to China, we can give Iowa farmers inside knowledge on the biggest internal issues China faces with its agriculture systems; that way, our farmers will be poised to meet demands of one of the most lucrative and challenging markets in the world," says tour organizer, David Miller. Miller, IFBF director of research and commodity services, says it is China's growing middle class that is the number-one driver for demand of many Iowa ag products. "We know that in just one generation, China's middle class will be four times the size of our own, so that is an important market to capture."

Applications must be submitted by February 28 if you want to go on this tour

The 2014 IFBF China Market Study Tour group will meet with Chinese farmers, agri-business leaders, government officials and citizens of Beijing, and will also explore the provinces of Hebei and Jilin/Liaoning.  IFBF members in attendance will also get the opportunity of a lifetime to visit the most spectacular cultural sites in China, including the Great Wall and Beijing's Tiananmen Square.

Participants for the IFBF China Market Study Tour will be selected based on leadership participation in Farm Bureau and other ag organizations; equally important are your communication skills and willingness to share the perspectives you learn. "This is a knowledge share trip so a willingness to give back to fellow Iowans by giving presentations to your community or visiting with local media is a must," says Miller. The tour is designed to help participants understand the rapid changes in China's farming practices. "We'll get a look at technologies they're using now and see how our production and exports can complement what they are doing."

Applications must be submitted by February 28. For more information on the China Market Study Tour or to complete an application visit  the Iowa Farm Bureau website.