A series of management and outlook conferences will be offered by University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension across the state in February and early March.

The conferences will start on Feb. 24 in Norfolk during the day and in Lincoln in the evening. Other conferences will follow on Feb. 25 in Norfolk, Feb. 28 in Kearney and North Platte, and March 1 in Scottsbluff. Each session is scheduled from 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. local time, except the Lincoln and North Platte meetings which will be from 4:30 to 9 p.m.

"The conferences will cover a number of key topics affecting farm management and production decisions for 2011," says Brad Lubben, UNL Extension policy specialist and conference organizer. The conferences are delivered in part through the financial support of the Nebraska Soybean Board and the USDA Risk Management Agency.

This year's conferences will feature several specialists from UNL Extension and the Department of Agricultural Economics discussing relevant outlook and management topics. In addition, the conference will continue to expand the collaboration on Extension programming between UNL and Kansas State University. Dan O'Brien, Kevin Dhuyvetter and Terry Kastens, KSU Extension agricultural economists, will share their insights on grain marketing and crop production decisions for producers.

The opening session at each meeting will focus on the agricultural outlook, covering livestock, crops, inputs, land and policy. Darrell Mark, livestock marketing specialist, will present the livestock market outlook while O'Brien will provide the crop market outlook. Mark and O'Brien also will discuss the changing structure and performance of the livestock and crop markets with implications for price risk and producer risk management decisions.

Paul Burgener, agricultural economics research analyst, will cover the outlook for input costs and their impact on crop production decisions. A team of extension educators from across the state will present an update on land markets, cash rents and leasing arrangements. Brad Lubben, policy specialist, will discuss the policy outlook in Washington and the major policy developments that could affect agriculture in 2011.

The closing session will focus on management decisions to prepare for 2011 and beyond. Larry Van Tassell, head of the agricultural economics department, will share his management and leadership insights for success. A team of Extension educators from across the state will discuss the changes in crop insurance for 2011 and the decisions ahead for producers.

Kevin Dhuyvetter and Terry Kastens will discuss current research and analysis on crop production economics to improve machinery costs, efficiency, and management. Paul Burgener will close out the conference in Scottsbluff with a focus on the Panhandle's specialty crop economics.

More information and details on the meetings are available at the conference Web page at http://agecon.unl.edu/cemoc.  The conference registration fee of $25 covers a meal and conference materials for participants. Special pricing is available for the Geneva conference thanks to the local support of the Farmers and Ranchers College committee. Advance registration is necessary to confirm meeting meals and materials. Registration and more information are available by contacting the local Extension educators or offices listed below for each location or by contacting Lubben at 402-472-2235.

Geneva, Feb. 24 (day), Fillmore County Fairgrounds, contact Brandy VanDeWalle, -402-759-3712.

Lincoln, Feb. 24 (evening), Lancaster Event Center; contact Brad Lubben, 402-472-2235 or Tom Dorn, 402-441-7180.

Norfolk, Feb. 25 (day), Lifelong Learning Center; contact: Tim Lemmons, 402-370-4043.

Kearney, Feb. 28 (day), Buffalo County Extension Office, contact Brent Plugge, 308-236-1235.

North Platte, Feb. 28 (evening), Lincoln County Fairgrounds, contact Randy Saner, 308-532-2683.

Scottsbluff, March 1 (day), Panhandle Research and Extension Center, contact Tom Holman, 308-632-1480 or Paul Burgener, 308-632-1230.