April 7, 2000

Texas Farm Bureau’s first in a series of regional marketing seminars, held March 7 in Plainview, drew great reviews from many of those who attended.

The seminar, which focused on marketing cotton and cattle, is a progression from short, individual marketing sessions that Bryce Myrick, TFB’s director of Agricultural Marketing Education, has held in various counties across the state.

"In the past we put on seminars to teach producers how to use options and futures and forward contracts," Myrick said. "With this seminar, we’re bringing in people that are in the business, that are making their livings using these contracts and futures, hedging opportunities."

That kind of approach worked well for Doug Hlavaty, a Lubbock County cotton farmer.

"I liked it," said Hlavaty. "Extension people are good, but they’re not out in the field doing it. This meeting is more the producers, people who are actually doing it—using futures and options in their own operations."

Floyd Reeve, who runs a farming/cattle operation near Friona, could also relate to fellow producers.

"One lady (Adria Ann Crotwell of Brownfield) talked about their hedging program," Reeve recalled. "She made a comment that she was really tickled with cotton (price) going down. It gave her an opportunity to move the market. That’s something to think about."

Glen Jones, TFB director of Research, Education and Policy Development, said plans are being made to hold the seminar in other areas of the state.

"We’re going to have one in Victoria in June," Jones said, noting that a date has yet to be set.

Lessons learned in the Plainview seminar will be applied to those in the future, he added.