Knowledge is power

Regina, Saskatchewan, October 12, 2006 – Developing business management skills is critical to experiencing greater success in agriculture, an industry brimming with innovation and advancement.

Farm Credit Canada (FCC) is delivering educational workshops and seminars through it’s AgriSuccess program in Saskatchewan and Manitoba this fall and winter. In Saskatchewan, they’ll be held in Assiniboia, Humboldt, Kindersley, North Battleford, Prince Albert, Regina, Rosetown, Saskatoon, Swift Current, Tisdale, Whitewood and Yorkton. In Manitoba, they’ll take place in Arborg, Brandon, Dauphin, Morden, Portage la Prairie, Steinbach, Winkler and Winnipeg.

Topics include commodity marketing management, transferring the family farm, estate planning, vision and goals setting, hiring and keeping employees and farm financial management focusing on statement and ratios, profitability and budgeting.

One of the challenges producers’ face today is the risk of falling crop prices. Being armed with alternatives for managing price risk helps producers prepare for market fluctuations and create success in their operation. Brenda Tjaden Lepp, Farm Credit Canada’s commodity marketing management workshop facilitator, helps participants sketch out a rough draft of a selling strategy for their operation.

“Individual strategies change accordingly to economic and agronomic reasoning,” says Lepp. “I help producers analyse what’s possible within the unique parameters of their own operation. We look at their marketing window, storage capacity, production mix, quality risk and cash flow requirements. We set up a plan so that when marketing opportunities come along, they will be ready to act.”

“Knowledge is power,” Lyndon Carlson, FCC Vice-President, Marketing and Product Development says. “We believe skill development and business management training are keys to greater success. That’s why we do everything possible to help producers increase their knowledge.”

FCC is Canada's largest provider of business and financial services to farms and agribusiness. Operating out of 100 offices located primarily in rural Canada, FCC employees are passionate about the business of agriculture. A healthy portfolio of more than $12 billion and 13 consecutive years of portfolio growth are a reflection of our customers' success. For more information on AgriSuccess learning events log on to the Learning Centre.

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If you are interested in covering a learning event, contact:

Melanie Lightfoot
Public Relations
Farm Credit Canada
306-780-6768
Melanie.lightfoot@fcc-fac.ca

Mireille Bilodeau VongPhit (bilingual)
Public Relations
Farm Credit Canada
306-780-8630
mireille.bilodeauvongphit@fcc-fac.ca