University of Wisconsin - Extension

Madison, Wis. – The University of Wisconsin Center for Cooperatives announces its 12th annual Farmer Cooperatives Conference, which will be held in St. Paul, MN on Nov. 9-10, 2009.

The theme of this year’s program is “Thriving in Uncertain Times.” The program will explore how agricultural cooperatives can navigate the current economic uncertainties while positioning their businesses for the future.

“Significant volatility currently characterizes every aspect of agribusiness, from input costs to market demand. Existing markets are shifting as consumer preferences change, and the economy dictates household decisions,” explained Anne Reynolds, assistant director of the University of Wisconsin Center for Cooperatives. Understanding these developments can help cooperatives develop better strategies to buffer the uncertainty of changing business conditions.

Agricultural cooperatives are also being affected by sustainability concerns and climate-change legislation. The conference will present updates on these issues, and as well as on the potential for carbon offset credit markets. Innovative finance and equity programs to support such opportunities will also be a topic.

For over a decade, the agricultural cooperative community has looked to the Farmer Cooperatives Conference as a source of creative thinking about current cooperative issues and trends. The annual program is organized by the University of Wisconsin Center for Cooperatives, with assistance from a national planning committee of cooperative scholars and practitioners.

The annual meeting of NCERA-210, which promotes and coordinates research on agricultural cooperatives, will follow the Farmer Cooperatives Conference on Nov. 10-11, at the same location.

Updates on the conference and registration information will be posted on the University of Wisconsin Center for Cooperatives website at www.uwcc.wisc.edu/farmercoops08 . Questions about the conference can be directed to Anne Reynolds, University of Wisconsin Center for Cooperatives, (608) 263-4775, atreynol@wisc.edu.