HGCA is running four new business management workshops this spring to help arable growers to ‘protect their profit’.

With the re-emergence of global grain market volatility in early 2014 and arable farm income falling, the question for many farmers is how to manage risks to their business and increase their business resilience.

The four ‘Protecting your Profit’ workshops in March and April 2014 will address the business challenges facing cereals and oilseed growers throughout the country. The programme of talks and interactive sessions covers price risk assessment and management, global and local grain markets, the role of Monitor Farms, benchmarking, budgeting and negotiating grain contracts.

The workshops will be held around the country:

• · 5 March – Taunton
• · 11 March – Cambridge
• · 2April - Lincoln
• · 8April – Tewkesbury

Tim Isaac, HGCA Regional Manager East, said: “Volatility of input costs and commodity prices is here to stay. At the same time the value of support payments is falling. HGCA is running these workshops to look at how growers can manage these risks and increase resilience.”

The speakers include Jack Watts, AHDB/HGCA Lead Analyst; Sebastian Graff-Baker, a facilitator of HGCA Arable Business Groups and advisor with Andersons; and a local trade representative.

The events, which are free to attend, will start with breakfast at 9am and include lunch. Those keen to benefit must pre-register as places are limited. They are being run as part of the HGCA’s innovative Reaping Rewards programme and will be led by the HGCA regional team.

To book on to one of these regional events go to www.hgca.com/events, call 024 7647 8724 or email events@hgca.ahdb.org.uk.