Dr. Chad Hart, Professor of Economics, Crop Markets Specialist and Extension Economist, at Iowa State University, will be the featured speaker on Wednesday, September 6 at 6:15 p.m. at Lavender Crest Winery, 5401 US Highway 6, Colona. Dinner will be served followed by the local grain market update from Tom Parchert of Big River Resources. Reservations are required and must made by August 30 to guarantee your attendance.

Dr. Chad Hart was born and raised in southwest Missouri where his parent’s raised cattle and operated a small meat locker. He received his Bachelor’s of Science in Economics with minors in Mathematics, History, and Astronomy from Southwest Missouri State University in 1991. He then moved to Iowa in the summer of 1991 to pursue graduate education and received a Ph.D. in Economics and Statistics in 1999 from Iowa State University.

Upon graduation, Dr. Hart joined the staff for the Center for Agricultural and Rural Development (CARD) at Iowa State. He served as the U.S. Policy and Insurance Analyst with the Food and Agricultural Policy Research Institute (FAPRI) and a Scientist with CARD. For FAPRI, Dr. Hart was responsible for directing econometric and modeling efforts for the crop insurance component of the FAPRI modeling system. For CARD, he served in multiple roles, concluding as the head of the Biorenewables Policy Division and examined the interactions between the agricultural and energy sectors.

His research has examined the interaction between the agricultural commitments within the World Trade Organization (WTO) and the agricultural policies and programs of WTO members, crop insurance, international trade, biofuel policy, federal agricultural policy, and crop marketing.

Additional dates and speakers for the 2023-2024 series include: November 8, Ted Seifried, Zaner Ag Hedge; March 14, Paul Otto, Freese-Notis; July 2, Matthew Kruse, CommStock Investments.

Cost for the series is $90.00 and a single session is $35.00 (if not pre-registered cost will be $40.00). To make reservations, please call the Henry County Farm Bureau (309) 937-2411, Rock Island County Farm Bureau (309) 736-7432 or Mercer County Farm Bureau (309) 582-5116.

The Market Outlook Seminar Series is sponsored by the Henry, Rock Island and Mercer County Farm Bureau Marketing Committees in conjunction with Gold Star FS, BankORION, Alan Davis – COUNTRY Financial Crop Insurance Specialist, Central Bank, COUNTRY Financial – Brent Bigham, Tracy Bigham, Chad Nelson, John Waugh; Big River Resources LLC, River Valley Cooperative, Diamond Ag, Wyffels Hybrids, Compeer Financial and Hertz Farm Management.