By Jennifer Whitlock
Field Editor
Each year, the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Agricultural Economics Department offers the Master Marketer Program to help farmers, ranchers, ag lenders and other agribusiness professionals understand marketing plans and techniques along with a host of other marketing-related skills.
The successful series has graduated more than 1,200 participants from 32 programs. Graduates of the program indicate, on average, they have increased farm or ranch returns by $35,000 annually.
Although the COVID-19 pandemic forced the series online in 2020, it is now back as a 64-hour face-to-face program this fall.
The 2021 Master Marketer Program will be held at the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Center in Weslaco from Sept. 28-Nov. 11. After opening with a leveling workshop on Sept. 28, the morning classes are held on Wednesday and Thursday every other week through mid-November.
Topics covered in the opening sessions include budgets, farm policy, developing a marketing plan and marketing tools and strategies. The next meetings include topics on weather, financials, crop insurance, FARM assistance, specialty crops, grain, cotton and livestock fundamentals, ag insurance, legal issues, trading simulations and more.
The sessions will be live-streamed and recorded for those unable to attend the in-person program. The cost for each registrant is $350, which includes noon meals, educational materials and access to video recordings. Click here to register.
In addition to the Master Marketer Program, AgriLife is offering one-day QuickBooks Pro Desktop Short Courses on Aug. 25 in Amarillo and Sept. 8 in Lubbock.
The sessions, which are conducted by AgriLife Extension Economic Specialists DeDe Jones and Will Keeling, are each limited to 12 participants. Registration is $75 and includes computer use and teaching materials.
No computer experience is necessary. Participants will learn to enter transactions into the program and analyze costs and profits. Contact LaCrecia Garza at 806.677.5625 for registration.
More information on the Master Marketer program can be found here. Specific questions may be directed to AgriLife Extension economist coordinators Samuel Zapata at samuel.zapata@ag.tamu.edu or 956.968.5581, or to Mark Welch at jmwelch@tamu.edu or 979.845.8011.
Additional information on the QuickBooks Pro short courses can be found here.