MONTICELLO - With record highs for many farm commodities, land rental, and many other farm inputs like seed and fertilizer, many farmers are busy pushing a pencil this winter to determine final budgets and cropping plans for next year. The current record high land and commodity prices have combined to also create record high land rental costs for farmers. Many grain producers are wondering how much they can afford to pay for land rent. Dairy and livestock producers are wondering if they would be better off purchasing feed or renting additional land and raising it for their livestock. Dr. Bruce Jones, agriculture economist at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, will be discussing these topics at this year's Green County Forage Council Forage Seminar and Annual Meeting. The meeting will be held at the Monticello House Restaurant on Tuesday, January 29.

The program will begin with a noon meal, followed by Dr. Jones's presentation. A short annual meeting of the Green County Forage Council will conclude the seminar. The meeting will include discussion on the future of the Council in Green County. Distribution of the 2007 Forage Quality Contest prize certificates and the election of new directors will also take place during the annual meeting.

This meeting is open to all interested farmers and other agricultural professionals. Membership in the Green County Forage Council is not required to attend the meeting. Cost of the program is $13 per person to cover the cost of the noon meal. Anyone wishing to attend needs to pre-register by contacting Mark Mayer, UW-Extension agriculture agent at (608) 328-9440 by January 21. Pre-registration is necessary to reserve a meal.