Source: NCDA&CS, 12/21/15

The N.C. Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services will offer a series of risk-management workshops across the state in January through March. The workshops will focus on managing price volatility and identifying macro indicators in marketing agricultural commodities.

The following topics will be covered: Introduction to grain hedging, basis trading, cost of carry, cotton futures, option trading on futures and equities, and macro forces. The principles of options, spreading strategies, using options to manage financial risk, and energy derivatives and how to manage exposure to energy costs will be discussed. All workshops will be held from 10 a.m. to noon, and are free.

Following is the schedule of classes:
• Jan. 7 at the Robeson County Agriculture Building, O.P. Owens Building, Lumberton, 910-671-3276;
• Jan. 8 at the Johnston County Ag Center, 2736 N.C. 210, Smithfield, 919-989-5380; 
• Feb. 16 at the Pasquotank County Extension Center, 1209 McPherson St., Elizabeth City, 252-338-3954;
• Feb. 22 at the Lee County Extension Center, 2420 Tramway Road, Sanford, 919-775-5624;
• Feb. 23 at the Northampton Cooperative Extension Center, 9495 N.C. 305 N., Jackson, 252-534-2831;
• March 8 at the Union County Extension Center, 3230 Presson Road, Monroe, 704-283-3801; 
• March 10 at the Iredell County Extension, 444 Bristol Drive, Statesville, 704-873-0507. 

For more information or to register for the workshops, contact Nick Lassiter, NCDA&CS marketing specialist, at 919-707-3129.