YOUNG
FARMERS
Golf at Woburn
Sharing Views
What?The New Century
Farmer programme
When? Annually
WhereDes Moines, lowa
Century
What? Woburn Rabobank Pro-Am Travis Perkins PLC Senior Master
When? 26 August and 29-31 August
Where? Woburn GolfClub, Buckinghamshire, UK
What? Asia F&A Advisory Board meeting
When? 5June2008
Where? Beijing, China
Every year the National FFA Organisation
in the United States, formerly known
as Future Farmers of America, selects
young adults (aged 19-23) who have
demonstrated a commitment to a
career in production agriculture for
the New Century Farmer programme,
Farmer
a week-long conference in Des Moines,
lowa. During the conference
participants attended presentations
and discussions on topics such as farm
succession planning, marketing and
risk management and technology in
agribusiness. This year, as in previous
years, representatives from Rabo
AgriFinance and Rabobank's FAR
team attended as 'professors,' lending
their expertise on topics such as:
Consumer trends impacting global
agriculture
Securing farm financing and credit
Putting togetheryour business plan
and financial statements
In addition to these topics, participants
learn how farmers can profit from value-
added products, newfarm business
opportunities and business alliances.
Additionally, the programme allows
the students to network and address
common concerns facing young
farmers. Rabobank has been a sponsor
of the New Century Farmer programme
since 2005, along with Pioneer Hi-Bred
International, Inc. and Successful
Farming Magazine.
his welcoming message, Head of GFM
Origination Sales Peter Norrie said:
'The sponsorship of the Senior Masters
in previous years proved to be very
successful. In both its business activities
and through its
sponsorships of
sporting events it is
an organisation that
demands high levels
of integrity and
recognisesthe value
of partnerships and
experience. Many
of these core values are found in
the game of golf and so we are
particularly proud to be involved
with this tournament."
Rabobank International co-sponsors
the Travis Perkins plc Senior Masters, a
leading international matchplay golf
tournament. This golf tournament is
played at the prestigious Woburn Golf
Club and is preceded
by the Rabobank
Pro-Am, a one-day
event in which
Rabobank's clients
will play with a senior
golf professional.
The Rabobank
Pro-Am was played
over the Duke's course, which is one of
thefinest inland golfcourses in Europe.
Rabobank sponsors this prominent golf
event for the third consecutive year. In
The 2008 Asia F&A Advisory Board meeting
highlighted significant developments in global
commodity markets and the impact they are
having on the Asian agribusiness landscape.
'The annual Asia F&A Advisory Board meeting
brings together leading F&A business decision
makers in Asia for a day of discussions on key
industry issues. This interactive sharing of ideas
is fundamental in helping to drive the industry
forward. With Rabobank firmly rooted in F&A, we
pride ourselves on being able to take part in this
process and help our clients to further develop
their businesses," commented former MBRI
chairman Flans ten Cate.
Five major points were discussed during the
China meeting on 5th June:
1Increasing demand, particularly in China
and India 2) Supply shocks that have occurred
in the region in recent years and the impact
on grain stocks 3) More liberal trade and
globalisation, particularly US and European
trade policies 4) The influence of commodity
funds on the commodity markets, and 5) Policy
implications.
The condusion was that increased demand for
commodities will require greater investment
in agriculture, both public and private. It will
also encourage new centres of production to
be developed and new agricultural policies to
emerge which will drive increased global
trade in agricultural commodities and support
higher prices as a new world order takes shape.
ISSUE 17
THE WORD
