MANHATTAN, KANSAS, U.S. — The International Grains Program at Kansas State University is planning risk management courses this summer, ideal for professionals responsible for buying U.S. food and feed grains, commodity traders and bankers.

The Risk Management course is planned for Aug. 12-16. In this course, participants will develop an understanding of the relationship between cash and futures markets, fundamental and technical analysis, futures spreads, principles of hedging, and principles of risk management and basic trading, said Jay O’Neil, IGP senior agricultural economist and course manager.

As an additional supplement to the course, IGP is planning a two-day Export Grain Contracting session for, Aug. 8-9, prior to the start of the Risk Management course.

“The risk management courses give participants a good understanding of commodity risk management principles as well as providing them tools and real world strategies that can be used to control costs and maintain profitability,” said O’Neil. “As global food input prices reach extreme levels, the topic of risk management is critical in ensuring the security of a company’s financial future.”

Those interested in taking either or both of these courses should visit the registration site at www.igpevents.grains.ksu.edu.