NEW HAVEN, Ind. — An opportunity to give farmers and those in related businesses information pertinent to the industry is the impetus behind the upcoming Northeast Indiana Agribusiness Luncheon.

The luncheon will be 11 a.m.-1 p.m. March 12 at The Orchid in New Haven, east of Fort Wayne. The program features presentations on last year’s drought, farm-related legal issues and a market outlook.

“The No. 1 thing is to take a little more time with these issues in an intimate setting,” said Rob Winters, farm director for WOWO Radio 1190 AM. “We’ll have our speakers right in front of the audience, and will give them something important to their farming operation. They can get information critical to their farming operations in a longer form.”

WOWO is sponsoring the event along with Kenn-Feld Group. The sponsors intend to offer two events annually – one each in the spring and fall. A similar event last fall was the first.

“The one in the fall was the maiden voyage,” Winters noted. “We put a little toe in the water to see how it would work. It was successful and well-received by the farm community.”

The keynote speaker for the luncheon will be Bob Nielson, professor of agronomy at Purdue University, who will talk about lessons from last year’s drought. He is a leading corn expert and “a rock star among farmers,” Winters said.

“He gets his boots on farms all over the state and has firsthand knowledge of how the drought stressed our crops last year,” he added.

In addition, Dan Gordon, of Gordon & Associates, will lead a discussion on farm law, estate and succession planning.

David Kohli, of Allendale, Inc.’s Fort Wayne branch, and Jon Cavanaugh, with Central States Enterprises in New Haven, will offer their thoughts on the commodity markets. The two are regular participants on Winters’ Saturday morning program, “Mid-West Ag Matters.”

While the first event attracted more farmers than those in agribusiness, Winters said the presentations are relevant to both groups.

“If they’re (those in agribusiness) really doing their due diligence to do the best job for their customers, they need to know what issues are critical to their customers,” he explained.

The event is limited to the first 200 who register. The cost is $24.95 per person, or $19.95 each for multiple seats. A table of eight is $159.60. The registration deadline is March 8. For more information, including directions, visit www.agluncheon.com