Farmers, Ranchers! Take Chance On Risk-Management Meeting

Farming is a risky business.

Risks abound: Nature may damage crops, market prices for crops may disappoint, or income may not support the operation over time. Add the threat of lawsuits, contract squabbles and meeting environmental obligations, and the risk-level rises. How to cope?

The Pacific Northwest Risk Management Education Conference at the DoubleTree Hotel City Center in Spokane Tuesday and Wednesday will give farmers and ranchers tools to deal with the array of risks. For information, call (509) 353-2147.

Today

The U.S. Department of Agriculture begins a three day meeting in Arlington, Va., on “Shaping the future of Rural America for the 21st Century.”

First day to file for public office in Idaho.

Dick Harding, Commerce Department director for South Asia and Oceania, discusses “Doing Business in India” at 3 p.m. at the Spokane Intercollegiate Research & Technology Institute, 665 North Riverpoint Blvd. For reservations, call Melanie Welburn, (509) 459-4122.

Tuesday

The U.S. Department of Agriculture holds the Pacific Northwest and Alaska Risk Management Education Conference through Wednesday at the DoubleTree Hotel City Center. For information, call Dave Green, (509) 353-2174.

U.S. Senate Appropriations Committee hearing on the future of Amtrak.

The Washington Department of Ecology holds a public meeting on the proposed reopening of the Pend Oreille Mine. The meeting begins at 7 p.m. in the Cutter Theatre in Metaline Falls.

Wednesday

Commerce Department releases February durable goods report.

Thursday

The Spokane Relations Committee holds a spring business-to-business bus tour starting at the Spokane International Airport and finishing with a restaurant reception. Reservations are $25. The bus loads at 12:45 p.m. at the Shogun Restaurant, 821 E. Third Ave. For information, call (509) 459-4111.

Commerce Department releases reports on fourth-quarter revised gross domestic product.

Friday

The two-day URM Food Service Food Show begins at the Coeur d’Alene Resort. For information, call Kerry Hafner at (509) 467-2797.

Commerce Department releases report on personal income for February.

Saturday

A homebuyer education seminar sponsored by the Washington State Housing Finance Commission is 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. at the second-floor conference room at RockPointe Tower, 316 W. Boone. For reservations call Linda Edenhofer, (509) 327-1238.

Bloomsday clinic sponsored by Group Health Northwest and Holy Family Hospital begins at 8:30 a.m. at the Spokane Falls Community College gym.

Inland Power & Light Co. holds its annual membership meeting at the DoubleTree Inn in the Spokane Valley. A health fair runs from 9 to 10:15 a.m., followed by a business meeting and noon luncheon. , DataTimes ILLUSTRATION: Graphic: Measuring the Economy - Sales tax receipts

MEMO: This sidebar appeared with the story: ON THE SHELF Money, April issue: Cover story explores the benefits and liabilities of individual stocks vs. mutual funds. Business Week, March 23: Volkswagen is riding a nostalgia boom with its new Beetle, according to a cover story on why throwbacks are playing well these days.

Top issues Maintaining business profitability and finding and keeping quality employees are the top issues cited by international women business owners in a recent survey by the National Foundation for Women Business Owners. Here are the leading issues, and the percentage of survey participants ranking them as either “very important” or “extremely important”: Maintaining business profitability - 100 percent. Finding and keeping quality employees - 95 percent. Managing cash flow - 88 percent.