Top Farmer Conference 2019
January 10, 2020 (Pre-Conference Jan. 9) | West Lafayette, Indiana
PRE-CONFERENCE JANUARY 9
Program Overview
Take part in one of the most successful and longest-running management programs geared specifically for farmers — the Purdue Top Farmer Conference, featuring faculty and staff experts from Purdue's Center for Commercial Agriculture. Surrounded by farm management, farm policy, agricultural finance and marketing experts, and a group of your peers, the conference will stimulate your thinking about agriculture’s future and how you can position your farm to be successful in the years ahead.
The 2020 Top Farmer Conference will be held at the Beck Agricultural Center, in West Lafayette, IN, on January 9-10, 2020. For more information, contact Sarah Zahn at smithse@purdue.edu or 765-494-7004.
2019 Review
PRE-CONFERENCE
Thursday, January 10, 2019
1:00 p.m. (EDT)
Attend one session, choose either:
Improving Your Crop Marketing Skills
Nathan Thompson & James Mintert, Purdue Center for Commercial Agriculture
Do you have grain storage facilities? Are you interested in improving returns to your storage facilities? This per-conference session will focus on learning about your local basis patterns and how you can take advantage of that knowledge to improve returns on your farming operation and reduce risk.
or
Preparing to Meet with Your Ag Lender
Michael Langemeier, Purdue Center for Commercial Agriculture
This per-conference session will explore how to use enterprise budgets to evaluate long-term enterprise profitability, and whole-farm financial projections to evaluate profitability and repayment capacity for the upcoming year. A case farm will be used to illustrate the concepts. Participants will develop budget and whole-farm financial projections for the case farm.
5:00 p.m. (EDT)
6:00-7:30 p.m. (EDT)
Sessions conclude
Networking Reception
Purdue Memorial Union - Anniversary Drawing Room
CONFERENCE
Friday, January 11, 2019
7:15 a.m. (EDT)
8:00 a.m. (EDT)
Registration & Breakfast
Welcome & Kick-Off
James Mintert, Purdue Center for Commercial Agriculture
8:05 a.m. (EDT)
How Will Rising Interest Rates & Fluctuating Exchange Rates Affect U.S. Agriculture
Jason Henderson, Director, Purdue Extension & Associate Dean, College of Agriculture
How quickly, and by how much, will interest rates rise? What do rising rates and fluctuating exchange rates mean to you and your farming operation?
9:00 a.m. (EDT)
What Are Agricultural Lenders Telling Us About Farm Financial Conditions
Brady Brewer, Assistant Professor of Agricultural Economics, Purdue University
Ag Lenders were surveyed this fall to garner their perspective of farm finances. Survey results provide insight into a challenging situation for many farms and can help you prepare for your next meeting with your lender.
9:35 a.m. (EDT)
9:50 a.m. (EDT)
Networking Break
Impacts on U.S. Agriculture from Chinese Retaliatory Tariffs & the Renegotiated NAFTA Agreement
Wally Tyner, James & Lois Ackerman Chair/Professor of Agricultural Economics, Purdue University
What are the impacts of these two trade policy developments on U.S. agriculture and what does it mean to you.
11:00 a.m. (EDT)
11:15 a.m. (EDT)
Networking Break
Using Technology Beyond Precision Applications to Improve Profitability
Nathan Delay, Assistant Professor of Agricultural Economics, Purdue University
Chris Hudson, Hudson Farms - Crawfordsville, Indiana
John & JD Nidlinger & Duane Kiess, Nidlinger Farms Incorporated - Decatur, Indiana
Facilitated panel discussion with two farm business owners who are using data and technology to make strategic management decisions for their operation. Learn about how these farms are using technology to improve their profitability.
12:15 p.m. (EDT)
1:15 p.m. (EDT)
Lunch
Taking Advantage of Technology to Reduce Your Production Costs - A Discussion with Purdue's Top Crop Scientists
Robert Nielsen, Professor & Corn Specialist, Department of Agronomy, Purdue University
Shaun Casteel, Associate Professor & Soybean Specialist, Department of Agronomy, Purdue University
Bill Johnson, Professor & Weed Science Specialist, Department of Botany & Plant Pathology, Purdue University
9:35 a.m. (EDT)
9:50 a.m. (EDT)
Networking Break
National Perspective on Weather & Impacts on Crop Production
Eric Snodgrass, Director of Undergraduate Studies, Department of Atmospheric Science, University of Illinois
Interested in weather impacts on crop production? This session will provide insights into what to look for in 2019.
Location
4540 U.S. 52 West
West Lafayette, IN 47906
From the North: Take exit 193 for U.S. 231 south. Turn left on U.S. 52 W. Beck Ag Center is on the left at the Agronomy Center for Research and Education (ACRE).
From the South: Take I 65 N. to exit 175, turn left on to Schuyler Ave. Turn right onto Sagamore Pkwy N. follow through W. Lafayette and continue on 52 W. to the Beck Ag Center on the right at the Agronomy Center for Research and Education (ACRE).
Lodging Accommodations
Stay tuned for 2020 details!