Top Farmer Conference: January 5, 2024

Explore key factors influencing the U.S. economy & biofuels future. Join us for a one-day conference that will stimulate your thinking about agriculture's future and how you can position your farm to be successful in the years ahead. Attend in person in West Lafayette, Indiana or join us remotely.

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WHAT YOU MISSED »

JANUARY 9-10, 2020

Stay tuned for 2021 dates. If you’re not already on our mailing list, please subscribe to receive updates!

Subscribe for updates

WHAT YOU MISSED »

JANUARY 9-10, 2020

Stay tuned for 2021 dates. If you’re not already on our mailing list, please subscribe to receive updates!

Subscribe for updates

Top Farmer Conference 2020

Overview Slides + Resources Presented Agenda

Overview

The 2020 Top Farmer Pre-Conference and Conference are full, and registration is closed. Please stay tuned for dates and details on the 2021 Conference.

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.

Thank you to our Conference Sponsor:

Slides + Resources Presented

Agenda

Download agenda (pdf)

Pre-Conference Agenda

Thursday, January 9, 2020
1:00 p.m. (EST)	Ag Survivor – Strategies for Managing Risks in Your Operation John Hewlett, Ranch/Farm Management Specialist, University of Wyoming & Jay Parsons, Associate Professor of Agricultural Economics, University of Nebraska-Lincoln The Ag Survivor workshop will help you develop strategies enabling your farm to thrive in today’s challenging environment. Used by thousands of farmers at workshops across the nation, the Ag Survivor simulation software was developed by the RightRisk Education Team to teach risk concepts and management strategies to agricultural producers in an experiential learning environment. Ag Survivor scenarios present complicated, and sometimes confusing, risk management subject matter in an easily understood format by fully engaging workshop attendees in a hands-on farm simulation. John Hewlett has been a Ranch/Farm Management Specialist at the University of Wyoming since 1987 and is one of the developers of the RightRisk and Risk Navigator educational programs. He grew up in Washington state, where he worked for eight years on a large stocker-cattle/cropping operation, and holds a B.S. degree in agricultural business from Montana State University and an M.S. in agricultural economics from Oregon State University. Jay Parsons is an Associate Professor in the Department of Agricultural Economics at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln where he develops and conducts programs focused on risk management and decision analysis. Jay has nearly 20 years of experience helping farmers and ranchers understand risk and risk management tools. Recently he’s focused his efforts on developing scenarios for the Ag Survivor simulation software, a unique and innovative risk management education program designed to provide experiential learning opportunities for farmers and ranchers.
5:00 p.m. (EST)	Sessions conclude
5:00-6:30 p.m. (EST)	Networking Reception Beck Ag Center Join us for a mix of hors d’oeuvres, beverages and networking!

Thursday, January 9, 2020

1:00 p.m. (EST)

Ag Survivor – Strategies for Managing Risks in Your Operation
John Hewlett, Ranch/Farm Management Specialist, University of Wyoming &
Jay Parsons, Associate Professor of Agricultural Economics, University of Nebraska-Lincoln

The Ag Survivor workshop will help you develop strategies enabling your farm to thrive in today’s challenging environment. Used by thousands of farmers at workshops across the nation, the Ag Survivor simulation software was developed by the RightRisk Education Team to teach risk concepts and management strategies to agricultural producers in an experiential learning environment. Ag Survivor scenarios present complicated, and sometimes confusing, risk management subject matter in an easily understood format by fully engaging workshop attendees in a hands-on farm simulation.

John Hewlett has been a Ranch/Farm Management Specialist at the University of Wyoming since 1987 and is one of the developers of the RightRisk and Risk Navigator educational programs. He grew up in Washington state, where he worked for eight years on a large stocker-cattle/cropping operation, and holds a B.S. degree in agricultural business from Montana State University and an M.S. in agricultural economics from Oregon State University.

Jay Parsons is an Associate Professor in the Department of Agricultural Economics at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln where he develops and conducts programs focused on risk management and decision analysis. Jay has nearly 20 years of experience helping farmers and ranchers understand risk and risk management tools. Recently he’s focused his efforts on developing scenarios for the Ag Survivor simulation software, a unique and innovative risk management education program designed to provide experiential learning opportunities for farmers and ranchers.

5:00 p.m. (EST)

Sessions conclude

5:00-6:30 p.m. (EST)

Networking Reception
Beck Ag Center

Join us for a mix of hors d’oeuvres, beverages and networking!

Conference Agenda

Friday, January 10, 2020
7:15 a.m. (EST)	Registration and Breakfast Come early, enjoy breakfast and network!
8:00 a.m. (EST)	Welcome James Mintert, Director, Purdue Center for Commercial Agriculture
8:05 a.m. (EST)	Ag Outlook: Looking Beyond the 2020 Crop Year Chad Hart, Associate Professor of Economics, Iowa State University This session will examine the current outlook for corn and soybeans, but will also take a longer view of what’s ahead for the U.S. ag economy and the management implications for the next several years. A native of southwest Missouri, Chad Hart received his Ph.D. in economics and statistics in 1999 from Iowa State University. Dr. Hart’s research focuses on crop marketing, crop insurance, international trade agreements, in addition to bioenergy policy. Chad is also a partner in FarmRisk, an Iowa firm that develops revenue insurance products for agriculture.
9:00 a.m. (EST)	Farmland Values: Where Do We Go From Here? Todd Kuethe, Associate Professor, Schrader Endowed Chair in Farmland Economics, Purdue University Dr. Kuethe will explore recent trends in farmland markets in Indiana and across the Corn Belt and will closely examine returns to farmland, the cost of capital, and both the short-run and long-term prospects for farmland prices. Dr. Kuethe joined the Purdue faculty in 2019 following several years on the University of Illinois’ faculty and at USDA’s Economic Research Service. Todd’s research interests are focused on farm real estate, agricultural finance and agricultural policy.
9:45 a.m. (EST)	Networking Break
10:00 a.m. (EST)	Cover Crops: Agronomic, Economic, and Environmental Considerations Nathanael Thompson, Assistant Professor of Agricultural Economics, Purdue University & Shalamar Armstrong, Assistant Professor of Agronomy, Purdue University Do you use cover crops? Interested in learning more about cover crop usage in the Corn Belt? This session will provide an update on research that evaluates the agronomic, economic, and environmental impacts of using cover crops in Corn Belt corn-soybean rotations. Nathan Thompson teaches farm management at Purdue in addition to conducting farm management, crop marketing and beef cattle research. Dr. Thompson is also one of the principal researchers responsible for developing the Center for Commercial Agriculture’s Crop Basis Tool. Shalamar Armstrong’s research focuses on soil conservation, soil health, nutrient management and water quality. Dr. Armstrong is the lead scientist in Purdue’s Soil Ecosystem and Nutrient Dynamics (SEND) Laboratory.
11:00 a.m. (EST)	Networking Break
11:15 a.m. (EST)	What Did We Learn in 2019 That We Can Apply in the Future? – A Discussion with Purdue’s Top Crop Scientists Robert Nielsen, Professor & Corn Specialist, Department of Agronomy, Shaun Casteel, Associate Professor & Soybean Specialist, Department of Agronomy, & Bill Johnson, Professor & Weed Science Specialist, Department of Botany and Plant Pathology A roundtable discussion with Purdue’s crop production specialists reviewing what took place during 2019 and what they learned that can be applied to your production plans for 2020.
12:15 p.m. (EST)	Lunch
1:15 p.m. (EST)	The Promise of Digital Ag: What Are Farmers Doing, Why Do They Do It and How Has It Affected Their Farming Operation? Nathan Delay, Assistant Professor of Agricultural Economics, Purdue University, Nathanael Thompson, Assistant Professor of Agricultural Economics, Purdue University, & James Mintert, Professor of Agricultural Economics, Purdue University The Center for Commercial Agriculture has been surveying crop farmers regarding their usage of digital ag technology on their farms. Learn what farmers have to say about adoption, usage and benefits of digital ag tech on their farms. Nathan Delay joined Purdue’s faculty in 2018 upon completion of his Ph.D. in Economics from Washington State University. Nathan’s research program focuses on farmers’ use of digital agriculture and crop insurance.
2:00 p.m. (EST)	Making Your Farm Bill Decision in 2020 Michael Langemeier, Professor of Agricultural Economics, Purdue University & James Mintert, Professor of Agricultural Economics, Purdue University The 2018 Farm Bill presents producers with several choices to be made by the March 15 sign-up deadline. This session will discuss the alternatives and help you choose between the ARC and PLC programs.
2:45 p.m. (EST)	Networking Break
3:00 p.m. (EST)	Managing Weather Risk in Production Agriculture Eric Snodgrass, Senior Atmospheric Scientist, Nutrien Ag Solutions & University of Illinois Interested in weather impacts on crop production? This session will take a look back into what happened in 2019, look ahead to what to expect in 2020 and help you identify weather trends you need to consider when making decisions on your farming operation. Eric Snodgrass is the Principal Atmospheric Scientist for Nutrien Ag Solutions, where he develops predictive, analytical software to help agricultural producers manage weather risk. His frequent weather updates focus on how high-impact weather events influence global agriculture productivity. Eric was the Director of Undergraduate Studies for the Department of Atmospheric Sciences at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign from 2006 to 2019, and is now an Adjunct Assistant Professor for the Department.
4:30 p.m. (EST)	Conference Wrap-Up

Friday, January 10, 2020

7:15 a.m. (EST)

Registration and Breakfast

Come early, enjoy breakfast and network!

8:00 a.m. (EST)

Welcome
James Mintert, Director, Purdue Center for Commercial Agriculture

8:05 a.m. (EST)

Ag Outlook: Looking Beyond the 2020 Crop Year
Chad Hart, Associate Professor of Economics, Iowa State University

This session will examine the current outlook for corn and soybeans, but will also take a longer view of what’s ahead for the U.S. ag economy and the management implications for the next several years.

A native of southwest Missouri, Chad Hart received his Ph.D. in economics and statistics in 1999 from Iowa State University. Dr. Hart’s research focuses on crop marketing, crop insurance, international trade agreements, in addition to bioenergy policy. Chad is also a partner in FarmRisk, an Iowa firm that develops revenue insurance products for agriculture.

9:00 a.m. (EST)

Farmland Values: Where Do We Go From Here?
Todd Kuethe, Associate Professor, Schrader Endowed Chair in Farmland Economics, Purdue University

Dr. Kuethe will explore recent trends in farmland markets in Indiana and across the Corn Belt and will closely examine returns to farmland, the cost of capital, and both the short-run and long-term prospects for farmland prices.

Dr. Kuethe joined the Purdue faculty in 2019 following several years on the University of Illinois’ faculty and at USDA’s Economic Research Service. Todd’s research interests are focused on farm real estate, agricultural finance and agricultural policy.

9:45 a.m. (EST)

Networking Break

10:00 a.m. (EST)

Cover Crops: Agronomic, Economic, and Environmental Considerations
Nathanael Thompson, Assistant Professor of Agricultural Economics, Purdue University &
Shalamar Armstrong, Assistant Professor of Agronomy, Purdue University

Do you use cover crops? Interested in learning more about cover crop usage in the Corn Belt? This session will provide an update on research that evaluates the agronomic, economic, and environmental impacts of using cover crops in Corn Belt corn-soybean rotations.

Nathan Thompson teaches farm management at Purdue in addition to conducting farm management, crop marketing and beef cattle research. Dr. Thompson is also one of the principal researchers responsible for developing the Center for Commercial Agriculture’s Crop Basis Tool.

Shalamar Armstrong’s research focuses on soil conservation, soil health, nutrient management and water quality. Dr. Armstrong is the lead scientist in Purdue’s Soil Ecosystem and Nutrient Dynamics (SEND) Laboratory.

11:00 a.m. (EST)

Networking Break

11:15 a.m. (EST)

What Did We Learn in 2019 That We Can Apply in the Future? – A Discussion with Purdue’s Top Crop Scientists
Robert Nielsen, Professor & Corn Specialist, Department of Agronomy,
Shaun Casteel, Associate Professor & Soybean Specialist, Department of Agronomy, &
Bill Johnson, Professor & Weed Science Specialist, Department of Botany and Plant Pathology

A roundtable discussion with Purdue’s crop production specialists reviewing what took place during 2019 and what they learned that can be applied to your production plans for 2020.

12:15 p.m. (EST)

Lunch

1:15 p.m. (EST)

The Promise of Digital Ag: What Are Farmers Doing, Why Do They Do It and How Has It Affected Their Farming Operation?
Nathan Delay, Assistant Professor of Agricultural Economics, Purdue University,
Nathanael Thompson, Assistant Professor of Agricultural Economics, Purdue University, &
James Mintert, Professor of Agricultural Economics, Purdue University

The Center for Commercial Agriculture has been surveying crop farmers regarding their usage of digital ag technology on their farms. Learn what farmers have to say about adoption, usage and benefits of digital ag tech on their farms.

Nathan Delay joined Purdue’s faculty in 2018 upon completion of his Ph.D. in Economics from Washington State University. Nathan’s research program focuses on farmers’ use of digital agriculture and crop insurance.

2:00 p.m. (EST)

Making Your Farm Bill Decision in 2020
Michael Langemeier, Professor of Agricultural Economics, Purdue University &
James Mintert, Professor of Agricultural Economics, Purdue University

The 2018 Farm Bill presents producers with several choices to be made by the March 15 sign-up deadline. This session will discuss the alternatives and help you choose between the ARC and PLC programs.

2:45 p.m. (EST)

Networking Break

3:00 p.m. (EST)

Managing Weather Risk in Production Agriculture
Eric Snodgrass, Senior Atmospheric Scientist, Nutrien Ag Solutions & University of Illinois

Interested in weather impacts on crop production? This session will take a look back into what happened in 2019, look ahead to what to expect in 2020 and help you identify weather trends you need to consider when making decisions on your farming operation.

Eric Snodgrass is the Principal Atmospheric Scientist for Nutrien Ag Solutions, where he develops predictive, analytical software to help agricultural producers manage weather risk. His frequent weather updates focus on how high-impact weather events influence global agriculture productivity. Eric was the Director of Undergraduate Studies for the Department of Atmospheric Sciences at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign from 2006 to 2019, and is now an Adjunct Assistant Professor for the Department.

4:30 p.m. (EST)

Conference Wrap-Up

Speakers