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Hyatt Regency in St. Louis at the Arch
St. Louis, Missouri
January 3 & 4, 2013
 
January 3, 2012 THURSDAY
7:30 - 9 a.m. Registration
9-9:50 a.m. A Look at Lending Today vs. the '80s: Why Character is the Foundation of the 5 C's of Credit - Steve Witges, Farm Credit Services
10-10:50 a.m. In Good Times and Bad, a Plan Can Get the Most Out of Every Acre - Dan Westberg and Gary Fellows, BASF
11-11:50 a.m. Agriculture Beyond the Fiscal Cliff - Arlan Suderman, Water Street Solutions
NOON - LUNCH Lunch - Sponsored by FarmLink|MachineryLink
1 p.m. Keynote Opener - World hunger and Farm Sustainability: What is Your Role? - Howard Buffett
What role will you play in feeding 9 billion people by 2050? And, more importantly, how can you do it in a way that is earth-friendly and sustainable? Howard Buffett offers an engaging and compelling big picture look at the future of food and the U.S. farmer's role in its production.
  Howard Buffett, son of world renowned investor Warren Buffett, is a conservationist and philanthropist who grows corn and soybeans near Decatur, Ill. His HGB Foundation is working to discover best management practices in fertility, tillage, weed control and cover crops for large-scale U.S. farms.
2 p.m. Build Your Business Model with Core Values - Darren Frye
As farms grow and become more complex, farmer CEOs simply can't know everything needed to make the business a success. Making core values a centerpiece of your business is a strategy employed by the top companies in America. It can help you make more disciplined decisions and ensure everyone on your farm is pulling in the same direction.
  Darren Frye is CEO at Water Street Solutions, a risk management and marketing consulting firm in Peoria, Ill. 
3-3:30 p.m. NETWORKING BREAK
3:30 p.m. Going Global: Where is Global Agriculture Headed - Dr. David Kohl
Just where is all this global trade, talk of China and more headed? U.S. farmers already export a substantial part of their annual crop, what will that mean in the future for your farm?
  Dr. Kohl is professor emeritus of agricultural economics at Virginia Tech University.  He has conducted more than 6,000 workshops and seminars for agricultural groups including farmers, bankers, Farm Credit, and agribusiness groups. 
4:30 p.m. Going Global: Customers and Competitors - Moderated by Dr. David Kohl
Taking a page from Farm Futures magazine, we take a closer look at the key countries around the globe and focus on their strengths and weaknesses. Where are the greatest threats and opportunities?
  Dave Kohl moderator; Phil Corzine, general manager, South American Soy; Don Orr, President, JBS United; and William Meyers, director of International Agriculture programs, University of Missouri and staff member at the Food and Agricultural Policy Institute.
5:30 p.m. Social Hour/Networking - cash bar - Sponsored by John Deere
6:30 p.m. Dinner
7:30 p.m. Debate and Discuss: The Future Impact of Ag Regulations - Hosted by Max Armstrong
Farmers tell us regulations are a growing threat to the future of their business. Is EPA your friend or enemy? Can the farm bill be fair to farmers of all sizes and regions? How much will HSUS-driven laws cost farmers? Where are U.S. regulations headed: voluntary or mandatory? Here, two experts from both sides of the fence hash out the key points that will drive decision-making in the future, then open the discussion to questions from our audience.
  Max Armstrong, director of broadcast, Farm Progress will moderate (or perhaps referee) Gary Baise, Washington-D.C.-based lawyer and Farm Futures blogger and Brett Lorenzen, coordinator of the Mississippi River Project for Environmental Working Group, as they debate the key topic - ag regulation.
January 4, 2012 FRIDAY
6:30-8 a.m. BUFFET BREAKFAST - Sponsored by Regions Bank
8 a.m. - NOON Put Your Farm on the Right Track (see the tracks below)
NOON NETWORKING LUNCH - Enjoy a guided discussion during lunch of hot topics for your farm. And for a special feature - at 12:45, Agricultural Meteorologist Greg Soulje will offer his look at the long-range weather forecast. Sponsored by Agrotain
1 p.m. Crop Insurance and Farm Policy - What Does the Future Hold? - Art Barnaby
Farmers tell us crop insurance is the key risk management tool in their arsenal. Yet, the next farm bill may  bring changes to this tool if taxpayer-driven budget pressures continue. One of the nation's leading voices on crop insurance weights in on how potential cuts might effect farmers, especially the harvest price.
  Art Barnaby, Kansas State University Ag Economist, is the country's leading expert on crop insurance. He helped write crop insurance policy on the federal level and has spoken to thousands of farmers as they seek his advice on how to best use this risk management tool.
2 p.m. The Coming Culture War: CAn We Bridge the Divide Between Farmers and Consumers? - Robert Paarlberg
From Food Inc. to Michael Pollan, fundamental disagreements on how food is produced could change how you do business in the future. Those differences include what farms should look like, "local" vs. "industrial" production, sustainability, and the consumer's voice in production practices. These differences may end up in farm policy and tougher regulations.
  Robert Paarlberg, B.F. Johnson Professor of Political Science at Wellesley College and adjunct professor of public policy at the Harvard University Kennedy School of Government
3 p.m. Farm Growth: Assessing the Financial and Strategic Fit with Your Business - Michael Boehlje
Our summit concludes with a discussion on how to manage risk in turbulent times, obtain capital, organize personnel, re-create your business model for better efficiencies, and standardize operations. Dr. Boehlje guides participants in step-by-step approach to better ROI decision-making.
  Mike Boehlje, Purdue ag economist, has taught undergraduate and graduate courses in agriculture and finance and holds extension programs in finance and strategic management with farm, finance, and agribusiness firms. He is a frequent speaker at finance and agribusiness conferences and workshops. 
CHOOSE YOUR TRACK
We've got focused breakout tracks to choose from, but feel free to 'jump the track' as needed
  Marketing & Risk Management Financial and Business Planning Management for Mulit-Generation Farms
Sponsored by Farm Credit
8-8:50 a.m. Stress Testing Your Marketing Plan for 2013
Bring your laptop and join Senior Editor Bryce Knorr for a hands-on session to exchange ideas on how to improve your risk management performance. Bryce will guide you through the development of a spreadsheet that uses the Excel Data Table function to create a “what if” sensitivity analysis, incorporating specific costs, yields and marketing methods for your farm.

Management and Cash Flow Strategies for 2013
Darrell Dunteman, farm financial consultant.

 Transition Management for Multi-gen Farms
What are best practices for moving leadership to the next generation? Jerry Moss
9-9:50 a.m. Stress Test Your Marketing Plan (continued)
Share your own Excel ideas in a workshop designed to help maintain profitability – and sleep better at night – using our best projections for the year ahead.

Which Tech Investments Make the Most Sense for Your Business?
John McGuire, Simplified Technology Services, gives a clear and precise overview of how to calculate various ROI in precision technology

Moving Up on the Family Farm
Coming into the family farm or moving up into management on the farm can be challenging. What is the manager's role? We'll discuss common mistakes new managers make and how to integrate new management ideas into the business.  We look at how a young family member earns a managerial role and how they can start contributing with managerial thoughts even if they don’t yet have the title. -Lori Lennard, human resources and business management consultant.

9:50 - 10:05 a.m. BREAK
10:10-11 a.m. Our Outlook and How to Use It
Paul Burgener, Market Analyst, Farm Futures 		Management and Cash Flow Strategies for 2013
Darrell Dunteman, farm financial consultant (repeat) 		People Management During a Train Wreck
It may seem easy to work with and lead others when things are going well, but the 2012 drought made it clear: It's not always easy to manage people in difficult times. Find out what it takes to rise above tough times and bring your operation to the next level – Jerry Moss
11:10 a.m. -NOON Weather Outlook for Ag: Is This the New Normal?
Presented by "This Week in Agribusiness" agricultural meteorologist Greg Soulje

Best in Class Management Practices
Risk assessment/audits and scorecarding, operational performance assessment – Mike Boehlje.
Bridging the Management Divide Multigenerational farms face unique challenges. Boomers have different values than gen X or gen Y, yet two or three generations must often work side by side on today's farms. As young farmer CEOs, what are the best ways to work with other generations to accomplish your career and professional goals as you work towards senior management? Listen in as mult-igen family farms share what works and what does not in this frank panel discussion (moderated by Mike Wilson)