What's New

Educational Opportunities Seminars are located in the Veterans Memorial Convention Center
Tuesday, January 31
10:45 a.m.	"Farm Continuation Strategies: Adding Clarity in Uncertain Times", Farm Financial Strategies - Room 301 The current estate tax laws expire at the end of 2012. Land values have skyrocketed. The gap between “Market Rent” and “Family Rent” has widened. It takes a larger land base to support a family today than in the past. With today’s values, it’s difficult for families to define “fair” vs. “equal” for their kids. Yet, most estate documents do not effectively address the tax, management, and distribution of the family farm in a way that improves cash flow, protects the interests of the farming heir, and treats the off-farm heirs fairly/equitably. Will your farm thrive in the next generation? In this seminar we will talk about ways you can structure your strategies to withstand today’s volatility and achieve your intended results.
11:30 a.m.	"OptRx Crop Sensors", Ag Leader Technology - Room 311 The OptRx crop sensor system measures and records data about a crop in real-time. Information collected, including vegetative index, can then be utilized to measure the impact of nutrients, water, disease and other growing conditions on crops. Learn how OptRx can create a nitrogen prescription that adjusts the rate of application on-the-go.
12:15 p.m.	"Yield Pays the Bills…Yield Starts Here!, A Farmer Focused Q&A Session", Calcium Products - Room 301 A Q&A session with industry leading experts on what it takes to increase yields while decreasing costs. This panel of producers, soil experts and agronomists has the knowledge and real world experience to help you pay the bills by increasing your yield. Bring your questions (and answers) to this interactive open forum and learn why high yields start with the soil.
1:00 p.m.	"Spring Recovery in Grains?", DTN - Room 311 After a fall and early winter selloff, market factors are lining up to indicate a stronger spring quarter. John Sanow, guest speaker, has been involved in agriculture most of his life, bringing an everyman’s approach to his analysis of the various markets. As market analyst for DTN/The Progressive Farmer, he provides customers with insight on market action on an hourly, daily, and weekly basis. His commentary and analysis are consistently featured in newspapers and on radio stations throughout the country - including the Associated Press and DTN/The Progressive Farmer’s Closing Market video.
1:45 p.m.	"Preparing for What’s Next: Producer- Driven Discussion on Farm Marketing", Stewart-Peterson - Room 301 Do you second-guess your marketing or wonder if you’re ready enough for what the market will do next? Leave that stress behind and gain some peace of mind. Presenters Mike Rusch and Nick Mueller will give you a market recap and vision for the future. You’ll find out what great marketing looks like and how to make it work for you. Then, the floor is yours. We look forward to a dynamic, producer-driven discussion tackling the marketing concerns that swirl around your mind.
2:30 p.m.	"Cattle Profits in Risky Times", Nexus Marketing - Room 311 We’ll help you understand risk management basics, from packer contracts to hedging. You’ll learn the important steps in developing a risk management program for your cattle enterprise. You’ll also hear the A-Z about beef quality grades, and yield grades, so you can glean more profit from the cattle you market.

Wednesday, February 1
10:45 a.m.	"Farm Continuation Strategies: Adding Clarity in Uncertain Times", Farm Financial Strategies - Room 301 The current estate tax laws expire at the end of 2012. Land values have skyrocketed. The gap between “Market Rent” and “Family Rent” has widened. It takes a larger land base to support a family today than in the past. With today’s values, it’s difficult for families to define “fair” vs. “equal” for their kids. Yet, most estate documents do not effectively address the tax, management, and distribution of the family farm in a way that improves cash flow, protects the interests of the farming heir, and treats the off-farm heirs fairly/equitably. Will your farm thrive in the next generation? In this seminar we will talk about ways you can structure your strategies to withstand today’s volatility and achieve your intended results.
11:30 a.m.	"Improving Planter Performance with SeedCommand", Ag Leader Technology - Room 311 Today's high-tech seed isn't cheap. SeedCommand, with Advanced Seed Monitoring, can help you identify and correct potential yield robbing factors in real time on a row-by-row basis.
12:15 p.m.	"Yield Pays the Bills…Yield Starts Here!, A Farmer Focused Q&A Session", Calcium Products - Room 301 A Q&A session with industry leading experts on what it takes to increase yields while decreasing costs. This panel of producers, soil experts and agronomists has the knowledge and real world experience to help you pay the bills by increasing your yield. Bring your questions (and answers) to this interactive open forum and learn why high yields start with the soil.
1:00 p.m.	"SMS Software and the Value of Data", Ag Leader Technology, Room 311 Understand the value of data collected by SMS software and how you can use this data to help improve your operation.
1:45 p.m.	"Preparing for What’s Next: Producer- Driven Discussion on Farm Marketing", Stewart-Peterson - Room 301 Do you second-guess your marketing or wonder if you’re ready enough for what the market will do next? Leave that stress behind and gain some peace of mind. Presenters Mike Rusch and Nick Mueller will give you a market recap and vision for the future. You’ll find out what great marketing looks like and how to make it work for you. Then, the floor is yours. We look forward to a dynamic, producer-driven discussion tackling the marketing concerns that swirl around your mind.
2:30 p.m.	"Become More Profitable in 2012", Growers Edge - Room 311 Growers Edge helps farmers make more profitable business decisions by providing local information and solutions. www.growers-edge.com is a free, easy-to-use website that provides farmers with a one-stop resource for all of their business profitability and marketing needs. The site provides an unbiased and independent approach to help farmers make profitable business decisions by using advanced search engines to help them earn more revenue. Users to date have earned an additional 20 to 40 cents per bushel on average.

Thursday, February 2
10:45 a.m.	"Family Farm Issues - A Process That Works", Heartland Financial Resource Group - Room 301 Specific issue discovery and planning steps for action. Points of discussion will be: transitioning the family farm to the next generation and beyond; tax advantage planning to include current income tax issues, capital gains tax issues and estate planning; forced sale; and farm corporation buy-sell processes.
11:30 a.m.	"Preparing for What’s Next: Producer- Driven Discussion on Farm Marketing", Stewart-Peterson - Room 311 Do you second-guess your marketing or wonder if you’re ready enough for what the market will do next? Leave that stress behind and gain some peace of mind. Presenters Mike Rusch and Nick Mueller will give you a market recap and vision for the future. You’ll find out what great marketing looks like and how to make it work for you. Then, the floor is yours. We look forward to a dynamic, producer-driven discussion tackling the marketing concerns that swirl around your mind.
12:15 p.m.	"Yield Pays the Bills…Yield Starts Here!, A Farmer Focused Q&A Session", Calcium Products - Room 301 A Q&A session with industry leading experts on what it takes to increase yields while decreasing costs. This panel of producers, soil experts and agronomists has the knowledge and real world experience to help you pay the bills by increasing your yield. Bring your questions (and answers) to this interactive open forum and learn why high yields start with the soil.
1:00 p.m.	"Elderberry Production", Micro Growing Sciences - Room 311 Commercial elderberry production is being expanded to meet the dramatic increase in demand for elderberry juice partly due to antioxidant levels 5 times higher than blueberries as determined by the USDA and for supporting the immune system. This session will present general elderberry information and updated information from University of Missouri regarding commercial/home elderberry production and the profitability potential.
1:45 p.m.	"SPCC (Spill Prevention, Control & Countermeasures) for Agriculture", Barker Lemar Engineering Consultants - Room 301 You will learn how to complete the Tier 1 template for agricultural facilities and also how to stay in compliance with EPA rules for aboveground storage tanks.