Purdue Top Farmer Conference Focused On Management Strategies, Industry Outlook

 

Faculty from the Purdue University Center for Commercial Agriculture and University of Illinois farmdoc team, along with industry experts, will discuss key farm management strategies for the changing business environment at the annual Purdue Top Farmer Conference, July 9-10 in West Lafayette.

 

 

 

 

The two-day conference is designed to focus on key management strategies farm managers can use to make their farm more successful, said Jim Mintert, director of Purdue's Center for Commercial Agriculture and a conference organizer.

 

"Operating margins have tightened dramatically compared to a couple years ago," Mintert said. "We have organized the conference sessions to help farmers improve their management skills so they can better compete in this challenging economic environment. This year's conference also includes sessions that focus on the outlook for the U.S. economy, agricultural commodities, land prices, and land rental rates."

 

Day 1 topics and presenters are:

 

* "When Will You See the Whites of the Eyes of Inflation? And What It Means for Agriculture." Jason Henderson, director of Purdue Extension and professor of agricultural economics.

 

* "Does Your Management Team Stack Up? 5 Ways to Improve." Mike Boehlje, professor of agricultural economics; Mike Gunderson, associate director of the Purdue Center for Food and Agricultural Business; and Michael Langemeier, associate director of the Purdue Center for Commercial Agriculture.

 

* "Growth Strategies: Moving Beyond Adding Acres." Gary Schnitkey, professor of agricultural economics at the University of Illinois; and Boehlje.

 

* "What Does the Future Hold for U.S. Agriculture?" Chris Hurt, professor of agricultural economics at Purdue; Mintert and Langemeier.

 

Day 2 begins with a presentation of results from Purdue's June land price and rental rate survey and includes a panel discussion with leaders from the farm real estate sector. Additional sessions on day two focus on how your farm can compete for employees in today’s competitive environment and using interns to help fill the talent pipeline.

 

The conference concludes with an afternoon session devoted to using data and technology to increase margins on Corn Belt farms. Speakers include Bruce Erickson, professor of agronomy; Anthony Osborne of Climate Corporation; Tom Kahl of Granular Corp.; and Gary Wagner, a Minnesota farmer with extensive precision agriculture and data management experience.

 

The conference, now in its 48th year, will be held at Purdue's Beck Agricultural Center, 4540 U.S. 52 W, West Lafayette.

 

Registration is $350 per person, or $300 before June 25. Group discounts are available for teams of three or more people registering from the same organization.

 

Video: Dicamba Returns for Georgia Farmers: What the New EPA Ruling Means for Cotton Growers

After being unavailable in 2024 due to registration issues, dicamba products are returning for Georgia farmers this growing season — but under strict new conditions.

In this report from Tifton, Extension Weed Specialist Stanley Culpepper explains the updated EPA ruling, including new application limits, mandatory training requirements, and the need for a restricted use pesticide license. Among the key changes: a cap of two ½-pound applications per year and the required use of an approved volatility reduction agent with every application.

For Georgia cotton producers, the ruling is significant. According to Taylor Sills with the Georgia Cotton Commission, the vast majority of cotton planted in the state carries the dicamba-tolerant trait — meaning farmers had been paying for technology they couldn’t use.

While environmental groups have expressed concerns over spray drift, Georgia growers have reduced off-target pesticide movement by more than 91% over the past decade. Still, this two-year registration period will come with increased scrutiny, making stewardship and compliance more important than ever.