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Innovations Theater

Sponsored by: Successful Farming

Cost: Free

Throughout AG CONNECT Expo, industry-renowned speakers will discuss timely topics and share the latest information and innovations that impact agribusiness. These seminars will be located on the show floor and are included in the cost of admission.

Friday, January 7

11 - 11:45 a.m.

Dealer Session: Future Environment Regulations with Tier 4 Requirements
By the North American Equipment Dealers Association

Discussion will include the compliance costs for new equipment, performance differences of equipment in-service, and market value of used equipment. Availability, costs and training of service technicians will also be presented.

1 - 1:45 p.m.

Vision for 2020: Does Precision Farming Pay?
Moderator: Laurie Potter, Successful Farming

Since precision ag technology requires an investment, the natural question is will it pay? To answer that question other questions must be asked. “How large is the expected profit with the technology? What are the chances there will be a return? How large is the required investment in time and money? Are there a certain number of acres I need to justify the cost? The answers determine if a particular technology is adopted. In this session you'll learn how farmers are making precision ag pay in their operations.

2:30 - 3:15 p.m.

Dealer Session: Equipment Distribution Realities for the 21st Century
Moderator: Paul Kindinger, President and CEO, North American Equipment Dealers Association
By the North American Equipment Dealers Association

This session will discuss the evolution of farm and ranch equipment distribution channels in North America and the implications for farmers, ranchers, manufacturers, distributors and dealers. Discussions will focus on what it would mean if there were fewer brands, fewer dealers, fewer manufacturers and increased competition in sales, parts and servicing as business strategies change to compete in the 21st century.

Saturday, January 8

9:30 - 10:30 a.m.

Town Hall Forum: The Shrinking Environmental Footprint of Agriculture

Today it is “politically correct” to bash modern agriculture as harmful to the environment; but society must consider the ecological impact of trying to feed nearly seven billion people today, and over 9 billion in 2050, using traditional methods. This session will examine the benefits of modern agriculture that have resulted in increased yields while decreasing inputs per unit of production as well as offering producers ways to convey this message and tell this important story to the public.

10:45 - 11:45 a.m.

Town Hall Forum: Trade's Impact at the Farm Gate

With 95 percent of consumers living outside the U.S., the future prosperity of American agriculture—and associated industries—depends largely on the ability to sell to foreign markets. USDA estimates that 8,000-9,000 U.S. jobs are supported with every billion dollars in agricultural exports. The U.S. signed free trade agreements with Colombia, Panama and South Korea. Yet, Congress has not taken up any of these agreements. Our competitors are not standing still; they are negotiating their own agreements with Colombia and Korea. The positive impact of exports will be diminished as long as the U.S. is not moving forward with an agricultural trade agenda of its own. The jobs at stake extend beyond rural America, from processors and packers to transportation workers to equipment makers. Every American worker has a stake in ensuring continued U.S. competitiveness in international markets. The drop in U.S. agricultural exports from 2008 to 2009 is estimated to have cost roughly 160,000 American jobs. By the end of 2010, there will be more than 600 bilateral and regional trade agreements worldwide. The U.S. share of that figure will be fewer than 25 agreements. About 25 percent of the total volume of U.S. farm production is exported, and many U.S. commodities have a much higher dependence on trade.

1 - 2 p.m.

Town Hall Forum: Understanding Agriculture through the Eyes of the Consumer

Many Americans are several generations removed from the farm and, thus, any direct understanding of how food is produced and the practical decisions that farmers must make to remain productive and profitable. Meanwhile, Americans' interest in food is greater than ever, as evidenced by the abundance of 24-hour television networks, magazines, retail stores and even novels devoted to the subject. Our hunger for information about food—how and where it's produced—isn't always fed with factual information, or built on a solid foundation of knowledge about agriculture. Instead, it is fed by movies such as Food Inc. and articles in magazines such as Newsweek that criticize modern agricultural methods. Unfortunately, it is even fed by undercover exposés that show farm workers or processor employees mistreating livestock. Consumers want to eat our products; they just need information that helps them feel OK about doing so. Conventional agriculture must explain what farmers do, why they do it and how modern production methods benefit consumers in terms of food safety, availability and cost. This town hall meeting discussion could focus on what we can learn from public opinion research, the messages about agriculture that work and ways to spread those messages effectively and positively.

Sunday, January 9

9:30 - 10:15 a.m.

A Good Manager is a Healthy Manager

People are your farm's most valuable assets. Learn how to minimize losses and liability on your farm as a result farm-specific safety and health hazards. You'll leave this interactive session with tips about how to live a healthy lifestyle, better use personal protective equipment, and with an increased awareness of farm specific health hazards.

11 - 11:45 a.m.

Stop the Fighting on the Way to the Funeral Home!
Speaker: Jolene Brown, CSP

Learn what it takes to become a Business-First Family™ and improve your productivity, profitability, and family relationships. From conversations to contracts, from assumptions to clarification, from complaints to celebrations, this presentation will open eyes and save fighting on the way to the funeral home.

1 - 2 p.m.

Crop Management Tools for Optimizing Yield
Speakers: Dr. Fred E. Below, Professor of Plant Physiology, University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign and Dr. Don Horneck, Associate Professor and Extension Agronomist, Oregon State University

Dr. Below will present his “Seven Wonders of the Corn Yield World” tool for optimizing crop management and yield. Dr. Horneck will discuss his new research on fall and spring nitrogen applications under center pivot irrigation. Taping of this session to be rebroadcast on RFD-TV beginning Monday, January 10 at 8 pm EST.

2:30 - 3:15 p.m.

Best of All Around the Farm: How to Save Time, Money and Labor
Speaker: Dave Mowitz, Editor, Successful Farming

Since 1929, farmers have been sending Successful Farming their money- and time-saving tips, ideas, and inventions for selection in the most well read magazine features in the country. Dave Mowitz will reveal his picks for the best farmer ideas featured in the pages of Successful Farming Magazine as well as televised on The Machinery Show.

Monday, January 10

9:30 - 10:15 a.m.

Crop Marketing: Ten Factors that will Drive this Year's Prices and Profit
Speaker: Al Kluis, President and Managing Partner, Kluis Commodities

Weather patterns, the economy, world demand trends, and shifting input costs. Learn which factors will drive crop prices and profits the most.

11 - 11:45 p.m.

Used Equipment Market Update
Speaker: Greg Peterson (aka Machinery Pete)

Since mid-2004, used farm equipment values have been on the rise. Reasons why include: the rising price of new equipment, the availability of new equipment, pent-up buying demand being released, the number of farm auctions becoming more scarce, and the level of good used equipment on implement dealer lots falling. Will these conditions hold in 2011? Machinery Pete began to see at least one of these factors change in 2010. Join Pete for a look at where used equipment values are headed in 2011.

1 - 1:45 p.m.

Top Ten Ideas from Top Shops
Speaker: Dave Mowitz, Editor, Successful Farming

In this session Dave Mowitz will share 10 of the most innovative ideas he's seen as he's traveled around the country visiting farm shops. You'll walk away from this session with farmer-fashioned ideas that make your shop of any size act bigger, work harder and give you more satisfaction.