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Speaker Sessions for 2022

2022 Speaker Line Up Coming Soon!

Speaker Sessions are located in the

Harvest Room inside the Exhibit Building

2021 Speaker Line Up

Carbon Credits & Contracts

Wednesday, November 17, 2021, 9:15 AM
Presented By: Dave Aiken, Professor at UNL

Research Interest:
Water law and policy, energy law, environmental law and global warming

Extension Areas:
Water law, agricultural law

Education:
J.D. with honors, George Washington University, 1975
B.A. cum laud, Hastings College (Nebraska), 1972

Policy Update

Wednesday, November 17, 2021, 10:00 AM
Presented By: Brad Lubben

Integrated Research, Extension, and Teaching Interests:
Agricultural Policy
- Policy preferences, development, and implementation
- Policy alternatives and program impacts
Trade Policy
- Policy preferences
- Trade agreements, negotiations, and conflicts
Food Policy
- Consumer preferences and food attributes
- Food production standards and policies
- Conservation and Environmental Policy
- Conservation programs, alternatives, and impacts
Environmental regulations
- Public policy
- Policy issues analysis and education
- Public policy issues education principles and methods
Education:
Ph.D., Agricultural Economics, Kansas State University, 2005
M.S., Agricultural Economics Major and Agronomy Minor, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, 1992
B.S., Agricultural Economics, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, 1989

Cattle Marketing / Government Changes

Wednesday, November 17, 2021, 10:45 AM
Presented By: Elliott Dennis, Assistant Professor at UNL

University of Nebraska - Lincoln 2019-Present
Assistant Professor, Livestock Marketing 60% Extension / 40% Research
Developing a high-impact, nationally and internationally recognized extension and research program in the economics of livestock marketing and risk management, including, marketing of livestock under different contract specifications, outlook reports on livestock prices and markets; the use of derivatives, contracts, and insurance as risk management tools; and public policy.

Renewable Solar Energy: Did you know?

Wednesday, November 17, 2021, 1:00 PM
Presented By: Bobby Johnson, Dawson Public Power District

Bobby Johnson is the Energy Services Specialist at Dawson Public Power District. His background in science, electronics and education allows him to best serve customers by working with them to find positive solutions tailored to their needs. Johnson’s job responsibilities include assisting customers with renewable generation systems, early-stage education, application review, system code compliance and testing, documentation maintenance and account annual review. This presentation will introduce the basic concepts of renewable solar energy. Then, you will learn some of the interesting facts, including:
- Simple science about solar energy.
- Legal requirements to follow when installing solar.
- How solar interconnects with your home/business.
- The details needed on the financial side of renewable energy.

2021 Commodity Market Update

Wednesday, November 17, 2019, 2:00 PM
Presented By: Troy Nielsen, Smart Yield

Originally from south central Nebraska, Troy Nielsen graduated from Elwood Public High School in 1981. Troy attended Kearney State College in Kearney Nebraska from 1981 through 1983. Troy lives in Kearney and is married with four children. Troy began his career in commodities 25 years ago, assisting area Ag Producers hedging grains and livestock. In 2004 along with a partner, they started Smart Yield.

“I enjoy working one on one with each client; we have the best clients in the world. Our staff is growing and we have been fortunate to grow our business working side by side with both Agriculture Hedgers and individual investors.”

Livestock Risk Protection & Pasture Rangeland Forage Insurance

Thursday, November 18, 2021, 9:30 AM
Presented By: Cassidy Thompson & Landon Nelson, Farm Credit Services of America

Landon and Cassidy are Insurance Services Officers for Farm Credit Services of America specializing livestock insurance products. Both have worked with producers and agribusinesses across the United States throughout their careers bringing a unique perspective to livestock risk management. They will discuss recent changes to the Livestock Risk Protection (LRP) and how it can be incorporated into a livestock operation risk management plan. LRP is a highly subsidized insurance product that allows livestock producers to protect against a decline in price.

Provide an overview of Pasture Rangeland Forage (PRF) insurance and how it can help protect a producer's operation from the risk of forage loss due to the lack of precipitation.

Soil Microbial Solutions

Thursday, November 18, 2021, 10:30 AM
Presented By: Renee Kusilek, Strong Microbials

Strong Microbials, Inc is based out of Milwaukee Wisconsin and is focused on shaping the future of agriculture with microbes for plants, animals and soil. Sustainable agriculture through microbial technology is what we do best. Renee grew up on a dairy farm in Wisconsin and has a Bachelor's degree in Horticulture from the University of Wisconsin-River Falls. She has been working with agricultural microbials products since 2007. This session will cover the uses and science of microbes along with the cost and benefits of using it on any agricultural operation.

KEYNOTE SPEAKER: Carbon Sequestration: Government Policy vs Reality

Keynote Speaker sponsored by: Aurora Co-op
Thursday, November 18, 2021, 2:00 PM
Presented By: Greg Ibach, Under Secretary in Residence at the UNL’s Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources.

In his role with IANR, he works to connect UNL Research, Teaching and Extension expertise to current policy initiatives and opportunities at the state and federal government level. He spent the past three years as USDA’s Under Sec. for Marketing and Regulatory Programs. In his role, he carried out the MRP mission area’s broad task of facilitating domestic and international marketing of U.S. ag products and ensuring the health and care of animals and plants. Prior to his USDA appointment, he served as Nebraska’s Director of Ag for over 12 years. He has been inducted into the NE Hall of Ag Achievement.
Greg holds a Bachelor of Science in Ag from UNL. He and his wife, Teresa, have three grown children and two granddaughters. They maintain a cow/calf and grain operation in Sumner, NE.

2019 Speaker Line Up: Additional Information SOON!

Ag Market.net

Wednesday, November 20, 2019, 9:30 AM
Presented By: Jim McCormick, Ag Market.net

The AgMarket.Net group is a forward-thinking agricultural marketing and consulting firm, laser-focused on maximizing your farm's profitability and balancing risk. Our staff has decades of experience that should contribute to your bottom line. Our staff in the past, been involved in farming, consulting Ag clients, developing long term hedge strategies for major food companies, livestock and/or grain producers, trading on the floor, managing investment and insurance portfolios, working with congress on Ag related matters, and handling risk management for international clients.

Air Data Solutions

Wednesday, November 20, 2019, 10:30 AM
Presented By: Kevin Price, Air Data Solutions

Dr. Kevin Price grew up working on the family farm and ranch. His academic training is in plant science, remote sensing and geospatial data analyses. Dr. Price will discuss basics of remote sensing, how it works for plant condition assessment, and how drone and airplane acquired imagery can be used to reduce crop input costs. As with all new technologies, it can be oversold, so he will reveal what works and what does not work.

Nebraska Land Value and Cash Rental Rate Trends

Wednesday, November 20, 2019, 1:00 PM
Presented By: Jim Jansen, UNL, Nebraska Land Value and Cash Rental Rate Trends

This presentation covers current trends in cash rental rates across Nebraska for 2020 and strategies for setting the equitable cash rental rate for an agricultural land. Trends and strategies discussed provide the skills and insight necessary for implementing cash rental rates that account for the needs of both landlords and tenants.

Farm Bill Signup Summary

Wednesday, November 20, 2019, 2:00 PM
Presented By: Robert Tigner, UNL, Farm Bill Signup Summary

Mr. Tigner’s educational specialties include crop marketing, computer decision aids, computer accounting, farm women’s financial and risk management education, crop cost and farmland leasing and farm bills as they are passed. Mr. Tigner will be speaking on the 2019 Farm Bill Choices. The US Congress passed a revised farm programs bill in 2018. Farm program participatants may change their participation choice. Understanding these choices and implications is the focus of this session.

Hemp Production

Thursday, November 21, 2019, 9:30 AM
Presented By: Speaker TBA, Everything you wanted to know about hemp production.

Alex is from Wilber, NE. With back grounds in agriculture and construction. He first discovered a passion for industrial hemp 10 years ago when he discovered Hempcrete. Since, he has been researching, educating, and advocating to help hemp become a sustainable crop for Nebraska's agribusiness. He is now part of an NGO called Midwest Hemp Forum and is traveling the state to educate farmers on hemp.

Corn, Soybeans and Cattle Outlook

Thursday, November 21, 2019, 10:30 AM
Presented By: Doug Simmon and Jamison Jensen, Tredas

Mr. Simon has been a risk management consultant and commodity broker since 1999, working with agribusinesses and diversified farms. Mr. Jensen spent the past five years working throughout the US with a national grain company. His experience has ranged from trading cash grain in upstate New York and Southwest Kansas, as well as some other geographic areas. Tredas’ marketing concepts and thought process about how to create value for our producers is unmatched in the industry.

KEYNOTE SPEAKER: Planning for the future of your farm.

Keynote Speaker sponsored by: Aurora Co-op

Thursday, November 21, 2019, 1:00 PM
Presented By: Ron Hanson, UNL Professor Emeritus, Planning for the future of your farm. Transitioning to the next generation.

What happens when this will never happen to our family farm happens? Few family operations survive an unexpected change to the management ownership of their farming business as well as a family crisis and remain profitable. Implementing a business management contingency plan for ownership succession and the transition of management control to the next generation is crucial for the farm’s continued success as well as avoiding potential family disputes. Family members must initiate transition planning strategies for their farm to ensure a future when the unexpected might happen. Guidelines and risk management strategies will be shared to help find solutions to accomplish a successful transition so that a family farming legacy continues for future generations.