Conference preview: Insights into ag economy in 2022 and beyond
February 4, 2022 | Kriss Nelson
The Iowa Soybean Association’s Innovation to Profit Conference has an agenda loaded with research results from the Research Center of Farming Innovation (RCFI), ways to integrate in-field and edge-of-field strategies on the farm and ideas to improve profitability.
Casey Schlichting, ISA district 2 director from Clear Lake, says attendees can expect a top-notch conference worth a producer’s time.
“With the volatility of both inputs and commodity prices, you need to have a solid plan and stick with it,” Schlichting says. “I’m sure the information gained from this conference will help me with that plan.”
As we enter 2022, what can soybean producers expect to see from the U.S. macroeconomy? What do supply and demand fundamentals look like in agriculture over the next five years?
To help answer those questions, keynote speaker Matt Erickson, ag economic and policy advisor for Farm Credit Services of America, will open the conference with his presentation on the fundamental outlook for agriculture.
This presentation will provide trends and insights into what producers can expect from the U.S. macroeconomy and the U.S. agricultural sector in 2022 and beyond.
In his role, Erickson provides economic, market and policy analysis to internal and external stakeholders. He also provides perspective, strategic insights, and commentary that help connect conditions in the agricultural economy to individual producer impact as well as resulting impacts to the Association.
After several breakout sessions on subjects such as soil health, water quality, achieving high yields and ISA tools, the day will conclude with a question-and-answer style panel: “From Supply Chain Squeezes to Rocketing Demand for Renewable Fuels – What you Need to Know for What you Need to Grow.”
The panel will feature industry professionals including Mike Steenhoek, Executive Director of the Soy Transportation Coalition; Mike Ralston, President of the Iowa Association of Business & Industry; John Latham, President of Latham Hi-Tech Seeds and Kent Craighton, Territory Manager at Sukup Manufacturing.
The panel discussion will explore both challenges and opportunities to ensure a maintained transportation system and supply chain that can allow farmers and agriculture to succeed.
Steenhoek says the supply chain can either facilitate or inhibit the profitability of farmers and the entire agriculture industry.
“Unfortunately, this past year has provided multiple examples of supply chain challenges that have constrained the ability to deliver both outputs and inputs,” says Steenhoek. “If we desire to remain the most competitive in the global marketplace, we cannot just get supply right or demand right. We also need to get transportation right.”
The Innovation to Profit Conference will be held on Feb. 17 at the FFA Enrichment Center, 1055 SW Prairie Trail Parkway in Ankeny.
To register and view the full agenda for the Innovation to Profit Conference, visit the conference page.
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