Purdue’s 2018 Top Farmer Conference to Focus on the Future of Agriculture

The 2018 Top Farmer Conference will feature a number of speakers from Purdue University that will be focusing on the future of farming.
The 2018 Top Farmer Conference will feature a number of speakers from Purdue University that will be focusing on the future of farming.

Purdue University’s Center for Commercial Agriculture has announced that it will host the 50th Top Farmer Conference on January 9. The event, which will take place at the Beck Agricultural Center, is specifically designed for producers interested in positioning their farms for future success. A pre-conference workshop will be hosted on January 8.

“The Top Farmer conference is a program tailored to meet the needs of today’s farmers and to help them prepare for the future,” said James Mintert, center director and Purdue professor of agricultural economics. “This year’s program starts with a focus on changes in consumer demand for food and the opportunities and challenges that creates for producers. From there, participants will examine strategies they can use in their farm operations to manage their way through today’s challenging economic environment.”

In the afternoon, principal developer of crop revenue insurance Art Barnaby will be on hand to help attendees learn more about risk management. The conference will end with Purdue crop production scientists discussing ways to reduce production costs and maximize yield potential.

Other speakers who will take part in the event include Jayson Lusk, head of the Department of Agricultural Economics; Jason Henderson, a former economist with the Kansas City Federal Reserve Bank; Robert Nielson, corn specialist and professor of agronomy; and Bill Johnson, professor of botany and plant pathology.

The conference costs $150 per person to attend, $175 including the pre-conference workshop. More information can be found on www.purdue.edu.