Champion North Carolina corn and soybean farmer Kevin Matthews and Dr. Ron Heiniger, North Carolina State University’s internationally known cropping systems specialist, will return to speak at the SC AgriBiz & Farm Expo set for Jan. 23 to 24 at the Florence Center in Florence, S.C.

“At the 2018 expo, Mr. Mathews and Dr. Heiniger gave two outstanding presentations on maximizing corn and soybean yields. They earned rave reviews, so it will be great to have them return for the 2019 Expo. Both experts are well known and respected across the country,” says Expo Manager Jody Martin.

They will discuss the scientific and practical aspects of the right yield matrix in collaborative sessions. The first session will be “Introducing New Management Practices for Corn and Soybeans” from 11 a.m. until 12:20 p.m. on Thursday, Jan. 24.

Their second presentation “Adapting new High Yield Management Practices for Corn and Soybeans: How Can I Make Those Yields on My Farm?” will follow at 2 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Matthews and wife, Cindy, own and operate Matthews Family Farms of North Carolina, Inc., Precision Nutrient Management, Inc., and Deep Creek Grain, Inc. in East Bend and Yadkinville N.C. He has given presentations in conferences across the country on maximizing corn and soybean yields. He has achieved corn yields topping 300 bushels per acre and soybean yields exceeding 100 bushels per acres.

Heiniger is a professor in the Department of Crop and Soil Sciences at North Carolina State University and is the Extension corn specialist and cropping systems specialist. He has an international reputation as a gifted teacher and successful scientist.

“Education is a primary goal of the SC AgriBiz & Farm Expo featuring a variety of tracks to include: Row Crops, Fruit and Vegetables, Livestock, Women in Ag and Youth. Programs are designed to give farmers the tools they need to grow better crops and make a profit,” Martin said.

In addition to the corn and soybean sessions, educational sessions will be held on South Carolina Hemp, First Year & Future; Your Forest Land May be a Hidden Jewell on Your Farm; and Managing Agriculture and Wildlife: A Win-Win Proposition; as well as “Prescribed Burning/Integrating Wildlife”.

Educational sessions will also be held on fruit and vegetable farming and livestock production.

Sessions on tariffs, trade and the farm bill will also be held. New for 2019 are “lunch and learn” sessions where brief and timely topics will be discussed during the luncheon period. One of the keynote speakers on Wednesday, Jan. 23 will be Michelle Payn with Cause Matters Corporation who will give two inspiring presentations on “Celebrating Agriculture” and “Championing Agriculture.”

Payn will discuss the importance of people working together in farming and in an interactive program will present an action plan to help farmers have more productive conversations with non-farm audiences on topics such as sustainability, chemicals, GMOs and other hot topics.

She will also talk about the importance of telling your farm story!

A highlight of the expo will once again be the Taste of SC, a ticketed event set for Wednesday evening, Jan. 23.

The Expo will also include more than 100 exhibitors of farm equipment, supplies and services. 

Admission to the event is free. For more information visit, http://scagribizexpo.com/.

“We hope farmers from South Carolina, North Carolina, Virginia, Georgia and other states will attend the expo in January. We designed a program that is on par with national conferences.  All are welcome and urged to attend,” Martin said.

Champion North Carolina corn and soybean farmer Kevin Matthews, left, and Dr. Ron Heiniger, North Carolina State University Extension cropping systems specialist, shown at the 2018 SC AgriBiz & Farm Expo will return to speak at the 2019 expo.