Connect with your top mentors and network with the best farmers in the nation at the 2017 Farm Futures Business Summit, Jan. 19-20 at the Waterfront Convention Center in Bettendorf, Iowa. We’re moving the summit to a new location, with a positive message for the future of your farm.

Our theme, “Poised for profits,” will center on learning benefits for farmers looking for innovative new ideas to manage their business. We’ll focus on how to capitalize on future opportunities that may come along as you network with your peers and nationally-recognized experts in farm management. Sessions will focus on global grain outlook, family business governance, financial management and new technology for the farm.

Organizers have locked in one of the best speaker lineups in summit history. We’ll be hearing from a host of specialists and industry leaders. Here’s a sampling of what’s in store:

Improve your business skills

The 2017 summit features high-energy learning sessions from some of agriculture’s most influential specialists. Texas A&M Ag Economist Danny Klinefelter will share key management secrets he has taught farmers for years through extension and as director of TEPAP (The Executive Program for Agricultural Producers). He will also share management characteristics farmers will need to be successful.

Farm Futures’ senior market analyst Bryce Knorr will offer his insights on the global grain glut, and the outlook for better prices.

Financial consultant and Idaho rancher Dick Wittman will challenge attendees: Are you getting a passing grade in farm management? His session highlights proven managerial practices that put professionalism and structure into closely held family businesses.  In a separate breakout, Wittman discusses process improvement and the best ways farmers can make improvement part of their daily routine.

“We operate in a global environment where how we produce is becoming almost as important as what we produce,” says Wittman. “Farm managers who adopt a continuous business improvement culture are capitalizing on opportunities to streamline efficiency, promote safety, reduce job process uncertainty, access value added markets, and standardize quality of products and services provided.  They do this by paying more attention to process improvement disciplines.”

The Summit focuses on lifelong learning for progressive producers with a mindset of continued improvement, notes Virginia Tech economist Dave Kohl, who will offer his take on global and domestic economics and the trends that will shape the future ag economy.

“We are continuing to journey through economic, weather, and marketing cycles, so this event is timely as the agricultural economic landscape is at a crossroads,” he says.

Breakouts will also focus on young farmers, off-farm investment opportunities, new data products and services, and an inside look at where technology is taking agriculture. You’ll hear from ag consultant Tim Schaefer, who will help multi-generation family farmers manage communication and conflict. Award-winning farm broadcaster Max Armstrong will be on hand to emcee the always lively Bear Pit, where speakers and attendees gather to debate the hot topics of the day.

We’ll be sharing updates to our agenda at www.farmfutures.com/summit2017. Register by Dec. 15 and save $100 off the regular registration fee of $499.

Set your mapping app to Bettendorf, Iowa. We’re looking forward to bringing you another excellent program in 2017.

The 2017 Farm Futures Business Summit is sponsored by K,Coe-Isom, FarmerMac, and Grinnell Mutual

Sharpen your financial IQ

Want to boost your financial and business skills? Attend the 2017 Farm Futures Ag Finance Boot Camp, taking place Jan. 18 at the Waterfront Convention Center in Bettendorf, Iowa. This one-day workshop, sponsored by FarmerMac and Farm Credit, is designed for business-focused farmers, bookkeepers and office managers of all skill levels.

You will learn to more accurately assess the strengths and weaknesses of your farm operation, and understand what lenders think about your operation. You will be able to use the information to improve, year-over-year, and learn the importance of accurate year-end information.

Experts from the Farm Financial Standards Council will be on hand to help answer questions on how farm financial standards can help your business be more profitable. You’ll learn the difference between cash and accrual accounting and how to use them both in management analysis. You’ll learn why contribution margin analysis is more valuable to your operation than net income.

We are bringing experts to the workshop to help you learn. If you fully engage and take advantage of this opportunity, you will master new skills that will help you the rest of your farming career.

To register, go to www.farmfuturesbootcamp.com or click the boot camp tab at www.farmfutures.com/summit2017. The boot camp is just $225 per person, or $175 if you register by Dec. 15.