The annual Mid-South Agricultural Finance Conference is scheduled for August 8 on the campus of UT Martin in the Ed Boling University Center. The Mid-South Agricultural Finance Conference serves the lender/producer team by providing the most up-to-date and relevant information needed to grow farm operations’ bottom lines. The mission of the conference is to deliver high-quality, timely, and practical financial tools and economic information to Mid-South lenders and producers. Toward that end, the conference hosts the most renowned and respected agricultural finance and economic experts in the U.S. Registration information can be found at Mid-South Ag Finance Conference. A special Financial & Management Boot Camp workshop will be held the day before on August 7. Information on this pre-conference event can be found at Financial & Management Boot Camp. Make plans to attend these informative sessions. The agenda for the conference is listed below. Early registration by July 6 is encouraged, after July 6 registration goes up $25.
Wednesday, August 8, 2018
Watkins Auditorium, Ed Boling University Center
8:00 a.m.
Registration and Continental Breakfast
8:20 a.m.
Welcome and Introduction
8:30 a.m.
Megatrends 2018-2030:
Dr. David Kohl, Professor Emeritus, Virginia Tech University
Dr. Kohl’s extensive travel and work experiences with a wide range of groups including ag producers, agribusinesses, lenders and corporate board members give him a unique pulse on trends that will impact the landscape of agriculture. Whether it is changing consumer trends, technology, global issues, international trade or the transition from baby boomers to millennials and generation Z, or the urbanization of global populations, this session is designed to link the global perspectives down to the business level. There is an old saying, “think globally, but act locally” which is critical for the proactive business person attempting to gain a strategic advantage.
10:00 a.m.
Weather Risk in Agriculture: Predictive Analytics
Dr. Eric Snodgrass, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign
Rapidly changing technology is pushing the boundary of weather analysis and forecasting. What was once left to chance can now be analyzed and predicted, but understanding how to use these analyses and forecasts is crucial to incorporating these predictions into your operations plan. Weather volatility can turn a well-managed operation into a disaster in moments and a forecast of adverse weather can cause ag markets to trade limit up or down in a few hours. In this talk, we will learn about the tools that are used in weather prediction and we will discuss their accuracy and usefulness in your operation. We will focus on how weather has impacted US and global agricultural production in the past and apply this knowledge to future growing seasons. We will discuss high impact meteorological events like flood, hail, and straight-line winds, while also learning the causes of flash drought, prolonged drought, and excessive heat. Finally, this talk will include the latest long range weather outlooks for the US harvest in 2018 as well as a forecast for the 2018-19 growing season in South America.
11:00 a.m.
What’s in Your Wallet?
Dr. Tim Cross, University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture
A review of challenges, opportunities, and issues in mid-south agriculture, and discussion of their impacts on the Land Grant University system and agricultural producers.
12:00 p.m.
Agricultural Finance Luncheon (University Center Ballroom)
1:00 p.m.
Commodity Prices and Marketing Outlook: Major Trends Affecting Your Bottom Line
Richard Brock, President, Brock Associates
Continued uncertainty in the domestic and global economies associated with input costs, developing nation demand, and government policies are shaking up the commodity markets. Richard Brock’s straight-forward analysis will help get lenders and producers on the same page as they manage risk and make operational and financial decisions. Mr. Brock’s up-to-date analysis of corn, soybean, and cotton price trends will provide a basis for decision making in the coming year.
2:30 p.m.
Expert Panel Q & A and Adjourn
