February 2017 Conference Agenda

7:30 am

Registration Open
Location: Concourse  – Ballroom AB Foyer

8:00 – 8:30 am

Continental Breakfast

8:30 – 9:00 am

Welcome and Agenda Review

Paul Schrimpf – Executive Editor, PrecisionAg Media

Interview with Ron Farrell, President, Farrell Growth Group (Prerecorded)

Farrell has seen the crop production channel from virtually every angle during his 50-plus year career in agriculture. In recent years, his consulting group has helped mid-range agricultural retailers develop business strategies that give them a competitive edge and a chance at long-term sustainability. In this exclusive conference kickoff interview, Farrell explains why retailers absolutely must go “all in” on precision agriculture or risk being displaced.

9:00 – 10:00 am

Kickoff Roundtable: Building Blocks of a Successful Precision Program

Precision consultant and technology expert Jeremy Wilson heads up a panel of leading consultants who dig into the challenge of serving diverse farmers with  widely varying interest and experience in the use of precision technology, how they stay on top of the latest technologies, and how they work effectively with other service providers.

Moderator:
Jeremy W. Wilson – Technology Specialist, Crop IMS LLC

Panelists:
Tim Norris – CEO, Ag Info Tech, LLC
David Scheiderer, CCA – Owner and President, Integrated Ag Services
Nathan Woydziak – Precision Ag Manager, Crop Quest, Inc.

10:00 – 10:20 am

Break

10:20 – 11:20 am

Stay, Change, or Shift? Evaluating Your Precision Software Needs

Enterprise and agronomic software is a critical element of a precision program that needs to be regularly evaluated, updated and — in some cases — replaced all together. There’s no magic formula or process, but our panel of retailers have each been through the process and will share their experiences, and tips on what to do and what to avoid.

Troy Walker – Agronomy Field Sales & Precision Ag Manager, MKC
Ben Carlisle – Agricultural Technology Manager, GreenPoint AG, LLC
Erich Eller – President, Forefront Ag Solutions

11:20 am – 12:00 pm

New Technology Lightning Round

Leading companies provide brisk, five-minute updates on their companies and key technologies for service providers. Featured companies include AgWorks LLC, EFC Systems, SST Software, MZB Technologies, and The Weather Company, an IBM Business.

Panelists:
Rob Berglund – Global Director of Sales, Energy & Agriculture, The Weather Company, an IBM Business
Ernie Chappell – President & Founder, EFC Systems, Inc.
Matt Hull – Director of Sales, AgWorks, LLC
Drew McMahon – Sirrus Product Manager, SST Software
Jordan Tackett – Regional Sales Manager, MZB Technologies

12:00 – 1:00 pm

Lunch

1:00 – 1:40 pm

Hiring and Retaining Strategies for Your Precision Department

High-functioning precision programs are driven by excellent personnel. This session will present a number of proven strategies for employee hiring and retention, including a new tool for matching employees to  company cultures.

Mark Waschek – Vice President Agronomy, Ag1Source

1:40 – 2:20 pm

Creating Value From In-Season Data: 5 Things You Might Be Missing

There’s gold in the data you collect throughout the growing season that can be converted to value and profit for your business. Dr. Blackmer shares ideas and insight for creating value for farm operations by collecting, aggregating and analyzing field data.

Dr. Tracy Blackmer – Vice President of Science, FarmLogs

2:20 – 3:10 pm

Sensors and IOT: Bringing Better Data

Investment in sensors and sensor networks in ag promises to bring more data — in particular more “on the ground” field data — with the potential to improve the resolution of the information we collect. This session will provide possible roadmaps for how networks can be deployed, and how data can be aggregated into a useful and valuable asset.

Will Shippee – Sr. Director of Sales and Business Development, infiswift
Paul Welbig – Director of Business Development, Senet, Inc.

3:10 – 3:30 pm

Break

3:30 – 4:20 pm

Success With High-Tech In-Season Tools

Learn how service providers are implementing some of the latest technologies for discovering and acting on in-season pest problems. Plus, an overview of Precision Planting’s new Seed Firmer Technology.

Justin Kaufman – North America Sales Lead, Precision Planting, LLC
Luke Lightfoot – Ag Technology Manager, Co-Alliance LLP
Kim Nicholson – VP of Business Development, Spensa Technologies Inc.
Andrew Nadler – Product Manager – Weather Services, Farmers Edge Inc.

4:20 – 5:00 pm

Opportunities in Sustainability for Technology Integrators

Service providers have a key role in the sustainability movement, and Land O’Lakes has taken a visible and substantial position on what it will mean for its business moving forward. This session will not only explore the company’s commitment to sustainability, but discuss opportunities available to all service providers as food production emphasis continues to embrace sustainable practices.

Matt Carstens – Senior Vice President of Land O’Lakes SUSTAIN
Tom Buman – CEO, Agren

5:00 – 6:30 pm

Reception