


2026 AGENDA
All events listed are Central Standard Time. Check back for more details. Agenda subject to change.
At Top Producer Summit we will deep dive into:
- Interest Rates: Dynamics of Ag Lending
- Land As An Investment, What Has Changed?
- Input Purchasing: Cost of Production
- Opportunity Cost and How To Be Less Risk Averse
- Crypto and How to Use It/ How It Will Be Used in Ag
There's more than one way to get from Point A to Point B.
Uncertainty is the only certain thing!
| Time | Name | Description | Speakers | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Monday, February 9, 2026 | ||||
| 10:00 AM - 2:00 PM | Networking Tours in Nashville | Explore Nashville Tour - exact details TBD | ||
| 11:00 AM - 2:00 PM | Registration and Expo | Come pick up your name badge before the conference begins! | ||
| 2:00 PM - 2:10 PM | Welcome | Margy Eckelkamp,Top Producer Brand Leader | ||
| 2:10 PM - 2:50 PM | Fireside Chat: An Economic Outlook with Raphael Bostic, President of the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta | Join us to hear directly from Atlanta Fed president Raphael Bostic as he shares insights into the forces shaping economic policy and their specific implications for the agricultural economy. The interview will explore key economic trends, the outlook for interest rates and what they mean for farming operations and your bottom line. | Raphael Bostic,Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta Bill Watts,Pro Farmer | |
| 2:50 PM - 3:40 PM | Fireside Chat: Diversification and Vertical Integration | As the driving force behind one of the nation’s largest privately held farmland operations, Stefan Soloviev has redefined what it means to blend farming, ranching, grain business, and energy with modern business strategy, logistics, and sustainability. Since reviving the Colorado Pacific and Colorado Pacific Rio Grande Railroad, Soloviev and his team at Crossroads Agriculture are working to bring forward new options for farmers and build a better future. | Stefan Soloviev,Crossroads Agriculture / Weskan Grain | |
| 3:40 PM - 3:50 PM | Industry Voices #1 | |||
| 3:50 PM - 4:30 PM | General Session TBD | |||
| 4:30 PM - 6:00 PM | Welcome Reception & Networking in Expo |
| ||
| 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM | Top Producer Awards Banquet | Join us to recognize outstanding producers in the agriculture industry. Find out more about Top Producer Awards here. Dinner: 6:00 - 7:00 p.m. Top Producer of the Year Award Sponsored by: BASF and FENDT | ||
| Tuesday, February 10, 2026 | ||||
| 7:00 AM - 8:00 AM | Breakfast | |||
| 7:30 AM - 8:10 AM | Growth In Spite of Constraints: Lessons in Leadership | Chief executives across food and agriculture share real-life examples in how they took the bull by the horns to find opportunities in times of stress, applied creativity to lead their companies to success, and their outlook on opportunties and challenges in the agriculture sector in 2026 and beyond. | Prescott Shibles,Farm Journal Brent Smith,NewLeaf Symbiotics Lamar Steiger,The 808 Ranch | |
| 8:10 AM - 9:10 AM | Keynote Speaker - To Be Announced |
| ||
| 9:10 AM - 9:20 AM | Industry Voices #2 | |||
| 9:20 AM - 9:50 AM | Break and Expo Time | |||
| 10:00 AM - 10:45 AM | BREAKOUTS ROUND 1 - (all breakouts listed below will repeat in round 2) | |||
| 10:00 AM - 10:45 AM | Leveraging AI to assess the risks: Chasing Water, Wind, & the Science of Weather Prediction | Recent weather extremes have underscored the need for flexible operations and improved forecasts. Cutting-edge developments in AI (Artificial Intelligence) forecasts open new opportunities for meteorologists and growers alike. In this talk, we will discuss the major weather and climate stories of 2025 while looking ahead to the new growing season in 2026. To achieve this, the audience will learn the seasonal influences of El Niño, La Niña, and other critical climate drivers. We’ll discuss the chances for late frost, severe weather, and how the spring pattern may shape planting windows. I’ll demonstrate how AI is transforming how we predict the weather, with new models powering more accurate and timely forecasts that help mitigate risks on the farm. | Matt Reardon,Nutrien Ag Solutions | |
| 10:00 AM - 10:45 AM | Farmland Investments, Capital and Control | Interest rates are high. Stable-to-increasing farmland values are facing off with tightness in inventory. Learn how to assess each opportunity and look beyond your common understanding of how, when and why to buy land. This asset is measured in acres but it's effect on your balance sheet, bottom line and control over your business is greater than just that.
| Ben Gordon,Fractal Ag Emily Oberbroeckling,Peoples Company Shay Foulk,Ag View Solutions | |
| 10:00 AM - 10:45 AM | When Taking Risks In Times of Crisis Pay Off | Transform your decision-making process. Maybe you think in times like these you should hunker down and weather the economic storm. But you're wrong. Hear from other producers about how they've seized on the opporunities, no matter how hard the decision, and end up feeling good about making the tough call. | Ron Rabou,Rabou Farms, Inc. Rena Striegel,Transition Point Business Advisors | |
| 10:00 AM - 10:45 AM | How Global Fertilizer Issues Are Making a Bad Farmer Outlook Worse | Highlighted during the COVID pandemic and since escalated due to geopolitical conflicts, the American farmer has experienced price hikes and supply volatility for their fertilizer. What is the outlook for the year ahead? And how can you as a farm manager reassert some control on your fertilizer line items. | Sam Taylor,RaboResearch Food & Agribusiness Josh Linville,StoneX | |
| 10:00 AM - 10:45 AM | Farm Tax Update and Outlook | With major policy changes, there are implications for every farm and ranch business. The Farm CPA has been tracking the latest in tax policy and government programs. Get a firm understanding of what you should factor into your farm business and potential tax implications. | Paul Neiffer,The Farm CPA | |
| 10:00 AM - 11:00 AM | AgriTalk Live Broadcast | Speaker: Chip Flory, Host, AgriTalk | Chip Flory,Farm Journal | |
| 10:55 AM - 11:40 AM | BREAKOUTS - ROUND 2 (all sessions are a repeat of Round 1 breakouts. Choose one of the sessions from the list above) | |||
| 11:45 AM - 1:30 PM | Lunch |
| ||
| 11:45 AM - 1:30 PM | Without China, What’s the Next Demand Driver for U.S. Ag? --- a live taping of U.S. Farm Report |
| Tyne Morgan,U.S. Farm Report Dan Basse,AgResource Company Gregg Doud,National Milk Producers Federation | |
| 1:15 PM - 1:25 PM | Industry Voices #3 | |||
| 1:30 PM - 2:00 PM | Break and Expo Time | |||
| 2:00 PM - 2:45 PM | BREAKOUTS - ROUND 3 - Pick One Session to Attend | |||
| 2:00 PM - 2:45 PM | How to Be Proactive: Empower your business management with forward thinking and an eye on future threats | |||
| 2:00 PM - 2:45 PM | Rethinking Crop Insurance Programs | Instead of being on the hamster wheel of managing good years with tax incentives on capital purchases, there are other ways farmers can invest for when there are rainy (or hail) days. Policy has the potential to redefine risk management tools for farmers. This includes tax-deferred savings accounts, which farmers can invest pre-tax dollars, and be ready for when the next crop destructing storm comes. | ||
| 2:00 PM - 2:45 PM | The Global Protein Outlook: Demand, Trade, and the Supply Picture | As global demand for protein evolves, so do the challenges and opportunities for U.S. producers. This session examines the forces shaping international trade, consumer trends, and supply dynamics across beef, pork, and poultry. Industry analysts and market experts will share insights on where growth is occurring, what risks to watch, and how producers can stay competitive in the shifting global protein landscape. | ||
| 2:00 PM - 2:45 PM | Meet the Startup Teams Creating Big Ideas in Agriculture | AgLaunch presents the innovators who are looking to bring new solutions to the industry with a farmer-centric model. These two unique rounds of pitches are a capstone for these entrepenuers who are looking for farmer input and investment. Attendees will vote on their top choice. | ||
| 2:00 PM - 2:45 PM | The Future of Alternative Lending and Innovative Financing | Explore the rapidly evolving landscape of alternative lending options for American producers. As traditional bank financing becomes harder to access for many farmers—especially small and beginning operations—innovative models such as agri-fintech platforms, peer-to-peer lending, crowdfunding, supplier credit, and community-based microfinance are filling the gap. Industry leaders, lenders, ag tech entrepreneurs, and farmers will share their experiences with these new financing tools, discuss the benefits and challenges, and examine how technology and partnerships are reshaping access to capital in rural America. The discussion will spotlight success stories, risk considerations, and the potential for these models to scale, while also addressing regulatory and educational needs. Attendees will gain insights into what’s working, what’s next, and how to connect with alternative financing opportunities for their own agricultural ventures. | ||
| 2:00 PM - 3:00 PM | AgriTalk Live Broadcast | Speaker: Chip Flory, Host, AgriTalk | Chip Flory,Farm Journal | |
| 2:55 PM - 3:40 PM | BREAKOUTS - ROUND 4 - (all sessions from above round 3 repeat here again) | |||
| 4:30 PM - 7:00 PM | Dinner On Your Own | |||
| 7:30 PM - 10:30 PM | Night Out Celebration - Jon Bon Jovi Bar | Join us on Broadway at Jon Bon Jovi Bar! Drinks included for all registered attendees. MUST wear your name badge for entrance to the venue and have valid ID to enter. Only those over 21 allowed. | ||
| Wednesday, February 11, 2026 | ||||
| 7:00 AM - 8:30 AM | Breakfast | |||
| 7:45 AM - 8:30 AM | Competition Isn't in Your Backyard | Brazil is breathing down our neck as a global grain powerhouse. With recent on the ground experience, hear how in addition to production totals, Brazil’s infrastructure development is readying them to put even more bushels on the global balance sheet. | Susan Stroud,No Bull Michelle Rook,Farm Journal Broadcast | |
| 8:30 AM - 8:40 AM | Industry Voices #4 | |||
| 8:40 AM - 9:00 AM | Break and Expo Time | |||
| 9:00 AM - 9:45 AM | See The Signs In Yourself, Your Friends, and Your Neighbors | Difficult topics, such as farmer suicide, are hard to confront but demand our attention. Hard times are trying times. Hear from farm families who have lost a loved one and people in agriculture on the front-lines trying to support them. This is a moment for the Top Producer family to not just better understand one of our industry's biggest threats, but also to find a way to help. | ||
| 9:45 AM - 10:30 AM | Leave the Strongest legacy | Hear from other farmers’ who have structured their farm team with long-term vision. In some cases this meant creating space for younger generations, focusing on leadership development, bringing in non-family members, and creating “chairman of the board roles.” | ||
| 11:00 AM | Depart at Leisure | |||


