Audrey Leduc champions quantifying sustainability impact and building resilient, climate-ready supply chains that keep food systems reliable and competitive for McDonald’s. Beef has been at the core of McDonald’s menu and identity since it first opened its doors 70 years ago. The interview will explore how McDonald’s is committed to responsible beef sourcing and stewardship of natural resources and how they are working with beef producers and others in the beef supply chain to achieve the goal of 2050 net zero climate target.

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.
Live Awards Banquet - 7:00 - 8:00 p.m.

Top Producer of the Year Award Sponsored by:  BASF and FENDT
Next Gen Award Sponsored by Pioneer and FENDT
Women in Ag Award presented by Pro Farmer

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.

This session will deliver the latest research and insights about where producers may be at risk of consolidation and where golden opportunities exist to grow and expand ranging from diversification to alternative land uses to acquiring land for multiple uses. 

Speaker: Chip Flory, Host, AgriTalk

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.

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.

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.

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.

Fertilizer markets have become one of the biggest wild cards in farm profitability. Supply disruptions, currency swings, trade policies, and energy prices continue to ripple through the global system — and American farmers are feeling the impact in every ton they buy. Join a dynamic conversation connecting the dots between global market forces and on-farm fertilizer costs. From geopolitics to natural gas prices and shipping constraints, our experts unpack what’s really driving fertilizer volatility — and how you can better time, plan, and budget your nutrient strategies for 2026 and beyond.

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.

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.

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.  

Presenters include: 
Animal Deterrent Solutions
AgFlow AI
Novoclade
Seismi

A conversation exploring the SCN challenge, management approaches and new innovations on the horizon to help tap into the next level of yield potential in soybeans.

Presented by:  BASF 

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.

Emerging pests and diseases represent one of the biggest challenges facing American agriculture and our global food systems today. This session, based on new research from Farm Journal Foundation, will break down the impacts of pest and disease risks, including on-farm income, trade, biosecurity, and more. This session will also look at policy-driven solutions for economic and financial sustainability in the midst of these threats.

Speaker: Chip Flory, Host, AgriTalk

Emerging pests and diseases represent one of the biggest challenges facing American agriculture and our global food systems today. This session, based on new research from Farm Journal Foundation, will break down the impacts of pest and disease risks, including on-farm income, trade, biosecurity, and more. This session will also look at policy-driven solutions for economic and financial sustainability in the midst of these threats.

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.

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.

Meet five AgLaunch365 alumni now scaling sales nationwide after two years of farmer-led field validation. One has raised major venture funding to expand its GPS-enabled equipment-tracking platform; another secured multimillion-dollar investment and EPA support for a breakthrough corn earworm biological; a third is attracting national growers and capital for its grain-bin robotics system, one is an early alert system for crop disease detection being used across the US, and the final startup is a company that utilizes geospatial data to help farmers optimize nitrogen applications. Hear how these proven tools work on real farms, what adoption looks like, and what exclusive producer-only offers are available.

Presenting Companies: 
Grainweevil 
Grip
Lepidext
Sentinel Ag
 Spornado

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.

Rooting fertilizer decisions in soil test data helps growers understand nutrient-supplying conditions, uncover opportunities to adjust their annual plans and challenge long-held assumptions. This session explores the fertilizer costs of phosphate and potassium based on updated Midwest Extension guidelines, connecting soil test trends to the real costs of meeting current recommendations and showing why nutrient management should be built on sound soil test foundations, not assumptions.

Brought to you by: Nutrien Wholesale

Farm Journal reveals its first Ag Economists Monthly Monitor of 2026, a survey of the nation's top agricultural economists. The results will focus on what producers should expect in 2026 and what economic challenges and opportunities will exist in the coming year.

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.

Global competition is accelerating, and the landscape for agricultural trade is shifting fast. Producers are navigating new pressures and opportunities as markets worldwide evolve. Hear from experts who work directly in global trade about what’s changing and what it could mean for your operation.

Come pick up your name badge before the conference begins!

Farm Risk Ready: Powering Resilient Farms
Emerging disruptions are reshaping agriculture, and resilience is now essential. Join Nationwide’s Chief Agriculture and Sponsor Relations Officer, Devin Fuhrman, for an informative Q&A on how Farm Risk ReadySM equips farmers with practical, effective strategies to keep operations strong, prepared and future-focused.

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.

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.”