sponsored by
Thursday, November 16 General Sessions
8:00 - 9:00 AM CT
Ag Myths and the Future of Crop Production, sponsored by Kefa Capital, Inc.
Brian Hefty, Ag PhD
The United States has the safest, cheapest and most abundant food supply in the world, but many in our society believe there are lots of problems in agriculture. This session will dispel many ag myths, discuss some of the challenges crop farmers face today and show how technology and other advancements make for a bright future for our country.
9:00 - 10:00 AM CT
Valuing Easements in Federal Proceedings
Art Clapp, ARA, and Robert Gore, Trial Attorney for the U.S. Department of Justice, Environment & Natural Resources Division
In this presentation, attendees will learn about the valuation of various types of easements in anticipation of, and/or in condemnation. This session will distinguish the difference between state requirements and federal court requirements, the need to include market and marketability studies, the use of valuation matrices and the need to discuss timing of anticipated zone changes and highest and best use.
10:15 - 11:15 AM CT
Farmland Investment Panel, sponsored by CamoAg
Howard Halderman, AFM, President of Halderman Farm Management; Doug Hodge, ARA, Director of Appraisal at Peoples Company; Chris Morris, President & COO at LandFund Partners
Farmland has become an increasingly attractive investment to professional investors over the past decade. Panelists will discuss some of the key factors that make farmland an attractive investment, such as inflation hedging and non-correlated returns, the different models investors use and impacts (both positive and negative) on the industry.
10:15 AM - 12:00 PM CT
Breakout: Valuing Industrial Food Processing Machinery and Equipment, Part 1
Otto Cuyler, President of Cuyler FoodPro Appraisal
Participants will hear a history of the industrial food processing industry, it's machinery and equipment, as well as appraisal/valuation considerations for asset based lending. Discussion will cover the nuances of food machinery valuation, considering depreciation, equipment tiers and lending nuances. This session offers insights for appraisers on how to evaluate diverse comp sources, anticipate market shifts and factor in consumer demands.
10:15 - 11:15 AM CT
Academic Breakout: Presentation of Select ASFMRA Journal Articles
Michael Langemeier, Director of Cropping Systems for the Center for Commercial Agriculture in the Department of Agricultural Economics at Purdue University; Cesar Escalante, Ph.D., Professor of Agricultural and Applied Economics at the University of Georgia
This breakout session will feature authors of two 2023 ASFMRA Journal studies, including "Coping with Delayed H-2A Worker Arrivals during the Pandemic" and "Economic Analysis of Subsurface Tile Drainage Spacing." Hear Cesar Escalante, Ph.D. and Michael Langemeier present on their respective studies, explaining their methodologies and expounding on their findings.
11:15 AM - 12:00 PM CT
Global MegaTrends in Agriculture
Brett Stuart, President and Co-Founder of Global AgriTrends
Explore the global mega-trends shaping agriculture markets. This presentation provides insights into crucial market factors and offers a forecast for U.S. and global agricultural markets.
1:00 - 1:45 PM CT
Connection Skills for Success on TV, on Stage & in Everyday Conversation
Katie Avant, News Director at RFD-TV
Whether you’re in the field or the conference room, you are part of an industry that impacts society in many ways. But how do you get people to understand the importance of agriculture? You talk to them. Learn how to “share your WHY” with consumers through an easy-to-digest and easy-to-implement connection skills workshop. We tell you about the best practices for outreach, how to deal with nerves and conflict, what assets you need to make sure people stay engaged and the best digital practices for reaching an audience. We’re all connected these days, so make the most of it by leveraging your message with authentic human connection. It’s all about empowering you to do your part and help agriculture find its place in mainstream conversation.
1:00 - 2:30 PM CT
Breakout: Valuing Industrial Food Processing Machinery and Equipment, Part 2
Otto Cuyler, President of Cuyler FoodPro Appraisal
Participants will hear a history of the industrial food processing industry, it's machinery and equipment, as well as appraisal/valuation considerations for asset based lending. Discussion will cover the nuances of food machinery valuation, considering depreciation, equipment tiers and lending nuances. This session offers insights for appraisers on how to evaluate diverse comp sources, anticipate market shifts and factor in consumer demands.
1:00 - 2:30 PM CT
Does Artificial Intelligence Have a Place in Appraisal Report Writing?
Mark Elder, Application Developer at AgWare, Inc.
It’s hard to miss all the news stories about ChatGPT and other similar systems. How do these systems work, and do they have a future place in writing appraisal reports? In this presentation, Mark will demonstrate ChatGPT's abilities by asking it some questions and talk about where this technology may take us in the future.
1:45 - 2:30 PM CT
The Future of Grain and Farming
Steven Maulberger, Senior Vice President at Crop Risk Services, Inc.
This presentation will include a grain marketing outlook from a U.S. and global perspective, while also looking at the future of farming more broadly. Trends will be considered in the areas of regenerative ag, banking, transportation and AI – all of which will impact agriculture in different, but profound ways.
3:00 - 3:30 PM CT
A Legislative and Regulatory Update from Washington D.C.
Stephen Frerichs, ASFMRA's Government Relations Representative
This session will delve into the current legislative landscape, highlighting pressing policy concerns for appraisers and farm managers. Additionally, attendees will gain insights into the pending Farm Bill and its potential implications.
3:30 - 4:15 PM CT
Foreign Ownership of U.S. Farmland
Wendong Zhang, Ph.D., Assistant Professor and Extension Economist at Cornell University; Mykel Taylor, Ph.D., ALFA Endowed Eminent Scholar at Auburn University
Foreign ownership of agricultural land has grown over the past decade. As a result, an interest in restricting and monitoring foreign ownership of U.S. agricultural land is also growing significantly among federal and state lawmakers. This presentation will explore all reported foreign holdings since the 1970s and provide an up-to-date assessment of foreign interest in U.S. ag lands, while discussing rising concerns such as Chinese ownership of American farmland.
Friday, November 17 General Sessions
8:00 - 9:00 AM CT
Carbon 101: Preparing for Client Conversations
Joel Wipperfurth, Director, Sales for Up Stream and Down Stream at Truterra, LLC
Farmers and land owners are talking carbon markets – are you prepared for the conversation? Hear what Truterra anticipates for the future of carbon markets and gain insights into how to discuss this timely issue with clients, including non-operator landowners.
9:15 - 10:00 AM CT
Farmers Vs. Foodies
Ray Starling, author of Farmer Vs. Foodies, General Counsel at NC Chamber and President of the NC Legal Institute
On one side are “insiders” who understand the industry and are rightly proud of it, many of whom have dedicated their lives and livelihoods to it. On the other side are “outsiders” who champion the in-vogue notion that the industry is broken – a notion that the author refers to as “Ag Humpty Dumptyism.” It’s a farmer versus foodie conundrum that has the potential to impact food security for generations to come.