Illinois Farm Bureau members, staff and agri-business professionals are invited to attend the 2016 Farm Income and Innovation Conference, held July 27, 2016 at the Bloomington-Normal Marriott Hotel and Conference Center.
The conference, formerly known as the Illinois Farm Bureau Commodities Conference, will feature two general sessions and multiple breakouts that focus on topics traditionally included in the Commodities Conference, but will also include new topics which focus on technology and emphasize farm innovation.
“We’re excited about the shift in emphasis and focus for this conference,” said Mike Doherty, senior economist, Illinois Farm Bureau. “Today’s farms rely heavily on technology and farmers’ abilities to develop new and innovative strategies, and the Farm Income and Innovation Conference supports that trend for farmers.”
First general session speaker, David Fikes, vice president, Consumer/Community Affairs and Communications for the Food Marketing Institute, will address food marketing trends and second general session speaker, Chad Colby, general manager, Central Illinois Ag, will present an update about drones and precision agriculture.
The conference also will feature breakout sessions regarding farm management, trade, managing costs and farm income under stress, cover crops, transportation infrastructure, and weather and grain market outlook. The conference will conclude with a panel of young farmers sharing their strategies to improve their farms and their view of future of farming.
“Farming is ever-changing and ever-challenging,” Doherty said. “We hope this new conference will give our members additional ideas when it comes to what has worked and will work in the future, and how technology and strategic thinking can play into that.”
Those wishing to attend the conference may pre-register online now through July 15 at www.ilfb.org/fiic16, or by contacting their local county Farm Bureau. Registration is $35 per person and includes lunch. Registration the day of the event will begin at 7:30 a.m. at the Marriott. New this year, the first 30 Illinois Farm Bureau Young Leader members to register for the conference will receive a free registration.
For more information or questions about the conference please visit www.ilfb.org/fiic16 or contact Nicole Moore at [email protected].
