Farming for the Future Conference

The 2011 "Farming for the Future conference: A Vision for Your Family's Farm" was held Friday, September 9 at the Iowa State Center’s Scheman Building in Ames. It featured several topics including a livestock, crop and feed outlook, as well as a rules and regulations update. There were panels of agriculture finance experts and young farmers who have used various strategies to return to the farm.

Due to the level of interest in bringing a young person back to the farm, video and powerpoint slides from the various sessions are available below. (To listen to the audio and view the powerpoint slides simultaneously, click "play" on the video and open up the corresponding powerpoint slides next to the video window.)

Speaker Biographies

 

Chad Hart,
Extension Economist and Grain markets Specialist at Iowa State University, provides a Crop and Feed Outlook.

PowerPoint Slides

 

Shane Ellis,
Livestock Economist at Iowa State University, provides a Livestock Outlook.

PowerPoint Slides


 


 
 

Christina Gruenhagen,
Government Relations Counsel for the Iowa Farm Bureau Federation, provides a Rules and Regulations Update and Outlook.

PowerPoint Slides

 

 

The afternoon session featured an ag finance panel, consisting of: 

  • Brian Gossling, Farm Loan Program Director for Farm Service Agency;
  • David Baker, Farm Transition Specialist at Iowa State University;
  • Kim Smith, Financial Officer for Farm Credit Services of America;
  • Jayme Ungs, Vice President and Senior Lender for US Bank; and
  • Jeff Ward, Executive Director for the Iowa Agriculture Development Authority.

Speaker Bios and Contact Information

  
 

The conference also featured a panel of young farmers who have successfully returned to the farm. It included:

  • Ben Hollingshead, Boone County hog farmer;
  • Dave Hommel, Grundy County hog farmer; and
  • Matt Ramaeker, Union County cattle farmer.

Speaker Bios and Contact Information

 To learn more, contact the Coalition to Support Iowa's Farmers at 1-800-932-2436.