Family farm ownership succession and the transition of management control for farm families leads off this year’s discussions Tuesday at the Airport International Inn. University of Nebraska distinguished professor of agribusiness Ron Hanson leads Tuesday’s morning sessions and kicks off the event’s afternoon as he talks about this often emotional issue.
“Regardless if you’re going to be involved in transferring a farm from one generation or not, communication within the farm team ” the husband and wife, the management and labor - all play a role in harmony and optimum productivity on the farm,” said show committee member and Williams County Extension agent Warren Froelich.
Froelich said the show committee identified succession and communication as an important item to discuss. Froelich said several committee members had heard Hanson speak “and thought he was dynamic. From there we just gave him high priority.”
Froelich said the show has previously featured some talks regarding the financial aspects of a farm transfer. “But this is dealing more with the emotional issues, which tend to be more difficult than the financial issues,” he said.
Hanson starts Tuesday’s sessions at 9 a.m. with his presentation, “You Can Buy the Family Farm, But Just Remember That I Still Own It.”
At 10:30, Hanson follows with his presentation, “How Much Did Your Lawyer Cost Our Family Farm?” He speaks about “The Unspoken Words” during Tuesday’s luncheon at noon, before wrapping up his talks at 1:15 with “Fence Posts Talking to Each Other.”
Paul Sweeney of the United States Department of Agriculture Natural Resources Conservation Service talks at 2:45 about the Conservation Stewardship Program. Froelich said the CSP is going to reward farmers for sound conservations practices. The farm community always has concerns about conservation because that is its livelihood, he added.
“Other factions want to support those efforts and continue to have a strong environment,” Froelich said. “The farm community is glad to work in those directions.”
North Dakota State University Extension soil specialist Dave Franzen speaks at 4:15 about new fertilizer recommendations and Jon Stika of the NRCS speaks at 5 about improving soil health.
Closing out Tuesday’s sessions are two key programs on wheat markets, the first at 7 with NDSU Extension grain marketing specialist Frayne Olson talking about the wheat market outlook. That is followed at 7:45 by Rebecca Bratter, U.S. Wheat Associates director of policy, who is to speak about international wheat trade issues.
“It will help our farm producers understand what is happening in the world and maybe help them be able to make some decisions,” Froelich said of Bratter’s presentation. “I think it will broaden our horizons to how the market system in the world is working.”
Crop biotechnology takes center stage Wednesday morning, as does wind energy development in the state.
Bratter returns at 9:30 a.m. to discusses the world view of biotech crops, followed at 10:15 by Dan Biggerstaff of Barkley Ag Enterprises, who is to talk about the future of wheat biotechnology.
Basin Electric Power Cooperative alternative technologies coordinator Jeremy Woeste talks about wind energy development at 10:50 before the noon recognition luncheon that features the Rev. Bob Edwards speaking about “Living Up in a Down World.”
“We try to make the luncheon speaker motivational and inspirational,” Froelich said. “If we can affect the mind and the attitude of the mind, that can greatly influence the total production on the farm.”
Afternoon sessions begin at 1:30 with a U.S.Dururm Growers Association panel discussion. That’s followed at 2:30 by Kyle Wolf and Brent Andersen of the Cenex Harvest States Refined Fuels Division talking about today’s diesel fuel.
Integrated control strategies for the wheat stem sawfly is the focus of another 2:30 presentation by NDSU Extension crop protection specialist Daniel Waldstein.
NDSU Williston Research Extension Center superintendent Neal Riveland speaks at 3:15 regarding the wheat variety performance report. At the same time, Mike Wilson of Tech Ag of Bainvillle speaks about variable rate technology that makes sense.
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