Press Release

The South Dakota Soybean Association (SDSA) invites farmers and ag professionals to attend the 14th Annual AgOutlook Conference and Trade Show on December 6, 2018.

More than 850 soybean growers, industry representatives and thought leaders will gather for this one-day event in Sioux Falls at the Best Western Ramkota Exhibit Hall (3200 W Maple St). The event begins at 9:30 a.m. and runs until 5 p.m.

The event is free to attend, but registration is required. To register, visit https://www.sdsoybean.org/programs-events/events/agoutlook or contact the SDSA office at 605-330-9942.

“AgOutlook is a great opportunity for growers to focus on the future and the upcoming growing season. You can learn about industry trends at our trade show, and also hear from speakers with knowledge about marketing and production practices,” said John Horter, a farmer from Andover and SDSA president. “Farmers can also share information with other farmers to learn about what’s working well and what practices they might want to change.”

AgOutlook Agenda & Speaker information

9:30 a.m. Trade Show Opens

9:30 a.m. SDSA SoyPAC Silent Auction Opens

10:30 a.m. Fred Below, Professor of Crop Physiology in the Department of Crop Sciences at the University of Illinois: During this presentation, Below will highlight the “Six Secrets of Soybean Success” concepts to develop systems capable of sustainably producing high corn and soybean yields.”These secrets aren’t really secrets, but they’re six management factors that impact soybean management each year,” Below said.Based on research applicable to South Dakota soybean growers, Below will address the following key factors: soybean fertility, weather, variety selection, foliar protection and row spacing.

11:30 p.m. Free Meal in Trade Show Area

1 p.m. Mark Luecke, Managing Director and CEO of Prairie AquaTech: During this presentation, Luecke will address value-added opportunities for South Dakota soybeans. Luecke has 20 years of experience in starting, leading, advising and successfully exiting technology and other growth-oriented companies.Prairie AquaTech makes a protein-rich ingredient used in feed for fish raised commercially for human consumption. The company uses a microbial process to efficiently convert soybean meal into this highly concentrated protein, and their initial research was funded by the South Dakota soybean checkoff.Prairie AquaTech is currently building a state-of-the-art production facility in Volga. The 30,000-square-foot production facility will add about 35 employees to Prairie AquaTech’s current staff of 30. The facility will be capable of producing 30,000 tons annually.

3 p.m. Matt Roberts, Founder of Kernmantle Group, a risk management consultancy, and Ag Economist: During his presentation, Roberts will address the rise and fall and rise and fall of American commodity prices. He will address current conditions and what they mean for farmers.A commodity and energy derivatives broker in Vienna, Austria, Roberts has traded or brokered almost everything, from azuki beans and waste management shares to stocks, bonds, futures, options and over-the-counter derivatives. Roberts taught economics and grain marketing at The Ohio State University for 15 years. He is published in multiple journals on technical analysis, commodity markets and electricity markets. He worked in the office of the chief economist at the Commodity Futures Trading Commission in Washington, D.C.

3 p.m. SDSA SoyPAC Silent Auction Closes

4:30 p.m. Social and Prize Drawings

4:30 p.m. SDSA Annual Meeting

5 p.m. Trade Show Closes

For more information on AgOutlook, visit www.sdsoybean.org.

Soybean farmers invited to attend SDSA Annual Meeting

All South Dakota soybean farmers are invited to attend the South Dakota Soybean Association Annual Meeting, immediately following the AgOutlook Conference and Tradeshow. The meeting begins at 4:30 p.m., and members are invited to engage in policy development.

“I encourage all South Dakota soybean growers to participate. The policy developed during the Annual Meeting guides the SDSA board and staff as we represent our state’s soybean farmers on legislative issues,” Horter explained.

Members can also participate in director elections held during the SDSA Annual meeting.

The districts up for election are: Two, Three, Four and Six, as well as three at-large director seats. If you are interested in applying to run for a director seat, application deadline is December 3, 2018. For more details, visit www.sdsoybean.org.

Soybean farmers are also invited to attend the South Dakota Soybean Recognition Banquet the evening prior to AgOutlook on December 5. For more details, visit www.sdsoybean.org.