2014 Joint Commodities Conference

The Joint Conference of Corn, Cotton, Soybean Producers and Small Grain Growers will be held in Raleigh in January 2014. Early attendees are invited to a pre-opening reception at the exhibit hall at 5:00 p.m. on Wednesday, January 15. On January16 everyone is invited to a continental breakfast in the exhibit hall beginning at 7:30 a.m. The conference officially begins at 9:00 a.m. with Jay Sullivan, President of the Corn Growers Association, presiding. The first guest speaker will be Thomas Sleight, President and CEO of the U. S. Grains Council. He will bring an up-date on World Markets and the Council. Sleight initially joined the Council in 1983 and has served in multiple capacities both in the D. C. headquarters and overseas. After leaving for stints with other agricultural organizations, he returned to the Council in November 2010. Sleight’s cumulative service with the Council spans over 18 years. He took over leadership of the Council in 2012.

Dave Fogel, Vice-President Broker-Producer of Advance Trading of Bloomington, Illinois will also address those in attendance during the morning session. His topic will be “Changing Markets – How to Defend Your Balance Sheet.” He has served on the Board of Directors since 1986 and mentors close to 25 Advance Trading branch brokers with clientele focused on corn, soybeans, and what production. Mr. Fogel’s tenure with Advance Trading has included working with individual producer accounts and with county grain elevators to assist their patrons with risk management led by the Advance Trading philosophy. Growers will be able to visit with Fogel in the exhibit hall where he will have a booth during the conference.

The afternoon session begins at 1:00 p.m. with a panel titled “Commodity Merchandising 2014.” The moderator of the panel will be Clif Hardison of Sweet Water Creek Seeds and former Board Member of the Corn Growers Association. Panel members confirmed at this time are: Edgar Woods, President, Palmetto Grain Brokerage, Richland, South Carolina; Mike Quinn, Carolinas Cotton Growers Cooperative, Garner and Lucas Richard of LFR Farms and Greenhouses of Newton. Following the panel NCSU Commodity Specialists will present production agriculture seminars. The seminars will be presented in the convention center so that everyone can hear all four specialists. Following the seminars Commissioner Steve Troxler will present the Yield Awards. The day concludes with a reception in the exhibit area and the Awards Banquet. “Kids are Music” will entertain the group at the beginning of the banquet with patriotic songs. On Friday morning, January 17, the day kicks off with an Early Riser session in the exhibit hall including breakfast, a panel discussion of commodity presidents moderated by Rhonda Garrison of the Southern Farm Network. Also bringing remarks and answering questions will be Greg Wichmann who is the lead for the Southeast Commercial Unit of Dupont Pioneer. Wichmann recently moved with his family to the Raleigh area. Roy Garena of Syngenta will also speak and be open for questions. The conference concludes with the Annual Business Meetings of the Associations.
 

Courtesy Corn Growers Association of North Carolina