2025 Conference Agenda

Wednesday, January 8

10:00-Noon Board Meetings

Noon-1:00 Lunch

1:00-4:00 Board Meetings

4:00-5:00 Annual Business/Membership Meetings (Cotton, Soybeans, Small Grains)

5:00-6:00 Cocktail Reception

Thursday, January 9

7:30 - 9:00 Registration Open - Breakfast, Networking, Visit with Exhibitors

9:00-9:15 Welcome & Opening Remarks

• Ray Starling, General Counsel, NC Chamber, President of the NC Chamber Legal Institute

• Dean Garey Fox, NC State University

9:15-10:15 Economic Outlook: Dr. Jeff Dorfman, NCSU ARE Economist

10:15-11:00 Mental Health in Rural America: Jeff Winton, Founder of Rural Minds

11:00-Noon Harvest the Humor: A Celebration of Life on the Farm: Jolene Brown

Noon-1:30 Lunch & Visit with Exhibitors

1:30-1:45 Remarks: Commissioner Steve Troxler, NC Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services

1:45-2:45 Farming for the Next Generation: Ron Simmons, Owner of Masterblend

2:45-3:30 Farmer Margin Squeeze: Can Trump and the New Congress Help? Angus R. Kelly, Head of Government Affairs, Inari Seed

3:30-4:30 Visit with Exhibitors & Poster Presentation

4:30-6:00 Awards Ceremony & Reception

friday, January 10

7:00-8:00 Breakfast, Networking, Visit with Exhibitors

8:00-8:30 Poster Contest Recognition

8:30-8:50 AI-Enabled Robotics for Precision Agriculture: Dr. Lirong Xiang, Assistant Professor, Automation and Robotics, Department of Biological and Agricultural Engineering, NC State University

8:50-9:10 Deer Management in Agronomic Crops: Dr. Cory Heaton, Extension Wildlife Specialist, Clemson University

9:10-10:00 Extension Specialist Panel: Observations from 2024 and Looking Ahead to 2025

• Dr. Guy Collins, Extension Cotton Specialist, NC State University

• Dr. Charlie Cahoon, Jr., Extension Weed Specialist & Assistant Professor, NC State University

• Dr. Anders Huseth, Extension Specialist, Field Crops and Sweetpotatoes, NC State University

• Dr. Cory Heaton, Extension Assistant Professor and State Wildlife Specialist, Clemson University

• Moderator: Jeff Chandler, Research Coordinator, NC Soybean Producers Association

10:00-10:15 Networking Break

10:15-11:-00 Small Grain Specialist Seminar: Dr. Angela Post, Small Grains Extension Specialist

11:00-Noon Corn Specialist Seminar: Dr. Ron Heiniger, Corn Extension Specialist

Noon Event Concludes