MN Ag Leadership Conference

Agenda

Sunday, August 20

4:30pm – 6:00pmReception in honor of Chairman G.T. Thompson (R-PA), Committee on Agriculture, U.S. House of Representatives (contributors only)
5:00pm–6:00pmCheck-In & Registration
6:00pm–6:45pmWelcome Dinner
Sponsored by American Bankers Association
Welcome from MCGA President Richard Syverson
Sponsor remarks – Mr. Ed Elfmann, Senior Vice President of Agricultural and Rural Banking
6:45pm – 7:30pmFeatured Speakers
Remarks from Minnesota Agriculture Commissioner Thom Petersen
Remarks from U.S. House Agriculture Committee Chairman G.T. Thompson (R-PA), Chairman, Committee on Agricluture, U.S. House of Representatives
7:30pm–9:00pmWelcome Reception

Monday, August 21

6:30amBreakfast
7:30amWelcome
– Mr. Gary Prescher, Chair – Minnesota Corn Research & Promotion Council
– Mr. Richard Syverson, President, Minnesota Corn Growers Association
7:30am – 1:00pmGeneral Session
7:30amInside Washington: The Politics, Personalities, and Policies Driving the Farm Bill, Other Legislation and Regulations Impacting U.S. Agriculture
– Mr. Jim Wiesemeyer, Dean of Washington Farm Journalists, Pro Farmer
8:35amSurveying the Economic Landscape of the U.S. Farm Economy and Federal Policy Options for the Farm Bill
– Dr. Justin Benavidez, Chief Economist, House Committee on Agriculture (via satellite)
– Dr. Bart Fischer, Former Deputy Staff Director and Chief Economist of the House Committee on Agriculture, Co-Director of the Agriculture and Food Policy Center at Texas A&M University
– Dr. Joe Outlaw, Regents Fellow, Professor, Extension Economist, Co-Director of the Agricultural and Food Policy Center at Texas A&M University
– Mr. Brad Weddelman, Chief Economist, Combest, Sell & Associates
9:35amBreak
Sponsored by: AgCountry Farm Credit Services
9:55amDeveloping and Enacting the 2023 Farm Bill: Key Congressional Staff Panel (Part 1)
– Ms. Rosy Brummette, Policy Adviser, Senator Michael Bennet (D-CO) (via satellite)
– Ms. Carley Esser, Professional Staff, Senator John Boozman (R-AR), Ranking Member, Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry
– Mr. Clark Ogilvie, Special Counsel, Rep. David Scott (D-GA), Ranking Member, House Committee on Agriculture (via satellite)
– Mr. Aaron Weber, Policy Advisor, Senator John Hoeven (R-ND), Ranking Member, Senate Agriculture Appropriations Subcommittee (via satellite)
– Mr. Josh Tonsager, Senior Professional Staff, Senator Debbie Stabenow (D-MI), Chairwoman, Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry (via satellite)
– Mr. Trevor White, Senior Professional Staff, Rep. G.T. Thompson (R-PA), Chairman, House Committee on
Agriculture (via satellite)
10:55amReigniting the U.S. Trade Agenda: Status, Opportunities, and Challenges
– Mr. John Gilliland, International Trade Consultant, Akin Group
– Mr. Cary Sifferath, Vice President, U.S. Grains Council
11:45amCrop Protection, FIFRA, and Other Regulatory Challenges
– Mr. Kyle Kunkler, Director of Government Affairs, American Soybean Association
12:15pmKeynote Welcome and Remarks
The Honorable Pete Stauber (R-MN)
12:45pmLunch
Sponsored by: Minnesota Bankers Association

Featured Speaker
– The Honorable Amy Klobuchar (D-MN)
2:00pmOn Your Own Activities
2:00pmReception in honor of Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Member, Committee on Agriculture, U.S. Senate (contributors only)
6:00pmDinner
Sponsored by: Compeer Financial

Tuesday, August 22

6:30amBreakfast
7:30am – 1:30pmGeneral Session
7:30 amWhat’s in Store for 2024: Election Year Predictions
– Mr. David Wasserman, House Editor, Cook Political Report (pre-recorded remarks)
8:00amForeign Agriculture Disease Preparedness, Gene Editing, Sustainability, and Other Issues Impacting Producers
– Dr. Carol Cardona, Department of Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences, University of Minnesota
– Dr. Dan Carlson, Chief Scientific Officer, Acceligen, a Recombinetics Company
8:45amAgriculture and Climate Policy, Politics, and Public Relations – Navigating Notions of Sustainability
– Mr. Dennis Daggett – President, Enterprise Ag Strategies, LLC
– Ms. Lauren Servick – Director of Sustainability and Public Policy, MN Pork Producers Association
9:30amBreak
Sponsored by: Gislason & Hunter LLP
9:45amThe Future of Biofuels in the Age of EV-Focused Policies and the Potential for New Uses
Ms. Emily Skor, CEO, Growth Energy
10:15amKey Allies Panel
– The Honorable Collin C. Peterson, Chairman Emeritus, House Committee on Agriculture
– Ms. Cassie Bladow, President, U.S. Beet Sugar Association
– Mr. Matt Schertz, Principal, Schertz Strategies
10:45amPerspectives from the Farm Service Agency
– Mr. Steve Peterson, Associate Administrator, Farm Service Agency
11:15amDeveloping and Enacting the 2023 Farm Bill: Key Congressional Staff Panel (Part 2)
– Mr. John Altendorf, Legislative Assistant, Rep. Brad Finstad (R-MN), Chairman, House Agriculture Subcommittee on Nutrition, Foreign Agriculture, and Horticulture
– Les Anderson, Agriculture Liaison, Rep. Angie Craig (D-MN)
– Mr. Nick Lunneborg, Deputy Chief of Staff, Rep. Michelle Fischbach (R-MN)
– Mr. Bubba White, Legislative Director, Rep. David Rouzer (R-NC)
12:00pmLunch
12:30pmAddressing the Agricultural Labor Crisis in the U.S.
– Mr. Chalmers R. Carr, III, Owner, President, & Chief Executive Officer, Titan Farms LLC
1:30pmDeparture