8:00 a.m. Registration

8:30 Welcome and Corn and Grain Sorghum Board Annual Report Mike Richardson, Chairman, CGSB

8:35 2015 Year in Review 2015 started out as a wet spring and ended with one of the driest falls anyone can remem ber. Dr. Kelley and Ross will discuss some of the challenges faced by producers this year and offer solutions to help deal with challenges as they arise. Corn – Jason Kelley, UAEX Wheat and Feed Grain Specialist Soybean – Jeremy Ross, UAEX Soybean Specialist

9:25 Outside Factors Impacting Commodity Markets With the uncertainty surrounding the fundamentals of the commodity markets one can forget the impact other markets can have on commodity prices. Looming rate hikes from the Federal Reserve, slowing growth in China, and host of other factors will impact commodity prices in the coming year. Mr. Sabo from Rabobank will discuss their forecast for these factors and look at how they might impact commodity prices. Robert Sabo, Executive Director Rabobank, Chicago 10:00 Break

10:15 Soybean Promotion Board Annual Report West Higginbothom, Chairman, SPB

10:20 Emerging Weed Control Technology As the weed resistance situation worsens, producers are forced to change management practices to combat the invasive weeds. There remains a lot of press surrounding new weed control technologies; however, regulatory hurdles both domestic and international combined with environmental group lawsuits threaten the release of these technologies. The board has invited two experts from the companies to discuss their products and the likelihood of a 2016 release. While these technologies will help they are not a silver bullet, and Dr. Scott will overview the current weed resistance situation and importance of multiple modes of action.

Xtend Technology Doug Rushing, Industry Affairs Director at Monsanto, St Louis

Enlist Technology Ryan Keller, Enlist Field Specilaist, Dow AgroSciences Arkansas Perspective on Weed Resistance Situation Bob Scott, UAEX Weed Specialist

12:00 Lunch

12:15 Luncheon Speaker: New Uses and Markets for Sorghum A huge basis premium for sorghum enticed Arkansas producers to plant 500,000 acres of sorghum in 2015. While acreage is likely to decline in 2016, there remain some very good sorghum markets available to producers. Believe it or not, sorghum is becoming popular as a food product. As gluten free product, food manufactures are demanding more and more sorghum. Doug will highlight work the National Sorghum Checkoff is doing to promote sorghum and some opportunities that are coming for producers. Doug Bice, High Value Markets Program Director, United Sorghum Checkoff Program

12:50 Door Prizes

1:00 Crop Insurance Seminar With traditional safety nets gone, producers have been forced to consider crop insurance. While crop insurance has traditionally not been used by southern growers, new products like margin insurance could provide some much needed support. Silveus Insurance Group, Inc. is the nation’s leading independent crop insurance agency and offers a number of unique products to help producers decide what coverage is best for them. Silveus Insurance Group Chris McCray

2:00 Adjourn

The Arkansas Soybean Promotion Board was established to improve the sustainability and profitability of the soybean industry in Arkansas. The Arkansas Soybean Promotion Board consists of soybean producers nominated by various producer organizations within Arkansas and appointed by the governor. Although board members contribute many hours of their time to administering the program, they serve without pay.

This board, with a goal of improving the sustainability and profitability of the soybean industry in Arkansas, is responsible for distributing funds from the checkoff. Funds are used primarily for research and Extension projects conducted University of Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station and Cooperative Extension Service. Board members include: West Higginbothom, Marianna, ChairmanGary Sitzer, Weiner, Vice ChairmanJim Carroll, Brinkley Shannon Davis, BonoJohn Freeman, DumasGlynn Guenther, SherrillDoug Hartz, StuttgartDonald Morton, Jr., Des ArcJoe Thrash, Conway

The Arkansas Corn & Grain Sorghum Board (AR CGSB) is a seven-member volunteer board consisting of Arkansas farmers appointed by the Governor. The board works hard at allocating checkoff funds toward meaningful research and promotion that enhances the corn and grain sorghum industries in Arkansas. By working with the University of

Arkansas Division of Agriculture, the Arkansas Corn & Grain Sorghum Board has been able to fund many research projects such as the corn and grain sorghum verification programs, optimal irrigation practices, pest control in grain sorghum, high yield practices for corn and grain sorghum and many more. The board also allocates funds dedicated to promoting Arkansas-grown corn and grain sorghum to buyers in the U.S. and the world. Through its partnerships with the US Grains Council and National Corn Growers Association, the Arkansas Corn & Grain Sorghum Board has participated in programs such as Export Exchange and Commodity Classic that give the board a platform to connect Arkansas farmers to domestic and international markets. The board is proud to serve the corn and grain sorghum farmers across the state of Arkansas. Board members include:

David Gammill, Chairman,TyronzaTrent Dabbs, Vice Chairman, StuttgartMike Richardson, Secretary/Treasurer, Holly GroveTommy Young, TuckermanKeith Woolverton, PollardStewart Weaver, ProctorJon Carroll, Moro

Farming for Tomorrow2016 Corn, Grain Sorghum and Soybean Producer Conference

January 5 – Jonesboro Fairgrounds

January 7 – Dumas Community Center

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