Field Crops Track
Nationwide is the proud sponsor of the Educational Sessions.
This year, we are proud to present four different tracks with varying ag educational emphasis. Please take a moment and review each track for a jam pack schedule full of opportunity to expand your marketing skills and to move your operation forward.
Field Crops Track
Wednesday, January 17, 2023
8:00 AM - 9:00 AM FARMER APPRECIATION BREAKFAST
Sponsored by: AgFirst Farm Credit Bank
Please submit your breakfast reservation here.
Description: Calling all farmers to join AgFirst for a Farmer Appreciation Breakfast. Breakfast complimentary of AgFirst Farm Credit Bank. The Appreciation Breakfast will flow immediately into the 9AM General Session. The key note speaker will be Boone Peeler, FSA State Executive Director.
Bio: Boone Peeler, FSA State Executive Director, is a born and raised South Carolinian with deep ties to agriculture in his state. Peeler previously worked in state government and is currently serving his 3rd term on the Gaffney City Council. In his spare time, Peeler enjoys spending time with his two girls, and cheering on his beloved alma mater, the Clemson University Tigers
9:00 AM - 10:00 AM GENERAL SESSION
Let’s Talk About the Future of Agriculture
Description: This session will feature a high-level SC Political official as the keynote speaker and a panel of agricultural leaders sharing information and updates of what is being done for the past, current and future issues that affect the stability and growth of our number one industry. Boone S. Peeler, newly appointed USDA, FSA Executive Director will be sharing opening comments followed by a panel discussion. The panel members are as follows:
Ronald L. Summers, Palmetto AgriBusiness Council, CEO
Harry L. Ott, Jr. SC Farm Bureau, President
Cam Crawford, Forestry Association of South Carolina, President & CEO
Jack W. Shuler, SC Dept. of Agriculture-Office of Agribusiness Development (OAD), Director
11:00 AM - 12:30 PM Ag Outlook and Marketing Session
Presenters: Dr. Nathan Smith & Team
Description: Dr. Smith and team will provide an update on the 2018 ag outlook and beyond as well as a marketing forecast for the upcoming year. You will want to hear his presentation to prepare for marketing your crops during the coming year and beyond.
Bio: Dr. Nathan Smith is an Extension Professor and Economist with Clemson University. He is located at the Sandhills Research and Education Center in Columbia, SC where he serves as Agribusiness Program Team Leader. His major responsibilities are production economics and risk management of row crops.
Dr. Smith was an Associate Professor and Extension Economist with the University of Georgia prior to joining Clemson University. He was located on the Tifton Campus where his major responsibilities were production economics, marketing and policy for peanuts, feed grains, and soybeans. Dr. Smith was Extension Marketing Specialist for row crops at the University of Arkansas for three years prior to joining the University of Georgia. He earned a Bachelor of Science degree from Clemson University, Master of Science degree from Auburn University and PhD from the University of Kentucky, all in agricultural economics. Dr. Smith was raised in Easley, South Carolina and met his wife, Kim, while attending Clemson University. They have two sons Douglas and Daniel.
Bio: Bernt Nelson received both his BS and MS in Agricultural Economics from North Dakota State University. He comes from a family farm in rural LaMoure North Dakota where they raise row crops, cattle, and hogs. He became a part of the Clemson team in 2016. His specialties include commodity market analysis, risk management, and crop and livestock economics.
Bio: Scott Mickey is an Extension Associate with Clemson University and member of the Extension Agribusiness Program Team. Scott’s specialties include farm financial management, grain marketing and risk management. Scott has extensive experience as a farm business analysis fieldman and is located at the Sumter County Extension Office. He has a BS in Agricultural Economics from Virginia Tech University and is originally from West Virginia.
2:00 PM – 3:00 PM 2018 Mandatory Dicamba Training for Growers
Presenter: Justin Ballew, Clemson University Extension
Description: We will discuss management practices, precautions, and label changes associated with the dicamba herbicide. Growers will be awarded 1 hour of pesticide recertification credit. This training will satisfy the new EPA training requirement for applicators planning to use dicamba.
Bio: Justin Ballew joined Clemson Extension in January of 2015 as an agent in Marion County. He focuses on horticulture in Marion County and agronomy in Dillon County. The Columbia native is a 2011 graduate of Clemson University with a bachelor’s degree in agricultural education. Ballew previously worked with Clemson Extension in Lexington County as a research technician before leaving to earn his master’s degree in plant protection and pest management from the University of Georgia. After receiving his master’s degree in 2013, Ballew worked with the UGA Extension for a year before returning to home to South Carolina to join Clemson Extension.
2:00 PM – 3:30 PM Next Generation of Farmers Embrace Technology
Presenters: SCFB Young Farmers and Jessica Cabrera, M.Ed., Director of Member Engagement & Leadership Development, South Carolina Farm Bureau Federation
Panel Members: Dean Hutto, Joe Oswald, Guy Ramsey, Josh Baxley and Jason Rodgers
Description: Please join South Carolina Farm Bureau Young Farmers and Ranchers Program for an engaging discussion about the use of emerging technologies and precision agriculture practices on their farms today. Come listen and learn for ways you can do the same and improve efficiency on your farm.
Drones – Dean Hutto, Orangeburg County
Precision Ag, Hay Yield Monitoring – Guy Ramsey, York County
Variable Rate Technologies – Joe Oswald, Allendale County
Soil Health – Jason Rodgers, Edgefield County
Cattle Breeding Technologies – Josh Baxley, Georgetown County
During this session, attendees will hear from each farmer about how technology has changed the way we farm today. After a series of brief presentations, attendees will be able to ask questions and participate in a moderated discussion with the panel of farmers to discuss these technologies and effective ways to integrate them into your everyday operation.
Bio and Discussion facilitator: Jessica Cabrera, Director of Member Engagement & Leadership Development, SC Farm Bureau Federation. Jessica Cabrera holds a B.A. from Clemson University and a M.Ed. in Adult Education and Training from Colorado State University. Currently Jessica holds the position of Director of Member Engagement and Leadership Development at South Carolina Farm Bureau (SCFB) Federation, a grassroots, non-profit organization made up of over 100,000 members whose mission is to promote agricultural interests in South Carolina through legislative advocacy, education, and leadership development. She is passionate about the role of non-profits, volunteer leaders and community engagement and believes in leveraging the talents and interests of others to work toward a common goal.
Farmer Panelist Introductions:
Dean Hutto – Dean is a row crop farmer in Orangeburg County. He currently farms cotton, corn, peanuts, soybeans and oats. He has been using drones on his farm for 4 years.
Guy Ramsey – Guy is a cattle farmer in York County who produces his own hay. He holds two provisional patents on hay yield monitoring technologies in partnership with Clemson University.
Joe Oswald – Joe is a row crop farmer in Allendale County. He currently farms cotton, corn, soybeans, grains, peanuts, and cattle. He’s been using variable rate fertilizer, planting, and irrigation technologies on his farm for 4 years.
Jason Rodgers – Jason is a specialty crop farmer for Titan Farms in Edgefield County. They currently produce peaches, bell peppers, broccoli and eggplant. He has been using soil moisture probes on the farm for 5 years.
Josh Baxley – Josh is farmer in Georgetown County. He currently farms tobacco, grains and beef cattle. On his cattle operation, he has been using artificial insemination for over 20 years, along with embryo transfer and other breeding technologies for the past 6 years.
3:30 PM – 5:00 PM Worker Protection Standards Training
Presenter: Katie Moore, Clemson University
Description: This will be a special abbreviated session with supporting materials and information to help you as a farmer meet the federal requirements for your farm workers. EPA’s Agricultural Worker Protection Standard (WPS) is aimed at reducing the risk of pesticide poisoning and injury among agricultural workers and pesticide handlers. On November 2, 2015, EPA revised the WPS to implement stronger protections for agricultural workers, handlers and their families. Most of the revised WPS requirements became effective on January 2, 2023 and the remaining requirements become effective on January 2, 2018. If you hire agricultural workers and/or pesticide handlers, then you need to be familiar with the new regulations. There will be a $15.00 charge at the door for this training which will provide 1.5 hours of pesticide recertification credits.
Bio: Katie Moore has a B.S. and Masters in Agricultural Education. After teaching high school agriculture for a few years, she is now the Clemson Extension Associate for the Pesticide Safety Education Program
Thursday, January 18, 2023
9:00 AM – 10:00AM GENERAL SESSION
Promoting Agriculture & Farm Bill Updates
Presenter: Mary Kay Thatcher
Senior Director, Congressional Relations
American Farm Bureau Federation
Mary Kay Thatcher has worked as a lobbyist for the American Farm Bureau Federation for 30 years. She currently serves as Senior Director of Congressional Relations where she lobbies primarily on issues covering farm programs, crop insurance, conservation, credit and Big Data.
Mary Kay served in the “first” Bush Administration as a political appointee as the director of congressional and public affairs of the Farm Credit Administration. In that capacity, she was responsible for the policy direction and management of the agency’s congressional and public affairs activities.
Prior to joining AFBF in 1982, Thatcher served as a legislative assistant for agriculture and trade to Sen. Roger Jepsen of Iowa. She is a graduate of Iowa State University where she earned degrees in animal science and agricultural economics.
Thatcher is a fifth generation Iowa farmer. She grew up on a 500-acre Iowa beef, hay and corn farm. She now manages a farm in Iowa producing corn and soybeans, as well as a cow/calf operation.
11:00 AM – 12:30 PM
Soybeans that Yield Like Corn – Starting Right and Finishing Strong
Presenters: Dr. Ron Heiniger, NC State University and Kevin Matthews, President Deep Creek Grain, Inc.; Matthews Family Farms of NC, Inc. & Precision Nutrient Management, Inc.
Description: Start Right and Finish strong by choosing the right varieties, planting dates, and other production practices throughout the season. Dr Heiniger, NC State Soybean and Corn Specialist and Kevin Matthews, owner of Matthews Farm and a top yielder will do a tag team presentation to explain the scientific and practical sides of producing high yield soybeans in and efficient way. Bottom line is how to get maximum yield and profitability out of your inputs. This session will be packed with lots of key information you do not want to miss. If you are a soybean farmer your note-pad, questions and a good set of ears! “This will be one of the highest yielding growers you have had a chance to listen and learn from!”
“Hello Farmers we are so excited to bring these two presentations to you! Do whatever you have to do to take part in these sessions and the rest of the Expo for that matter! It will be worth your drive and time. If it is not come see me and we will cover the cost of the time you wasted.” Jody Martin, SC AgriBiz Expo Executive Director
Bio: Dr. Ronnie Heiniger is a professor in the Department of Crop and Soils Sciences at North Carolina State University. He received his PhD in crop ecology from Kansas State University in 1994. Dr. Heiniger has worked for the past 23 years as a research and extension specialist at the Vernon G. James Research and Extension Center in Plymouth, NC. His responsibilities include research into precision agriculture and corn-wheat-soybean cropping systems. Dr. Heiniger is known for his applied research. He has published over 50 research publications, 80 extension articles, and presented numerous abstracts and papers covering his work in precision agriculture, the use of aerial photography to determine nitrogen requirements for corn and wheat, phyllochron intervals in wheat and managing high-yield corn from emergence to harvest. Dr. Heiniger has received the Gerold O Mott Award for outstanding research from the American Society of Agronomy, is a three time recipient of the Distinguished Service Award from both the North Carolina Corn Grower’s Association and the North Carolina Small Grain Grower’s Association and is a member of the Academy of Outstanding Extension Specialists at North Carolina State University.
Bio: Kevin Matthews: Kevin and wife Cindy owns and operate Matthews Family Farms of North Carolina, Inc., Precision Nutrient Management, Inc., and Deep Creek Grain, Inc. in East Bend and Yadkinville N.C. They have three children Megan, Timothy, and Danielle a sophomore studying Agrobusiness Management along with crop and soil science at North Carolina State University. Prior to farming full-time Kevin earned an Associate Degree in Electronic Engineering that has been a huge asset in there farming operation.
Kevin while being very active in his community and commodity groups he spends tremendous time implementing and testing new technologies and test plots with a focus in no-till conservation and irrigation management. These practices have blessed Matthews Family Farms of NC, Inc. with numerous high yield awards in Corn and Soybeans from no-till dryland to Irrigated crops. Irrigation began with Center Pivots early on to now many acres of Sub surface drip “SDI” irrigation. The SDI success along with non-irrigated no-till yields has created many opportunities to teach others. With many speaking engagements all over the country from small and large field day groups to multiple presentations at the Commodity Classic and the AgPhd field day with his very own test plots in Baltic S.D. creating a passion to share his success with others!
Kevin gives credit to the Lord first and his great team of employees and family for the yielding success and management of their farm consisting of 6,500+ acres and nearly 800 acres of custom work producing Corn, Wheat, full and double crop Soybeans over a 50-mile distance across four counties in the piedmont region. Primarily rich flat river bottom and red clay rolling upland soils.
2:00 PM – 4:30 PM Amazing Corn Yields – Achieving the Impossible by Meeting Plant Needs
Presenters: Dr. Ron Heiniger, NC State University and Kevin Matthews, President Deep Creek Grain, Inc.; Matthews Family Farms of NC, Inc. & Precision Nutrient Management, Inc.
Description: This title says it all. As a corn grower you will take part in a session that will rival anything heard at the national meetings such as the Commodity Classic. This session will again be an outstanding tag team presentation to explain the scientific and practical sides of producing high corn yields in and efficient way. Dr Heiniger, NC State Soybean and Corn Specialist and Kevin Matthews, owner of Matthews Farm and a top yielder have both spoken at regional and national meetings and are in high demand. They are both very excited to present this information to you in the unique format. We are very fortunate to have them join us to share with each of you, an exciting and informative presentation on what they have found to get maximum yields and profitability out of your inputs. Do not miss this session, get in your truck, bring the farm help, neighbors, family and drive to the SC AgriBiz Expo to listen and learn from two of the best in the industry. Again, bring your note-pad, questions and a good set of ears! This session will be full of great information and lots to time for Q & A.
