The 19th Annual Farmer Cooperatives Conference will bring together agricultural cooperative leadership and industry experts from across the country to examine strategic issues impacting farmer-owned cooperatives. The conference will be held November 2-4 at the Radisson Blu in downtown Minneapolis.
The Farmer Cooperatives Conference gives cooperative leaders the tools needed to navigate challenges ahead. Over two days, more than 20 agricultural cooperative leaders and industry experts will address strategic issues such as cybersecurity and data privacy issues related to precision agriculture, updates on the policy environment and the changing regulatory landscape, the complementary roles of board and management play in strategic development and governance best practices.
This year’s program features keynote presentations by two nationally recognized champions of U.S. agriculture and competitive markets. Joseph Glauber, is a Senior Research Fellow at the International Food Policy Research Institute and previously served as the Chief Economist at United States Department of Agriculture. His keynote will focus on global market trends and the implications that trade partnerships will have on agricultural products and commodities. Jason Henderson, Associate Dean and Director of Purdue Extension, is scheduled to speak on Friday morning to share his outlook for the 2017 farm economy. Mr. Henderson, the former Vice President and Omaha Branch Executive at the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City, is a nationally recognized expert in agricultural and rural issues.
Jeff Stroburg, a member of the Farmer Cooperatives Conference planning committee, notes, “This year’s program addresses issues that farmer cooperatives must face to prepare for the future and to navigate these tough times. Seeing how other cooperatives have made adaptations may inspire audience members to try something new at their own co-op.” Mr. Stroburg serves as president and CEO of Southern States Cooperatives, a Richmond, Virginia-based farm supply and service cooperative which has more than 200,000 farmer-members. “The Farmer Cooperatives Conference is one of the best forums to not only become more informed but also network with cooperative peers” he adds.
Support for the program comes from CoBank, AgriBank, CHS, Commodity Force, GROWMARK, Land O’Lakes, Stoel Rives, Dairy Business Milk Marketing Cooperative, Dorsey & Whitney, Farm Foundation, Lindquist & Vennum, NCFC Education Foundation, CliftonLarsonAllen, Gardiner Thomsen, and the Ralph K. Morris Foundation.
As a longtime sponsor of the Farmer Cooperatives Conference, “National Council of Farmer Cooperatives appreciates the value the Farmer Cooperatives Conference provides to cooperatives that are continually striving to grow and provide value to their farmer-owners,” says Chuck Conner, president and CEO of the National Council of Farmer Cooperatives. “Time and time again, the University of Wisconsin Center for Cooperatives delivers a thought-provoking and timely program that addresses challenges farmer-owned cooperatives face in this unpredictable economic environment.”
The two-day conference will be hosted at the Radisson Blu Minneapolis. More information about the conference and registration is available at www.farmercoops.uwcc.wisc.edu or by contacting Anne Reynolds at 608-263-4775 or anne.reynolds@wisc.edu.
Established in 1962, the UW Center for Cooperatives focuses on education, research and outreach on all aspects of the cooperative business model, including development, finance, structure and governance. The Center’s interdisciplinary programs build on the resources of the University of Wisconsin-Madison and the University of Wisconsin Extension, and are implemented through partnerships with UW faculty, staff and extension agents, federal and state agencies, state cooperative councils, cooperative business groups, and others. For more information, please visit www.uwcc.wisc.edu.
Contact:
Megan Webster
(608) 890-1048
mawebster@wisc.edu