Program | Agricultural Bankers Conference | American Bankers Association

2025 Program

All times in CT.

Wed, Nov. 12
Thurs, Nov. 13
Fri, Nov. 14

Wed, Nov. 12

8:00 AM – 5:00 PM	Conference Registration Open
9:00 AM – 12:00 PM	Pre-Conference Workshop Farm Finances at a Crossroad: Navigating Heightened Uncertainty The challenges of low commodity prices, high interest rates and sticky input prices have been a financial challenge in 2023, 2024 and 2025. What does that mean for farm profitability, farm real estate values and credit worthiness going forward? FINPACK and Farmer Mac will offer informative and timely insights that will focus on your customers and their financial prospects for 2026 and beyond, as well as innovative strategies to confidently navigate and manage increasing portfolio risk. Dr. David Kohl will conclude the session with his view from the road and practical solutions for your credit underwriting. David M. Kohl, Ph.D., Professor Emeritus, Virginia Tech, AgriVisions, LLC Blaine Nelson, Senior Economist, Farmer Mac Jackson Takach, Chief Economist and VP of Strategy, Research, and Analysis, Farmer Mac Pauline Van Nurden, Associate Director, Center for Farm Financial Management, Associate Professor, Department of Applied Economics, University of Minnesota Robert H. Craven, Economist, Center for Farm Financial Management, Professor, Department of Applied Economics, University of Minnesota
12:00 PM – 1:30 PM	Lunch (on your own) After the pre-conference workshop, step outside and dive into the flavor and charm of downtown St. Louis! With the iconic Union Station Hotel as your starting point, you’re just a 10-minute walk from some of the city’s most beloved local eats. Craving rich Italian? Head to Lombardo’s Trattoria. Want to sip a cold beverage with your burger? Schlafly Tap Room is calling. From the fresh seafood at Landry’s to the Irish pub vibes at Maggie O’Brien’s, or the retro charm of White Knight Diner, there’s something for every taste and mood. Get out, explore and treat yourself to a true taste of St. Louis!
12:15 PM – 1:15 PM	Women in Ag Banking Luncheon Join us for a dynamic lunch session featuring women in ag banking and farming as they share their professional journeys, insights and lessons learned along the way. This is a great opportunity to hear real stories, gain practical advice, and connect with peers who understand the unique challenges and opportunities women face in the ag industry. Come for the inspiration — stay for the networking. Moderator: Jessica Lehman, Director of Food & Agribusiness, First Financial Bank Cassy England, Southern Arizona Farmer and Agricultural Business Leader Lydia Wagy, Assistant Vice President, Regional Missouri Bank Lacy Vardeman, Founder of Sandhills Area Research Association, Owner of Cotter Key Farms, Cotter Ranch Ltd., partner of Vardeman Farms Partnership
1:30 PM – 3:00 PM	Opening General Session Inside the Beltway Panel Discussion Stay on top of the latest regulatory and policy issues with a deep dive into issues ABA is tackling on your behalf. Kirsten Sutton, Executive Vice President, Congressional Relations, American Bankers Association Blake Earley, Senior Vice President Congressional Relations, American Bankers Association Ed Elfmann, Senior Vice President, Agricultural & Rural Banking, American Bankers Association Chris Fisher, Vice President, Congressional Relations, American Bankers Association In Conversation with a National Voice This session features a nationally recognized figure with deep expertise and influence in agriculture policy. They will share informed perspectives on key developments, emerging trends and the broader landscape shaping the industry today. This is a unique opportunity to hear directly from a prominent voice helping to shape the national ag conversation. -Speaker to be announced
3:00 PM – 3:45 PM	Welcome Break in The Hub
3:45 PM – 4:30 PM	Concurrent Sessions I Building the Next Generation of Ag Bankers As ag banking evolves, so must the people and structures behind it. With a widening talent gap and shifting client expectations, banks must rethink how they identify, develop and empower the next generation of ag bankers. This panel — featuring emerging leaders and their mentors from the same institutions — will explore what it takes to succeed in the next five years, and what banks must do now to stay relevant and resilient. Moderator: David White, Commercial Relationship Manager, INTRUST Bank, NA The Capital Compass: Navigating Lending in All Seasons This panel explores how agricultural lenders can guide producers toward smarter financial decisions and long-term resilience. Panelists will share insights on capital retention, communicating tough lending decisions and turning a “no” into a future opportunity. Learn how to support your customers during prosperous times so they’re better prepared for downturns, and discover strategies to demonstrate value in even the most sophisticated deals. Moderator: Sam Miller, Principal, Fox St. Advisors
4:45 PM – 5:30 PM	Concurrent Sessions II Accelerating Loan Decisions for Competitive Advantage In today’s fast-paced ag lending environment, speed and simplicity can be the difference between winning and losing a customer. Explore how ag banks are using scorecard lending tools to accelerate credit decisions, streamline operations and meet ever-rising borrower expectations. Hear from a panel of lenders who have successfully implemented these tools and learn what worked and how to bring those insights back to your bank. Don’t fall behind — see how fast, reliable decision-making can become your bank’s competitive edge. Bill Miller, Director – Farm & Ranch Business, Development, Farmer Mac Mastering Commodity Prices: Unlocking Success with a Dynamic, All-Inclusive Strategy If markets constantly evolve and adapt to new information, why shouldn’t a risk management strategy? Discover how Ever.Ag helps livestock producers avoid market pitfalls and missed opportunities from relying on just one risk management tool. This session dives into the complexities of price risk management tools like Livestock Risk Protection, Livestock Gross Margin and brokerage, highlighting the importance of flexibility and strategic adaptability in an ever-changing market. Trey G. Freeman, Livestock Advisor, Ever.Ag Revolutionizing Ag Lending: The Transformative Role of Artificial Intelligence (AI) AI is a game-changer for ag lenders seeking efficiency, accuracy and enhanced customer experiences. We’ll explore how AI technologies are reshaping our industry, what you should consider when evaluating these technologies, and how you can leverage AI and machine learning to drive innovation and growth. We’ll also examine a case study of a lender that successfully integrated an AI solution into their due diligence process, and which best practices led to tangible results. Suzie Neff, Senior Enterprise Sales Executive Specialty Sales, Wolters Kluwer Lien Solutions
5:30 PM – 6:30 PM	Opening Reception in the Hub Enjoy light bites and drinks as you mingle with peers and industry providers.

Thurs, Nov. 13

Join us for a focused outlook on the poultry and pork sectors, covering current industry conditions, export trends, and the economic forces shaping supply and demand. You’ll gain insights into key challenges, shifting profitability and the major trends driving change across both poultry and pork.

Brian Earnest, Lead Animal Protein Economist, CoBank

8:00 AM – 5:00 PM	Conference Registration Open
7:30 AM – 8:15 AM	Power Breakfasts
8:30 AM – 10:00 AM	General Session Bruning Award Presentation Agricultural Economics in an Uncertain Landscape This session will deepen your understanding of the forces influencing your clients and communities and strengthen your role as a trusted financial partner in agriculture. We’ll examine key economic indicators — including land values, commodity markets, interest rates and farm income — and their implications for credit markets, risk management, strategic planning and how you can navigate opportunities. Jason Henderson, Ph.D., Vice President, Iowa State University Extension and Outreach
10:00 AM – 11:00 AM	Networking Break in The Hub
11:00 AM – 11:40 AM	Commodity Outlooks Get the latest commodity updates on Cattle, Grain, and Proteins. Each 40-minute session will be offered twice, so you can attend more than one. Cattle Get a strategic overview of the current and future state of the cattle market, blending macroeconomic trends with micro-level herd data. You will gain insights into market direction, economic drivers, and the cash flow implications for producers and lenders so you have the tools to make informed financial decisions in a shifting agricultural economy. Dr. Andrew Griffith, Professor, Department of Agricultural and Resource Economics Grain: Corn, wheat, soy Get ready for an engaging, discussion-driven look at the supply and demand fundamentals for corn, soybeans and wheat, and how global trade dynamics and timing influence each crop differently. From shifting export markets to evolving trade agreements, we’ll unpack what matters most and why. We’ll break down what to watch closely in the months ahead and share key takeaways to help you stay ahead of the curve. Bring your questions! Frayne Olson, PhD, Crops Economist/ Marketing Specialist – NDSU Extension; Director – Quentin Burdick Center for Cooperatives; Professor – Agribusiness & Applied Economics, North Dakota State University Proteins: Poultry, Pork Coming soon Join us for a focused outlook on the poultry and pork sectors, covering current industry conditions, export trends, and the economic forces shaping supply and demand. You’ll gain insights into key challenges, shifting profitability and the major trends driving change across both poultry and pork. Brian Earnest, Lead Animal Protein Economist, CoBank
11:50 AM – 12:30 PM	Commodity Outlooks Get the latest commodity updates on Cattle, Grain, and Proteins. Each 40-minute session will be offered twice, so you can attend more than one. Cattle Coming soon Get a strategic overview of the current and future state of the cattle market, blending macroeconomic trends with micro-level herd data. You will gain insights into market direction, economic drivers, and the cash flow implications for producers and lenders so you have the tools to make informed financial decisions in a shifting agricultural economy. Dr. Andrew Griffith, Professor, Department of Agricultural and Resource Economics Grain: Corn, wheat, soy Get ready for an engaging, discussion-driven look at the supply and demand fundamentals for corn, soybeans and wheat, and how global trade dynamics and timing influence each crop differently. From shifting export markets to evolving trade agreements, we’ll unpack what matters most and why. We’ll break down what to watch closely in the months ahead and share key takeaways to help you stay ahead of the curve. Bring your questions! Frayne Olson, PhD, Crops Economist/ Marketing Specialist – NDSU Extension; Director – Quentin Burdick Center for Cooperatives; Professor – Agribusiness & Applied Economics, North Dakota State University Proteins: Poultry, Pork Coming soon
12:30 PM – 1:30 PM	Lunch and General Session ABA/Farmer Mac Ag Lender Survey Results Our panel of experts will showcase and analyze the results from the 2025 ABA-Farmer Mac Agricultural Bankers Survey. Gain insights on the state of agricultural banking from a survey of ag lenders across the country. Ryan Lee, Research Manager, American Bankers Association Jackson Takach, Chief Economist, Vice President – Strategy, Research and Analytics, Farmer Mac
1:30 PM – 2:30 PM	Dessert & Coffee Break in The Hub
2:30 PM – 3:15 PM	Concurrent Sessions III Labor Challenges in Ag: What Bankers Need to Know Explore the evolving labor landscape in agriculture, including the impact of immigration policy, H-2A visa updates and rising labor costs. This session will equip you with insights into legislative developments, risk exposure and strategies for managing labor-related expenses. Jonathan Sarager, Senior Director of Federal Government Affairs, Western Growers Trends and Risks in Less Regulated and Vendor Finance If conditions in the farm economy continue to worsen, more producers may turn to agricultural lending outside traditional financial institutions. This session will focus on lenders that are less — or differently — regulated than commercial banks and the Farm Credit System, including vendor financing, collateral-based lenders and private credit providers. We’ll examine these credit providers and the risks they pose and discuss experiences and share strategies for navigating them. Jennifer Ifft, Professor & Flinchbaugh, Agricultural Policy Chair
3:30 PM – 4:15 PM	Concurrent Sessions IV Latest Developments in Distressed Agricultural Lending Learning from your mistakes is valuable, but so is learning from the mistakes of others. This session will cover the top agricultural lending disputes from the past year. Gain insights into common pitfalls, practical solutions to resolve disputes and best practices for managing risk in agricultural loans. You’ll leave with actionable strategies to enhance your lending practices and more effectively mitigate risks. Michael Fielding, Partner, Husch Blackwell LLP Thomas Donaldson, Partner, Husch Blackwell LLP How to Use the Farm Financial Standards Council’s Recommended Financial Ratios Hear the key financial ratios as recommended by the Farm Financial Standards Council, the predominant ratios used by ag lenders, issues with computation, variation across type and size of farms, and other stats. Todd Doehring, Director, Centrec Consulting Group Pauline Van Nurden, Associate Director, Extension Economist, UM Center for Farm Financial Management
4:30 PM – 5:45 PM	General Session & Networking Event Meet fellow bankers from across generations at this interactive networking session. Whether you’re new to the industry, attending the conference for the first time or a returning participant, this is a great chance to make new connections and reconnect with peers. A fun activity will help spark conversation!
6:00 PM – 7:00 PM	Reception in the Grand Hall Sponsored by Farmer Mac Share your grand ideas with peers over light bites and drinks in The Grand Hall, a St. Louis landmark featuring a sweeping archway, 65-foot ceiling, fresco and art glass windows.

Fri, Nov. 14

7:00 AM – 11:00 AM	Conference Registration Open
7:00 AM – 7:45 AM	Power Breakfasts
8:00 AM – 10:15 AM	General Session Blanchfield Award Presentation High Impact Meteorology We plan our operations based on weather averages and our experiences over recent growing seasons, but each year presents a new set of weather challenges. In this session, learn how to use the abundance of weather data to stay ahead of disruptive weather events. We’ll explore the resources available to monitor changes in longer-range forecasts. We’ll also discuss your state’s risk for severe storms and the next growing season in South America, which competes directly with our crops. Eric Snodgrass, Principal Atmospheric Scientist, Conduit Ag
10:15 AM – 10:30 AM	Coffee Break
10:30 AM – 11:30 AM	Closing General Session

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Program | Agricultural Bankers Conference

2025 Program

Wed, Nov. 12

Thurs, Nov. 13

Fri, Nov. 14

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