Taking an environmentally sensitive approach to pest management
REGISTER
Missouri's premier agricultural conference for farmers and agricultural industry professionals. This two-day conference provides timely topics from the state's leading agricultural experts. Registration deadline is November 27, 2026. Please contact Heather Bowden, nicholshn@missouri.edu or 573-882-4303, if you have any questions.
PRICING
Full Conference $225.00
One Day Conference – Thursday or Friday $150.00
Farmer Full Conference $125.00
Student Full Conference $75.00
thursday sessions
What Will 2027 Mean for Missouri Crop Profitability?
8:00 - 8:50 AM crop management
Ben Brown
State Extension Specialist, Agricultural Business and Policy
University of Missouri
As producers plan for another year of tight margins and market uncertainty, understanding the relationship between crop prices and production costs remains critical. This session will recap key developments in crop markets, farm finances, and input costs during 2026 and explore the major questions shaping profitability in 2027. Topics will include fertilizer, seed, chemical, and fuel markets; grain and oilseed price outlooks; and how changing revenue and cost expectations are influencing University of Missouri Extension's 2027 crop enterprise budgets. Attendees will gain insight into the economic factors likely to impact crop profitability and management decisions in the coming year. HIDE
Lock In on Corn Disease: Mycotoxins, Emerging Threats, and Fungicide Timings
8:50 - 9:40 AM pest management
Mandy Bish
Assistant Professor and State Extension Plant Pathologist
University of Missouri
Mycotoxins are drawing increased attention across the corn belt. We'll discuss levels observed in Missouri in recent years; highlight emerging disease threats, and summarize the latest fungicide timing and application results.
Taking Crop Protection to New Heights: Lessons Learned from Spray Drone Research
10:00 - 10:50 AM pest management
Jesse Yount and Kevin Bradley
PhD Candidate and Professor and State Extension Weed Scientist
University of Missouri
Spray drones are generating a lot of interest, but how well do they actually work? In this session, we'll share results from several years of research evaluating spray coverage, off-target movement, application accuracy, and weed and disease control across a variety of crops and application scenarios, along with some lessons learned and recommendations for their use.
Selling Weed Control: A Look Back at 75 Years of Herbicide Advertising
10:50 - 11:40 AM pest management
Kevin Bradley
Professor and State Extension Weed Scientist
University of Missouri
Herbicide advertisements provide a unique window into the history of weed management and the challenges farmers have faced over time. In this session, Dr. Bradley will take a look back at 75 years of herbicide advertising and explain how the weeds we've battled, the herbicides we've used, and the marketing messages used to sell them have changed over time.
Farmer Experiences Grazing Cover Crops with Virtual Fencing
12:30 - 1:20 PM ½ crop management ½ soil & water management
Rob Myers and Farmer Panel
Professor and Director Center for Regenerative Agriculture / Missouri Farmers
University of Missouri
Virtual fencing first became available as a tool to Midwest farmers in the summer of 2025. Since then, a growing number of Missouri producers have been having success grazing cover crops on cropland with the help of virtual fencing. A panel of farmers facilitated by Rob Myers will share how they've used virtual fencing to boost the profitability of their cropland by grazing cover crops. Specific pros and cons of their experience with the technology will be discussed, including impacts on labor needs and how they are managing their row crops. HIDE
"Bug in a Jug" Biological Products: Miracle Microbes or Marketing Magic?
1:20 - 2:10 PM nutrient management
Gurbir Singh
Associate Professor and State Extension Specialist, Soil Agroecology and Landscape Mgt.
University of Missouri
With rising fuel and fertilizer prices, every input dollar counts, prompting farmers to rethink their management decisions and seek ways to improve profitability. Biological products, often marketed as tools to boost crop yields and reduce fertilizer requirements, are gaining attention. But do these products deliver measurable benefits, or do they simply add another expense with uncertain returns? Independent, repeated field evaluations are essential to separate proven performance from marketing promises. This talk will explore the science, field performance, and economics of biological products in corn and soybean production, addressing one critical question: Are "Bug in a Jug" products delivering real value, or is it all hype? HIDE
Flooded-What Now?
2:30 - 3:20 PM ½ crop management ½ soil & water management
Kelly Nelson
Agronomy Professor
University of Missouri
Crop yields are affected by saturated conditions. Recovery of crops following a saturation event is desired, but should I spend more money on additional inputs? This session will look into research on saturated soils and next step considerations.
Looking Ahead to 2027: El Niño and Missouri Agriculture
3:20 - 4:10 PM crop management
Zachary Leasor
Assistant Professor and State Climatologist
University of Missouri
El Niño can significantly influence weather patterns across the United States, with important implications for agriculture. This presentation will discuss the developing El Niño, what it may mean for Missouri's weather leading into the 2027 growing season, and the potential impacts on precipitation, temperature, drought, and crop conditions. The talk will also highlight how producers can interpret seasonal climate outlooks and use them in agricultural decision-making. HIDE
friday sessions
The Old, the New, and the In-Between: Insect Pests Across Two Seasons
8 - 8:50 AM pest management
Ivair Valmorbida
Assistant Professor and State Extension Entomologist
University of Missouri
Insect pests continue to challenge corn and soybean production in Missouri. We'll take a closer look at corn leafhopper, stink bugs, and soybean tentiform leafminer, covering their biology, ecology, and the risks they pose. We'll wrap up with IPM strategies and insecticide efficacy data to help growers make informed management decisions.
What Are Your Crops Telling You? Plant Tissue Testing, Interpretation, and Nutrient Management Decisions
8:50 - 9:40 AM nutrient management
Rasel Parvej
Assistant Professor and Director of Soil Testing Facilities
University of Missouri
Plant tissue testing is a valuable tool for assessing crop nutrient status, diagnosing deficiencies, and improving fertilizer management decisions. This session will discuss when and how to collect representative plant tissue samples, interpret nutrient concentrations using crop-specific sufficiency ranges, and identify factors that influence test results. We will also explore how to integrate tissue testing with soil test results, crop growth stage, field observations, and yield potential to make practical, science-based nutrient management decisions for Missouri corn, soybean, and other field crops. The presentation will highlight common interpretation mistakes, limitations of tissue testing, and situations where supplemental nutrient applications may or may not provide an economic yield response. HIDE
Are Your Soybeans Cooked? Red Crown Rot, SCN, and Disease Management
10:00 - 10:50 AM pest management
Mandy Bish
Assistant Professor and State Extension Plant Pathologist
University of Missouri
Red Crown Rot continues to expand its footprint in Missouri. Interestingly, many of our 2026 incidences included multiple disease culprits. We'll look at the most recent research on RCR, SCN, and foliar diseases of soybean.
The Current Landscape of AI "Agronomy Tools"
10:50 - 11:40 AM crop management
Andre Reis and Catherine Gilbert
Assistant Professor and State Extension Specialist in Soybean Agronomy / Postdoctoral Fellow in Crop Science
University of Missouri
What kinds of "AI" tools are out there—LLMs, LLMs augmented with custom utilities for agronomy-like crop simulations or image-based disease recognition. In this session, we will discuss a selection of tools that have come out of the public and private sectors, what's currently in development, and where things seem to be headed for the future.
Exploring the Federal Safety Net for Row Crop Producers
12:30 - 1:20 PM crop management
Ben Brown
State Extension Specialist, Agricultural Business and Policy
University of Missouri
Crop insurance remains one of the most important risk management tools available to agricultural producers. This session will provide a practical review of common crop insurance terminology and concepts to help participants better understand policy structure, coverage levels, and key program provisions. Attendees will also explore the evolution of crop insurance products over time and examine recently introduced insurance options available to Missouri producers. The session will highlight how new products can address emerging production and financial risks, helping crop advisors and producers make more informed risk management decisions. HIDE
Building Soybean Yields
1:20 - 2:10 PM crop management
Andre Reis
Assistant Professor and State Extension Specialist in Soybean Agronomy
University of Missouri
What crop management practices and environmental conditions have been proven to be associated with higher soybean yields? In this session, we will discuss the latest research results and how to pave the way for consistently high yields.
Native Warm Season Grasses: A Complement to Cool Season Perennial Forage Systems
2:30 - 3:20 PM crop management
Harley Naumann
Associate Professor and State Extension Specialist, Forage and Grazing Management
University of Missouri
Native warm season grasses can complement cool season perennial forage systems to improve forage production, extend the grazing season and improve overall farm resilience. Emphasis will be placed on the seasonal growth patterns of cool and warm season grasses, the potential to bridge summer forage shortages, and opportunities to extend the grazing season while reducing reliance on stored feeds.
What's New, What's Next, and What Matters Most in Weed Management
3:20 - 4:10 PM pest management
Kevin Bradley
Professor and State Extension Weed Scientist
University of Missouri
From weeds to watch and herbicide resistance updates to new herbicides on the horizon, this session will cover a little bit of everything related to weed management. We'll discuss some of the latest developments, emerging challenges, and practical considerations to help you prepare for the 2027 growing season and beyond.
REVISED: October 29, 2026