Registration is now open for Purdue University’s annual Top Farmer Conference, one of the country’s longest-running and most successful management programs designed specifically for farmers. Hosted by Purdue’s Center for Commercial Agriculture, the conference will take place 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. ET Friday, Jan. 9, 2026, at Purdue’s Beck Agricultural Center in West Lafayette. Participants may attend in person or join remotely via Zoom.
“The Top Farmer Conference is designed to help producers critically examine the economic forces influencing agriculture and the decisions they can make today to position their operations for long-term success,” said Michael Langemeier, director of the Center for Commercial Agriculture and professor of agricultural economics. “This year’s program takes a close look at challenges like trade, costs and competitiveness and shows how farmers can turn these into opportunities for success.”
Sessions at the conference will cover a broad range of topics, including agricultural markets, trade policy and farm management strategies. Ben Brown, senior research associate with the University of Missouri’s Food and Agricultural Policy Research Institute, will share his long-term outlook for corn and soybean markets. An expert in agricultural policy and market analysis, Brown will discuss key factors shaping crop prices, global demand and how future farm programs may impact producers in the years ahead.
Session topics and presenters:
- “Welcome and Insights From the Most Recent Ag Economy Barometer” — Langemeier, professor and director, Center for Commercial Agriculture, Purdue
- “Long-Run Outlook for Corn and Soybeans” — Brown, senior research associate, Food and Agricultural Policy Research Institute, University of Missouri
- “The Effects of Tariffs on Export-Oriented Agriculture” — Hillberry, professor, Department of Agricultural Economics, Purdue
- “Competitiveness of U.S. Corn and Soybean Production” — Colussi, research assistant professor, Center for Commercial Agriculture, Purdue; and Langemeier
- “Using Option Thinking To Explore Opportunities” — Malone, associate professor and Boehlje Chair in Managerial Economics for Agribusiness, Department of Agricultural Economics, Purdue
- “Strategies To Reduce Your Cost Per Bushel in 2026” — Quinn, assistant professor, Department of Agronomy, Purdue; Casteel, professor, Department of Agronomy, Purdue; and Langemeier
Registration costs $150. For full agenda details and to register, visit purdue.ag/topfarmer. Conference recordings and slide deck presentations will be available only to registered participants.
The event is sponsored by Purdue University’s Center for Commercial Agriculture and Farm Credit Mid-America.
Purdue University
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