John Phipps
Host, US Farm Report

Keynote Address:  The End of the (Outside) World: We’re All in this Together
Session Time:       Wednesday, January 28 : 10:00am - 11:00am

Session Title:  Must Have Power Tools for 2009
Session Time: Wednesday, January 28 : 3:45pm - 4:45pm

Bio:
John was born in 1948 and raised on a five-generation farm in east-central Illinois. He graduated with honor from Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology with a BS in Chemical Engineering and a minor in Economics in 1970. The next five years were spent as a nuclear engineering officer aboard the USS SEAHORSE (SSN-669), a fast-attack submarine homeported in Charleston, SC. During this time he married Jan Sonneveldt from Grand Rapids, MI. They have two sons: Aaron, a mining engineer who returned to the family farm in early 2008 and Jack, a Project Manager for US Cellular.

In 1975, Jan and John returned to the 600 A. family farm. The farm now comprises 1800 A. in Edgar County, IL. At various times, he has sold computers and software to farmers, worked in a mortgage banking operation as a closing officer, and taught at the Danville Area Community College. His community activities include Lions Club, FmHA County Committee, Ag Extension Council, Republican Precinct Committeeman, and CPR instructor. John is past president of the Edgar County Farm Bureau, past member of the Illinois Commission on Atomic Energy, a former director of Illini FS, past President of the Edgar County Board of Health, and has served on the Illinois Corn Marketing Board and the National Corn Congress. John is a 1988 graduate of the Illinois Ag Leadership Program. He is active in the United Methodist Church, serving as a Certified Lay Speaker and choir director. John is a director for Kongskilde, Ltd. a farm implement and industrial equipment manufacturer based in Denmark.

John writes humor and commentary, appearing regularly in Farm Journal and Top Producer magazines as a contributing editor. His work has been published in Farm & Country in Canada, Produktion in Denmark, and the American Enterprise. In 1995, 1996, 1997, 2001, 2002 and 2004 his works were selected for Best Humor; in 1995, 2000, 2003 and 2004 Best Regular Column; and in 2003 for Best Editorial Opinion by the American Agricultural Editors Association. In 2004 he earned ag writing's highest award, Writer of the Year.

In 2005, John began hosting US Farm Report, America's longest-running farm TV show. The show airs weekly across the US.

In conjunction with writing, John speaks often to farm and business groups. His work as a speaker has taken him from Montana to Virginia, sharing with producer and agribusiness audiences. John has established himself as an independent observer who does not flinch from asking hard questions or suggesting honest answers, even challenging the status quo.

Keynote Summary:
Farmers have traditionally considered themselves an occupation set apart - literally. But miles mean little anymore, as events in any part of the globe affect our farms and our lives almost instantly. This means changes are needed in our management, strategies and priorities. And the sooner the better.

Session Summary:
The tools you will need to thrive in agriculture in the 21st Century may not be all that familiar right now. Technical expertise is just the starting point. Learn what surprising skills and abilities are enabling leading producers to stay ahead of the competition and more importantly, add joy to their lives. From better listening to luck leveraging, this catalog of non-traditional management techniques contains valuable additions to any agricultural career toolbox.

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Jost von Freier
Producer – Northern Germany

Keynote Address: Farming in Northern Germany
Session Time:       Wednesday, January 28 : 11:00am - 12:00pm

Friday Super Panel:  The Agronomy Panel
                                  Friday, January 30 : 2:30pm - 4:00pm

Bio:
Jost was born in Germany and lived in France for 13 years with his family. In 1979 the Von Freier family moved to the Wetaskiwin area. Jost attended high school in Falun and helped on the family farm. His parents and brother still farm (Bearhills Farms) in the Wetaskiwin area. Jost attended Olds College and also the University of Alberta. He moved to Germany in 1996 and lives there with his wife and four children. With a partner he farms about 2500 irrigated acres of cereals, canola and sugar beets in northern Germany.

Keynote Summary:
Jost will outline his farming operation in Germany, which has poor soils under irrigation, but which lies in one of the most intensive sugar beet and potato growing areas, He will also let us know about the marketing of the crops , government support and the rapidly increasing competition on the land rental market due to the increasing demand for land to grow alternative sources of energy other than those coming from fossil fuels.

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Ross Johns
Producer, GRDC and ABB Grain

Keynote Address:  Changes in the Australian Grain Industry
Session Time:       Thursday, January 29 : 9:00am - 10:00am

Session Title: Down Under Agronomics
Session Time: Thursday, January 29 : 3:45pm - 4:45pm

Friday Super Panel:  The Agronomy Panel
                                  Friday, January 30 : 2:30pm - 4:00pm

Bio:
Ross is in his ‘40’s and runs a 10,000 acre farm with his wife and children north of Melbourne, Australia in the Horsham area. He is Vice Chairman of GRDC (Grains Research Development Corporation). GRDC last year invested approximately $120 million dollars in ag research and technology transfer. 60% of these monies are farmer dollars raised through end point levies on all crops marketed in Australia. One of the projects is a National Variety Testing Program that involves around 550 sites around Australia and provides farmers on line access to the data on variety performance.

Ross is also on the Board of Directors of Australian Barley Board. This is a company that markets barley, invests in barley research and runs a farm supply business across Australia. He will present a powerful motivational and informative talk about innovation and new approaches to creating wealth in agriculture. He is internationally traveled so although his background is Australia, he has a broad view of the world.

Keynote Summary:
Ross will discuss what is happening and how it is happening in Australia to improve farmers’ ability to be competitive in crop production both for markets at home and abroad. There have been a lot of changes in Australia in the past decade, and some insights into drivers for change, what changes have been made and are occurring. What got farmers on side will be presented. As well Ross will discuss market development, changes in the marketing system, R&D strategy and investments, cultural change among farmers and business community, capturing new business opportunities, improving on business efficiencies, productivity gains and why these have happened at levels that significantly exceed Canada's.

Session Summary:
Ross will describe his farming practices, including agronomics, management and challenges he faces.

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Mike Stegmann
President, AGROTAIN International

brought to you by our
FarmTech Gold Sponsor

Keynote Address: Dynamics of the Global Fertilizer Market and Its impact on
                             Canadian Agriculture
Session Time:       Friday, January 30 : 9:00am - 10:00am

Bio:
Mike Stegmann is the President of the Lange-Stegmann family of companies and also President of AGROTAIN International. As a grandson of one of the founders of Lange-Stegmann, Mike joined the company in 1979 working in the warehouse. After serving in a number of positions, he became president of both companies in 2003.

Working alongside other family members, Mike has lead the expansion of the Lange-Stegmann business with the construction of the new St. Louis Urea Center. This warehouse increases the storage capacity available by 63,000 tons with rail facilities to load unit trains. The high-speed, state-of-the-art handling system can fill an individual rail car in 22 minutes. The facility leverages the unique access to river and rail transportation that Lange-Stegmann enjoys at its location on the Mississippi River, as St. Louis is the northernmost point on the Mississippi River that is lock-free and ice-free year around.

AGROTAIN International, which was formed in 2000 with the acquisition of AGROTAIN Stabilized Nitrogen Technology™ has also significantly expanded under Mike’s leadership. AGROTAIN® nitrogen stabilizer now being offered in 68 countries around the world. Farmers around the world have increasing demand for fertilizer efficiency as prices have risen to record levels. In addition to its international operations, the new Stabilized Nitrogen Center manufacturing facility in St. Louis will provide 125,000 tons/year capacity to meet growing demand in both the agriculture and turf industries for UMAXX®, UFLEXX® and SUPER-U®.

Mike is an active supporter of the agricultural industry in general and the fertilizer industry specifically. He is a frequent contributor to DTN and other agricultural publications, and is a graduate of the Agricultural Leaders of Tomorrow program (ALOT) in Missouri.

Mike Stegmann resides in St. Louis, MO.

Keynote Summary:
Volatility of today’s global fertilizer market impacts the farm gate decisions now more than ever. Underst6anding the factors that drive this market and influence the supply chain dynamics will help today’s farm business manager make more educated decisions on the nutrient investment for their operation. Exploring the evolution of enhanced efficiency fertilizer trends will give insight into future opportunities of the fertilizer market.

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Hon. Preston Manning
Founder, Reform Party of Canada

Keynote Address:  Scouting the Canadian Agricultural Frontier
Session Time:       Friday, January 30 : 1:00pm - 2:00pm

Bio:
Mr. Manning served as a Member of the Canadian Parliament from 1993 to 2001. He founded two new political parties – the Reform Party of Canada and the Canadian Reform Conservative Alliance – both of which became the official Opposition in the Canadian Parliament. Mr. Manning served as Leader of the Opposition from 1997 to 2000 and was also his party’s critic for Science and Technology. In 2007 he was made a Companion of the Order of Canada.

Since retirement from Parliament in 2002, Mr. Manning has released a book entitled Think Big, describing his use of the tools and institutions of democracy to change Canada’s national agenda. He has also served as a Senior Fellow of the Canada West Foundation and as a Distinguished Visitor at the University of Calgary and University of Toronto. He is a member of the Institute of Corporate Directors and is an Institute Certified Corporate Director. Mr. Manning is currently a Senior Fellow of the Fraser Institute and President and CEO of the Manning Centre for Building Democracy.

Mr. Manning continues to write, speak, and teach on a variety of subjects including the revitalization of democracy and Canadian conservatism, strengthening relations between the scientific and political communities, the application of market mechanisms to environmental conservation, and the management of the interface between faith and politics.

Visit Hon. Preston Manning's website: www.prestonmanning.ca

Keynote Summary:
The role of the scout is to ride ahead of the main company, to spot dangers and opportunities on the trail ahead, and then to report back so that plans can be made to avoid the dangers and seize the opportunities. Mr. Manning will help us assess the dangers for agriculture presented by the economic downturn as well as the opportunities which technology and increased concern for the environment offer to “people of the land".

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Eric Estey, MD
Assistant Clinical Professor, Division of Urology, Department of Surgery, University of Alberta Chief of Surgery, Urology, Royal Alexandra Hospital

Keynote Address:  Prostate Cancer and the Importance of Early Detection
Session Time:       Wednesday, January 28 : 12:45pm - 1:00pm

Bio:
Dr. Estey is a welcome transplant from the Maritimes, having received his Medical Degree from Dalhousie University in Halifax. He then completed his residency here at the University of Alberta followed by a Post Graduate Fellowship in Urologic Oncology at Wayne State University in Detroit, Michigan.

Dr. Estey’s titles include “Assistant Clinical Professor” for the Division of Urology Department of Surgery at the University of Alberta; and “Chief of Surgery for Urology” at the Royal Alexandra Hospital. He is also past president of the Alberta Urology Institute which was created in 2004 to serve urological pursuits in teaching, professionalism, research, and patient services. Within these roles he continuously promotes progressive and collaborative improvements to patient care.

In fact, much has changed since Dr. Estey first arrived at the Royal Alexandra Hospital as a new surgeon. That was in the 90’s, when major urologic surgeries were done with a rather crude set of surgical instruments, leaving patients with lengthy scars and long recoveries. Eventually, new technological advances in urology became more common and, at the turn of the century, minimally invasive surgery began to prove its value. Patients could undergo major surgery with minimal blood loss, a shorter hospital stay, and a faster return to their productive lives. So when the da Vinci surgical robot was introduced to urological surgeries, Dr. Estey and his colleagues were instrumental in working with the Royal Alexandra and University of Alberta Hospitals to “retool” the operating rooms. These robots provide the technical precision required to perform surgery in difficult areas of the body, where there is limited space and access – such as in removing a cancerous prostate. In the past 15 months, hundreds of urology patients have undergone robot-assisted radical prostatectomy by Edmonton urologists – with some patients traveling across the country to have the procedure done here.

Yes, good news travels fast. Having proven beneficial to urology, the robots are in great demand, so now general surgeons and gynecologists are interested in learning robot-assisted surgery for their patients. But it was largely through the efforts of Dr. Estey and his talented colleagues that Edmonton is on the frontier of robotic surgical excellence.

Dr. Estey has balanced his professional life with a wonderful family, and his children share his steadfast motivation to excel in their chosen sports and school work. Although he is a very busy man, Dr. Estey is exceptionally popular with patients and staff, and it is always a pleasure for him to come out and share his knowledge and experience with the public and participate in their learning and understanding of medical progress in urology.

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John Knapp
Deputy Minister of Agriculture & Rural Development

Keynote Address:  Luncheon Address
Session Time:       Thursday, January 29 : 12:30pm - 12:45pm

Bio:
A long time employee of the Alberta government, John has called Alberta Agriculture home for 28 plus years, as well as completing a 2 ½ year stint at Alberta Environment. John’s years of government service include:
     • 7 months as a training district agriculturist at Sedgewick.
     • 3 ½ years as a district agriculturist at Cardston.
     • 6 years as the provincial sheep specialist in Airdrie.
     • Several years as regional director in Fairview and Barrhead, followed by several more years as
       director of Animal Industry Division, and then Rural Service Division in Edmonton.
     • 1½ years as Assistant Deputy Minister of Alberta Agriculture’s Environment and Food Safety
        Sector, then over to Alberta Environment for a 2 ½ year term as Assistant Deputy Minister, and
     • Finally, back to Alberta Agriculture in March 2008 as Deputy Minister.

Away from the busy demands of the job, John likes to spend time with his wife of 31 years, Karen, their four grown children and three grandchildren. He is an avid reader of military history, likes to camp and can be seen running or biking the trails near his home.

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Kayla Getzinger
Provincial 4H Speaking Champion

Keynote Address:  Provincial 4H Speaking Champion Address
Session Time:       Thursday, January 29 : 12:45pm - 1:00pm

Bio:
Kayla Getzinger was born and raised on a small farm just outside Stony Plain and is in her third year of Science at the University of Alberta. As an involved member of Alberta 4-H she recently competed in the Canadian Young Speakers for Agriculture Competition in Toronto.

Keynote Summary:
Agriculture around the world; where does Canada stand?

Bio:
Aboard the space shuttle Discovery in 1992, Dr. Roberta Bondar became the world’s first astronaut-neurologist. For over a decade she researched new connections between recovery from unusual environments and neurological illnesses.Time Magazine named her as one of Canada’s Best Explorers in 2003. Numerous commendations include the Canadian Medical Hall of Fame, the NASA Space Medal and the International Women's Forum Hall of Fame.

Respected for her expertise and animated commentary, she has appeared on television networks such as CNN, BBC, PBS and CBC. Dr. Bondar now applies her insights to help business organizations adapt to the uncharted territory of work and life.

Visit Dr. Roberta Bondar's website: www.robertabondar.com

Successful businesses anticipate and respond rapidly to a world in constant flux where human relations are keys to effective change. As professional flexibility reflects personal adaptability, valued team members know when to lead, when to follow and when to stay the course. They embrace culture challenges as positive influences on both their continued professional and personal development.

Session Title: Advancing Precision Farming
Session Time: Wednesday, January 28 : 2:30pm - 3:30pm
                        Thursday, January 29 : 11:00am - 12:00pm

Bio:
Warren Bills grew up on his family grain farm near Marwayne, AB. Warren attended the University of Alberta where he earned his Bachelors Degree in Agriculture, specializing in Crop Science. During his schooling he worked terms with the U of A Crop Research Unit, BASF, and Agricore United. After graduation Warren worked for 3 years as a Territory Manager in Southern Alberta for specializing in the application industry with John Deere. Warren has a keen, driven interest in precision agriculture and utilizing the precision tools and data to their full extent. His Calgary based company, GeoFarm Solutions Inc., is in the business of assisting producers, ag-retailers, and agronomists with precision farming needs they have. They take sustainable, process orientated approaches to ensure sustainability and economic advantage to the clients who want to precision farm. Spatial data management, data analyzations, imagery, and variable rate technology use for agriculture are some of the specialties. GeoFarm looks forward to helping the ag industry make better “precision decisions”.

Session Summary:
This session will work to clarify precision farming wider than just the variable rate viewpoint. It will outline some of the science and basics behind concepts such as remote sensing, yield mapping, soil audits, and GIS in agriculture. This will provide a clear basis for the listeners to understand presented examples of precision farming across western Canada and take home clear steps and ideas to apply to their area of work.

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Bob Blackshaw
Weed Scientist, Agriculture & Agri-Food Canada

Session Title: Feeding Crops and Not Weeds with Expensive Fertilizer
Session Time: Thursday, January 29 : 2:30pm - 3:30pm
                       Friday, January 30 : 11:00am - 12:00pm

Bio:
Dr. Blackshaw is a Weed Scientist with Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada at Lethbridge, Alberta and an Adjunct Professor at the University of Lethbridge. Bob’s research deals with integrated weed management in field crops and overall development of more diversified and economical cropping systems.

Session Summary:
Fertilizer is a major input cost for most producers and nitrogen fertilizer can be as much as 2/3 of the total energy requirements of crop production. Many agricultural weeds are high consumers of nutrients and thus reduce available nutrients for crop growth. Additionally, growth and competitive ability of many weed species is enhanced by higher soil nutrient levels. Strategic fertilizer management practices to maximize crop growth (and minimize weed growth) will be discussed.

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David Boyes
Canadian Wheat Board

Session Title:  Market Outlook - Board Grains
Session Time: Wednesday, January 28 : 3:45pm - 4:45pm
                       Thursday, January 29 : 3:45pm - 4:45pm

Bio:
David Boyes began work as a Manager, Commodity Risk in October 2008. He previously worked at the CWB as a Market Analyst, Latin America and Caribbean region starting in June, 1997.

In 2006-07 David worked as a Senior Trade Policy Analyst with the federal government and was part of the three-member team negotiating the agriculture text of the free-trade agreements with Peru and Colombia.

David has a Bachelor of Science degree in Agricultural Economics from the University of Manitoba and a Masters degree in Public Policy studies and International Relations from the University of Western Ontario. He completed his studies in Agriculture at the Monterrey Technical Institute in Monterrey, Mexico, where he also learned Spanish.

Session Summary:
David Boyes and Justin Daniels will be providing an overview of the major supply and demand factors at play in the current wheat and barley markets and how they affect prices for Canadian producers.

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Session Title: Crop Diversity & Input Levels
Session Time: Wednesday, January 28 : 2:30pm - 3:30pm
                        Thursday, January 29 : 2:30pm - 3:30pm

Bio:
Stewart Brandt is a recently retired soil and crop management agronomist who worked at AAFC Research Farm at Scott, SK since 1989. His research focused on developing practices to conserve or improve soil productivity. Much of his earlier work involved developing alternatives to tillage and summer fallow. This research in collaboration with other agronomists in the region led to development and widespread adoption of No Till and Conservation Tillage practices in the region. Much of his recent work focused on canola agronomy and developing ways to get full value from increased yield potential of new cultivars. More recent work has involved understanding benefits of diversified rotations and sustainability of alternate cropping systems. It is work on alternative cropping systems that is the basis for what is being discussed today.

Session Summary:
It is suggested that alternative cropping systems are needed to meet the economic and environmental challenges of the future without reducing soil productivity. But does that mean we need to make dramatic changes or do we simply need to continually modify the systems we currently use? A long term study at Scott Saskatchewan is addressing some of the important questions about how we can manage the land and the crops we grow to meet current and future challenges.

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Session Title:  Market Outlook - Board Grains
Session Time: Wednesday, January 28 : 3:45pm - 4:45pm
                       Thursday, January 29 : 3:45pm - 4:45pm

Bio:
Justin Daniels has been working as a Manager, Commodity Risk at the Canadian Wheat Board since 1997. He is currently part of a team involved with managing the risk associated with the Producer Pricing Options. Justin also works with CWB customers to manage the price risk on wheat contracts. Justin has a Bachelor of Science degree in Agricultural Business from the University of Alberta.

Session Summary:
David Boyes and Justin Daniels will be providing an overview of the major supply and demand factors at play in the current wheat and barley markets and how they affect prices for Canadian producers.

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Session Title:  Market Outlook - Beef
Session Time: Thursday, January 29 : 11:00am - 12:00pm
                       Friday, January 30 : 11:00am - 12:00pm

Bio:
Clinton Dobson is a livestock market analyst with Alberta Agriculture and Rural Development. Clinton was raised on a mixed grain and livestock operation at Raymore SK (north of Regina) and received his M.Sc. in Agricultural Economics from the University of Saskatchewan.

Session Summary:
This session will review the cattle market and what the upcoming year presents. What is happening to production and what is influencing prices? How is the global financial crisis impacting us here in Alberta and what does mandatory country of origin labeling (MCOOL) mean to our industry?

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Session Title:  Going Back to the Farm
Session Time: Friday, January 30 : 11:00am - 12:00pm

Friday Super Panel: Farm Management Panel featuring Alberta's Young Farmers
                                  Friday, January 30 : 2:30pm - 4:00pm
                       

Bio:
Farm boy from La Crete, a Mennonite farming community in northern Alberta (800 km north of Edmonton). Grew up on mixed cow/calf and grain farm, by age 8 tractor driving was no longer fun, so let the air out of a tire to avoid more field work that day.

Was a 4-H member in Horse, Vet and Carpentry clubs. Graduated high school and went on to get a Ag Diploma from Fairview college with crop production Major and livestock production minor. Bought first half section at age 19 and farmed with his parents for number of years, eventually rented their farm.

Worked as an Ag Fieldman for the then Improvement District #23 now Mackenzie County for 5 years.
Married to Sue and have 4 children ages 14, 12, 6, and 3.

Managed a grain elevator for Parrish & Heimbecker for 10 years, started a Agri-coaching business with Agri-Trend Agrology in 2003and has been involved in the community through church, 4-H, Ethanol Plant steering committee and Canadian foodgrains bank committee to name a few.

Farm grew to 2500 acres then morphed into a joint Venture called Harvest Moon Acres with 2 partners
Harvest Moon has since morphed into a corporation with 4 partners and 12000 acres in La Crete and High Level

Session Summary:
Two 'Outstanding Young Farmer' winners - Greg Stamp & Russell Friesen -will share why they came back to the farm and would not want to be doing anything else in spite of some lucrative opportunities in other professions.

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Clyde Graham
Vice President, Strategy & Alliances, Canadian Fertilizer Institute

Session Title: Fertilizer Supply and Demand
Session Time: Wednesday, January 28 : 2:30pm - 3:30pm

Bio:.
Clyde Graham is the Vice-president, Strategy and Alliances for the Canadian Fertilizer Institute in Ottawa, where he promotes the interests of the nutrients industry with politicians and government officials. Clyde is Executive Director of the Crop Nutrients Council, a coalition of agricultural producers and fertilizer companies that promotes best management practices that are both economically and environmentally sustainable. He is also the Executive Director of the Canadian Fertilizer Products Forum, which is a stakeholder-led initiative launched in November 2006 to improve the regulatory system for fertilizers and supplements building a national consensus with all stakeholders. Clyde has worked in Ottawa since 1987, as a Canadian Press news reporter on Parliament Hill, as a lobbyist for Saskatchewan Wheat Pool and as a consultant for corporations and national associations. He grew up on a grain farm near Regina, Saskatchewan.

Session Summary:
Fertilizer supply and demand outlook.

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Session Title: New Products to Increase Fertilizer Efficiency
Session Time: Thursday, January 29 : 11:00am - 12:00pm
                        Thursday, January 29 : 3:45pm - 4:45pm

Bio:
Dr. Cynthia Grant is currently a senior soil scientist at Brandon Research Centre. Her research focuses on management strategies for improved fertilizer use efficiency in cropping systems across the prairies through improved prediction of nutrient supply and assessment of products and practices that may improve nutrient availability under different environments

Session Summary:
Fertilizer use efficiency is generally less than 50% in the year it is applied. Improvements in nutrient use efficiency are therefore critical, both to improve the economics of crop production and to minimize the movement of nutrients into the air or water. This presentation will discuss new enhanced efficiency fertilizers that may be used to improve both nutrient use and operational efficiency and the environmental conditions where they are likely to be beneficial.

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Neil Harker
Research Scientist, Agriculture & Agri-Food Canada

Session Title:  Focus on Canola – 2008 Crop Issues and New Research
Session Time: Thursday, January 29 : 2:30pm - 3:30pm

Bio:
Neil Harker was born and raised in Magrath, Alberta. He received his B.Sc. in Agronomy at the University of Alberta, his Masters in Weed Science at the University of Minnesota, and his Ph.D. in Weed Science and the University of Guelph.

Since 1985 he has been employed as a Weed Scientist with Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada located at Lacombe, Alberta. Neil’s research is in integrated crop management with a focus on crop health and sustainable systems in cereals, oilseeds, and pulses. His specific research interests include weed management in direct-seeding systems, general weed-crop interactions, weed ecology, and weed interactions with insects. Neil has published 120 scientific journal papers and 10 book chapters. In 2007, Neil received the Weed Science Society of America Fellow Award for meritorious service. In 2007, Neil was appointed editor-in-chief for the Weed Science Society of America journal Weed Technology.

Session Summary:
Neil and Doug will address new research results from AAFC locations across Western Canada. Neil will summarize results from the input study, the integrated crop management study, a CCC study confirming the benefits of early weed removal, and a new four-location speed of seeding project. Doug will emphasize canola emergence issues and the importance of speed of seeding, soil temperature, fertility placement, and openers on canola stands. He will also highlight the results of a new Saskatchewan study on canola populations and stand uniformity, canopy structure, and final yield.

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  Brian & Darren Hefty
  Ag PhD TV

  Session Title: Getting More Bushels in the Bin
  Session Time: Wednesday, January 28 : 2:30pm - 3:30pm

Bio:
Brian and Darren Hefty are the hosts of the nationwide Ag PhD television program in the United States, which has aired a new half hour show each week since 1998. The Hefty brothers draw on their knowledge as graduates of South Dakota State University, as Certified Crop Advisors, as owners of one of the 10 largest crop protection dealerships in the United States, and mostly as farmers of 2400 acres trying to raise better crops and stay profitable. You’ll find their presentation entertaining and their information valuable.

Session Summary:
What input will bring you the best return on investment on your farm this year? We'll show you how to evaluate inputs with Return on Investment analysis and give you the info you need to get a better return and higher yields this year.

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Session Title:  Sustainable Agriculture: Where are we Headed?
Session Time: Thursday, January 29 : 3:45pm - 4:45pm

Bio:
Dr. Irene M. Herremans holds a position as CMA-Alberta Faculty Fellow at the Haskayne School of Business and as an adjunct professor in Environmental Design at the University of Calgary. She also teaches in the U of C’s Master’s Degree in Sustainable Energy in Quito, Ecuador and at University of Calgary.

Session Summary:
What possible visions will the future hold and how will these visions affect the agriculture industry? This presentation will provide you an opportunity to become aware of how your beliefs and actions today can lead to four possible scenarios: Star Trek, Mad Max, Big Government, and Ecotopia. We could end up in any of these...which sounds most appealing to you and what can we do it get there?

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Jim Hettenhaus
President/CEO, Chief Executive Assistance Inc.

Session Title:  Biomass to Fuels: Closing the Cellulosic Conversion Gaps
Session Time: Wednesday, January 28 : 3:45pm - 4:45pm
                       Thursday, January 29 : 2:30pm - 3:30pm

Bio:
James R. Hettenhaus co-founded CEA Inc., a consulting firm, in 1993 that specializes in commercializing emerging applications in biotechnology. Since 1997 he has successfully led projects across the cellulosic biomass supply chain to accelerate biomass commercialization including assessment of cellulase hydrolysis improvement routes and fermentation strains for biomass derived sugars, defining innovative methods for sustainable harvesting, transporting and storing biomass feedstock, the logistical solutions for transporting multi-million ton quantities of feedstock and product, biorefinery siting and the “sugar platform” possibilities for production of chemicals, fuels and materials.

Clients include National Laboratories, start-ups and Fortune 50 companies. He currently serves on the Board of Directors of several early stage biotech companies. Prior to founding CEA, he had much success in leading large operations in related industries: fine chemicals, commodity chemicals, food ingredients, fibers, enzymes and large scale fermentation products He has also been a co-founder of three start-ups in the process industry.

Session Summary:
This session will discuss overcoming major cellulosic commercialization obstacles including:
• Include the farmer in the value chain: Provide significant economic and environmental benefit to supply the feedstock
• Financing and Reliable feedstock supply—vertically integrate supply chain, better mitigates feedstock supply risk and enables debt financing
• Small Scale Process: Economically sound, small scale process—200 tons per day that is readily scalable
• Solve feedstock logistics: e.g., Process biomass into soluble liquids at regional collection center for pipeline transport to biorefinery . . . install pipeline collection systems similar to connecting oil and gas wells.

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Wendy Holm
Consulting Agrologist, The Holm Team

Session Title:  Is Agriculture Sustainable?
Session Time: Wednesday, January 28 : 3:45pm - 4:45pm
                       Thursday, January 29 : 11:00am - 12:00pm

Bio:
An Agrologist and award winning farm journalist, Wendy has covered stories at the forefront of Canadian policy since the early 1990’s, picking up four national journalism awards since 2003.

The 2007 winner of an International Cooperation Award for sustainability work in Cuba that brings together Canadian and Cuban dairy farmers, Holm also teaches a University of British Columbia course to Canadian students on sustainability.

Holm is a strong and provocative speaker who will challenge our perceptions of sustainability and, through stories and fact, passion and humour, leave the audience empowered and wanting more.

Session Summary:
To Canadian economist, author and award winning journalist Wendy Holm, sustainability means more than greenhouse gases and green roofs. It means sustaining communities with good public policy and governance systems that work.

Canada is the only country in the G8 group of nations that does not have a National Food Policy. Without farmers to provide food to our cities and fresh water to meet the current and future needs of rural and urban Canadians, communities cannot survive, yet both Canada’s farmers and Canada’s water are under attack.

Economic concentration is creating market bullies that work against sustainable communities, yet concentration is on the increase. Nowhere is this more evident than in our resource sectors – oil and gas, water and hydroelectricity, forestry, and agriculture and food. After a 5-minute lesson on the physics of capital, audiences will not only understand economics, they will also understand what politicians should be doing to get the best out of capital as it flows thru our communities.

Connecting the dots between economics, public policy and governance, Holm defends sovereignty as critical to the sustainability of communities and nations, exploring where are we now and what we need to do to deliver a more sustainable future.

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Session Title:  ACES (Alberta Centre for Excellence in Seed) - Improving Your
                       Farm's Bottom Line Through Investments in Research
Session Time: Friday, January 30 : 11:00am - 12:00pm

Bio:
Larry Kitz was born in Fort Saskatchewan and moved at the age of six with his family to a farm near Innisfree in 1965. Larry immediately took an interest in agriculture and began farming in 1979 growing his first certified seed crop in 1983. He currently farms with three partners, his father Joe and brothers Garry and Terry who “hold down the fort” when Larry is at meetings and conferences. The farm has grown to encompass over 10,000 acres and a 700 head cow-calf operation. In 1981, the farm applied minimum tillage practices to reduce soil erosion and better utilize soil moisture.

1988 found Larry visiting Southeast Asia and Australia studying farming practices in the Pacific Rim. While there, he was introduced to the first lines of Roundup Ready canola in research trials. In 1991 with Rob Saik (a.k.a Steve Stubblejumpski) and Randy Saskiw (Omex) co-founded “Cropmasters” a producer group that hosts meetings and tours focused on crop production, marketing, and conservation in Northeastern Alberta. In 1992 he married Sheila and they are raising two children, Kassandra and Alexander.

In 1996 Larry became a director to the Alberta Branch of the Canadian Seed Growers’ Association and after serving ten years, six on the executive is now representing Alberta at the National Board in Ottawa. He has for five years chaired the Seed Industry Partnership (SIP) consisting of the seed growers’ and seed plants. SIP is the main thrust behind ACES. The year 2000 found Larry appointed by the Honorable Shirley McClellan Minister of Agriculture to the Alberta Environmentally Sustainable Agriculture (AESA) Council for six years, the last year as Chair. In 2004, Larry received the Premier’s Award of Excellence from Premier Ralph Klein, and in 2005 received the Emerald Award for the work AESA has done to promote environmentally sustainable best management practices to farmers. Larry was also honored in May 2005 when His Majesty Prince Philip awarded him “The Duke of Edinburgh Habitat Conservation Award” in Regina celebrating the 100th anniversaries of Alberta and Saskatchewan. He currently holds the position of Project Manager for ACES.

Larry enjoys hunting, fishing, and spending quality time with family (hauling them to hockey and dancing) and working with producers to improve their bottom lines.

Session Summary:
ACES is a new program being developed by the Alberta Branch Canadian Seed Growers Association and the Alberta Co-op Seed Plants to fund plant breeding research and development.

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Session Title: Oil & Gas Development in Alberta – Landowner Rights
Session Time: Wednesday, January 28 : 2:30pm - 3:30pm
                       Thursday, January 29: 11:00am - 12:00pm

Bio:
Jennifer Lutz, advisor with the Energy Resources Conservation Board (ERCB), joined the Board in 2006 after working several years with surface rights groups. Jennifer has a long history with agriculture and brings that perspective to the ERCB. She believes oil and gas, agriculture, and landowners belong to one community and need to work together so all can thrive and prosper. Jennifer and her husband Brad run a feedlot, cow/calf and cereal crop operation east of Olds and is very aware of the challenges and impacts of oil and gas development on rural communities. Her pride and joy are four children and “small” herd of Percheron heavy horses.

Session Summary:
Do you have concerns about Oil and Gas development? Awareness and education are key when petroleum development is proposed. This session will assist landowners to understand their rights when it comes to energy development.
    • Who is the Energy Recourses and Conservation Board (ERCB)
    • Other energy partners, local authorities, government agencies
    • Surface versus subsurface - Mineral Rights Ownership
    • Benefits from Oil and Gas
    • Impacts from Oil and Gas
    • How much Oil and Gas activity is there?
    • What are my rights?
    • ERCB's roles and responsibilities

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Scott Meers
Integrated Crop Management Specialist, Alberta Agriculture & Rural Development

Session Title:  Alberta Insect Update
Session Time: Thursday, January 29 : 2:30pm - 3:30pm
                       Friday, January 30 : 11:00am - 12:00pm

Bio:
Scott Meers has been an active part of the agriculture industry in Alberta since 1982. He served the Claresholm, Three Hills and Strathmore areas as a District Agriculturist. He has also worked with private industry as an agrologist and as South Central Alberta Regional Conservation Coordinator. He has served in Vulcan and Strathmore as a Crop Specialist. In 2004 Scott completed his Master of Entomology degree at Montana State University with research concentrating on biological control of wheat stem sawfly. He is currently working as the Insect Management Specialist at Brooks and is responsible for coordinating insect surveys throughout Alberta.

Session Summary:
What happened with insects in 2008, what is in store for 2009, including a look at new integrated mapping on Roping the Web.

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Doug Moisey
Agronomy Specialist, Canola Council of Canada

Session Title:  Focus on Canola – 2008 Crop Issues and New Research
Session Time: Thursday, January 29 : 2:30pm - 3:30pm

Bio:
Doug Moisey is a graduate of the University of Alberta, with a Bsc in Agriculture. Doug presently lives in St. Paul. Doug has been with the Canola Council since 1994 as an agronomist and is the Agronomy Specialist for North Eastern Alberta and Western Saskatchewan.

Session Summary:
Neil and Doug will address new research results from AAFC locations across Western Canada. Neil will summarize results from the input study, the integrated crop management study, a CCC study confirming the benefits of early weed removal, and a new four-location speed of seeding project. Doug will emphasize canola emergence issues and the importance of speed of seeding, soil temperature, fertility placement, and openers on canola stands. He will also highlight the results of a new Saskatchewan study on canola populations and stand uniformity, canopy structure, and final yield.

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Session Title: Growing Better Malting Barley: How Sound Agronomy Can
                       Improve Quality
Session Time: Thursday, January 29 : 3:45pm - 4:45pm
                        Friday, January 30: 11:00am - 12:00pm

Bio:
Dr. John O’Donovan received a PhD degree in plant science from the National University of Ireland, Cork. He has conducted extensive research on weed ecology, weed resistance to herbicides, conservation tillage, and integrated crop management systems; and has authored or co-authored 115 peer-reviewed scientific papers, book chapters and review articles. He is a recipient of several awards including the 2003 ASTech Award, and the 2004 Outstanding Research Award of the Weed Science Society of America. He is presently employed as a research agronomist with Agriculture & Agri-Food Canada in Lacombe, Alberta.

Session Summary:
There are opportunities for Canada to increase the sale of malting barley. However the industry is often challenged by the availability of the volume and quality required to meet the demand. We will discuss the results of studies that are being conducted across western Canada to develop agronomic systems for current malt barley varieties that will improve quality and homogeneity (seed uniformity) and thus meet the processing requirements of maltsters.

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Mark Olson
Provincial Pulse Industry Development Specialist, Alberta Agriculture & Rural Development

Session Title:  The Winter Pulse Potential
Session Time: Wednesday, January 28 : 3:45pm - 4:45pm
                       

Bio:
Mark was raised on a mixed livestock, grain, and forage farm in the Stony Plain, Alberta area, approximately 30 minutes west of Edmonton. He has a Bachelor of Science and a Masters of Agriculture from the University of Alberta. Mark is currently the Provincial Pulse Industry Development Specialist with Alberta Agriculture and Rural Development. Recently, he has been involved in research on faba bean (zt), lupin, mung bean, winter pea, lentil and faba bean.

Session Summary:
Historically, winter pea containing seed coat pigmentation was grown in pure stands or with cereals for primarily forage. These pea types were called Austrian winter or forage pea. The brown pigmentation in the seed coat contains tannins which have anti-nutritional properties and limit the uses of the seed. A recent genetic improvement in winter field pea and lentil lines have this dark brown pigmentation removed (referred to as clear seed coat). Researchers with United States Department of Agriculture /Washington State University began investigation into clear seed coat winter (yellow and green) pea and (red) lentil in the early 1990s. This early research focused primarily on hardiness, yield, and plant characteristics and architecture.

Winter pulse crops are sown in the fall and over-winter as a compact rosette-like plant, reaching the 6-8 node growth stage before freeze up. Capturing precious moisture throughout the late fall, winter and spring, winter pulse crops are able to move into the reproductive or flowering stage earlier than the conventional spring types, thus, avoiding heat and water stress in mid summer and the resultant loss in yield.

Due to environmental variation, yield performance of the winter legumes is somewhat variable. Yield has ranged from approximately equal to more than 2.5 times that of spring crops. Winter legumes compared to spring types have shown an approximate average yield advantage of 40 % in the Pacific North West region of the U.S.

Winter pulses can mature two to three weeks earlier than the conventional spring types. An earlier harvest allows additional time to recharge soil moisture for the following crop which is especially important in the southern Prairies. Last, this early harvest allows businesses to penetrate and move product into global markets 2-3 weeks earlier than spring seeded types.

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Session Title:  Crop Market Outlook 2009 – Riding the Bull or Fighting the Bear
Session Time: Wednesday, January 28 : 2:30pm - 3:30pm
                       Thursday, January 29 : 2:30pm - 3:30pm

Bio:
Charlie Pearson is from a mixed farm (grain, registered cattle, and hay) south east of Calgary, Alberta, Canada. His brother still operates the family farm. He has a B.Sc. (Agriculture) from the University of Alberta, a M.Sc. (Agricultural Economics) from the University of Manitoba and is currently a member of the Alberta Institute of Agrologists. Charlie has 30 years experience in the agricultural industry: 21 years with Alberta Agriculture (8 years in financial/agronomic management advice directly to farm managers and 13 years as a market analyst), 2 years in the Canadian Wheat Board’s sales department, 5 years as a market analyst at Growers Marketing Services, United Grain Growers and 2 years as a private consultant providing business planning services to farm families. A major focus of these positions has been in using marketing alternatives such as forward pricing in risk management strategies. He is currently working with Alberta Agriculture as the Provincial Crops Market Analyst.

Session Summary:
Feed grain, oilseed and pulse crop market outlook and strategies for the remainder of the 2008/09 crop year and early thinking about prices/delivery opportunities for new crop 2009/10.

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Wayne Smith
Agronomic Acumen

Session Title:  Yield Potential and Learning Plant Language
Session Time: Thursday, January 29 : 11:00am - 12:00pm
                        Friday, January 30 : 11:00am - 12:00pm

Friday Super Panel:  The Agronomy Panel
                                  Friday, January 30 : 2:30pm - 4:00pm

Bio:
Wayne is an independent agronomy consultant with clients throughout southern Australia, Kenya and South Africa. He publishes a monthly agronomy newsletter that is subscribed to around the world. www.agronomy.com.au. From 1987 to 1992, Wayne worked with the Western Australian Department of Agriculture developing high yield wheat packages for the south coast of Western Australia, an area that at that time could only achieve wheat yields around 30% of what was possible. From 1992 until now, Wayne has been consulting to farmers and farmer groups around the world. He is a staunch advocate of no-till and is passionate about farming.

Session Summary:
45 b/ac wheat on 5.2” moisture. Sound impossible? What if it isn’t? What about 70 b/ac on 8”? What about 170 b/ac on 20”. Some of these yields have already been achieved! Do I hear a “yeah but…?”. If someone achieved it, the potential is always higher because we live in an imperfect world !!

How high can we go with wheat yields? It is far higher than you may think. If someone can achieve 45 b/ac on 5.2” of moisture, which they have, the potential is always higher, and there are large increases in efficiency on the horizon. But what is the limit, and why aren’t you achieving it? Are you sure it has to do with how much rain you get? You sure?

This will be discussed in the presentation, but something for you to ponder in the mean time. If I were God and I gave everyone 20” of rain perfectly distributed throughout the growing season, would everyone achieve the same yields? Why would there be people averaging more than double the yield of anyone else?

Also in the presentation will be how to know what is wrong with your crops just by looking at them, even if there are four things wrong. Most farmers are already good at this. You may not have known that, but you are good at it. Crops are not in a text book world (only one thing wrong at a time). There are always several things wrong, but there are still signs from the plants telling you what is the main thing wrong, then the second, then the third etc… I call it “Learning Plant Language”. It is easier than you think. I’ll present a brief run down on how to learn it.

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Session Title:  Going Back to the Farm
Session Time: Friday, January 30 : 11:00am - 12:00pm

Friday Super Panel: Farm Management Panel featuring Alberta's Young Farmers
                                  Friday, January 30 : 2:30pm - 4:00pm
                       

Bio:
Greg Stamp lives in Enchant Alberta with his wife Sarah and their two daughters. He has his BSc. in Geography/GIS, and is the assistant manger of Stamp’s Select Seeds. He manages the farms 1700 acres of irrigated seed production. Greg also sits on numerous boards and commissions.

Session Summary:
Two 'Outstanding Young Farmer' winners - Greg Stamp & Russell Friesen -will share why they came back to the farm and would not want to be doing anything else in spite of some lucrative opportunities in other professions.

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Don Tanaka
Soil Scientist, USDA-ARS

Session Title: Dynamic Cropping Systems for the Northern Great Plains
Session Time: Wednesday, January 28 : 3:45pm - 4:45pm
                       Thursday, January 29 : 3:45pm - 4:45pm

Bio:
Dr. Donald Tanaka is a Research Soil scientist at the USDA-ARS Northern Great Plains Research Laboratory, Mandan, ND. He has conducted soil and water conservation research in the northern Great Plains for 28 years. Dr. Tanaka has pioneered no-till crop sequence research to take advantage of soil/crop ecology interactions, and in doing so, contributed to a significant evolution in cropping system research where production synergies lead to increased crop production, lower input requirements, and an enhanced natural resource base.

Session Summary:
Sustainable crop production systems are limited by water in the semiarid northern Great Plains. Crop-fallow systems were one of the first strategies producers used to stabilize crop yields and create sustainable crop production during dry periods. This was at the expense of the soil resource. Since the turn of the 21st century, no-till cropping systems with more crop diversity and less fallow per unit of time has been one of the strategies to use precipitation more efficiently and control soil erosion. The purpose of our research was to determine the influences of no-till crop sequences on crop production, plant diseases, soil water, crop residue, and factors associated with soil quality. Our research provides producers with information to develop their own sustainable dynamic cropping systems by using appropriate crop sequences. The Crop Sequence Calculator (version 3.0) is a user-friendly interactive CD-ROM program that uses this research information and is designed to assist agricultural managers as they choose crop sequences for a sustainable production system.

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Session Title:  Tillage Erosion, the Damage Done and How to Repair It
Session Time: Wednesday, January 28 : 3:45pm - 4:45pm
                       Thursday, January 29 : 3:45pm - 4:45pm

Bio:
Kevin grew up in southern Manitoba near the town of Winkler. Kevin has considerable national and international agricultural experience, and has spent time working across western and eastern Canada, in Africa, and in Central America. He is currently based at the Department of Soil Science at the University of Manitoba (working on the AAFC WEBs project), while completing a PhD at McGill University in Montreal (focusing on soil erosion/conservation within potato production in Atlantic Canada and Costa Rica).

Session Summary:
Tillage is an erosive force, just like wind and water, causing soil movement and soil erosion within cultivated landscapes. In fact, our research has clearly shown that tillage erosion is largely responsible for the eroded hilltops evident within so much cropland across Canada – the damage. However, we are also doing research on soil-landscape rehabilitation where farmers take the accumulated soil from the base of hills and put it back onto the upper slopes – the repair.

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Leo Touchette
Community & Aboriginal Advisor, Energy Resources Conservation Board

Friday Super Panel:  The Environment Panel
                                  Friday, January 30 : 2:30pm - 4:00pm

Bio:
Leo graduated from the University of Alberta with a Bachelor of Science degree in 1974. Leo has worked with the Energy Resources Conservation Board for 35 years. He has worked in the Red Deer, Wainwright and Calgary offices and is presently a Senior Advisor for the Community and Aboriginal Team. Leo has been a leader in developing flare reduction policies, the ERCB’s orphan prevention programs, and the enforcement ladder process which is used to deal with non- compliances. Leo, his wife Denise and two children have a small cattle ranch in the Haynes area.

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David Trew
Executive Director, North Saskatchewan Watershed Alliance

Session Title:  Integrated Watershed Management Plan for the North
                       Saskatchewan River Basin
Session Time: Wednesday, January 28 : 3:45pm - 4:45pm
                       Thursday, January 29 : 11:00am - 12:00pm

Friday Super Panel:  The Environment Panel
                                  Friday, January 30 : 2:30pm - 4:00pm

Bio:
David Trew graduated from the University of Guelph in 1970, where he specialized in aquatic sciences. He worked at the University of Strathclyde, Glasgow, Scotland from 1971 to 1974 as a research assistant on oceanographic projects. He moved to Alberta in 1974 and began his career here as a biologist with the Fisheries Branch, subsequently joining Alberta Environment as biologist in 1976. David was the team leader for the water quality group in AENV from 1985 to 2002, and subsequently was Head of the Water Science and Standards Section from 2002 to 2005.

David retired from the Public Service of Alberta in January 2007 to take up new responsibilities as Executive Director of the North Saskatchewan Watershed Alliance (NSWA).

The NSWA is incorporated as a not-for-profit society and provides a forum for sharing information about issues affecting the North Saskatchewan River watershed in Alberta. The NSWA was recently designated as the official Watershed Planning and Advisory Council for this river basin.

Session Summary:
The North Saskatchewan Watershed Alliance was designated as the Watershed Planning and Advisory Council for the North Saskatchewan River basin in 2005. The NSWA is a multi-stakeholder organization with members representing all major sectors in the basin: agriculture; industry; petroleum; municipal, provincial and federal governments; NGOs; and individuals.

The NSWA completed a comprehensive State of the Watershed report in 2005 and is now engaged in the development of an Integrated Watershed Management Plan (IWMP) for the basin. The IWMP will be an advisory, decision-support tool that can be used to inform future land and water management throughout the basin. The IWMP is due for completion at the end of 2010.

This presentation will review NSWA’s overall progress in developing the IWMP and will highlight new water science information, modeling approaches and stakeholder involvement.

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Kelly Turkington
Research Scientist, Agriculture & Agri-Food Canada

Session Title:  Growing Better Malting Barley: How Sound Agronomy Can
                        Improve Quality
Session Time: Thursday, January 29 : 3:45pm - 4:45pm
                        Friday, January 30: 11:00am - 12:00pm

Bio:
Kelly received a Bachelor’s of Science in Agriculture in Agricultural Biology in 1985, and M.Sc. and Ph.D. degrees in Plant Pathology from the Department of Biology at the University of Saskatchewan. Kelly’s graduate work focused on the epidemiology of sclerotinia stem rot of canola and the potential of using petal testing as an indicator of disease risk. Currently, Kelly is a Research Scientist with Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada at Lacombe, Alberta. Kelly’s main focus is on cereal diseases, especially those of barley, but also works on diseases of other crops, including canola and wheat, as part of collaborative studies with colleagues across Canada. He is currently involved with research studying: the development and use of plant resistance for disease control; the impact of cropping systems on disease development; disease risk assessment; and the development of practical integrated solutions for crop health and disease management.

Session Summary:
There are opportunities for Canada to increase the sale of malting barley. However the industry is often challenged by the availability of the volume and quality required to meet the demand. We will discuss the results of studies that are being conducted across western Canada to develop agronomic systems for current malt barley varieties that will improve quality and homogeneity (seed uniformity) and thus meet the processing requirements of maltsters.

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Trevor Wallace
Nutrient Management Specialist, Alberta Agriculture & Rural Development

Session Title:  Getting the Greatest Value From Your Manure
Session Time: Wednesday, January 28 : 2:30pm - 3:30pm

Friday Super Panel:  The Environment Panel
                                  Friday, January 30 : 2:30pm - 4:00pm

Bio:
Trevor was born and raised on a mixed farm at Unity, located in West-Central Saskatchewan. Trevor has worked in the agricultural field for over 15 years including extension and research in Alberta, Saskatchewan, and the Maritimes. He graduated from the University of Saskatchewan with a Bachelor of Science in Biology and a Bachelor of Science in Extensions / Crop Science. He later completed his Master of Science in Agriculture.

Trevor has been working for Alberta Agriculture for the past 11 years, starting as a Crop Specialist in Oyen. Currently Trevor is a Nutrient Management Specialist. In this role he is working, with a variety of partners and specialists, to develop and accelerate the adoption of nutrient management and manure application practices that improve nutrient use efficiency and preserve Alberta’s water quality.

Session Summary:
This presentation will discuss the value of manure and the difficulty of managing manure as a nutrient source for crop production. It will discuss management options for taking advantage of manure nutrients. Presenting nutrient management planning as a tool to assist in making management decision that will optimize the economic benefits of nutrients from manure.

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Session Title: Tapping into the Prairie Basin’s Potential
Session Time: Thursday, January 29 : 2:30pm - 3:30pm
                       Friday, January 30 : 11:00am - 12:00pm

Friday Super Panel: Farm Management Panel featuring Alberta's Young Farmers
                                  Friday, January 30 : 2:30pm - 4:00pm

Bio:
Dr. Williams was born in Richardson, Saskatchewan, in 1925. Began schooling in Shamrock, Saskatchewan, then moved with his family west of Calgary, Alberta, then to Lethbridge, Alberta, and then back to Calgary. Joined the RCNVR during WWII, and served on Murmansk Convoys, and the invasion of France. Attended university at UBC (BSA, and MSc.) and Oregon State College (Ph.D.). Joined the faculty of the University of Saskatchewan in 1954, rose to be Department Head, Department of Animal & Poultry Science, and formally retired in 1991, but continues to teach until this time (50 years of meeting classes).

He continues to prepare a daily radio show, and weekly newspaper columns, which he has done for 25 years. During his professional career he worked on over 30 overseas development projects, lectured internationally, and extensively across the prairies, and has been active in political
affairs. He held positions in the CARC system of Agriculture and Agrifood Canada, Chaired CUSO, Chaired the Saskatoon Symphony, and Chaired the Sherbrooke Community Centre, Foundation Board.

He co-founded the Saskatchewan Agrivision Corporation, mandated to be a catalyst in rural development. Is an executive member of the Action Committee on the Rural Economy (ACRE). Among many awards, he was inducted into the Saskatchewan Agricultural Hall of Fame, was awarded the Order of Canada, as well as the Saskatchewan Order of Merit.

Session Summary:
The prairie basin is a discrete parcel of land between the Rockies and the Canadian Shield and represents over 80% of the arable land in Canada. The climate is quite variable with periods of short and long droughts. It was divided into three provinces that have grown to believe that they do not receive a fair hearing in Ottawa. Agriculturally its products move into export in competition with areas with lower production costs but into markets that are expanding.

In this session I will discuss this situation by describing an Agricultural Congress that would address the current lack of action on issues of importance to the agriculture of the area. In addition I will summarize the advances that are required in two of the most important infrastructure aspects in the basin: transportation and water management.

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Paul Wipf
Farm Steward, Viking Colony

Session Title: Hutterite – History, Culture and Life
Session Time: Thursday, January 29 : 3:45pm - 4:45pm

Bio:
Paul M Wipf. Viking, AB, Canada. Paul is the Farm Steward and supervises the Crop land and Manpower at the Viking Hutterite Colony. Married to Martha with five children Paul has interest in preserving and sharing Hutterite history and culture. In 2000 he toured Belgium, France, Italy, Austria and Germany in search of the birthplace of the Anabaptists and their ancestral faith. Paul has done Hutterite presentations for TD Bank, Meyers Norris and Penny, NRCB and NAIT. Paul has been interest in other cultures and is actively involved with global charitable groups.

Session Summary:
Paul’s presentation opens a window of the Hutterite community, allowing the viewer to see the Hutterites in operation and reveals a way of life that seems extraordinary to the outside world. Paul will share the Birth of Hutterite Society, Historic residence from 1525 to 2008, Education, Language, Cultural traditions, Courtship and Marriage, Hutterite Surnames, Colony Expansion, Different Groups, Managerial Structure, and Challenges that we face today.