More than 225 soybean enthusiasts gathered Jan. 6 in Topeka for Kansas Soybean Expo 2016. The Kansas Soybean Association (KSA) organized the 35th annual event, with checkoff funding from the Kansas Soybean Commission (KSC), to coincide with the Topeka Farm Show at the Kansas Expocentre.
"We were really excited to have so many farmers join us in Topeka," said KSA Secretary Teresa Brandenburg, Osborne, who chaired the Expo planning committee. "It was a great day to network and celebrate the association's 35-year tradition of producer education."
KSA President Raylen Phelon, Melvern, and KSC Chairman Dennis Gruenbacher, Andale, welcomed the attendees. The opening session then featured updates from checkoff-partner organizations. The presenters were Bridget Owen, executive director of the Soy Aquaculture Alliance; John Hinners, assistant vice president for industry relations at the U.S. Meat Export Federation; and Don Scott, director of sustainability for the National Biodiesel Board.
Evelyn Browning Garriss and James Garriss from Browning Media, based in Las Vegas, Nevada, presented the keynote address, "El Niño, the Blocked Atlantic and the Outlook for Kansas Agriculture."
They said there is an 85 percent chance the current El Niño will be strong and last until May. Its combination with the eruption of an Icelandic volcano should create a warm, dry winter in the northern tier of states through the Midwest. South American summer crops will have above-average yields, so overall global commodity prices likely will drop.
Participants then could attend two of three K-State Research and Extension (KSRE) breakout sessions. Dorivar Ruiz Diaz, Ph.D., associate professor of soil fertility and nutrient management, offered "Fertilizing for $8 Soybeans." Brian McCornack, Ph.D., associate professor of entomology, presented "What MyFields Can Do for You." Doug Shoup, Ph.D., Southeast Area agronomist, led "Cover-crop Effects on Soybean."
Eric Atkinson, agriculture director for the K-State Radio Network in Manhattan, was the master of ceremonies at the luncheon. The featured speaker was Kansas Attorney General Derek Schmidt, J.D., who spoke about legal issues affecting Kansas agriculture and the states' role in combating overreach by the federal government.
To open the awards and recognitions, Phelon congratulated and thanked Marvin Wahl, Oswego, and Jim Zwonitzer, Horton, for being KSA's top member recruiters.
Andyand LaVell Winsor, Grantville, who represented Kansas in the 2015 DuPont Young Leaders program, introduced Matthew Atkinson, Columbus, as the 2016 young leader.
Shoup, who chairs the Kansas Soybean Yield and Value Contests committee, then announced the district and overall winners. Richard Seck, Hutchinson, topped the irrigated division with a no-till entry that made 96.49 bushels per acre. Jason Taylor, Highland, led the dryland division with a conventional-tillage entry of 86.03 bushels per acre. Kansas JAG Ltd., Solomon, won the value contest with 65.7 cents per bushel of increased value (7.6 percent over the cash price). Complete results and award photos are available via http://KansasSoybeans.org/contests on the Web.
Next, Phelon presided over the KSA Annual Meeting, which included the approval of 2016 policy resolutions and director elections. The voting members present re-elected Lucas Heinen, Everest, as the District 1 director; Grant Webber, Sublette, as the District 7 director; and Brice Bunck, Topeka, as a director-at-large.
Bob Henry, Robinson, who recently completed nine years of service as KSA's representative on the American Soybean Association (ASA) board of directors, introduced his successor, Charles Atkinson, Great Bend, who outlined ASA's priorities for 2016.
After the meeting adjourned, the KSA directors met and re-elected their officer team for 2016: Phelon (Melvern), president; Heinen (Everest), first vice president; Dwight Meyer, Hiawatha, second vice president; Brandenburg (Osborne), secretary; Gary Robbins, Emmett, treasurer; and Terry Reschke, Hiawatha, chairman.
The afternoon's "Planning for the Future" session featured a market outlook from Andy Shissler, S&W Trading, Downers Grove, Illinois. He said prices should bottom at multiyear lows, with weather driving the markets into summertime. The availability of capital, currency changes and interest rates will have worldwide consequences throughout 2016.
Expo photos and presentations are available via http://KansasSoybeans.org/expo on the Web.
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