The Nebraska Ag Expo announced today the speaker lineup and schedule for its new series of educational sessions called ExpoEDU. The sessions will take place at the new ExpoEDU stage in the Auctiontime Food Court of the LivestockMarket Pavillion of the Sandhills Global Event Center. ExpoEDU sessions are included with admission to the Nebraska Ag Expo.
This year’s lineup of speakers will cover topics like the future of ag tech, irrigation water management, sustainable farming, market outlook, plant health, feed production efficiency, Mother Nature, soil health, high efficiency fertilizers, bioagtive emissions farming, estate planning/investments/insurance, biodiesel & renewable diesel and information on the new mandatory “green” ASTM 595C 1L Cement. Each speaker is a leading expert in their respective field.
“The larger-than-life ExpoEDU stage area brings the presentations out of the closed-door seminar rooms and out in the open where folks eating lunch can listen to ag experts talk about everything from autonomous equipment, robotics, soil health, organic farming, precision ranching, and climate,” said Marketing Director Cindy Feldman.
“A total of 14 presentations will take place, including two, panel discussions. There is seating for 57 people under the arches, but four monitors surround the stage area will allow attendees in the peripheral area to listen and engage also.”
The full ExpoEDU lineup includes 14 speaker sessions:
Tuesday, December 10
10:00-10:45 a.m.
» Biodiesel & Renewable Diesel: Adding Value to Your Farm
Eric Lawson, Consultant
Biodiesel and renewable diesel are low-carbon alternatives to diesel, made from Nebraska-grown feedstocks, supporting local farmers. This session will cover the basics, benefits, and demand for both fuels, their impact on your fuel and bottom line, and key policies driving market growth. Topics include best practices for fuel storage and the rising demand for renewable fuels, including sustainable aviation fuel.
11:00-11:45 a.m.
» Get to Know 1L Cement –
The New Limestone Dust Cement Replacement in Concrete
Mark Chew, ICC Distribution Group
Listen as Mark presents to all ag producers in regard to the potential concrete silage pits, parking lot, concrete grain bin, or concrete floor issues using the new mandatory “green” ASTM 595C 1L Cement. This presentation will provide factual problems, potential issues, and proven solutions from across North America, as well as Canada, when using the new CO 2-friendly concrete with 1L Cement.
12:00-12:45 p.m.
» The Role of High Efficiency Fertilizers in Sustainable Crop Production
Dr. Aaron Waltz, CTO, Ostara
How do enhanced efficiency fertilizers (EEFs) help farmers reduce nutrient losses, improve soil health, maximize yield and increase sustainability? In this session, we will explore the current inefficiencies of conventional fertilizers, both on the farm and in the environment, and the critical role that EEFs will play in addressing them. Explore real-life case studies from Nebraska and gain actionable insights into how you can better protect your fertilizer investment and support sustainability using EEFs.
1:00-1:45 p.m.
» Got Salt?
Tom Vander Heiden, Agronomist, Erickson Custom Operations
Tom and Erickson Custom Operations (ECO) will present over 8 years of results and data on how using a program approach has worked with producers in the upper Midwest to recover sodic and saline soil by using soil and plant health. This unique approach has reduced high magnesium soil, removed salts from soil and irrigation water. They will also address the economics of recovery in the toughest ag economy in years.
2:00-2:45 p.m.
» Bioagtive Emissions Farming
Gary Lewis, President, BioAgtive Emissions Farming
The Bioagtive Emissions Farming method is an innovative Ag tech approach to crop production that uses patented diesel fuel emissions capture technology to recycle emissions as a carbon base fertilizer. This process raises soil organic matter (SOM) yearly by as much as 1%, allowing for the Complete elimination of Synthetic fertilizer, while achieving equal to or better than yields. By improving soil health and nutrients available, this process enhances photosynthesis by up to 50% promoting sustainable farming with nutritional food production and a ROI to become profitable.
Wednesday, December 11
10:00-10:45 a.m.
» Saving the Family Farm: Farm Succession Planning, Estate Planning, Investments & Insurance
Dana Troske, Financial Advisor, Mutual of Omaha; Jerrod Gregg, Attorney, Estate Planning Law Group of Blazek and Gregg
Farm families have unique concerns when it comes to maintaining the integrity of the family operation, protecting the family members involved in production, and yet, being fair to other family members. Learn more about succession planning from these speakers who have been assisting farm clients for decades. Their ag talk will cover all of this and much more.
11:00-11:45 a.m.
» Taming Mother Nature
Dean Wysocki, Chief Meteorologist, Flag Family Media
Join Weather 20/20 and Chief Meteorologist Dean Wysocki of Flag Family Media to explore the LRC, a groundbreaking long-range forecast method that reveals nature’s recurring weather cycles. Understanding these weather patterns can revolutionize your farming practices, guiding decisions on crop planting and predicting wet or dry spells with precision. Learn how the LRC can be a powerful tool in optimizing your agricultural success.
12:00-12:45 p.m.
» Panel Discussion: The Future of AgTech: Innovations Transforming Farming and Ranching
Panel Members: Yale Zhang, CEO, Seismi; Miles Sorel, CEO, Terraforma Soil; Tayab Soomro, Pathoscan; and Sarah Hinkley, Barnowl Ag.
Moderator: Chad Moyer, Ag Broadcaster at Rural Radio Network
Join this dynamic panel as they gather several AgTech startups to share insights, challenges, and real-world applications of their innovations. This panel will help farmers and ranchers better understand how technology can address productivity, animal health, environmental stewardship, and biosecurity.
This interactive panel allows for a dynamic, collaborative conversation between startups, industry experts, and farmers. And will showcase the variety of innovative solutions available, helping you connect with the technologies that resonate most with YOUR specific challenges and goals.
1:00-1:45 p.m.
» Better-Faster-Cheaper: How to Produce Feed in the Most Economical, Efficient, and Effective Way Possible
Jeff Ruiter, President, Ruiter Innovations
With ongoing cost pressures in agriculture, we’re all seeking ways to save money and labor. Join Jeff as he reviews Ruiter Innovations Agtronix, highlighting fly mills for their accuracy, efficiency, and lower costs compared to batch mills, plus their ability to add volume and ingredients affordably. He’ll also showcase a mill under construction and share how others are available to meet specific customer needs.
2:00-2:30 p.m.
» How Nano Particles Work with Ag Chemistry to Bring More Product into the Plants
Landon Bunderson, Chief Science Officer, Nano Yield
Listen as Landon from Nano Yield shares how Nano Particles came to the ag industry, the science behind the particles, how chemistry “loads,” and how it enters the plants to be more efficient.
Thursday, December 12
10:00-10:45 a.m.
» What Does Sustainable Farming Really Mean?
Panelists: Ben Elliott, Todd Sears, and Joel Moellers, Energy Curve Technology
Sustainable Farming is most often equated to environment and conservation. Yet, we are asking farmers to produce more, with less inputs and water…at a profit! Is it possible to achieve? Quick answer: Yes, we are positioned to do it. Re-discover plant stages of growth and innovations that can produce more with far less! Innovations in Input Management: Research indicates that foliar applied products can dramatically impact soil nutrient efficiency. How? Re-discover the way in which plants move through stages of growth, interact with the environment, and signal the timing of inputs to produce far more with far less!
11:00-11:45 a.m.
» Grain and Livestock Market Outlook, hosted by the Rural Radio Network
This special event will feature top analysts who will break down the trends and share their thoughts on where grain and livestock markets are headed in 2025. Gain valuable insights to help you make informed decisions, stay ahead of market shifts, and keep your operation profitable.
In addition to expert analysis, there will be a Q&A session where you’ll have the opportunity to ask questions and get practical advice tailored to your operation. Don’t miss this chance to prepare for the year ahead!
12:00-12:45 p.m.
» Ag Drones in America and the History of Aerial Application
Kevin Knorr, Owner/CEO, Volitant Technologies, LLC
Join Kevin to discover how the future of agriculture is increasingly driven by automation, with a growing demand for UAVs (drones). Drones offer a range of agricultural applications, from advanced spraying technology to monitoring crop health, heat, and density using specialized sensors. Thermal detection is another valuable tool, helping to optimize both crop management and livestock care.
1:00-1:45 p.m.
» Integrating Information and Technology to Improve Irrigation Water Management
Daniel Davidson, Commercial Rep and Agronomist, Aluvio
Irrigation timing and water application are often based on methods like Evapotranspiration (ET), estimated crop water use, soil moisture probes, or the hand feel method. While effective with ample water, these methods don’t fully optimize crop water use. Aluvio’s precision irrigation technology enhances decision-making by integrating multiple layers of data to provide timely recommendations on when and how much to irrigate. This approach maximizes water efficiency, maintains yields, and helps conserve water while reducing energy costs. This presentation will highlight Aluvio’s irrigation scheduling system and the benefits it offers to growers.
About the Nebraska Ag Expo
The Nebraska Ag Expo is December 10-12, 2024 at the Lancaster Event Center in Lincoln, NE. Hours are 9:00am-4:00pm Tuesday and Wednesday and 9:00am-3:00pm Thursday. Regular admission is $10 at the door. This year, visitors can register online and purchase tickets in advance to save $5 on admission. Registration information is used for demographic, sponsor, and marketing purposes. Student tickets are free with a valid student ID.
The Nebraska Ag Expo is owned and managed by the Iowa-Nebraska Equipment Dealers Association (INEDA). The show is sponsored by: Diamond Sponsors – Farm Credit Services of America and AgDirect; Platinum Sponsors – Bayer CropScience and Nebraska Farm Bureau; Gold Sponsors – Stine Seed Company and Sukup Manufacturing; Silver Sponsor – Spraytec; and Media Sponsors – Midwest Messenger and Rural Radio Network.
Contact
Cindy Feldman, Marketing Director
Iowa-Nebraska Equipment Dealers Association (INEDA)
M: 515.508.1313 | E: cindyf@ineda.com
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