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Today’s agricultural producers are adapting to a landscape that is
constantly changing. They are expected to be economists, commodity
specialists, financiers, brokers, mechanics, transportation
logisticians, managers and more.
South Central College’s Foundation is providing a one-day
professional development opportunity to assist area farm families
with keeping a finger on the pulse of their dynamic industry. South
Central College Foundation is proud to announce the fifth annual “New
Tools for New Rules” Agricultural Symposium. This regional
professional development opportunity is designed for all agricultural
producers. New Tools brings world-class speakers to the campus of
South Central College for a day of cutting-edge presentations and
discussion. The event is scheduled for 8 a.m.-4 p.m. Feb. 25.
South Central College, located at 1920 Lee Boulevard in North
Mankato, Minn., will host all activities in its John Votca Conference
Center.
Scheduled to appear are Michael Swanson, Rick Dusek and David Kohl.
All are experts in their respective field and will introduce
conference attendees to the “new rules” facing 21st century ag
producers. They will also be providing attendees with “new tools” to
address these challenges, making them more productive and profitable
farm managers.
Attendees will be also be allowed to customize their learning with
relevant breakout sessions that range from topics including social
media, human resources, financial communications, water quality and
more.
The principal sponsorship for “New Tools for New Rules” is provided
by CHS and CHS Foundation.
Cost for the one-day symposium is $119 ($99 if you register by Feb.
15). All proceeds from “New Tools for New Rules” go toward
agribusiness scholarships and program advancement, as well as general
support for the non-profit SCC Foundation. Lunch is included in the
ticket price.
For more information, contact Tami Reuter, SCC Foundation executive
director at (507) 389-7342. For tickets, log on to
www.southcentral.edu/agsymposium.
Speaker bios
Rick Dusek
Rick Dusek is vice president of CHS Grain Marketing, a division of
CHS Inc. He is responsible for all North American commodity trading
and risk management for the grain marketing business. In his 23 years
with CHS, Dusek has held a series of progressively responsible
positions within grain marketing. Beginning as a procurement
merchant, Dusek moved into domestic wheat trading; from there he
managed the wheat export trading desk. He was director of
merchandising for grain marketing from 2006 through 2011, and was
named vice president in January of 2012. Dusek also serves on the
board of directors of the Minneapolis Grain Exchange.
Born and raised in Grafton, N.D., he graduated from North Dakota
State University with a bachelor of science degree in agricultural
economics.
David Kohl
David Kohl received his M.S. and Ph.D. degrees in agricultural
economics from Cornell University. Kohl has traveled over 6 million
miles throughout his professional career. He has conducted more than
5,000 workshops and seminars for agricultural groups such as bankers,
Farm Credit, Farm Service Agency and regulators, as well as producer
and agribusiness groups. He has published four books and over 500
articles on financial and business-related topics in journals,
extension and other popular publications. Kohl regularly writes for
Farm Journal, Top Producer, Ag Lender and Soybean Digest.
Michael Swanson
Michael Swanson, Ph.D., is an agricultural economist and consultant
for Wells Fargo, the largest commercial agricultural lender in the
United States. Based in Minneapolis, his responsibilities include
analyzing the impact of energy on agriculture, forecasting for key
agricultural commodities, such as wheat, soybeans, corn and cotton,
and livestock sectors, such as cattle, dairy and hogs.
Additionally, he helps develop credit and risk strategies for Wells
Fargo’s customers, and performs macroeconomic and international
analysis on agricultural production and agribusiness. Swanson
received undergraduate degrees in economics and business
administration from the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul, and
both his master’s and doctorate degrees in agricultural and applied
economics from the University of Minnesota. His doctoral thesis,
which the National Research Institute and the Norwegian government
sponsored, showed how to use value-added tax data to better estimate
key components of economic activity.
