Montana’s Next Generation Conference January 30 and 31 in Shelby, MT

The deadline is fast approaching to register for Montana’s Next Generation Conference, January 30 and 31, 2015, in Shelby, Montana.  Hosted by the Glacier and Toole County Farm Service Agency, local MSU Extension, Marias River Livestock Association and the Front Range Counties Farm Bureau, this comprehensive conference of succession planning and production workshops is one not to miss.

Events kick off Friday, January 30, at 9 a.m. at the Shelby Civic Center with Kevin Spafford of Legacy by Design, LLC. Spafford will lead participants through beginning succession planning in the morning, and then move to an advanced session in the afternoon to build upon the morning session’s foundation or for those who attended last year.  Sessions will include hands-on activities for all generations as they learn how to make a successful transition of the farming or ranching operation.

Friday evening will include a no-host social and trade show, a roast beef dinner and a keynote address from Sandra Hare, “Understanding the Personalities of the Generations.”  The evening will conclude with bluegrass, country, and folk music entertainment by the talented Halladay Quist.

Saturday’s events feature an outstanding lineup of industry speakers and professionals offering a total of 36 workshops throughout the day, with a portion of workshops aimed each towards beginning producers and for those more experienced.

Crop topics will include crop insurance, crop scouting, strategic fertilizer and chemical programs, Precision Ag, 2014 Farm Bill, CSP and EQUIP for farmers, grain marketing, and seed updates.  Livestock related topics will feature presentations on beef cattle nutrition, livestock marketing, animal health topics, genetics and bull selection, forage management, reproductive success in the beef cowherd, CSP and EQUIP for cattlemen, and grazing management.

Financial and management related topics will focus on financial record keeping, tax code updates, life insurance, workers compensation, lease options, farm insurance policies, payroll taxes and employee accounting, and entity structure and tax implications.  One highlight from Galusha, Higgins, and Gulasha will include a mock IRS audit of a farm or ranch operation, which in the process will cover the new tax extender rules, depreciation rules for year-end purchases, new repair expense rules, commodity wage parameters, like kind exchanges and other tax update and tax savings strategies.  

Saturday’s workshops will fulfill FSA’s Production and Financial Management training requirements for producers and four commercial/private pesticide applicator points will be available throughout the day.  One pesticide point will be available at each of the following sessions, ‘Montana Crop Production Basics’ and ‘The 411 on What’s Going On in Your Fields,’ by Joel Farkell of Centrol, LLC Crop Consulting, ‘Updates in the Seed World,’ by Jake Baum, Northern Seed, and ‘4R Nutrient & Chemical Stewardship Program,’ by Jake Knapton, CHS.

Saturday afternoon will conclude with both a livestock and crop panel discussion which allows attendees to learn from the successes and challenges of local producers in their daily operations and succession planning.  The conference will return to the Shelby Civic Center Saturday evening for a beef brisket dinner by Dr. Dick Kinyon, legislative updates, the trade show, and entertainment.

Registration forms are available online HERE or by calling 406-873-2239, and are due January 23.  Watch the Facebook page, Montana’s Next Generation Conference for updates.  Cost is $20/individual/day, or $30/couple/day, and daycare is available Saturday.

Discounted motel rates of $75/night are available at the Best Western Shelby Inn & Suites (406-424-4560) or the Comfort Inn (406-434-2212) at $70/night for a single room or $75/night for a double room if booked in advance of the conference.

If you have any questions, please contact Lacy Roberts at 406-873-5618 or Kari Lewis at 406-873-2239. Don’t miss this great opportunity to plan for the future and learn new information!