Pub. 6 2018 Issue 1

Issue 1. 2018 21 M ore than 70 bankers attended the Annual UBA Ag Out- look and Conference in St. George on February 8-9, 2018. The conference kicked off the afternoon of the 8th with three innovative workshops including “Animal Health” with Tyler Barker and Toby Hoffman from Zoetis Animal Health; “Tools and Strategies of Marketing” presented by Dr. Ryan Larsen, USU; and a presentation on “Emerging Nutrient Tech- nology” led by Tony Carlile, Kurt Hansen and Krea Mecham, IFA. The conference continued in the evening where attend- ees were entertained by The Glenn Webb Trio and enjoyed a fascinating perspective on “China and Agriculture, What it is and What it May or May not Become,” with Brett Stuart from Global AgriTrends. The morning of the 9th began with a look at the “State of Ag in Utah” by Andy Pierucci, Utah Department of Agriculture and Food, followed by Curt Covington, Farmer Mac discuss- ing “Building a Relationship Between Bankers and Farmers,” and a “Markets Panel” featuring Clyde Magnuson, Magnuson Livestock; Tom Bailey, Bailey Farms International; and Rick Naerebout, Idaho Dairymen’s Association Rounding out the morning session were businessman Chad Rowley, Payson Fruit Growers sharing his “Story of Success” and “Hot Topics in the Global and U.S. Ag Markets,” with Brett Stuart. Dr. Dillon Feuz and Dr. Ryan Larsen with Utah State Univer- sity, along with Jim Robb, Livestock Marketing Information Center were the concluding speakers, each giving their much anticipated Annual Ag Outlook which always provides vital information for bankers and producers in attendance. The Annual Ag Conference is UBA’s longest running conference. n 2018 Ag Outlook and Conference