Rob Sharkey

Keynote Address: Sharks Don’t Swim Backwards

A story of grit and determination… coming back from the hog market crash, lessons learned along the way, and not squishing the ambitions of the next generation.

Bio: Rob Sharkey is a risk taker and out-of-the-box thinker. Better known by his digital alias, The SharkFarmer, Rob is an Illinois grain farmer, owner of a whitetail deer hunting outfitter, podcast & radio show host, and host of multiple TV shows on RFD-TV and PBS. Known for his authentic and honest storytelling on his podcast, Rob isn’t afraid to address controversial topics or share the struggles of being a modern farmer and business owner. His unfiltered words resonate with almost a million listeners weekly around the world.

Dr. Brian Arnall

Presentation: What’s driving Potassium Demand in Soybean?

Morning Session

A look at soil chemical and physical drivers of K response in soybean. A different look into P and K Management. Are we managing P and K recommendations in the most economical and economical ways?

Dr. Brian Arnall is a precision nutrient management extension specialist for Oklahoma State University. Dr. Arnall's extension, teaching, and research efforts are focused on precision technologies and nutrient management in all of Oklahoma's cropping systems with an emphasis in site specific techniques. He works closely with extension educators and industry personnel to improve nutrient management practices that will lead to increased profitability of producers. Dr. Arnall has been involved in sensor based technologies, remote sensing and variable rate application for more than ten years.

Presentation: Soil DNA Analysis; Leveraging Soil DNA for more efficient NPK

Afternoon Session

Soil biology is the missing piece in traditional testing. With BeCrop® Testing now available through Midwest Laboratories, growers can see how microbes drive nutrient cycling, disease suppression, and crop resilience.

This partnership makes it easier than ever to uncover what’s really happening beneath the surface—and use that knowledge to boost productivity, efficiency, and long-term soil health.

Ken Ferrie

Presentation: Tillage Practices, Soil Health, and Impact to P&K

Morning Session

Ken was born and raised on a farm in Cresco Iowa. He is a graduate of Ellsworth Community College and Illinois State University. He is a Certified Crop Advisor and a 4R Nutrient Management Specialist from the American Society of Agronomy. Ken is the owner of Crop Tech Consulting in Heyworth Illinois and has worked as a field agronomist for over 30 year. He also oversees the test plots in the Farm Journal Test Plot Program and lead the curriculum for Farm Journal’s Corn College.

Dr. Chad Hart

Presentation: Economics and Trade

Afternoon Session

Chad Hart is a Professor in the Department of Economics at Iowa State University. His fields of interest include the interaction between the agricultural commitments within the World Trade Organization and the agricultural policies and programs of WTO members, crop insurance, international trade, biofuel policy, federal agricultural policy, and crop marketing.

Dr. John Jones

Presentation: Developing Lime Recommendations and Effects of Tillage

Afternoon Session

Dr. John Jones is an Assistant Professor of Agronomy and Soil Fertility Extension Specialist at the University of Illinois. His research and outreach program emphasis is on fertilizer and soil management, soil and plant analysis, and precision agriculture technologies. He is an alumnus of Kansas State University (BSc) and Iowa State University (MSc & PhD).

Chris Kasten

Presentation: Nutrient Antagonisms: Myths & Practical Truths

Morning Session

Chris Kasten currently serves as an agronomy research analyst for Novus Ag, and is a founding member of Agrimodis. With an emphasis on data and research, Chris strives to re-think traditional methods and conclusions to improve agronomy and expand current capabilities.  Over the years, he has analyzed approximately a million soil and plant samples from across the US and beyond.  Chris resides in Jackson, MO, with his wife, Kelly, and their daughter, Calla.