2026 Growing Season Discussed at Annual Agronomy Conference

2026 Growing Season Discussed at Annual Agronomy Conference

Sioux Falls, S.D. — Agronomists, researchers, industry professionals and growers prepared for the 2026 growing season at the South Dakota Agri-Business Association (SDABA) 24th Annual Agronomy Conference recently in Sioux Falls.
The two-day conference brought together over 150 ag enthusiasts for high-impact educational programming on timely and emerging issues facing agronomy and production agriculture.
Featured speakers included:

• Dr. Fred Below, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign — Management for the Future of High-Yield Corn and The Quest for 80 Bushel Soybean
• Dr. Frayne Olson, North Dakota State University — Discipline & Patience: 2026 Crop Market Outlook & Global Grain Market Update
• Industry panel of technical representatives from BASF, Bayer, Corteva, and Syngenta — Weed Wars: Industry Insights on Resistance and Control

In addition to educational sessions, attendees had multiple opportunities to network and collaborate, including the Certified Crop Advisers (CCA) Social. The conference also recognized excellence in the profession with the presentation of the 2025 South Dakota Certified Crop Adviser of the Year Award to Paul Luetjen of Syngenta Crop Protection, honoring his outstanding contributions to agronomy in South Dakota.

“The Agronomy Conference is always a highlight of my year,” said Cody Kafka, Sales Manager for CHS Farmers Alliance and a grower in Alexandria, S.D. “I leave with practical, actionable takeaways I can use both with the growers I serve and on my own farm. The networking with agronomy professionals from across the state makes the experience even more valuable.”
SDABA Executive Director Liv Stavick emphasized the conference’s role in strengthening the agricultural industry. “The Agronomy Conference is a cornerstone event for South Dakota’s agri-business community. It’s not just about sharing the latest research, it’s about bringing professionals together to collaborate, learn from one another and strengthen the industry. SDABA is proud to provide a space that supports our members and the producers they serve.”

About the South Dakota Agri-Business Association

The South Dakota Agri-Business Association (SDABA) is the voice of South Dakota’s agri-business industry, representing more than 600 business locations statewide. Through advocacy, communication, and education, SDABA works to strengthen the agri-business community and supports a competitive, thriving agricultural economy.

For more information about the South Dakota Agri-Business Association Agronomy Conference, visit www.sdaba.org.