Program

CCA credits available. 14.5 CEUs pending in professional development

11:00 am – 3:00 pm
Registration

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2:30 – 4:00 pm
Opening Session: The Optimized Precision Service System

Instructors:
Bruce Erickson, Purdue University 
Dr. John Shanahan, Fortigen – (Tetrad Corp.)

What does the optimized precision service system look like? What are the areas of your business that you can most influence? What are the key factors that make it tick? How does this compare to your own vision of precision today and in the future?

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4:00 – 5:00 pm
Precision Program Survey: Your Hopes, Dreams, and Fears

Instructors:
Douglas Prairie, South Dakota State University 
Nicholas Uilk, South Dakota State University

In preparation for this event, South Dakota State University conducted a survey of service providers to learn more about approaches to precision programs, and the responses are diverse and eye-opening. This session takes a closer look at the pre-survey results and what they tell us about the state of precision programs … what are the biggest needs, the most frequently committed mistakes, the biggest challenges and most promising opportunities.

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5:00 – 7:00 pm
Networking Reception

All attendees are invited to attend this opportunity hosted by PrecisionAg Professional to join the discussion with their peers on the future of precision agriculture. Take advantage of this gathering of like-minded professionals focused on a common goal during the reception at the Swiftel Center.

7:30 am – 4:45 pm
Registration

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7:30 – 8:00 am
Coffee Service

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8:00 – 8:10 am
Welcome

Barry Dunn, President, South Dakota State University

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Building a Profitable, Sustainable Precision Program

Full Day Lead Instructor:
Michael Boehlje, Purdue University

Michael Boehlje of Purdue University leads a day-long exploration of the precision program, from core strategy and implementation to marketing and growth.

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8:00 am – 12:00 pm
Developing The Precision Agriculture Program

Instructor:
Michael Boehlje, Purdue University

As a service and value driven entity, the precision agriculture program faces unique challenges existing and thriving within the traditional ag retail structure. Internal understanding of and support for the program must be strong. The business model must deliver clear value both to the retail operation and the customer. Measures of success and benchmarks for improvement must be clear. This day-long examination of the precision program will bring best practices into better focus, providing information and tools for improving your approach to precision program management.

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8:00 – 10:00 am

Part 1: The Business Case for Precision Agriculture

Part 2: Case Study – Agtegra Cooperative, Aberdeen, SD

Featuring Andrew Kappes, Sales Agronomist,
Dustin Christofferson, Precision Ag Specialist and Joel Erickson, Farmer-client

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10:00 – 10:30 am

Networking Break

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10:30 am – 12:00 pm

Part 3: The Professional Management System

Part 4: Designing/Developing Your Business Model
The Customer Value Proposition

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12:00 – 1:00 pm
Lunch

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1:00 – 2:30 pm

Part 4: Designing/Developing Your Business Model (continued)
The Market/Business Climate/Competitors
The Key Resources/Processes/Activities to Deliver
The Profit Formula (Revenues and Costs) and the Risks

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2:30 – 3:00 pm
Networking Break

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3:00 – 4:45 pm
Precision Program Case Studies

Part 5: Case Study – Farmers Cooperative, Martell, NE
Featuring Wesley Hedges, Precision Ag Manager, and Bill Slater, Farmer-client

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5:30 – 7:30 pm
Reception

Cap off a hands-on afternoon with an evening reception at Club 71 in the Dana J. Dykhouse Stadium. Opportunities to tour South Dakota State University’s new elite facility will be available.

7:30 am – 4:30 pm
Registration

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7:30 – 8:00 am
Coffee Service

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Program Evaluation And Improvement

Full Day Lead Instructor:
Phil Ramsel, P&C Ramsel Enterprises, LLC

Phil Ramsel of P&C Ramsel Enterprises, LLC delves into the challenges of precision program staffing and personnel management, interdepartmental cooperation, and maintaining precision program momentum.

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8:00 am – 12:00 pm

Building and Maintaining a High Performance Staff

Attracting and, more importantly, retaining members of your precision service team is critical to the success and sustainability of any precision operation. Through presentations and group exercises, you’ll learn tips and techniques that will improve your ability to manage and maintain your precision department.

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8:00 – 9:30 am

Identifying Core Values

Hiring and retaining the best employees for your operation requires an understanding of your company’s core values. Once established, recruitment and regular performance evaluation based on these core values creates greater retention success. The opening small group exercise will lead to the identification of core values for each attendee.

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9:30 – 10:00 am

Break

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10:00 – 11:00 am

Values Into Action

Small groups then reconvene, and begin to develop a recruitment theme and retention strategy around core values. Thought-provoking discussion around key questions such as, “what constitutes a meaningful performance review?” and “how can I include customer service into the evaluation mix?” will deliver valuable insight into building a successful precision team.

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11:00 am – 12:00 pm

Goal Setting

Teams of three individuals representing a manager, and employee, and an observer go through one of a variety of different goal-setting scenarios, with the challenge of matching core values to employee recruitment and retention programs.

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12:00 – 1:00 pm

Lunch

Take a break over lunch with your cohorts and exchange ideas in a casual atmosphere. Take this last opportunity to add to your professional network.

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1:00 – 3:00 pm
How Precision Becomes A High-Priority Opportunity At Your Operation

Precision program managers and precision specialists need to be engaged and consulted throughout the sales process for maximum value to be achieved from both the retail business and the customer service perspective. From effective communication between departments and locations to clear benchmarking and expression of value, precision programs are most effective when everyone understands their roles, relationships, and expectations.

This session explores the best practices that make precision programs thrive, and will include breakouts that generate ideas on how the customer wants to interact with the precision agronomy professional, and current consensus on how the industry approaches that expectation. 

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3:00 – 3:30 pm
Break

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3:30 – 4:30 pm
Big Takeaways Discussion and Adjourn

Instructor:
Paul Schrimpf, AgriBusiness Global, Meister Media Worldwide, Inc.

Identify and prioritize key learnings from your experience, and prepare to Accelerate your business, and your career!