Stay informed on current agriculture practices and the latest research taking place at Dudley Smith Farm during the annual Winter Meeting. Topics this year include:
- Cattle production and profitability
- Cattle market outlook
- Dudley Smith Research Farm updates
- Soil health producer panel
This meeting is free and open to the public. Advance registration is required by February 5 for lunch.
2026 Winter Meeting Agenda
9:00 a.m. – Registration
9:25 – Welcome
9:30 – Examining Annual Cow Costs and Drivers of Profitability
Travis Meteer, Commercial Agriculture Educator, University of Illinois Extension
10:00 – Cattle Market Outlook
Luke Frantz, Director of Business Development, Kapco Futures
10:45 – Break
11:00 – Dudley Smith Initiative Research Updates
- The impact of cover crops and fertility treatments on water quality and nutrient loss
- Kristin Greer, Senior Research Specialist, Department of Crop Sciences, University of Illinois
- Drainage water recycling for crop resilience and water quality improvement in Illinois
- Luciano Alves de Oliveira, Assistant Professor, Department of Agricultural and Biological Engineering, University of Illinois
- Grazing or harvesting cereal rye in corn-soybean rotation: understanding impacts in an integrated crop-beef cattle operation
- Grady Gullickson, Graduate Student, Department of Animal Sciences, University of Illinois
11:30 – Building a Soil Health Legacy - Producer Panel
Moderator: Travis Meteer, Commercial Agriculture Educator, University of Illinois Extension
12:15 p.m. – Lunch