Agenda

Wednesday, Jan 14

9:00-9:45 Registration

9:30-9:45 Welcome

9:45-10:45 Breakout Sessions #1

• Is strip till or reduced tillage right for you?

• Seed treatment considerations when using cover crops

• The role of soil biology within the regenerative agriculture framework

• Farmer panel: Crunching the numbers on soil health and profit 

11:00-12:00 Breakout Sessions #2

• Planting in reduced and minimal tillage situations - Examples from upper midwest agriculture

• Rejuvenating unproductive areas and managing soil salinity and sodicity

• Potentials and constraints for successful bioinoculants

• Farmer panel: Using crops and livestock to get the most out of each acre

12:00-1:00 Lunch

1:00-2:00 Breakout Sessions #3

• Nutrient management in northern no-till systems

• Do you need cost-share programs to make soil health pay?

• The no-till transition: What to expect and how to prepare

• Farmer panel: Crunching the numbers on soil health and profit

2:00-2:15 Break/Exhibitor visit

2:15-2:45 Table Talks #1

2:50-3:20 Table Talks #2

3:25-3:50 Table Talks #3

3:50-4:30 Break/Exhibitor visit/open bar

4:30-5:30 Farmer Panel

5:30-8:00 Beer and Bull

Thursday, Jan 15

7:15-8:00 Breakfast

8:00-9:00 Breakout Sessions #4

• Cover Crops 101: where, when, and how

• Markets for C insets and ecosystem services

• Weed management as you reduce tillage

• Leveraging technology to enhance grazing management and soil health

9:00-9:15 Industry Table Talks #1

9:20-9:35 Industry Table Talks #2

9:40-10:00 Break/Exhibitor visit

10:00-11:00 Breakout Sessions #5

• Planting green: Incorporating a rye cover crop before soybeans

• Benefits of diversified crop rotations

• Weed management as you reduce tillage

• Predicting corn N outcomes with Haney and other biological tests

11:00-11:15 Break/Exhibitor visit

11:15-12:15 Consultant Panel + boxed lunch 

12:15-12:30 Wrap-up

For descriptions of each session, please go to the Session descriptions tab

Winter Camelina Crash Course

January 15, 2026 | 12:30 p.m. - 2:00 p.m.

Want a new crop to market? Join Cargill, University of MN, and other experienced growers at this learning session.

We will cover: 

• Agronomy

• Market demand and Supply Chain

• Farmer Experience

This event will be hosted on the tail end of the 2026 SMS/DIRT conference in Fargo, ND. This event is free to attend and does not require SMS/DIRT registration.

Delta Marriott Hotel (Brahms Room)

 1635 42nd Street SW

Fargo, North Dakota 58103

Visit our website to learn more about winter camelina

Questions? Contact anna_teeter@cargill.com

SARE Farmer-Rancher Grant Writing Workshop

January 15, 2026 | 12:30 p.m. - 2:00 p.m.

Farming is all about balance—trying new ideas while keeping your operation steady. The North Central Region–Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (NCR-SARE) program helps you take those steps with confidence.

Our Grant Writing Workshops guide farmers and ranchers through applying for SARE grants, giving you the support to test innovative practices without risking your footing. Take that next step forward—with a little extra support from NCR-SARE.

This workshop is interactive. You’ll talk with other farmers and ranchers to: 

• Think through your ideas

• Hone in on a fundable trial, demonstration, or project

• Sketch out a researchable question

• Gain confidence in crafting a SARE grant proposal

This free event will be hosted on the tail end of the 2026 SMS/DIRT conference in Fargo, ND. This event is free to attend. Please register for the workshop here so we know how many people to expect.

Delta Marriott Hotel (Bach Room)

1635 42nd Street SW

Fargo, North Dakota 58103

Questions? Contact Denise Natoli Brooks dbrooks@centralstate.edu