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Monday, February 16th, 2026
8:00 a.m. – 7 p.m.
Bulk Vendor Load In
*Load in schedule will be assigned in January 2026
Tuesday, February 17th, 2026
8:00 a.m. – 7 p.m.
Small Vendor Load In
Wednesday, February 18th, 2026
Michelle Miller | located in Ballroom 4 from 1-2p
Potato
Day 1 – Industry Session
Room Location: Ballroom 4
| Time | Speaker | Title |
|---|---|---|
| 9:30 – 10:00 | Mark Klompien, CEO United Potato Growers | United Potato Market Outlook |
| 10:00 – 10:30 | Blair Richardson, President and CEO Potatoes USA | Overview of Potatoes USA’s activities |
| 10:30 – 10:45 | Break | |
| 10:45 – 11:15 | RJ Harvey, Culinary Director, Potatoes USA | Potatoes USA Culinary Update |
| 11:15 – 11:30 | Blair Richardson & RJ Harvey | Potatoes USA Q&A |
| 11:30 – 12:00 | Todd Forbush, TechMark | Bolley Agriculture Building Update |
Small Grains
Day 1
Room Location: Ballroom 1
| Time | Speaker | Title |
|---|---|---|
| 9:00 – 9:30 | Dr. Lindsy Pease – Assistant Professor, Extension Specialist Nutrient and Water Management, University of Minnesota | Soil Health Practices Effect on Nitrogen Fertility |
| 9:40 – 10:10 | John Breckner – Agvise | Soil Sampling Results and Trends across the Region |
| 10:20 – 10:50 | Dr. Andrew Friskop – Associate Professor, Cereal Crop Extension Plant Pathologist, North Dakota State University | Small Grain Disease Management Update |
| 11:00 – 11:50 | Scott Steffes – CEO Steffes Group, Max Steffes – Director of Sales Steffes Group (Joint session with Soybeans in Ballroom 5) | Current Trends in Land and Machinery Sales |
Soybean
Day 1
Room Location: Ballroom 5
| Time | Speaker | Title |
|---|---|---|
| 9:00 – 9:30 | Dr. Samuel Markell, NDSU Interim Chair, Professor, Plant Pathology/ Extension Plant Pathology | Dry Bean Disease Updates |
| 9:40 – 10:10 | Dr. Jeff Stachler, Extension Cropping Systems Specialist, Carrington Research and Extension Center | Maximizing Glufosinate Activity |
| 10:20 – 10:50 | Dr. Brady Gottel, NDSU Assistant Professor, Soil Science/Extension Soil Science Specialist | Fertilizing Beans for Success in 2026 |
| 11:00 – 11:50 | Scott Steffes, President Steffes Group Inc. (Joint session with Small Grains in Ballroom 5) | Current Trends in Machinery and Land Sales |
Thursday, February 19th, 2026
Daryl Ritchison | located in Ballroom 4 from 1-2p
Potato
Day 2 – Research Session
Room Location: Ballroom 4
| Time | Speaker | Title |
|---|---|---|
| 9:00 – 9:10 | Eric Byre, MN Department of Agriculture | Minnesota Certified Seed Report |
| 9:10 – 9:20 | Adam Winchester, ND State Seed Department | North Dakota Certified Seed Report |
| 9:20 – 9:50 | Dr. Susie Thomson, NDSU | Sugar End: A Short Review |
| 9:50 – 10:20 | Dr. Jonahtan Whitworth, USDA-ARS | Tuber Necrotic Viruses |
| 10:30 – 11:00 | Dr. Andy Robinson, NDSU/UMN | Comparing European and US Potato Production Practices |
| 11:00 – 11:30 | Dr. Julie Pasche, NDSU | Impact of Blackdot in Potato |
| 11:30 – 12:00 | Dr. Jonahtan Whitworth, USDA-ARS | Understanding PVY in Potatoes |
Small Grains
Day 2
Room Location: Ballroom 1
| Time | Speaker | Title |
|---|---|---|
| 9:00 – 9:30 | Jody DeJong Hughes – Regional Extension Educator, University of Minnesota | Soil Compaction: How to Minimize and Mitigate it |
| 9:40 – 10:50 |
Dr. Joe Ikley – Assistant Professor, Extension Weed Specialist, North Dakota State University (Joint Session with Soybeans in Ballroom 5) |
Water Hemp Management Research update |
| 11:00 – 11:50 |
Dr. Frayne Olson – Professor/Crops Economist, North Dakota State University (Joint Session with Soybeans in Ballroom 5) |
What does 2026 have in store? |
Soybean
Day 2
Room Location: Ballroom 5
| Time | Speaker | Title |
|---|---|---|
| 9:00 – 9:30 | Dr. Kristin Simons, Research Agronomist, Carrington Research Extension Center | Dry Bean Production Research |
| 9:40 – 10:50 |
Dr. Joe Ikley, NDSU Assistant Professor, NDSU Extension Weed Specialist (Joint session with Small Grains in Ballroom 5) |
Water Hemp Management Research Update |
| 11:00 – 11:50 |
Dr. Frayne Olson, NDSU Professor, Agribusiness/Crops Economist (Joint session with Small Grains in Ballroom 5) |
What does 2026 have in store? |