"Transportation Capacity Constraints and Lingering Effects of Hurricane Katrina - Strategic for Managing Logistics in 2006 "

Rick Calhoun, Vice President, Grain & Oilseed Supply Chain – North America, Cargill Inc., Minneapolis, Minn. (confirmed)

Rick Calhoun is uniquely well-placed to provide an insightful look at how Hurricanes Katrina and Rita have affected the U.S. grain and export sectors. He will deliver a Monday morning address that examines not just the immediate aftereffects of the hurricanes, but also the process of recovery and the impacts of government's response. Topics will include the lingering impacts on the grain export and transportation sectors; current and future rail and barge capacity constraints; and strategies country elevators may wish to consider when making storage, grain marketing and logistics decisions in the year ahead. As management head of Cargill's North American grain operations and barge division, and as the individual tasked with leading Cargill's post-hurricane recovery efforts, Calhoun has direct knowledge of how all these factors will interact to affect the storage, transportation and grain market environment in year ahead.

"Agroterrorism Initiatives - How They'll affect Country Elevators and Feed Mills in 2006"

Lou Carson, Deputy Director, (confirmed)
Food Safety, Defense and Outreach, Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutritution, Food and Drug Administration, Rockville, Md.

As one of FDA's top food safety officials, Lou Carson has played a lead role in developing and implementing the agency's Bioterrorism Act regulations, including the recordkeeping requirements that apply to grain elevators and feed mills — whose phased implementation begins on Dec. 9. This will be a most timely opportunity to learn how FDA plans to implement its requirement that elevators and feed mills link inbound deliveries with outbound shipments, and how the agency will interpret recordkeeping requirements for commingled commodities and products. Carson also will discuss a new federal-state-private sector agroterrorism-prevention initiative being launched this fall.

"How will Politics and the WTO Shape Policy Options for the 2007 Farm Bill?"

Dr. Keith Collins, Chief Economist (confirmed)
U.S. Department of Agriculture, Washington, D.C.

Few individuals are better qualified to assess the current agricultural policy climate than Dr. Keith Collins. He will deliver a major address on the policy options most likely to be considered in the 2007 farm bill debate, as well as how the outcome will be influenced by the current round of World Trade Organization negotiations.

Collins is an influential advisor to Secretary of Agriculture Mike Johanns and other key USDA policymakers. He is responsible for USDA’s agricultural forecasts and projections, and for advising the agriculture secretary on economic implications of alternative programs, regulations and legislative proposals. He also oversees the Office of the Chief Economist, the World Agricultural Outlook Board, the Office of Risk Assessment and Cost-Benefit Analysis, the Global Change Program Office, and the Office of Energy Policy and New Uses. He has worked closely with the NGFA on a number of projects and issues over the years.

"Maintaining Grain Quality in Emergeny Storage"

Jude DeJean, Regional Operations Manager (confirmed)
Consolidated Grain and Barge Co.
Mound City, Ill.,

Jude DeJean will lead a Monday afternoon “Country Elevator Track” session on “Maintaining Grain Quality in Emergency Storage,” another critically important post- Katrina topic given today’s transportation and storage challenges.

"From Managing to Leading -- Employee Management, Motivation and Retention"

Jim Doyle, President (confirmed)
P.E.G. Consulting Services
Elkhart, Ind.

As sole proprietor of P.E.G. Consulting Services in Elkhart, Ind., Jim Doyle has done consulting and workshop assignments in the U.S. and around the world. His firm is dedicated to enhancing performance in leadership and teamwork. Doyle will address employee motivation and retention issues in a featured address titled “From Managing to Leading.”

"Feed Marketing and Sales - Key Account Selling and Strategies to Increase Market Share: Motivating Your Sales Work Force "

Steve Duea, Owner/President (confirmed)
Personnel Power
Mankato, Minn.

As owner and president of Personnel Power in Mankato, Minn., Steve Duea is one of the foremost agribusiness marketing authorities in the country. He has worked with hundreds of feed companies to deliver proven concepts for improving sales and enhancing profitability. Duea will provide key selling skills you can use in dealing with today's professional buyers, focusing on first calls, team selling, appointment selling, written communication and written business proposals. Based on his personal experiences and successful business ownerships, his strategies will help you increase feed market share and provide winning sales techniques for use in the highly competitive feed business.

"Market Outlook for Grains, Oilseeds and Livestock/Poultry and Potential for Fudn-Generated Volatility"

Steve Freed, Director of Research (confirmed)
ADM Investor Services, Chicago, Ill.

Steve Freed will present a major market outlook session for grains, oilseeds and livestock/poultry. Freed oversees all market information and trading strategies for ADM Investor Services. As a respected and followed analyst on grain markets, Freed is quoted often in newspapers and business journals around the world, and he is a featured speaker at many conferences, seminars and workshops. Freed's presentation also will examine the potential for enhanced market volatility generated by increasing fund trading.

"New Generation Grain Contracts - The Producer Perspective"

Dr. Steven Johnson, Farm and Ag Business Management Specialist (confirmed)
Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa

Dr. Steven Johnson, is an expert on producer attitudes on cash grain contracting. His presentation, based on recent survey work, will examine: 1) How farmers react to different kinds of contracts; 2) What producers like and dislike about various types of “new generation” contracts and marketing strategies; and 3) How best to communicate the details and strategies of innovative marketing plans to producers.

"Quality Factors in Utilizing Distillers Grains in Feed"

Duane Kriener, Merchandiser - Distiller Grains Marketing Group (confirmed)
Land O'Lakes Purina Feeds LLC, Minneapolis, Minn.

As a merchandiser for Land O'Lakes Purina Feeds LLC Distillers Grains Marketing Group in Minneapolis, Duane Kriener intimately understands the distillers dried grains market and the growing supply of products available to feed manufacturers. Kriener will share his insights on practical quality, purchasing, handling, and use factors for DDGs, as well as potential technology changes that could affect these products in the future.

"Impacts of Ethanol and Biodiesel Grain Utilization for Producer Planting Decisions"

William Motes, Senior Vice President for International Consulting (confirmed)
Informa Economics Inc., McLean, VA

Everyone wants to know how growing ehtanol and other alternative fuel production will affect markets and planting decisions. William Motes will fill in the blanks, utilizing the analytic tools brought to bear by one of the foremost economic consulting firms (formerly Sparks Commodities).

"What's Ahead for Financial Markets in 2006"

Benard Walschots, Global Head of Financial Markets Research (confirmed)
Rabobank International

Based in Utrecht in The Netherlands, Benard Walschots is responsible for overall strategy and planning for Rabobank's international operations. He will present a big-picture forecast for the coming year of general economic conditions, including financial markets and interest rates.

Sunday, Dec. 4

9 a.m. - 2 p.m.

NGFA - Affiliated Association Leadership Conference

Noon - 4 p.m.

Exhibitor Move-In/Set-Up

2:30 - 5 p.m.

Country Elevator Committee Meeting

4 - 7 p.m.

Trade Show Open (Beer and Popcorn in Trade Show)

5:30 - 7 p.m.

Welcome Reception

Monday, Dec. 5

6:30 - 8:15 a.m.

Trade Show Open (Idea Exchange Continental Breakfast in Trade Show)

8:30 - Noon

Country Elevator/Feed Industry Conference

Noon - 2 p.m.

Trade Show Open - (Buffet Luncheon in Trade Show)

2 - 5:30 p.m.

Country Elevator/Feed Industry Conference

5:30 - 7 p.m.

Trade Show Open

6- 7 p.m.

Reception in Trade Show

7- 10 p.m.

Exhibit Breakdown

Tuesday, Dec. 6

7 - 8 a.m.

Feed Industry Track Continental Breakfast/Idea Exchange Continental Breakfast

8 - 11:15 a.m.

Country Elevator/Feed Industry Program

11:15 a.m.

Conference Adjourns

11:30 a.m - 1 p.m.

Feed Legislative and Regulatory Affairs Committee

1 - 2 p.m.

Feed Manufacturing and Technolgy Committee

2 - 3 p.m.

Animal Agriculture Committee