By TIM THORNBERRY
Kentucky Correspondent

PRINCETON, Ky. — Corn and soybean growers went through a tough growing season to harvest record crops this year. But the new year will undoubtedly bring different challenges, so to stay on top of their game, many growers will be attending the 2010 Kentucky Commodity Conference Jan. 22 at the Holiday Inn University Plaza in Bowling Green.

“Crop growers had quite an interesting year in Kentucky,” said Phillip McCoun, Kentucky Corn Growers Assoc. (KCGA) president and a farmer from Shelbyville. “We had a slow start and a really late finish due to the weather, but we were able to produce  record corn and soybean crops.

“The Kentucky Commodity Conference is a place where we can recognize our greatest achievers and learn how we can do the same in the season to come.”

The conference will feature a host of experts from here and across the country to share new ideas with attendees. Kicking things off will be third-generation Montana logger Bruce Vincent, whose presentation titled “With Vision, There is Hope” focuses on how agriculture should have a new vision of conservation and environmental stewardship, based on hope instead of fear.

“In order to share this vision, we must first reintroduce the American consumer to the people and the processes of food production and have a line item in our business plan to engage the discussion over our environment,” said Vincent.

“Farmers work at the ground level in implementing society’s framework for protecting the environment. This leading-edge position provides challenges and, if we focus on leading and not just fighting, exciting opportunities and hope for the next generation of agriculture in America.”

After his lunchtime comments, attendees will have the opportunity to go to annual meetings of the KCGA and the Kentucky Soybean and Small Grain Growers (KSGGA) associations.

“The Kentucky Commodity Conference is always a good time to connect with other leaders in our industry, but also to learn more about upcoming issues,” said Sam Hancock, a Fulton farmer and president of the KSGGA.

“I look forward to hearing from Bruce Vincent and about his experience in dealing with environmental issues, government and emotionally-driven groups. I suspect he will have a lot of valuable insights for Kentucky growers.”

After those meetings, a special marketing session will feature Jim Bower, senior market analyst for AgDay Television and owner of Bower Trading, Inc., and Cory Walters, assistant extension professor with the University of Kentucky Department of Agricultural Economics.

The day will wrap up with a Grower Appreciation Reception and Awards Banquet, during which winners of the 2009 Kentucky Corn, Wheat and Soybean extension yield contests will be recognized.
The conference is organized by the KCGA, KSGGA and KSA, and supported by several agricultural corporations, including Kentucky Soybean Board, Pioneer, Monsanto, DuPont, Syngenta, Farm Credit Services of Mid-America, H&R Agri-Power, Opti-Crop, Channel and Agri-Chem.

It will begin with registration at 11:30 a.m. CST. For information, go to any of the hosting associations’ websites at www.kycorn.org or www.kysmallgrains.org or www.kysoy.org - or call 800-BEAN-SOY (232-6769) or 800-326-0906. The registration deadline is Jan. 7, 2010.