Mike Pearson

AG POLICY UPDATE
Keynote | Audience Participation | Educational | Technical

Despite the partisan gridlock in Congress; Federal and State policies continue to have a major impact on agriculture. New restrictions on herbicides and confusion over Sustainable Aviation Fuel credits are just two of the many issues facing growers in the year ahead. Mike Pearson, Broadcast Director at Farm Progress and host of television’s This Week in Agribusiness, takes listeners through the complicated maze of regulations and pending legislation that will shape the industry in the years to come. With his background in cattle production and weekly interviews with policy experts, Mike brings a unique perspective to the topic; and his energy levels keep audiences engaged.

WHAT’S DRIVING AGRICULTURE NOW
Keynote | Audience Participation | Educational | Entertainment | Technical

Join Mike Pearson, host of “This Week in Agribusiness” Mike interviews over 1000 professionals in the ag industry each year. These folks range from experts on the volatile commodity markets to Washington DC politicians, and trade experts worldwide. In this talk, Mike will synthesize what he’s learned from these professionals and help the audience understand what might be ahead in the markets, in policy, and trade.

SUPPLY CHAINS AND GLOBAL TRADE IN THE POST-COVID ERA
Keynote

Over the past forty years, industry around the world developed global supply chains capitalizing on far-flung resources, the proliferation of Free Trade Agreements and computerized record keeping and ordering systems that allowed for “just in time” manufacturing and warehousing. Those supply chains reduced overhead and brought in new customers; but the coronavirus pandemic changed the game.

Between port closures and labor issues, those same global supply lines that were such an advantage have become a major disadvantage as delays pile up and costs surge. Industries around the world are looking at ways to bring their supply chains closer to home; but will that work for agriculture?

Mike Pearson has spoken with global trade experts for years as the host of agricultural television and radio shows and he brings those insights together in an engaging presentation highlighting the challenges our industry will face as the world moves in to the post-COVID era.

MEGATRENDS IN AGRICULTURE
Keynote

Mike Pearson takes an in-depth look at the way agriculture will be changing in the next 20 years. The past century has been one of non-stop progress in efficiency, technology and yield and Mike pulls together his wide-ranging reports on the industry to analyze the four biggest trends driving agriculture forward.

A few include:

Analytics: Big Data has been the watchword in production for the past several years, and the future will see new tools that allow producers to analyze the piles of data they have been collecting. The new suite of applications will put growers back in the driver’s seat for decision making; as they’ll be able to model various input application rates, hybrid selection and weather effects on the crops they are contemplating.

Robotics: We’re starting to see true robotics in the field, reducing the burden of time-consuming tasks. From weed eradication to manure lagoon agitation, as qualified help on the farm becomes harder to find, robots will be a logical place for farmers to invest capital.

Biotechnology: The field of biotech saw incredible advances over the past decade as science and profits combined to allow geneticists and plant breeders space to try amazing things. In the next two decades, those advances become a springboard for some truly revolutionary changes to the industry. This will encompass not just plant-based biotech, but biological soil amendments and treatments as well.

And finally, the Structure of the industry will continue to change. As record-level profits become just a memory, producers will find new ways to maximize their ROI. There will be continued consolidation at all levels; farm, elevator and coop, and input supplier. The lines will blur between retailer and wholesaler as larger growers operate more like elevators and demand greater leverage from suppliers. There will also be a growing number of smaller-scale producers dedicated to niche markets; the organic or local food movements are most likely here to stay as consumers continue to have the disposable income to make those food decisions.

The next 20 years in agriculture are going to be a fascinating ride, and American producers are uniquely poised to capture an impressive share of the world’s business. Let Mike Pearson help your group navigate this future to prosperity!

THAT WON'T HAPPEN TO ME!  EMERGENCY PLANNING FOR YOUR FARM

Keynote OR Breakout | Audience Participation | Educational | Technical

Does your farm have an emergency plan of action in place if the need should arise?

Every year, farms across the country encounter disaster in one form or another – severe weather destroying farm infrastrcuture, a social media blowup threatening reputations, or a farm accident tearing up a family with grief; these crises can be heartbreaking, but they don’t have to be the end of an operation.

In this program, Farm Broadcaster Mike Peason shares the lessons he’s learned from farm operations that have been through crisis situations, and he’ll identifiy some common best practices for farm families or farm business to prepare.

You’ll leave with a rough plan to be be able to use when you return home

A LOOK AT THE COMMODITY MARKETS, SUPPLY CHAIN, AND GLOBAL TRADE IN THE POST‐COVID ERA
Keynote | Audience Participation | Educational | Entertainment | Technical

Mike Pearson looks at the MANY variables impacting agriculture today. Over the past forty years, industries around the world developed global supply chains capitalizing on far‐flung resources, the proliferation of Free Trade Agreements, and computerized record keeping and ordering systems that allowed for “just in time” manufacturing and warehousing. Those supply chains reduced overhead and brought in new customers, but the coronavirus pandemic changed the game. Between port closures and labor issues, those same global supply lines that were such an advantage have become a major disadvantage as delays pile up and costs surge. Industries around the world are looking at ways to bring their supply chains closer to home; but will that work for agriculture?

CONFERENCE EMCEE
Keynote OR Breakout | Audience Participation | Educational | Entertainment | Humorous

Mike Pearson knows how to keep the event moving, improvise when needed, and work efficiently with all participants onstage. He has hosted everything from one-hour meetings and multi-day conferences to virtual sessions. He is at ease chatting with company/industry leaders live on stage, or introducing award recipients and other speakers.

TACTICS TO IMPROVE ONLINE IMPACT
Keynote | Audience Participation | Educational | Technical

“Preaching to the Choir – Tactics to Improve Online Impact”

Description:
Social media has changed the way people around the globe communicate, advocate, (and procrastinate!), but how can it be utilized to shape public policy outcomes?
Self-described Twitter superfan and media personality Mike Pearson will help audience members assess their own social media usage and engagement levels to determine how to best advocate for the things they believe in. We know some tactics just don’t work on social media – copy/pasting policy proposals, for example, or appealing to science when the debate is truly about emotion. And sometimes, WHO we engage can be just as important in communication success as WHAT we are engaging about.
Pearson will utilize examples drawn from three major social media hubs; Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram to show both positive and negative outcomes of policy advocation on the internet, as well as a few ‘best-practice’ ideas that can be implemented in everyday public outreach.