With tight profit margins, stubborn production costs and uncertainty surrounding the agricultural economy, Indiana farmers face another year in which sound management decisions could make the difference between profitability and financial strain.
Against that backdrop, Purdue University’s Center for Commercial Agriculture is preparing to deliver a timely dose of economic insight, market analysis and practical management strategies at its annual Top Farmer Conference on Friday, January 8, 2027.
One of the longest-running farm management education programs in the country, the one-day conference will bring together Purdue faculty, agricultural economists, climatologists and crop specialists to examine the challenges and opportunities shaping the future of American agriculture.
Farmers can attend in person at Purdue’s Beck Agricultural Center in West Lafayette or participate virtually through a live online broadcast.
The conference is specifically designed to help producers evaluate the forces influencing their businesses, identify opportunities to improve profitability and develop strategies to position their operations for long-term success.
Michael Langemeier, director of Purdue’s Center for Commercial Agriculture and professor of agricultural economics, will open the conference at 9 a.m. with insights from the latest Ag Economy Barometer.
As a co-author of the monthly report, Langemeier will examine producer sentiment and discuss what the latest survey findings reveal about farmers’ financial outlook, expectations for the agricultural economy, policy developments and farm management practices.
The economic discussion will continue with a long-term outlook for corn and soybean markets from Grant Gardner, assistant extension professor of agricultural economics at the University of Kentucky.
A native of southwestern Indiana, Gardner will examine the market fundamentals influencing the nation’s two largest row crops, including the importance of ethanol and renewable diesel production to future corn and soybean demand.
For Indiana producers trying to determine when and how to market another crop, understanding those longer-term demand drivers could prove particularly important as global competition and biofuel policy continue to influence commodity markets.
Weather uncertainty and drought concerns will also take center stage.
At 10:45 a.m., Austin Pearson, assistant state climatologist at Purdue University’s Midwestern Regional Climate Center, will provide an assessment of what farmers could expect from the weather in 2027.
Pearson, who provides climatological input into the U.S. Drought Monitor, will review recent climate forecast models and examine how drought affected Corn Belt crop production during 2026. He will also provide an update on current drought conditions across Indiana and the broader Corn Belt.
With weather extremes capable of quickly reshaping yield expectations, input decisions and farm profitability, Pearson’s presentation will offer producers another opportunity to evaluate the climate risks heading into the next growing season.
The conference will then turn to one of the biggest competitive questions facing American agriculture: How do U.S. corn and soybean producers stack up against their international counterparts?
At 12:30 p.m., Joana Colussi, assistant professor of agricultural economics at Purdue, will examine the competitiveness of U.S. corn and soybean production compared with Brazil.
Colussi specializes in comparative agricultural production systems and policies and participates in agri benchmark, an international network of agricultural economists, advisers and producers that evaluates production costs and net returns using standardized methods.
Her presentation will examine acreage, production, yield and export trends in both countries while comparing their ethanol and renewable diesel industries.
For U.S. farmers competing in increasingly interconnected global markets, understanding Brazil’s production capabilities, cost structures and expanding agricultural influence is essential to evaluating America’s long-term position in world grain markets.
Technology will also be a major focus, as artificial intelligence increasingly enters the farm management conversation.
At 1:30 p.m., Chad Fiechter, assistant professor of agricultural economics at Purdue, will explore how farmers can use artificial intelligence to make better business decisions.
Recent Ag Economy Barometer survey findings indicate that producers see potential for AI to improve financial management, business analysis and strategic planning.
Fiechter, a sought-after speaker on agricultural AI adoption, will discuss practical applications for the technology and explain how he incorporates AI into his farm management classroom.
The discussion comes as producers face growing pressure to make more informed decisions with increasingly complex financial, production and marketing information.
Rather than simply viewing AI as another emerging technology, farmers will have an opportunity to consider how it could become a practical management tool for improving efficiency, analyzing business performance and evaluating strategic decisions.
The conference will conclude with a topic that could have an immediate impact on every row-crop operation’s bottom line: reducing the cost per bushel in 2027.
Beginning at 2:45 p.m., Purdue agronomists Megan Bournes and Shaun Casteel will join Langemeier for a discussion of strategies to lower corn and soybean production costs without sacrificing productivity.
Bournes, a clinical assistant professor of agronomy, and Casteel, a professor of agronomy and soybean production specialist, will share research-based recommendations and practical insights from their work with farmers.
Langemeier will complement their agronomic perspectives with key farm management strategies producers should consider implementing as they prepare their 2027 crop budgets.
The specialists will also take questions from the audience, giving farmers an opportunity to address specific production and management concerns.
With margins under pressure and every input dollar under scrutiny, identifying opportunities to improve efficiency without compromising yield potential could be among the most important management priorities for Indiana farmers in the coming year.
The Purdue Top Farmer Conference runs from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Eastern on January 8, with registration and networking beginning at 8 a.m.
Registration is $150 per participant and includes access to the live conference, recorded presentations and presentation slide decks. Those participating virtually will receive an email with instructions and a link to join the live broadcast before the conference begins.
Importantly, conference recordings and presentation materials will be available exclusively to registered participants.
For farmers looking to sharpen their management strategies, evaluate emerging market opportunities and prepare their operations for the economic and production challenges ahead, Purdue’s Top Farmer Conference offers an opportunity to start 2027 with valuable information and a clearer perspective on the road ahead.
Registration and additional conference information are available through Purdue University’s Center for Commercial Agriculture at:
https://web.cvent.com/event/61c8ef9e-ec16-476c-93ad-69d512cd6479/register
For registration questions, contact the Center for Commercial Agriculture at comagctr@purdue.edu or (765) 494-7004.
