By Blake Jackson
The University of Missouri’s Food and Agricultural Policy Research Institute (FAPRI-MU) will host the 2026 Abner W. Womack Missouri Agricultural Outlook Conference on Wednesday, April 8, at the Poehlmann Education Center at the MU Bradford Research Farm in Columbia.
This free event, now in its 12th year, provides data-driven insights on agricultural markets, policy, and farm-level challenges important to Missouri producers and stakeholders.
The conference will feature an overview of FAPRI’s 2026 agricultural market baseline by Director Seth Meyer, who previously served as USDA chief economist and chaired the World Agricultural Outlook Board. Meyer will present projections for commodity markets, farm income, and policy factors shaping the year ahead.
Complementary presentations from national partners will offer additional market and policy analyses. The Center for Agricultural Policy and Trade Studies at North Dakota State University will address global trade shifts and U.S. competitiveness.
Texas A&M’s Agricultural and Food Policy Center will review farm-level financial health indicators across regions and production systems. Missouri’s Rural & Farm Finance Policy Analysis Center will highlight state-specific economic conditions, vulnerabilities, and trends affecting producers.
USDA Undersecretary of Farm Programs and Conservation Richard Fordyce will deliver the keynote, discussing federal conservation strategies, farm program implementation, and national priorities influencing agriculture in 2026 and beyond.
The Harold F. Breimyer Panel on Agricultural Policy will examine emerging and persistent animal pests and diseases, including new world screwworm, high pathogenic avian influenza, and PRRS.
Panelists Corinne Bromfield, MU veterinarian, and Jada Thompson, University of Arkansas, will discuss the biological, economic, and policy impacts on Missouri producers, moderated by FAPRI’s Sera Chiuhiarelli.
The conference will conclude with a panel of Missouri producers sharing regional perspectives and practical insights on current industry challenges, moderated by MU Extension specialist Ben Brown.
Lunch is provided by the Abner W. Womack Excellence in Agricultural Policy Endowment, and advance registration is encouraged. For more information, visit the conference registration page or contact Ben Brown at bpbrown@missouri.edu or 573-882-6527.
Photo Credit: getty-images-alinamd
Categories: Missouri, Business