Tour Agenda

Tour Agenda

From Sioux Falls, South Dakota, we'll travel to innovative farms that showcase the best practices in conservation agriculture.

All times are in local/Central Time and are subject to change

 

 

 

 

Tuesday, May 6, 2025

12:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. Biofuels Deep Dive: About 40% of U.S. corn is used in biofuel production, making it a critical contributor to U.S. agriculture and producers around the country. We've partnered with POET for a comprehensive look at the biofuels industry, its role in American agriculture, its importance to the country's producers, and the industry's work toward zero-carbon biofuel products. This excursion includes a behind-the-scenes tour of a processing facility that features alternative energy sources, bringing POET closer to its goal of carbon neutrality by 2050. (A hard hat will be provided, and closed-toed shoes are required.) Learn more about POET's sustainability initiatives.

Note: Space is limited for the biofuels tour! This segment is covered with your registration, but you must opt-in to save your seat. Don't miss this exclusive opportunity to see what is shaping the future of biofuels!

5:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. Annual Banquet: Join us for a celebration of conservation agriculture featuring locally sourced foods and distinctive South Dakota cuisine. We'll welcome attendees and feature a keynote speaker at the Icon Event Hall, just a few blocks from the host hotel. You won't want to miss this opportunity to network and learn about innovation in South Dakota at a fantastic venue. 

Wednesday, May 7, 2025 

*Exact times and stop sequences to be confirmed shortly

8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Conservation in Action Tour begins with farm visits featuring model producers. Experience farming up close. During previous tours, we’ve shown attendees sugarcane harvesting in Florida, aerial seeding demonstrations in Illinois, wheat processing in Michigan, and livestock grazing in Idaho. Transportation will be provided for all attendees. 

*Farm stop confirmed: The Tour will include a visit to Stiefvater Farm. Kurt Stiefvater, a 4^th generation farmer, along with his wife, Kathy, and their three daughers, grow 1,800 acres of oats, corn, soybeans, alfalfa, and sorghum with a no-till system, which has been used for 25 years. Cover crops after small grains provide livestock feed, minimizing the hay needed for cattle. For the last 30 years, cows have calved in May and June to mimic nature. You'll see exceptional conservation from a leading producer, and you'll learn more about soil health and quality with various onsite soil testing stations. See more on Stiefvater Farm.

*Tour stop confirmed: The tour will include a VIP tour at the U.S. Geological Survey Earth Resources Observation and Science (EROS) Center. EROS manages the flights for the satellites Landsat 8 and Landsat 9, which create images of landscapes and cities across the world. These images are then analyzed to understand how places have changed over time. Join us for a tour of the facility and a special presentation on how EROS drives agricultural insights, including drought monitoring, vegatative change, spread of invasive grasses, managing severe weather events, and predictive modeling fueled by land-use trends to get a glimps of the future of habitats, biodiversity and farm ecosystems.

5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Closing Reception: Unwind at the host hotel with newfound friends and old ones after an immersive day on-farm and behind the scenes that will keep your work recharged for months to come. Our closing reception will feature the 2025 CTIC Hall of Fame induction ceremony and recognition of the people and organizations that are moving conservation agriculture forward. 

7:30 p.m. Adjourn (Dinner on your own)

More Tour stops are being confirmed every day! Get the latest updates by signing up for our newsletter.