19th ANNUAL CONSERVATION IN ACTION TOUR, FIELD TO MARKET ANNUAL MEETING TO CO-LOCATE IN RALEIGH, N.C., JUNE 1-4, 2026

Farmers, advisers, and stakeholders combine to provide on-farm insight, cross-sector solutions, and a unique opportunity to advance the sustainability of U.S. agriculture

INDIANAPOLIS and WASHINGTON, D.C.—Two leading membership organizations will join forces for their annual events this year to merge expertise and further unite key sectors working with agricultural producers to advance conservation farming practices and celebrate their stewardship.

Field to Market, the country’s largest cross-sector alliance for sustainable agriculture, will hold its 2026 Annual Meeting for its nearly 200 member organizations June 1-3 in Raleigh, N.C., followed by the Conservation Technology Information Center’s 19th annual Conservation in Action Tour, America’s premier on-farm experience, on June 3-4.

The combined events showcase several of North Carolina’s sustainable production systems and the value chain’s progress in incentivizing and supporting farmers. Together, these events provide a formative and seamless platform for all of agriculture’s sectors to share innovative ideas, foster additional collaboration, and accelerate scalable solutions that improve soil, water, habitat, agriculture production, market access, and profitability for the nation’s farmers and the communities they serve.

CTIC Executive Director Ryan Heiniger and Field to Market President Carrie Vollmer-Sanders, both row-crop farmers using sustainable practices in their operations, bring their farming experience to the forefront as their organizations provide a farmer-first sensibility to advance practical, productive, and scalable solutions for American farmers.

“Partnerships have always been important to conservation agriculture to support the full spectrum of needs that producers face when implementing or expanding stewardship of on-farm natural resources,” says Ryan Heiniger, CTIC Executive Director and 5th-generation farmer in Southeast Iowa. “As leading convening organizations, our combined members and supporters represent all sectors of the food and agriculture value chain and present an unparalleled opportunity to connect with changemakers, learn from diverse perspectives, celebrate farmer-leaders, and ultimately lay the groundwork to design and deliver the next generation of incentives and assistance needed for the country’s producers.”

The events will feature crossover programming, share a host hotel, and provide discounts for those who register for both events.

The Conservation in Action Tour is a two-day celebration of sustainable agriculture and is open to everyone. It begins June 3 with behind-the-scenes industry tours and an opening banquet that features a sustainably sourced menu and keynote speaker. A full-day, multiple-stop farm tour continues on June 4 and concludes with a cocktail reception and CTIC Hall of Fame recognitions. The flagship event unites farmers, agriculture professionals, and conservation leaders to experience production systems that improve soil health, water quality, ecosystems, productivity, and profitability. From immersive on-farm demonstrations to VIP tours, attendees experience the full spectrum of conservation innovation. 

The Field to Market Annual Meeting, June 1-3, is the organization’s signature member event, convening leaders from its nearly 200 member organizations. With a theme of, “Celebrating 20 Years of Advancing Sustainability in U.S. Agriculture,” the event will foster dialogue on innovation and collaboration across the agricultural value chain to advance resilient outcomes for agriculture. By uniting five sectors—grower, affiliate, civil society, agribusiness, and brands & retail—the Annual Meeting provides a unique opportunity to advance the sustainability of U.S. agriculture.

The Field to Market Annual Meeting is usually closed to members only, but this year, the organization has provided a special half-day rate for CTIC Tour registrants to access its Cross-Sector Dialogue, State of the Sector Forum, and networking opportunities before the tour begins on June 3. The Cross-Sector Dialogue series is a strategic initiative that brings together diverse stakeholders from across the agricultural value chain to overcome systemic barriers to scaling sustainable agriculture by advancing shared learning and driving collective action.

“For 20 years, Field to Market has served as a trusted convener for collaboration across the agricultural value chain, bringing together unique perspectives to enhance resilient ecosystems and support farmer livelihoods,” says Carrie Vollmer-Sanders, President of Field to Market and a 6th-generation farmer in Indiana and Ohio. “Our Annual Meeting is a powerful reflection of that legacy—uniting leaders from all five of our membership sectors to foster dialogue, spark innovation, and drive collective action. We’re especially excited to welcome CTIC Tour participants this year, offering them a unique opportunity to work with the full value chain as we scale sustainability.”

Why North Carolina? The rotating Conservation in Action Tour highlights diverse production systems and regions, and North Carolina’s varied topography, climate, and food production makes it critically important to the nation’s agriculture economy. North Carolina ranks first in the U.S. in sweet potato production, second in Christmas trees, turkeys, and trout, and third in hogs and pigs and cucumbers. 

North Carolina was also home to Hugh Hammond Bennet, the foremost expert and advocate for soil conservation of the 20th century. His efforts drove the establishment of what is now the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service in 1935, and his home county is part of the Brown Creek Soil and Water Conservation District, the first SWCD in the country that set the stage for more than 3,000 nationwide.

Early registration for the Conservation in Action Tour is open through March 17 at a discounted rate of $349. Registration, agenda details, and sponsorship information can be found at ctic.org/tour.

Early registration for the Field to Market Annual Meeting is open through March 17. Members can learn more about the meeting here and register in the Member Portal.  

A room block at the Sheraton Raleigh Hotel is available through May 5, and a discounted rate will be shared with registrants following registration for either event.

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About the Conservation in Action Tour 

The Conservation in Action Tour began in 2008, showcasing successful farmers in Indiana who prioritize soil and water quality. It has grown into the gold standard of farm tours, featuring agricultural innovation in 13 states across 17 Tours. Participants have seen sugarcane harvesting in Florida, aerial seeding demonstrations in Illinois, wheat processing in Michigan, and livestock grazing in Idaho. Featured farms reside in watersheds as big as the Chesapeake Bay and the Mississippi Delta and as small, but no less important, as the Indian Creek (Illinois) Watershed. 

About Field to Market

Field to Market: The Alliance for Sustainable Agriculture^® brings together a diverse group of grower organizations; agribusinesses; brands and retail companies; conservation groups; universities and public sector partners to focus on defining, measuring, and advancing the sustainability of food, feed, fiber, and fuel production. Field to Market comprises nearly 200 members representing all facets of the U.S. agricultural value chain.

About Conservation Technology Information Center 

Founded in 1982, CTIC connects people across the agriculture and conservation communities to accelerate the adoption of farming systems that are economically and environmentally sustainable. We link farms, universities, governments, and businesses through projects that explore and champion conservation agriculture. CTIC is one of the oldest nonprofit membership organizations solely dedicated to the advancement of conservation agriculture research, policies, and program delivery for producers. Our new physical address is 620 East Ohio St., Indianapolis, IN 46202.