2026 MWCG Schedule

Schedule

Time Session Presenter
8 a.m. Conference registration and check-in
8 – 9 a.m. Breakfast and network with exhibitors
9 – 9:10 a.m. Welcome and opening remarks
9:10 -10:10 a.m. Plenary 1: Choosing Cover Crops to Meet Your Field’s Needs Brad Zimmerman
10:10 -10:30 a.m. Break and network with exhibitors
10:30-11:30 a.m. Plenary 2: Principles of Soil Health: Expanding Diversity in Corn Belt Agriculture Monte Bottens
11:30 a.m. – 12:15 p.m. Networking Activity
12:15 -1:30 p.m. Lunch and network with exhibitors
1:30-2:30 p.m. Breakout sessions
Breakout 1: Cover Crop Dates and Rates in Illinois Nathan Johanning
Breakout 2: Setting the Stage for High-Performing Wheat Ken Dau

Brad Zimmerman
Breakout 3:  Feeding Pigs With Small Grains Levi Laird
2:30-2:50 p.m. Break and network with exhibitors
2:50- 3:50 p.m. Breakout sessions and closing remarks
Breakout 1: Cover Crops: Roots of Resilience Brian Corkill

 
Breakout 2: Scaling Up Small-Grain Infrastructure To Grow a Business Andy Hazzard

Jeff Hake & Katie Funk
Breakout 3: Grazing Cover Crops: A Conversation Justin Rahn

Doug Hanson
4 p.m. Social begins!

 

Midwest Covers & Grains Conference

Help guide the conversation

Interested in leading a small roundtable on a focused and relevant topic during the pre-lunch network time? Email solveig.orngard@practicalfarmers.org to share your idea.