What are soybean producers in the top 40% of profitability doing differently than those in the bottom 30%? What steps can you take to move into the top group?

Find out at this year's Soybean Day and Machinery Expo where 2018 soybean production issues will be discussed along with practical tips and techniques for making 2019 profitable.

The free program will be from 8:30 a.m. to 2:15 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 13 at the Saunders County Fairgrounds in Wahoo. Producers will be able to visit with representatives from seed, herbicide, fertilizer, and equipment companies and view new farm equipment during a morning break.

"Every year growers are faced with some sort of challenge moving into the next growing season, but for 2019, the uncertainties seem to be even greater," said Nebraska Extension Educator Keith Glewen. "There's uncertainty in the markets, the economy, interest rates, stored grain quality, new pests, and probably most of all, there's uncertainty as to what to do with stored soybeans."

"Speakers will be addressing a fluid soybean production and marketing system, offering insights on what growers need to do to position themselves as they move into the new growing season."

David Kohl, professor emeritus of Virginia Tech University, will identify financial and risk management factors that place a farm business in the upper 40% of profits and sustainability with practical steps to move into that zone. During his presentation, "Economic Update and Taking Care of Business," Kohl also will share a domestic and global overview on the factors and transformative trends influencing customers' financials.

Other presentations will include:

• New and Emerging Pests of Soybeans with Justin McMechan, Nebraska Extension crop protection and cropping systems specialist. The primary focus will be on the soybean gall midge, a new and potentially damaging pest to soybeans in eastern Nebraska. Information will also cover the expansion, scouting, and management of the Japanese beetle and Dectes stem borer.
• What You Need to Know to Grow and Market Specialty Soybeans to Increase Your Profits with Darwin Rader, international sales and marketing management with Zeeland Farm Services in Des Moines. ZFS specializes in soy processing for food, feed, food grade oils, and biofuels.
• Managing Soybeans in Storage — Is Poor Quality a Concern with Ken Hellevang, extension engineer, North Dakota State University. This year's challenging soybean harvest created many questions related to storage and drying. Learn steps to maintain stored grain quality.
• Nebraska Soybean Checkoff Update and Association Information with representatives of the Nebraska Soybean Board and Soybean Association.

Registration is at the door and includes a free lunch. For more information about the program contact Nebraska Extension Educator and Event Coordinator Keith Glewen at (800) 529-8030 or kglewen1@unl.edu.

Attendees are encouraged to bring a can or two cans of nonperishable food items to donate to the food pantry.

This program is sponsored by Nebraska Extension in the university's Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources, the Nebraska Soybean Board, Saunders County Soybean Growers Organization and private industry.