Image of coins with soil and a plant on top.

Michigan Agricultural Credit Conference

Tuesday, Oct. 21, 2025
8 a.m. - 3:45 p.m.

Michigan State University
Molecular Plant Sciences Building, Room 1200
1066 Bogue St., East Lansing, MI 48824 

The Michigan Agricultural Credit Conference provides agricultural lenders, agribusinesses, policymakers, and other interested parties across the state, with updates on the economy and agricultural industries in Michigan and outlooks for the future. Hear from experts about agricultural policy and economics, farmland markets, succession planning, decision-making tools, commodity and dairy outlooks, and much more.

Registration cost is $95 per person.

Participants may register as individuals or group registrations. If registering more than 10 people for the conference please download the large group registrant spreadsheet and complete the file prior to processing your group registration. Registrations cancelled on or after Oct. 15 will not be refunded.

The fee includes: continental breakfast and lunch.

Parking:
MSU Employees with a parking pass are asked to park in lots 46, 53 or 27. Those without an MSU parking pass can park complimentary in lot 54 (Children’s Garden Lot) or Ramp 3 (Wharton Center). All pay-by-plate lots are complimentary during MSU Fall Break.

Accommodations
Michigan State University is committed to providing equal opportunity for participation in all programs, services and activities. Accommodations for persons with disabilities may be requested by contacting the event contact two weeks prior to the start of the event. Requests received after this date will be honored whenever possible. 

Time 

Topic 

Speakers  

8 a.m. 

Registration and networking Breakfast supported by Greenstone Farm Credit Services

9:15 a.m.  

Welcome 

 

Chad Cotti, Department Chair Agricultural, Food, and Resource Economics, MSU

 

9:15 a.m. 

Keynote Address Farm Policy 

 

Jonathon Coppess, Associate Professor; Director of the Gardner Agriculture Policy Program, University of Illinois 

10:15 a.m.  

Networking Break 

 

10:30 a.m. 

Labor, Policy and Trade Outlook 
Moderator: Tor Tolhurst, Assistant Professor, MSU Department of Agricultural, Food, and Resource Economics 

Zach Rutledge, Assistant Professor, MSU Department of Agricultural, Food, and Resource Economics 

Loren Koeman, Policy Analyst, Michigan Farm Bureau

Alan Ker, Professor and Elton R. Smith Chair in Food and Agricultural Policy, MSU Department of Agricultural, Food, and Resource Economics 

David Ortega, Professor and Noel W. Stuckman Chair in Food Economics & Policy, MSU Department of Agricultural, Food, and Resource Economics 

12 p.m. 

Lunch and Networking

 

1:30 p.m. 

Agriculture Outlook  and Panel Discussion 
Moderator: Vincenzina Caputo, Professor and Homer Nowlin Chair in Consumer and Food Economics, MSU
Department of Agricultural, Food, and Resource Economics

Jamie Luke, Assistant Professor, MSU Department of Agricultural, Food, and Resource Economics

Jonathon Laporte, MSU Extension Educator 

Angie Setzer, Consus  

Sarina Sharp, Economist, Ag Business Solutions and Market analyst for the Daily Dairy Report 

Tor Tolhurst, Assistant Professor, MSU Department of Agricultural, Food, and Resource Economics 

3:30 p.m.  

Wrap Up and Concluding Remarks

 Jamie Luke, Assistant Professor, MSU Department of Agricultural, Food, and Resource Economics

Alan Ker, Professor and Elton R. Smith Chair in Food and Agricultural Policy, MSU Department of Agricultural, Food, and Resource Economics 

 

Conference is supported by: 

  • GreenStone Farm Credit Services 
  • Harsh Endowment 
  • Elton R. Smith Food and Agricultural Policy Endowment
Individual Registration

Registration for Michigan Agricultural Credit Conference is open.

Registration closes at 11:59 p.m. ET on October 15, 2025.

Group Registration

Registration for Michigan Agricultural Credit Conference Group Registration is open.

Registration closes at 11:59 p.m. ET on October 15, 2025.

Sponsor Registration

Sponsorship for Michigan Agricultural Credit Conference is open.

Sponsorship closes at 11:59 p.m. ET on October 15, 2025.

Accommodations

Michigan State University Extension programs, services events, and materials are open to all without regard to race, color, national origin, gender, gender identity, religion, age, height, weight, disability, political beliefs, sexual orientation, marital status, family status, or veteran status. Accommodations for persons with disabilities may be requested by contacting the event contact two weeks prior to the start of the event. Requests received after this date will be honored whenever possible.  

Contact Information

For registration questions, please contact Alan Ker at keralan1@msu.edu or Megghan Honke Seidel at honkemeg@msu.edu or 989-666-3773.