Farm groups, from local cooperatives to large national organizations, traditionally hold their annual meetings during the winter, when field work is at a minimum and a meeting in town mixes business with a social get-together. Many of the national meetings will be held online this time due to the pandemic.
In the past two weeks, sponsors announced a shift to the internet for two of the largest meetings, the American Farm Bureau Federation convention and the Commodity Classic, which combines annual meetings for corn, soybean, wheat and sorghum growers with a trade show. Thousands of people typically attend the meetings. The Commodity Classic announced its shift at the end of last week.
“After careful deliberation among our farmer-leaders and industry partners, the Covid-19 restrictions would prevent us from delivering the type of high-quality experience Commodity Classic attendees and exhibitors have come to expect and enjoy for the past 25 years,” said Anthony Bush, co-chair of the Classic. The digital version of the show is expected to be held during the first week of March.
The AFBF switched to an online format after all events at the San Diego Convention Center were cancelled through Jan. 31 as a precaution against the coronavirus. The AFBF virtual convention will be held Jan. 10-13. “While we are saddened to not meet in person for this convention, we are eager to bring this event safely to farm and ranch homes across the country and excited to offer the same top-level content our members have come to expect from our in-person events,” said AFBF president Zippy Duvall.
The Cotton Council, an umbrella group representing the cotton sector, previously announced its Beltwide Cotton Conferences would be held virtually from Jan. 5-7.
The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association announced last week that its annual Cattle Industry Convention was postponed until Aug. 10-12, 2021, from its original dates, Feb. 3-5, in Nashville. “However, the limits on the number of people who can gather at an event in Nashville and the travel restrictions facing many trade show exhibitors, makes it impossible for us to put on the world-class event our attendees expect this winter,” said NCBA chief executive Colin Woodall.
The USDA’s annual Agricultural Outlook Forum is scheduled for Feb. 20-21. “We will announce information and details on the program as soon as possible,” says a notice on the website for the forum.
The National Farmers Union, the second-largest U.S. farm group, is scheduled to hold its annual meeting Feb. 28-March 2 in San Francisco.