The Oklahoma State University Agricultural Economics Department will host the 2026 Rural Economic Outlook Conference on Wednesday, November 4, 2026, at the ConocoPhillips Alumni Center on the OSU campus in Stillwater.
Designed to provide producers, agricultural lenders, and agribusiness leaders with timely market intelligence and management strategies, this year’s conference features an in-depth lineup addressing current challenges and opportunities across the agricultural landscape. Topics include livestock market uncertainty, farm transitions, grain market trends, the expansion of data centers in Oklahoma, ag finance, ag policy, and updates from the Robert M. Kerr Food and Agricultural Products Center.
SunUp TV Show Host and Executive Producer Lyndall Stout will moderate the morning sessions, while Oklahoma Farm Report Farm Director and Director of Farm & Ranch Programming KC Sheperd will serve as the afternoon moderator.
The complete agenda for the 2026 Rural Economic Outlook Conference:
- 8:00 a.m. – Breakfast and Registration
- 8:45 a.m. – Welcome: Cheryl DeVuyst, OSU Agricultural Economics Department Head and Professor
- 9:00 a.m. – Uncertainty in Livestock Panel (15-minute outlook followed by a 45-minute panel discussion): Derrell Peel, OSU Agricultural Economics Professor and Charles Breedlove Professorship; Don Close, Terrain Ag; Ford Drummond, Producer
- 10:00 a.m. – Break
- 10:15 a.m. – Farm Transitions: Shannon Ferrell, OSU Agricultural Economics Professor; JC Hobbs, OSU Agricultural Economics Farm Tax Specialist
- 11:15 a.m. – Data Centers in Oklahoma: Mckenzie Boyce, OSU Agricultural Economics Assistant Professor; Brian Whitacre, OSU Agricultural Economics Professor and Neustadt Chair in Agricultural Economics
- 11:45 a.m. – Student Updates: Aggie-X Representative (Undergraduate Update) and Graduate Student Association Representative (Graduate Update)
- 12:00 p.m. – Catered Lunch
- 1:00 p.m. – Grain Markets Update: Todd Hubbs, OSU Agricultural Economics Assistant Professor
- 1:30 p.m. – FAPC Update: Rodney Holcomb, OSU Agricultural Economics Professor and McLaughlin Family Endowed Chair
- 2:00 p.m. – Break
- 2:15 p.m. – Rapid Fire Outlook Panel:
- Ag Finance Topics: Rodney Jones, OSU Agricultural Economics Professor and Oklahoma Farm Credit Chair
- Ag Policy Update: Amy Hagerman, OSU Agricultural Economics Associate Professor
- 3:15 p.m. – Wrap-up and Evaluation
- 3:30 p.m. – Adjourn
The complete agenda is available online, and you can get registered here:
When: 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., Nov. 4
Where: ConocoPhillips Alumni Center, Click Hall, OSU campus, Stillwater
Registration: $50, breakfast and lunch included. Registration fee increases to $75 after Oct. 28. Registration is available online and will be accepted until the day of the conference.
