Ag Market Outlook Meeting Series
February 2026
Following a challenging 2025, Iowa farmers enter 2026 facing increased margin pressures, elevated interest costs, and escalating market uncertainty driven by input cost inflation, tariff volatility, reduced Chinese soybean demand, and broader geopolitical tensions.
This February, Iowa Farm Bureau is hitting the road with six producer facing meetings across the state to bring together experts in grain and livestock markets, ag finance, & crop insurance; to break down what these disruptions mean for producer profitability and how you can better manage your operations risk in 2026. Attendees will gain clear insight on the factors shaping grain & livestock price direction, Ag finance considerations, as well as crop insurance & risk management strategies such as livestock risk protection; all in an effort to help navigate what is shaping up to be a year of increased volatility & price risk in the Ag sector.
SPEAKERS
2026 Ag Finance Outlook
Carol Jensen – Vice President, Luana Savings Bank
Carol Jensen is Vice President of Luana Savings Bank and works in their Ossian office. She began her career in agricultural lending in 1981 and became heavily involved in agricultural credit underwriting in 1988 while working with the infamous restructure agreements that happened during the 1980s farm crisis. From there she analyzed large and complex ag loans in the 4-state region of Iowa, Nebraska, South Dakota and Wyoming before joining Luana Savings Bank in 2002. Carol has a Ph.D. from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.
2026 Ag Finance Outlook
Nic Klein – Agricultural Lending Officer, Central Bank
Nic Klein is an Agricultural Lending Officer at Central Bank. He is responsible for promoting Central Bank’s agricultural lending efforts in Iowa and surrounding states. Prior to his current role, Nic served in similar roles at U.S. Bank and First Interstate Bank. With nearly 10 years of experience in agricultural lending, Nic Klein has worked with farmers and agribusinesses in almost every agricultural sector. He received bachelor’s degrees in Agricultural Business and Economics from Iowa State University. Nic grew up on a diversified grain and livestock farm, near Harlan, Iowa.
2026 Livestock Outlook
Christopher Pudenz – Economic & Research Manager, Iowa Farm Bureau
Christopher Pudenz is the Economics and Research Manager for the Iowa Farm Bureau. Christopher earned his Ph.D. in Economics from Iowa State University (ISU) and a B.A. in Economics from Hillsdale College. Before joining the Iowa Farm Bureau in 2023, the Carroll, Iowa, native served as a research assistant for Dr. Lee Schulz at ISU, publishing several livestock articles and instructing undergraduate agriculture economics courses on campus.
2026 Grains Outlook and Marketing
Zach Brummer – Farmer Education Program Manager, Iowa Farm Bureau
Zach Brummer is the Farmer Education Program Manager for the Iowa Farm Bureau. Prior to joining the Iowa Farm Bureau in 2023, Zach spent over a decade as a merchandiser in the feed and grain industry trading corn, soybeans, DDGS, and soybean meal. He lives on a small farm in Warren County and is an active participant in the family farm with his father and brothers, raising corn, soy, alfalfa, & cattle.
REGISTRATION
Registration is FREE for Iowa Farm Bureau members. (Depending on the meeting time - breakfast, lunch or dinner is included.)
*If you are not a Farm Bureau member and would like to participate in a meeting, please contact the local county Farm Bureau in that area. Or become a member and join here.
To register for an event near you, please see the meeting locations and dates below. Click on the register button for that event.
For more information, or for issues with registering, please contact Ashley Lennon at alennon@ifbf.org.
MEETING LOCATIONS
Sheldon, Iowa
Monday, February 16
7:45 AM – 10:45 AM
Northwest Iowa Community College
603 W Park Street
Click here to view a map.
Event Registration
Wall Lake, Iowa
Monday, February 17
12:45 PM – 3:45 PM
Wall Lake Community Center
209 2nd Street
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Event Registration
Dunlap, Iowa
Tuesday, February 17
10:00 AM – 1:15 PM
Dunlap Four County Fairgrounds
N 10th Street
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Event Registration
Calmar, Iowa
Tuesday, February 24
7:45 AM – 10:45 AM
NICC Dairy Center
1527 Highway 150
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Event Registration
Anamosa, Iowa
Tuesday, February 24
12:45 PM – 3:45 PM
Jones County Farm Bureau Building
605 E. Main Street
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Event Registration
Fairfield, Iowa
Wednesday, February 5
5:00 PM – 8:00 PM
Cambridge Building – Jefferson County Fairground
2606 W. Burlington Ave.
Click here to view a map.
Event Registration