About This Session

The strength of American agriculture ultimately depends on the resilience and competitiveness of its producers and the systems that support them. Markets, supply chains, technology, infrastructure, labor, and natural resources all play a role in determining agriculture’s ability to withstand disruption, adapt to change, and remain economically competitive. Producers today face pressures ranging from market volatility and workforce challenges to geopolitical uncertainty and increasing global competition. The resilience of agriculture is closely linked to the resilience of the broader food system. This discussion explored the capabilities producers and agricultural systems will need to remain competitive, adaptable, and secure in the decades ahead.

Guiding Question: What capabilities are needed to help producers remain competitive and ensure American agriculture remains resilient and secure in the decades ahead?

About the Series

The Future of American Agriculture is a public leadership dialogue series from the Council for Agricultural Science and Technology (CAST) that brings together leaders from across agriculture to explore the opportunities, challenges, and capabilities likely to shape the future of the agricultural enterprise.

The conversations are intended to inform the ongoing work of CAST’s Strategic Advisory Council as it considers how CAST can grow its impact as a trusted source of science-based expertise, strategic foresight, and cross-sector dialogue.

At the center of the series is a simple question: What capabilities, partnerships, and innovations will American agriculture need to thrive in an increasingly complex world?

The Future of American Agriculture | Session 3
Recorded Wednesday, Oct. 14, 2026

Featuring: Duane Simpson, National Council of Farmer Cooperatives; Jeremy Jack, Silent Shade Planting Company; and Michaela McGinn, United Soybean Board
Host: Chris Boomsma, Ph.D., Chief Executive Officer, CAST