2026 Winter Conference
Practical Solutions for Profitable, Sustainable Farming
Reclaiming Profitability: Farming Smarter in 2026
Join us for a full day of practical insights and hands‑on learning designed to help farmers reclaim profitability in today’s challenging Ag economy. Hear directly from growers and experts who are putting regenerative practices to work, and discover how soil health, crop diversity, and biological solutions can boost ROI while protecting your land for the future.
The program features real‑world farmer experiences, cutting‑edge demonstrations, and interactive Q&A sessions. You’ll leave with actionable strategies to improve your operation in 2026 and beyond.
“The AG world is always changing,” said Kent Friedrichsen of Perry, Iowa, who has been working with ProfitProAG for more than 30 years. “Jim Ladlie and his team at ProfitProAG have their finger on the pulse of ag and where it’s headed, and they bring in some of the best speakers I’ve ever heard.” Friedrichsen commented after attending ProfitProAG’s winter conference.
Topics include:
- Regenerative farming strategies with Tom Cotter
- Soil health and human health connections with Jolene Carlson
- Integrating oats for soil improvement with Landon Plagge
- Rainfall Simulator Demonstration with Mark Gutierrez
- Farming the Controllables with Dr. Jim Ladlie
- Questions and Answer sessions
Speakers
We will feature knowledgeable speakers who will share their journey, bringing you the understanding you need on soil health implementation, how it affects human health, and how regenerative agriculture affects you, your farming operation, and ultimately, your profitability.
Tom Cotter
Cotter Farms
Tom is a fourth-generation farmer from Austin, Minnesota, who has embraced cover crops and many other regenerative ag practices in the past 25 years. His practical message of how to farm smarter (and more profitably) was a huge hit at last year’s ProfitProAG Winter Conference.
He started doing soil health practices in 1998. Since then, he has reduced tillage, diversified cash crops and cover crops, switched from grain finished beef to grass finished and converted 40% of his acres to Organic.
“Set goals, follow soil health principles, minimize soil disturbance, focus on biodiversity, support continuous living roots in the soil as long as possible each year, grade your crop’s success and keep learning,” Tom says.
Jolene Carlson
Sustainable Farmer, Minnesota National Guard Member, Minnesota Soil Health Coalition Board Member
What if nutrient-dense foods could heal people and the environment? It’s not only possible but a reality when you focus on soil health and farm nature’s way.
Jolene is passionate about educating people about the importance of nutrient-dense foods and embracing regenerative ag practices that create an environment for healthy soils, crops, livestock and people.
Jolene, who spent 20 years as a high school science teacher, has a master’s degree in education in environmental and natural sciences, as well as a master’s degree in human nutrition and functional medicine. “The more we can understand what the land is trying to tell us, especially signs and symptoms of use and abuse, the more we can address the root cause of how to best support the land and adapt to what it needs,” says Jolene.
Landon Plagge
Green Acres Milling
Landon is part of a family owned farming operation and seed business out of Latimer, IA. They have also established Green Acres Milling for the purpose of contracting premium grade oat production in northern IA and southern MN. Specializing in farm sustainability, grower education, and rural preservations and development is one of the main goals Landon and his family strive for.
Mark Gutierrez
MN Soil Health Coalition Executive Director
Through his many years working in agriculture, Mark has learned and adapted, watching farmers around him. Mark will be speaking about how improving soil health through regenerative ag practices can be the best way to impact farm profitability. Healthier soils also benefit the environment by controlling soil erosion and keeping excess nutrients out of water supplies.
Dr. Jim Ladlie
Owner – ProfitProAG
Cell – (507) 383-1325
Office – (507) 373-2550
jladlie@profitproag.com
Jim has spent a lifetime helping growers increase sustainability and profitability by adapting a regenerative approach to farming. With a PhD in Crop Science from Michigan State University and over 40 years in the agriculture industry. Dr. Ladlie’s foresight, research, knowledge and creative solutions have led to a proven crop management system that produces healthy crops/animals and manages risks while maximizing profits.
Want to go deeper? Join the Soil Health & Nutrient Management School. Stay on after the Winter Conference for two days of advanced, hands‑on training with Ray Archuleta and Russell Hendricks.
- Feb. 25–26, 2026 | Albert Lea, MN
- $250 per person
