Dear members and friends: I look forward to seeing all of you again this coming February as we return to the beautiful Marriott Harbor Beach hotel in Fort Lauderdale. As our planning for the meeting continues, I do want to highlight some of what we are working on; I would like to note that we are back to our preferred Tuesday through Thursday meeting pattern next year.  By February, we will either have a new farm bill or an extension of the current one. Either way, our Public Policy Conference, which will be held on Tuesday, February 13, will help attendees unpack the implications of either action as well as look at other critical issues facing co-ops and their members. This conference is a fantastic opportunity for attendees, especially farmer directors, to engage with the issues that are at the core of the work NCFC does for you here in Washington.  Our planning for the Director Education Conference is well underway—in fact, as you can see from the agenda, session topics for the conference are already set. This year’s conference is once again being planned in close-coordination with our member-led Director Education Advisory Committee. The theme of this year’s sessions is The Next Generation of Co-op Boards: Evolving for the Future. The conference begins on Tuesday afternoon with a joint session with the Public Policy Conference.  The Legal, Tax and Accounting Conference will start on Wednesday, February 14. Topics this year include a roundup of tax developments; a look at the latest co-op merger activity and FTC filing requirements and fees; best practices for addressing state tax issues; a panel discussing how recent court rulings and regulations, including the U.S. Supreme Court’s WOTUS ruling, will impact co-ops and their members; a session looking at how co-ops receiving funding through recent USDA grant programs can comply with financial and ESG reporting requirements.   On behalf of the NCFC staff, we look forward to seeing you all in Florida and, as always, do not hesitate to reach out with any questions or concerns.  Sincerely,

Chuck Conner

President & CEO