Tech Hub LIVE returns to Des Moines July 20-22 with ag tech ROI focus

Tech Hub LIVE Conference and Expo will bring more than 60 speakers and 50 exhibitors to Des Moines, Iowa, July 20-22, 2026, as ag retailers and growers look for technology that can hold up under thin margins and trade uncertainty. The program will emphasize practical decision-making, with sessions on AI, compliance, cybersecurity, finance and farm-level workflows.

Why it matters: - Ag retailers and growers are under pressure to prove which technologies deliver measurable return on investment. - Elevated input costs, compressed margins and trade uncertainty are reshaping buying decisions across the ag retail channel. - Tech Hub LIVE is positioning itself as a practical forum for retailers, co-ops, consultants, dealers, growers and solution providers to compare tools and share what works.

What happened: - CropLife Media Group, a Meister Media Worldwide brand, announced Tech Hub LIVE Conference and Expo will take place July 20-22, 2026, in Des Moines, Iowa. - The event expects more than 60 speakers, more than 50 exhibitors and hundreds of attendees. - The conference is aimed at technology adoption in the agricultural retail channel.

The details: - The program will include general sessions, concurrent breakouts, Fireside Chats, Tech Talks and facilitated roundtables. - Breakout tracks will cover Smart Tech, Operations, Sales Enablement and In the Field. - Day 1 will open with a keynote from Teddy Bekele, SVP and CTO at Land O’Lakes, on AI’s practical impact on food and agriculture. - Day 2 will feature Karen Hildebrand of AWS on building resilient ag businesses in the age of AI. - Day 2 sessions will also cover ESA compliance, drone policy, cybersecurity threats, ag finance, biotech innovation and a farmer’s perspective panel. - Day 3 will focus on farm-level decision-making, including grain marketing, data workflows, customer adoption and sales enablement. - The annual Purdue Precision Ag Survey results will also be presented. - Tanner Winterhof of the Farm4Profit Podcast will return as emcee for all three days. - The exhibit floor will include companies such as AgGateway, AgVend, Agri-Access, Compass Regulatory, Ever.Ag, InnerPlant, Intelinair, Raven Industries, Spectrum Technologies and Taranis. - The full exhibitor and speaker roster is available here. - Registration is open here. - Hotel accommodations can be booked here. - The full session schedule is available here.

Between the lines: - The conference agenda leans hard toward applied use cases rather than broad technology hype. - The mix of AI, compliance, cybersecurity, finance and adoption sessions reflects the industry’s need to cut through uncertainty and prioritize tools that can work in the field now. - The focus on live research results and peer exchange suggests attendees want evidence, not just vendor pitches.

What’s next: - Attendees can register now and review the schedule before the July 20-22 event. - Additional speakers and exhibitors may be added as the conference date approaches. - The event will use the three days to surface practical answers for ag retailers and growers facing tight economics.

The bottom line: - Tech Hub LIVE is betting that ag tech buyers want fewer promises and more proof.