The 10th annual Arkansas State University Agriculture-Business Conference will focus on biotechnology and its impact on producers, consumers, and agribusiness.

The conference also includes commodity specific market information in the afternoon sessions, plus new sessions on precision agriculture technology and farm business legal issues.

Joining the ASU College of Agriculture as sponsors this year are the Judd Hill Foundation, the Arkansas Farm Bureau, AgHeritage Farm Credit Services, Farm Credit Midsouth, Liberty Bank, Riceland Foods, USA Rice Federation and Busch Agricultural Resources.

The General Session on Agricultural Biotechnology will feature four presentations:

Harvey Glick of Monsanto will discuss the potential of genetically modified crops to create value for producers, consumers, and agribusiness. Thomas J. Hoban of North Carolina State University will discuss how consumers have reacted to the introduction of food from genetically modified crops.

Karil Kochenderfer of the Grocery Manufacturers of America will describe the impact of GMO crops on food manufacturers and marketers. Dan Glickman, the 26th Secretary of Agriculture, will discuss the agricultural and trade policy implications of agricultural biotechnology.

During the Luncheon Address Dan Glickman will discuss “Humor in American Politics.” He now serves as director of the Institute of Politics at the Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University (http://www.iop.harvard.edu/who/director.html).

In the Cotton Session, Hal Lewis, an Arkansas cotton producer and independent researcher will give his views on the quality issues facing Midsouth cotton production. Sharon Johnson of Frank Schneider & Co. will give her outlook for the cotton market and discuss other issues facing the cotton industry.

The Rice Session features two speakers. Stewart Proctor, CEO of the USA Rice Federation, will discuss current issues facing the rice industry. Richard Bell of Riceland Foods will describe the rice market outlook and give an update on government agricultural policy.

In the Livestock Industry Session, D. Scott Brown of the University of Missouri-Columbia will describe the market outlook for beef, swine, and poultry, as well as strategic livestock industry issues.

The 2004 conference features a session on Precision Agriculture Technology. William H. Baker, a faculty member in the College of Agriculture, will describe ASU's precision agriculture research program and how farmers and landowners can benefit from GPS and GIS technology.

Finally, a new session on Business Structure and USDA Farm Program Eligibility will be presented by Mike Cone, attorney with the Jonesboro firm of Lyons, Emerson & Cone.

Morning sessions will be in the Fowler Center; the luncheon and afternoon sessions will be in the Convocation Center.  Registration begins at 8 a.m.

Continuing education credit is available according to guidelines of the Arkansas State Board of Public Accountancy, the American Society of Farm Managers and Rural Appraisers, and the American Society of Agricultural Consultants. Also, certified crop advisors can receive credits.

Admission to the conference is free, but luncheon reservations are limited to the first 600 who register. A registration form is available on the College of Agriculture web site, http://agri.astate.edu, or by contacting the College of Agriculture at 870-972-2085, or jsandy@astate.edu.

More conference info at http://agri.astate.edu

Downloadable hi-res photo of Dan Glickman: http://asunews.astate.edu/Pictures0304.htm