ASU Agribusiness Conference, Feb. 10, focuses on commodity markets, macroeconomic forces, economic politics of climate change

Jan. 4, 2009 -- The 16th annual Arkansas State University Agribusiness Conference will be held Wednesday, February 10, in ASU’s Fowler Center and Convocation Center. Onsite registration begins at 8 a.m. in Fowler Center, 201 Olympic Drive, Jonesboro. Lunch will be served in the Convocation Center, 217 Olympic Drive, Jonesboro, at 12 noon. Afternoon sessions end at 3:30 p.m.

Joining the ASU College of Agriculture and Technology as conference sponsors are the Judd Hill Foundation, AgHeritage Farm Credit Services, Arkansas Farm Bureau, Bunge North America, Busch Agricultural Resources, Capital Agricultural Property Services, Inc., Farm Credit Midsouth, Greenway Equipment, Inc., Helena Chemical Company, Liberty Bank of Arkansas, Riceland Foods, Inc., RiceTec, Inc., and the USA Rice Federation.

The morning’s general session features four speakers and a panel discussion.  Becky Cross, director of the United States Department of Agriculture’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (USDA-NASS) Arkansas Field Office, will discuss results from the 2007 Census of Agriculture. Michael Swanson, vice president and senior economist with the Wells Fargo Ag Industries group, will discuss commodity markets and price risk management.

Following the morning break, Jason Henderson, vice president of the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City, will discuss how the financial markets and the macro economy are affecting agriculture.

Bruce Knight, former USDA Undersecretary for Marketing and Regulatory programs, will describe the economics and politics of climate change. Finally, a panel of the four general session speakers listed above will discuss issues and take questions from the audience.

The luncheon address will feature Greg Cole, president and CEO of AgHeritage Farm Credit Services, and an alumnus of the ASU College of Agriculture and Technology. Cole will present “Agricultural Trends and Dynamics – Implications for the Delta.”

The afternoon program features three special-interest sessions. Carl Brothers of Riceland Foods, Gary Adams of the National Cotton Council, and University of Arkansas economist Scott Stiles will discuss the rice, cotton, corn, and soybean markets.

In the Livestock Industry session, Mississippi State University economist John Anderson will discuss livestock markets and industry issues.

Mr. Jody Hardin and Dr. Kim Pittcock will discuss community supported agriculture, farmers’ markets, and other local food institutions in the state.

Continuing education credits (CEUs) are available according to guidelines of the Arkansas State Board of Public Accountancy, the American Society of Farm Managers and Rural Appraisers, the Arkansas Certified Crop Advisors and Arkansas Crop Consultants, and the Arkansas Department of Education.

Admission to the conference is free, but luncheon reservations are limited to the first 500 who register. Conference information and on-line registration are available on the College of Agriculture and Technology web site http://www2.astate.edu/agri, or directly at the link http://www2.astate.edu/a/agriculture/outreach-programs/ag-business-conference/agribusinessconference2010/index.dot.

For telephone registration, contact Crystal Gastineau (cgastineau@astate.edu) at (870) 972-3942.

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