A-State's 26th annual Agribusiness Conference set for Feb. 12
JONESBORO – Arkansas State University’s annual Agribusiness Conference, now in its 26th year, continues to provide timely information and agricultural policy education to farmers, agribusiness professionals, students and educators across the Mid-South.
This year’s conference, on Wednesday, Feb. 12, will focus on the Arkansas and rural economy, agricultural legal issues, trade and farm policy, and the agricultural credit and commodity markets.
On-site registration will begin at 7:30 a.m. in A-State’s Fowler Center, 201 Olympic Dr. Lunch will be served in the First National Bank Arena, 217 Olympic Dr., at noon. Afternoon sessions end at 3:30 p.m.
The morning general session features four speakers and a panel discussion:
-- Michael Pakko, chief economist and state economic forecaster at the UALR Economic Development Institute, will discuss the U.S. and Arkansas economy and implications for rural Arkansas.
-- Harrison Pittman, director of the National Agricultural Law Center, will give an update on agricultural legal issues.
-- Darci Vetter, vice-chair for agriculture, food and trade with Edelman North America and a former chief agricultural negotiator in the office of the U.S. Trade Representative, will discuss the agricultural trade situation and the outlook for trade policy.
-- Jim Wiesemeyer, political analyst for Farm Journal Media, will discuss the 2020 election and the implications for agriculture and the rural economy.
The luncheon speaker is Arkansas Secretary of Agriculture Wes Ward, an alumnus of A-State's College of Agriculture.
Afternoon special interest sessions include an update on agricultural credit and farmland markets; the outlook for rice, soybean, and cotton markets; and poultry and beef market trends.
The conference qualifies for continuing education credits according to the guidelines of the Arkansas State Board of Public Accountancy, Arkansas Certified Crop Advisors and Arkansas Agricultural Consultants, and the American Society of Farm Managers and Rural Appraisers.
Joining the College of Agriculture to sponsor the conference are:
The Judd Hill Foundation, Adams Land Co., AgHeritage Farm Credit Services, Allenberg Cotton Co., Arkansas Farm Bureau, Arvest Bank, BASF, Busch Agricultural Resources LLC, Engines Inc., Farm Credit Midsouth, Glaub Farm Management, Greenway Equipment Inc., Helena Agri-Enterprises LLC, National Land Realty, NK/Syngenta, Ozark Mountain Poultry, Quattlebaum, Grooms & Tull PLLC, Riceland Foods Inc., RiceTec Inc., and USA/Arkansas Rice.
Admission to the conference and luncheon is free, but pre-registration is encouraged. Detailed conference information and online registration are available at AState.edu/agribusconf. To register by phone, contact the College of Agriculture, (870) 972-3221, or email AState_Agribus_Conf@AState.edu.
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