Farm bill, agri trade part of Arkansas State University’s Agribusiness Conference

The next farm bill, agriculture trade, challenges in the cotton industry and other agriculture topics will be discussed at the 24th annual Arkansas State University’s Agribusiness Conference slated for Feb. 14 on the ASU campus.

Talk Business & Politics CEO Roby Brock will be the luncheon keynote speaker, and will talk about political and business impacts on agriculture. Educators, administrators, students and others are invited to attend. Other topics such as agricultural real estate, credit and commodity markets, and trade policy will be discussed.

A panel discussion will be held during the morning portion of the program. Speakers will include:
• Randall Pope, CEO of Westchester Group Investment Management, who will discuss agricultural real estate as an asset class;

• Gary Adams, president of the National Cotton Council, who will discuss the U.S. cotton industry’s challenges and opportunities;

• Mary Kay Thatcher, senior director of congressional relations for the American Farm Bureau Federation, who will report on how the administration is dealing with agricultural trade, regulation, and farm policy issues; and

• Joe Outlaw, professor and extension economist at Texas A&M University, who will give an update on the issues and outlook for the next farm bill.

Afternoon special-interest sessions include an update on community banking trends and the agricultural credit market, rice and cotton market issues, and poultry and beef market trends. Afternoon speakers include: Julie Stackhouse, the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis; Greg Cole, AgHeritage Farm Credit Services; Wes Ward, Arkansas Secretary of Agriculture; Carl Brothers, Riceland Foods; Jeff Johnson, Allenberg Cotton Co.; David Williams, Arkansas State University; Duane Williams, Peco Foods; and Mark Jordan, Arkansas State University.

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.

Admission to the conference and luncheon is free, but pre-registration is encouraged. Detailed conference information and online registration are available at this link.