Arkansas State University to host annual agriculture conference on Feb. 16

Farmers, agribusiness professionals, students and educators across the Mid-South will have an opportunity to learn about new information in the agriculture sector along with policy education at Arkansas State University’s annual Agribusiness Conference. This year’s conference will be held Feb. 16, and will focus on climate issues and agricultural policy, the politics of agricultural and trade policy, and the commodity markets.

It’s the 28th time ASU has hosted the conference.

On-site registration will begin that morning at the Fowler Center, to be followed by three concurrent commodity sessions to be held at 11 a.m. in the First National Bank Arena.

A livestream of the general session and the luncheon presentation will also be available for online viewing. The commodity sessions will not be available online.

The general session features two speakers:

– Chelsie Keys, senior professional staff member for the U.S. Senate Agriculture Committee, will discuss climate issues and how they will impact future farm policy.

– Jim Wiesemeyer, political analyst for Farm Journal Media, will discuss the politics of agricultural and trade policy and the outlook for the next federal farm bill.

The luncheon speaker will be retired Deere & Company chief economist J.B. Penn, an alumnus of ASU’s College of Agriculture.

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 registration by Friday, Feb. 4 is requested. Detailed conference information and online registration are available at AState.edu/agribusconf. For more information, contact Abigail Coleman at (870) 972-2416, or email [email protected].