A-State’s 30th annual Agribusiness Conference slated for February

Arkansas State University will host its 30th annual Agribusiness Conference on Feb. 7th. This year’s conference will focus on agribusiness trends, sustainability issues, the next farm bill, and agricultural commodity markets.

Lunch and afternoon sessions will be held in the on-campus Embassy Suites by Hilton Red Wolf Convention Center, 223 Red Wolf Blvd. Afternoon sessions end at 3 p.m.

The morning general session features five speakers including Harrison Pittman, the director of the National Agricultural Law Center; Greg Cole, the president and CEO of AgHeritage Farm Credit Services; Megan DeYoung, the head of transformation & business development with RiceTec, Inc; Chad Brewer, the assistant director of the U.S. Cotton Protocol; and Keith Coble, the vice president of the Mississippi State University Division of Agriculture & Forestry.

The noon luncheon features Dana Brooks, CEO of the Pet Food Institute. While an undergraduate student at A-State, she assisted with the first A-State Agribusiness Conference. Brooks also will participate in the afternoon session on animal health issues and the A-State College of Veterinary Medicine, which is in development.

Other afternoon concurrent sessions cover the situation and outlook for rice and cotton.

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.