The 24th annual Arkansas State University Agribusiness Conference will focus on agricultural real estate, trade and farm policy, and the agricultural credit and commodity markets.
The morning general session features four speakers and a panel discussion.
Randall Pope, CEO of Westchester Group Investment Management, Inc., will discuss agricultural real estate as an asset class.
Gary Adams, president of the National Cotton Council, 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, will report on the how the administration is dealing with agricultural trade, regulation, and farm policy issues.
Texas A&M extension economist Joe Outlaw will give an update on the issues and outlook for the new farm bill.
Conference director Bert Greenwalt will lead the discussion panel of General Session speakers.
The luncheon program will feature Roby Brock, host and executive producer of Talk Business & Politics. Roby will discuss Arkansas political issues for Business and Agriculture.
The afternoon program begins with a general session on community bank trends and agricultural credit markets by Julie Stackhouse of the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis and Greg Cole of AgHeritage Farm Credit Services.
Two concurrent sessions follow. Duane Weems from Peco Foods will join Mark Jordan and David Newman from the A-State College of Agriculture, Engineering & Technology to discuss poultry and beef market issues.
Carl Brothers from Riceland Foods, Jeff Johnson from Allenberg Cotton Co., and Arkansas Secretary of Agriculture Wes Ward will discuss rice and cotton markets and industry issues.
