A-State's 24th annual Agribusiness Conference set for Feb. 14
JONESBORO (updated Jan. 11) – Arkansas State University’s annual Agribusiness Conference, now in its 24th 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. 14, will focus on agricultural real estate, trade policy, the next farm bill, 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 4:15 p.m.
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.
-- Charlott Jones, CPA and tax manager for Jones & Company, Ltd., will discuss the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act and how it will impact agriculture.
-- Gary Adams, president of the National Cotton Council, will discuss the U.S. cotton industry and give an update on agricultural trade policy.
-- Joe Outlaw, professor and extension economist at Texas A&M University, will give an update on the issues and outlook for the next farm bill.
The luncheon speaker, Roby Brock, is the host and executive producer of Talk Business & Politics. Brock will discuss Arkansas political issues for business and agriculture.
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, Inc.; Jeff Johnson, Allenberg Cotton Co.; David Newman, 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.
Joining the College of Agriculture, Engineering & Technology to sponsor the conference are:
The Judd Hill Foundation, AgHeritage Farm Credit Services, Allenberg Cotton Company, Arkansas Farm Bureau, Bear State Bank, Busch Agricultural Resources LLC, Farm Credit Midsouth, Glaub Farm Management, Greenway Equipment Inc., Helena Chemical Company, National Land Realty, 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, Engineering & Technology, (870) 972-3221, or email AState_Agribus_Conf@AState.edu.
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