Co-op issues in spotlight at USDA's Ag Outlook Forum
alue-added marketing by cooperatives, world trade, bio-fuels and biotechnology issues will be among the featured topics at the 78th annual USDA Agricultural Outlook Forum, Feb. 21 and 22. The forum will tackle some of the biggest issues facing U.S. agriculture and provide in-depth analysis of farm commodity prospects for the year ahead. The annual forum is expected to draw more than 1,350 to the Washington suburb of Arlington, Va.
The opening session will focus on the future of agricultural biotechnology in world trade. Agriculture Secretary Ann Veneman will provide the keynote address and USDA chief economist Keith Collins will look at 2002 agricultural prospects. J.B. Penn, USDA under secretary for Farm and Foreign Agricultural Services, will discuss U.S. trade and agricultural policy. A panel discussion will explore the myriad issues surrounding rapidly emerging biotechnology and how it relates to world trade. Annette Clauson, agricultural economist with USDA's Economic Research Service (ERS), will provide an outlook for retail food prices in 2002.
Farm finance outlook sessions will focus on changing farm-lender relationships. Mitch Morehart, senior economist with USDA/ERS, will lead a panel exploring the farm income, finance and credit outlook for 2002. Others will focus on prospects for farm financial conditions, the changing farm lending scene and the market for farm land.
A number of sessions will be of particular interest to cooperative leaders. Don Nugent, chief executive officer of Graceland Fruit Cooperative, will participate in a panel on L global markets for processed products and will discuss how small U.S. agricultural processing firms can compete globally.
Randall Torgerson, deputy administrator of USDA's Rural Business-Cooperative Service, will moderate a panel discussing value-added marketing as a means to promoting sustainable rural development. Panelists include Richard Bell, CEO and president of Riceland Foods, who will discuss value-added marketing in domestic and international markets, and Rodney Christianson, CEO of South Dakota Soybean Processors, who will explore niche opportunities for new-generation cooperatives. Other panelists include Doyle Freeman, farmer and manager of Penn's Corner Farm Alliance, Bruce Babcock and Mary Holz-Clause, co-directors with the agricultural marketing resource center at Iowa State University, a national center promoting value-added agriculture Co-op leaders will also want to attend a Feb. 22 session exploring consolidation and competition in dairy markets. James Miller, ag economist with USDA/ERS, will provide an outlook for milk and dairy products. Addressing consolidation and competition in dairy markets will be Robert Pettit of the Australian Dairy Corporation.
Following that, a panel will consider issues and strategies for rural and community prosperity. Panelists will include Lionel Beaulieu of the Southern Rural Development Center at Mississippi State University, who will discuss what workers and entrepreneurs need to succeed in today's markets. Norm Reid, representing USDA Rural Development, will join Cornelia Flora, North Central Regional Center for Rural Development, to discuss community led development.
Co-op leaders will participate in a panel discussion on Feb. 22, moderated by Dan Looker, business editor of "Successful Farming" magazine, which will explore initiatives to deal with negotiating farm production contracts. John Welty, executive director of California Tomato Growers Association, and Vernon DeLong, executive director with the Maine Agricultural Bargaining Council, will discuss negotiating specialty crop contracts. Paul Hitch, president of consolidated Beef Producers and Mary Clouse, former poultry grower now with RAM International/USA of Pittsboro, N.C., will discuss negotiation issues in the beef and poultry industries.
Later that morning, a panel will examine the future of the U.S. sugar program, with Rick Dorn, president of the Rocky Mountain Sugar Growers Cooperative, gauging impacts of sugar market developments on producer-owned cooperatives.
Roger Conway, director of USDA's Office of Energy Policy and New Uses, will moderate a panel discussion on Feb. 22 that explores the economic outlook for bio-fuels.
Registration information is available by calling 202-314-3451 or online at: www.usda.gov/oce/waob/agforum.htm. For questions regarding the program, call 202-720 3050, or e-mail agforum@oce.usda.gov.
