Thursday, Jan. 31, 2008
9:30 a.m.
Holshouser Building, State Fairgrounds, Raleigh
Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler invites farmers and other interested people to the third annual Agricultural Development Forum, which will focus on issues and topics affecting agriculture in North Carolina and the United States during 2008. Admission is free, and lunch will be provided.
Topics will include legislative issues, the economic outlook, drought and weather, biofuels and renewable energy, and challenges and opportunities for N.C. farmers.
The forum is again being held in conjunction with the Southern Farm Show. The forum is sponsored by the N.C. Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, Duke Energy, North Carolina’s Electric Cooperatives, Progress Energy, the N.C. State Grange,
AgCarolina Financial, Cape Fear Farm Credit and Carolina Farm Credit.
Agenda
Updated
January 23, 2008
NOTE: Agenda is subject to change
| 9:30 a.m. |
Coffee & Welcome |
Steve Troxler
N.C. Commissioner of Agriculture |
| |
Remarks |
Sen. Stan Bingham
Senate Agriculture, Environment and Natural Resources Committee
Rep. Bill Faison
Chairman
House Agribusiness and Agricultural Economy Committee
Rep. Dewey Hill
Chairman
House Agriculture Committee |
| |
Keynote Address: "Situation and Outlook for Agricultural Commodities" |
Gerald Bange
Chairperson
World Agricultural Outlook Board |
| |
Ag Industry Panel |
Deborah Johnson
Chief Executive Officer
N.C. Pork Council
Billy Carter
Executive Vice President
N.C. Cotton Producers Association
Ron Gelvin
Executive Vice President/CEO
N.C. Nursery and Landscape Association
Bob Slocum
Executive Vice President
N.C. Forestry Association
Arnie Oltmans
Alumni Distinguished Undergraduate Professor
N.C. State University Department of Agricultural and Resource Economics |
| |
Drought and Weather Outlook |
Jeff Orrock
Warning Coordination Meteorologist
National Weather Service |
| |
Biofuels Development |
Steven Burke, Chair of the Board
John Ganzi, President
Biofuels Center of North Carolina
|
| |
Renewable Energy |
Robert Goodson
Senior Vice President/Chief
Operating Officer
TSE Services/EMC Technologies
Steve Smith
Manager of Wholesale Accounts
Duke Energy Carolinas
Mitchell Williams
Manager of Regulatory Affairs
Progress Energy Carolinas Inc. |
| |
Farmland Preservation |
Commissioner Troxler |
| 12:30 p.m. |
Lunch |
|
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