WACO–Risks in agriculture and how the industry adapts to them will be examined during the Texas Agricultural Forum here Jan. 12.
Producers, agricultural commodity and business leaders, and government officials will take part in the annual conference to be held in the Bosque Room of the Waco Convention Center in conjunction with the Blackland Income Growth (BIG) conference.
The convention center is at the corner of Washington St. and South University Parks Dr.
Among the speakers will be U.S. Rep. Charles Stenholm of Stamford; Dr. Luther Tweeten, Anderson Professor of Agricultural Economics at The Ohio State University, and H.D. Cleberg, president and chief executive officer of Farmland Industries. Candidates for state agriculture commissioner, Republican Susan Combs and Democrat Pete Patterson, also will speak.
“Those attending the forum will be provided ample time to discuss the important issues with each of the speakers,” said Dr. Edward G. Smith, forum coordinator. Smith is the Distinguished Roy B. Davis Professor of Agricultural Cooperation at Texas A&M University and marketing and policy specialist with the Texas Agricultural Extension Service.
“The Agricultural Forum has no formal membership,” Smith said. “Anyone with a desire to discuss the major issues facing our food and fiber system is welcome.”
The conference begins at 9 a.m. and ends at 4:45 p.m. The $25 registration fee, payable at the door, includes lunch. J.B. Cooper Jr., Roscoe farmer and forum chairman, will moderate.
Stenholm, ranking minority member of the House Agriculture Committee, will report on federal policies and legislation affecting agriculture and seek opinions of forum participants. Combs and Patterson will present their positions on the challenges and roles for the Texas Department of Agriculture and its commissioner.
Tweeten and Cleberg , who heads the nation’s largest agricultural cooperative, will provide their perspectives on risks facing today’s agriculture industry and how the industry is responding. The Texas perspective will be presented by Dr. Ken Stokes, Extension Service economist at Dallas and regional coordinator for risk management education.
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