A conference hosted by Montana State University Extension and the MSU Department of Agricultural Economics and Economics – billed “Montana Agriculture in 2014: Prospects for Growth, Future Challenges and the Role of Cooperatives” and scheduled for Oct. 25 in Bozeman – will feature experts on agricultural policy, the Montana economy and livestock and grain markets.
The conference, which is part of MSU’s Celebrate Agriculture weekend, will run from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. in the Procrastinator Theater in MSU’s Strand Union Building.
The program is designed to provide agricultural business leaders, agricultural bankers, producers and others in agriculture with quality unbiased information about issues facing Montana agriculture.
Agricultural economics experts will present the morning program:
George Haynes on the status of Montana agriculture
Vince Smith with insights on the future of US Farm Policy
Anton Bekkerman on the economics of wheat stem sawfly
Eric Belasco on supply issues in beef markets
Gary Brester on the economic footprint of Montana Cooperatives
Following lunch, Mike Boland, professor and director of the Food Industry Center at the University of Minnesota, will share his expertise on cooperatives and their place in twenty-first century agriculture. Mark Nonnemacher, executive vice president of Northwest Farm Credit Services, will address the unique challenges and opportunities of lending to cooperatives.
The conference will conclude with the M.L. Wilson lecture. This year’s distinguished lecturer is Carl Casale, president and CEO of CHS, Inc. CHS is one of the largest agricultural cooperatives in the world.
Registration for the conference is $20. Those who register by Oct. 11 will receive a free parking pass. For more information and to register please visit http://www.ampc.montana.edu/fallconference.html.
A full schedule of events for the weekend is available at: http://ag.montana.edu/excellence/agappreciation.htm. For more information, contact Keri Hayes, (406) 994-3511 or [email protected].
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