|
Not Appropriate After February, 2001
Agriculture
and Forestry Resource Summit Slated for February
AUBURN, Jan. 25---Agriculture
and forestry are big business in Alabama, generating $43 billion in
total gross output value in 1999. But producers in these areas
continue to feel the pressure of shrinking profits, increasing costs
and expanding regulations.
 In
an effort to foster both these industries and focus public attention
on their importance to the state, the Alabama Cooperative Extension
System and the Alabama Agricultural Experiment Station are hosting
the Agriculture and Forestry Resource Summit February 21-22 at the
Embassy Hotel and Suites in Montgomery. State and local government
officials as well as industry leaders are being invited to attend.
"The System,
working with the Experiment Station, has launched a comprehensive
development initiative to expand the state's agriculture and
forestry resources," says Dr. Stephen Jones, director of the
Alabama Cooperative Extension System. "This summit will bring
to the table the valuable insights we heard from more than 500
industry leaders at our six Area Farm and Forestry Roundtables last
October."
Those roundtables
identified numerous issues and concerns facing both agriculture and
forestry in the state.
"We believe this
summit will give local and state leaders a better grasp of the
challenges facing these two vital industries," said Jones.
"We hope it will act as a catalyst for the development of new
programs as well as the means to fine-tune existing efforts."
John R. Block, former
secretary of agriculture in the Reagan administration will be the
keynote speaker discussing "Agriculture and Forestry in a
Global Economy" at the Thursday luncheon. Other speakers
include John Bekkers, president of Gold Kist, Inc.; Sonny Brassfield,
Association of County Commissioners of Alabama; and Dr. David
Bradford, president of the Alabama Nurserymen's Association.
###
ALABAMA AG CALENDAR
Jan. 30 Lee Co. Cotton
Meeting Auburn
Feb. 2-3 Alabama Soybean
Association Huntsville
Meeting
Feb. 6 Tuscaloosa Co.
Cotton Meeting Tuscaloosa
Feb. 13 Autauga/Elmore/Dallas
Co. Autaugaville
Cotton Meeting
Feb. 15 Baldwin Co.
Cotton Meeting Fairhope
Feb. 16 Escambia/Monroe
Co. Atmore
Cotton Meeting
Feb. 17 12th
Annual EPD BCIA Montgomery
Bull & Heifer Sale
Feb. 20 Talladega/Shelby
Co. Sylacauga
Cotton Meeting
Feb. 20 Calhoun Co.
Cotton Meeting TBA
Feb. 21 Hale Co. Cotton
Meeting Greensboro
Feb.22 Marion Co. Cotton
Meeting TBA
Feb. 22 Agriculture and
Forestry Auburn
Resource Summit 2000
|
