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(Lincoln, NE) Gov. Dave Heineman announced today that the 2006 Governor’s Ag Conference will take place March 8 and 9 in Kearney. The conference, titled “Nebraska Agriculture: Charting the Course,” will be held at the Holiday Inn, 110 2nd Avenue.
“With all the new opportunities opening up for producers in areas such as tourism, trade and investments in renewable energy, I’m excited that this year’s conference will provide participants the chance to learn more about some of the most promising areas for growth in this industry.” Gov. Heineman said. “Agriculture continues to be the backbone of our state, and it’s important our producers are equipped with the knowledge and skills to tackle new challenges. This conference has also been structured with the next farm bill in mind. It’s an important event for our agricultural community because it serves as a forum to address industry trends and preview new opportunities to come.”
Pre-conference activities will begin at 6:00 p.m. on Wednesday, March 8 with the “Celebrate Nebraska Agriculture” reception, featuring a variety of foods produced by Nebraska farmers and ranchers. The evening will also include entertaining and motivational remarks by Damian Mason.
The conference formally begins at 9:00 a.m. on Thursday, March 9. Tom Dorr, U.S. Department of Agriculture Under Secretary for Rural Development, will deliver the keynote address during this year’s conference, providing insight into USDA’s current rural economic development activities and has been asked to address possibilities for change in the next farm bill.
Several other nationally-recognized speakers will also be featured including: national agriculture policy analyst Jim Wiesemeyer with Informa Economics; crop insurance specialist Stephen Frerichs with Rain and Hail LLC; chief executive officer of the National Association of Conservation Districts, Krysta Harden; renewable energy expert Dr. Roger Conway with the U.S. Department of Agriculture; and founder of the nation’s first rural television network, RFD-TV President Patrick Gottsch. Conference activities are scheduled to conclude by 3:00 p.m.
The conference is open to anyone interested in learning more about the important issues facing Nebraska agriculture. A $50 registration fee enables conference participants to attend the entire two-day event. Registration information can be obtained by calling the Nebraska Department of Agriculture toll-free at 800-831-0550 or by visiting http://www.agr.ne.gov/gov%20ag/06gov_ag.htm.
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