The Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago will hold a conference to examine issues that will shape the future of agriculture in the Midwest. This conference will gather experts from academia, industry and policy institutions to discuss aspects of possibilities for agriculture and the Midwest. The goals of the conference include exploring factors that will impact the future directions of Midwest agriculture, particularly its composition and structure; examining the implications of the changing agricultural landscape for rural and urban communities, as well as industry; and discussing the policy implications and the role that policies play in guiding agriculture toward the future. The fee for this conference is $80. Please visit this website often for updates and additions to the conference information, including the agenda.
Perspectives on the Future of Agriculture in the Midwest
12/01/09
Registration and Continental Breakfast
Welcome and Opening Remarks
Speaker
Daniel G. Sullivan, Senior Vice President and Director of Research, Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago
Session I: Trends in Midwest Agriculture
Mary Ahearn, Senior Economist, Economic Research Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture
Richard Breckenridge, Agriculture and Rural Affairs Advisor, Illinois Environmental Protection Agency
Break
Session II: Prospects for the Livestock Industry
Christopher Wolf, Assistant Professor, Michigan State University
John Lawrence, Professor and Director, Iowa Beef Center, Iowa State University
Paul Bertels, Director, Agricultural Economic Analyses and Environmental Impacts, National Corn Growers Association
Lunch and Keynote Address
Introduction
William A. Testa, Vice President and Director of Regional Programs, Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago
Leland A. Strom, Chairman and CEO, Farm Credit Administration
Session III: The Environment and Agriculture
Jim Slama, President, FamilyFarmed.org
William Schleizer, Associate Director, Delta Institute
Session IV: Panel Discussion: How Will Public Policy Shape the Future of Midwest Agriculture?
Moderator
David Oppedahl, Business Economist, Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago
Tamara A. White, Senior Director of Commodities, Illinois Farm Bureau
Robert L. Thompson, Gardner Chair in Agricultural Policy, University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign
Ann Tutwiler, Senior Advisor for International Affairs, Research, Education and Economics, U.S. Department of Agriculture
Adjournment
Last Updated: December 7, 2009
