- Fall 1995 "Update" Newsletter Article -

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CDFA director set to address ag conference

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From CATI Publication #951001
Copyright © 1995. All rights reserved.

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California's highest-ranking agricultural official has been slated as a keynote speaker for the 14th annual Agribusiness Management Conference to be held Nov. 8 in Fresno, California. Ann Veneman, director of the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA), will outline her vision for the future of California's agricultural industry during a luncheon address at the conference, to be held at the Centre Plaza Holiday Inn downtown.

Also scheduled are reports from two nationally-known agricultural economists, as well as panel discussions on commodity outlooks and the future of marketing orders.

Key speakers in addition to Veneman are Vernon Crowder, vice president and senior economist for Bank of America, and Keith Collins, chief economist for the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Crowder will present his 1996 outlook for California's agricultural economy, while Collins will discuss the 1995 Farm Bill.

During morning panel sessions, industry leaders will discuss the outlook for some of central California's key agricultural commodities, including cotton, tree fruit, tomatoes, beef and dairy products, forage crops, cereal grains, wine and grape products.

An afternoon panel will discuss the role of marketing orders and commissions. According to panel moderator Dwight Minami, professor for Fresno State's Department of Agricultural Economics, the marketing order issue has become significant because of recent lawsuits where growers have claimed that state and federal regulations associated with the marketing orders are "arbitrary," "capricious," and infringe on individual free speech rights.

"These are being tested in our (Fresno) county right now. And depending on the outcome, it will no longer be business as usual"

for the farm industry, Minami suggested. The panel will include Barry Kriebel, president of Sun-Main Growers of California, Mark Houston, president of the California Kiwi Commission, and attorney Thomas Champagne.

Cosponsoring this year's conference are California State University, Fresno's California Agricultural Technology Institute, the Center for Agricultural Business, and Bank of America Fresno Commercial Banking.

For registration information call Kimberly Naffziger at (559) 278-4405.

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