NRCS to Participate in Agricultural Outlook Forum 2006

NRCS staff will participate at the upcoming Agricultural Outlook Forum on February 16-17, 2006, at the Crystal Gateway Marriott Hotel in Arlington, Virginia. Program details, including NRCS session participants, are available at the Agricultural Outlook Forum 2006 website.

This year’s forum will feature several sessions of special interest to NRCS employees. On Thursday afternoon, Putting Conservation on the Ground: Using Incentives, will be followed by Conservation in the Next Farm Bill: USDA’s Role in Bio-fuel Production.

On Friday morning, a session on the Future of Conservation Markets and a discussion on Chinese Agriculture (wind and water erosion), will precede Conservation and 2007 Farm Bill: Possibilities and Probabilities.

USDA holds the forum to provide timely forecasts of farm prospects and insight into developments affecting the farm economy. Speakers include top government officials, industry analysts, farmers, business leaders, and experts. The public is invited to attend. Last year more than 1,400 participants attended.

Your contacts are Jerry Namken, NRCS Senior Resource Economist, at 202 720-7665 and Ted Kupelian, NRCS public affairs specialist, at 202-720-5776.