By:
Chuck Woods (352) 392-1773 x 281Source(s):
John Vansickle sickle@ufl.edu, (352) 392-1881 ext. 221
GAINESVILLE, Fla.—U.S. Senator Bob Graham — along with U.S. Congressmen Allen Boyd and Adam Putnam — are among the list of government leaders invited to speak at the Second International Agricultural Trade and Policy Conference hosted by the University of Florida’s Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) in Gainesville Nov. 14-15.
Other invited speakers include Keith Collins, chief economist for the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Allen Johnson, agricultural negotiator for the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative, and Charles Bronson, commissioner of the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services.
“Concerns about terrorism, problems in the Middle East and volatile equity markets have complicated the international trade picture, adding an element of fear and uncertainty,” said John Vansickle, professor in UF’s food and resource economics department and organizer of the conference. “On a positive note, however, interest rates are at historic lows.”
Since NAFTA (North American Free Trade Agreement) was implemented in 1994, Florida has experienced a surge in agricultural imports and lower prices for citrus, tomatoes and other key commodities, he said. And President Bush’s proposal to expand free trade throughout the Americas could have a significant impact on agriculture throughout the United States.
Vansickle, who is director of UF’s International Trade and Agricultural Policy Center, said the conference will help agriculture in the southern U.S. by providing a dialogue on issues that affect industry competitiveness.
“The conference will provide a forum where the agricultural industry can influence agricultural and trade policy, helping southern producers become more competitive in our global economy,” he said.
“Agriculture in the Southeast is at a crossroads with new 2002 farm legislation and new trade agreements being negotiated that could have both positive and negative effects on producers throughout the region,” Vansickle said. “It is critical that these producers form their opinions on policy by being informed about their potential influences on competitiveness.”
Topics to be discussed include the 2002 farm bill, trade agreements and specialty crop issues, the science and policy of invasive pest management, risk management for specialty crops, regulatory policy and competitiveness, agricultural labor markets, and the situation and outlook for southern agriculture.
Mike Martin, UF vice president for agriculture and natural resources, will give the welcoming address Nov. 14 at 9 a.m., followed by discussions on specialty crop issues. Collins will discuss the 2002 farm bill. Bronson will address the conference at a noon luncheon. Johnson will address the group at 3:30 p.m.
Adam Putnam from Florida’s 12th Congressional District and Allen Boyd from Florida’s 2nd Congressional District are scheduled to speak during the Thursday dinner, which begins at 7:30 p.m.
On Nov. 15, Graham is scheduled to speak at a 7:30 a.m. breakfast on research and development for a viable agricultural industry in Florida.
Sponsored by UF/IFAS, the UF Center for International Business Education and Research (CIBER), the Farm Foundation and the Florida Farm Bureau, the conference will be held at the Sheraton Gainesville Hotel at 2900 SW 13th Street.
The early registration fee (postmarked on or before Sept. 30) is $125, which includes refreshments and meals. After Sept. 30, the fee is $175. For more information, visit the conference Web site: http://conference.ifas.ufl.edu/atpc/
-30-
0
