Source(s):
John VanSickle jjvansickle@mail.ifas.ufl.edu, (352) 392-1881, ext. 221
GAINESVILLE, Fla. — A conference coming to the University of Florida in Gainesville Nov. 14-15 will bring together agricultural policy-makers, industry leaders and producers from the southeast United States to help them understand legislative issues and industry topics that will influence global competitiveness.
U.S. Sen. Bob Graham will discuss the co-dependency of international trade and national security based on his experience as a Senate Intelligence Committee member, while U.S. Rep. Adam Putnam will cover free trade negotiations, along with the new farm bill and components that benefit specialty crop producers.
Other speakers will include Keith Collins, chief economist for the U.S. Department of Agriculture; U.S. Rep. Mark Foley; Margie Bauer, director of the Caribbean Basin Agricultural Trade Office; Timothy Josling, a professor in the Food Research Institute at Stanford University; and Richard Gaskella, director of the Division of Plant Industries, 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, the conference organizer and a professor of food and resource economics in UF’s Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences.
Since the 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, VanSickle said. And President Bush’s proposal to expand free trade throughout the Americas could have a significant impact on agriculture nationwide.
“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.
VanSickle, who is director of UF’s International Agricultural Trade and Policy Center, says that agriculture in the Southeast is at a crossroads with new 2002 farm legislation and trade agreements being negotiated that could have both positive and negative effects on producers throughout the region. “It is critical that these producers form their opinions on policy by being informed about their potential influences on competitiveness,” he said.
In addition to the 2002 farm bill, trade agreements and specialty crop issues, the conference will focus on regulatory policy and competitiveness, agricultural labor markets, the situation and outlook for southern agriculture, and the science and policy of invasive pest management.
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 S.W. 13th St.
The full registration fee is $175, which includes refreshments and meals. Separate tickets ranging from $15 to $30 also are available for the meals during which Graham, Putnam and Foley will speak. For more information, visit the conference Web site: http://conference.ifas.ufl.edu/atpc/
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