Texas Ag Policy Summit is Aug. 13-14, in Lubbock

Writer: Blair Fannin, (979) 845-2259, b-fannin@tamu.edu
Contact: Dr. Abner Womack (979) 845-5913, awomack@tamu.edu
Dr. Jim Butler, (979) 847-9066, j-butler@tamu.edu

LUBBOCK -- Producers across the state will have the opportunity to learn more about the impacts of
anticipated changes in agricultural policy by attending a two-day summit scheduled Aug. 13-14 here at the
Holiday Inn Park Plaza.

The Texas Agricultural Policy Summit will attract producers, lenders, agribusiness representatives,
environmental/natural resource stakeholders, and rural community leaders. Registration is $70 per person.
A block of rooms has been reserved and will be held until July 13.

“The goal of the summit is to focus on policy changes now under consideration by state and national
agriculture leaders, and to better understand the likely consequences for Texas agriculture and the rural
community,” said Dr. Abner Womack, summit committee co-chair and director of the Agricultural and
Food Policy Center at Texas A&M University.

For the past three years, farmers and ranchers across the nation have come under increasing financial
pressure due to drought and low commodity prices. A second round of Congressional hearings addressing
these pressures was completed this spring. Options proposed and under consideration in Congress focus on
safety net options as a modification to the Federal Agricultural Improvement and Reform Act of 1996
(farm bill).

Topics of discussion at the summit include a summary of policy options recommended to the House
Agriculture Committee; the current agricultural situation and outlook during the next several years; and
expected consequences for the Texas food and fiber system.

Several state and federal officials will attend. U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Ann Veneman has been invited
to speak at noon on Aug. 14.

The summit will begin Aug. 13 at 7:30 p.m. with a discussion of issues underlying the farm bill debate, led
by Dr. Ronald D. Knutson, Texas Agricultural Extension Service economist. He will be joined by Dr.
Luther G. Tweeten, a professor in the department of agricultural, environmental and development
economics at Ohio State University.

On Aug 14, Womack and Dr. Ed Smith, Extension economist, will discuss the outlook and alternatives for
the current farm program.

They will be followed by Mike Dwyer, chief economist with the U.S. Foreign Agricultural Service, who
will discuss “Agricultural Trade Implications - Who Wins and Loses In A Global Market?”

As the keynote lunch speaker, Veneman has been invited to discuss the role of the United States
Department of Agriculture in understanding and defining priority issues.

A panel of federal officials, including U.S. Representatives Larry Combest and Charles Stenholm, both of
Texas, have been invited to host an afternoon discussion focusing on national policy issues and expected
farm bill modifications. Combest chairs the House Agriculture Committee.

A panel of state officials such as Representatives David Swinford and Gary Walker, and Senator Robert
Duncan, have been invited to discuss Texas’ ag policy. Swinford chairs the House Committee on
Agriculture and Livestock, and Walker sits on the House Committee on Land and Resource Management.
Duncan is vice chair of the Senate Committee on Natural Resources.

These officials will exchange information and ideas on farm policy options with summit participants during
the afternoon panel discussions.

Texans can get more information about the summit by contacting Cady Auckerman at
(979) 862-1771. Email queries should go to agsummit@tamu.edu . A summit registration form is also
available on Internet at http://agsummit.tamu.edu .