Wednesday, November 15 (9:30 – 11:00 a.m.)

Bio Fuels – Pressures Fueling the Ag Industry
Moderator: Mike Adams, AgriTalk
Rick Tolman, National Corn Growers Association
Neil Dierks, National Pork Producers Council
Kendell Keith, National Feed & Grain Association

Energy prices have certainly been center stage during the recent past. The push to redirect corn and soybeans into the fuel industry has certainly raised questions about the long term viability of satisfying the needs for food, feed and fuel. Critics disagree on the long term ability for agriculture to satisfy the demand. However, they agree that something must be done to reduce dependency on petroleum and increase the use of fuels from renewable resources. A panel of industry experts impacted by these developments will help us understand the pressures emerging within agriculture to satisfy these needs and what might lay ahead for bio-based fuels.

Mike Adams is the host of AgriTalk, a nationally syndicated talk show on agriculture-related topics. He joined AgriTalk in 2001, after spending 27 years with WLDS Radio in Jacksonville, Illinois, primarily as the farm director. Mike’s travels include broadcasts from 10 countries while meeting four U.S. presidents, Pope Paul II and Cuban dictator Fidel Castro.

Rick Tolman serves as the Chief Executive Officer of the National Corn Growers Association (NCGA), a producer-directed trade association headquartered in St. Louis, MO. Prior to NCGA, Rick was the executive director for the U.S. Grains Council, and has worked in market planning at International Harvester Company and the Gehl Company.

Neil Dierks is Chief Executive Officer of the National Pork Producers Council (NPPC). Since joining NPPC in 1990, Neil served in several senior executive positions before becoming the CEO. Previously, Neil was the special activities director for the Iowa Pork Producers Association and marketing director for the Iowa Corn Promotion Board.

Kendell Keith is the President of the National Grain and Feed Association. He has served in this position since 1987. The NGFA represents companies in grain processing, grain elevation, feed manufacturing, exporting and futures. Before coming to NGFA, Kendell was a policy economist for the National Cotton Council.

Awards Luncheon
(11:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.)
Congratulate the honorees of this year’s Professional Development Awards of Excellence. Awards will be given in the areas of marketing communications, public relations and sales and recipients will share their thoughts on the challenges and opportunities in agri-marketing. This year’s recipients include: Steve Engle, Woodruff Sweitzer, Marketing Communications recipient; Barry Nelson, John Deere Agricultural Marketing Center, Public Relations recipient; and Anita Vanderwert, Brownfield Network, Sales recipient.

To register for the Agribusiness Forum visit, http://nama.org/forum/register.htm. 

For more information on the Forum sessions and our speakers, visit, http://nama.org/forum/index.html.