Economic uncertainties, international market instability, changing water supply policies and health care reform are among the agricultural industry issues to be explored Nov. 9 at 29th annual Agribusiness Management Conference in Fresno.

The conference is presented by California State University, Fresno’s Center for Agricultural Business and cosponsored by the Bank of America and California Agricultural Technology Institute at Fresno State.

The event is planned from 8 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at the Radisson Hotel and Conference Center (2233 Ventura St.). Registration costs $100 before Nov. 5 and $125 thereafter. Lunch is included.

Opening remarks will be delivered by Justin T. Brough, senior vice president of marketing and global commercial banking, for bank of America Merrill Lynch, and Mechel Paggi, director of the Center for Agricultural Business.

“It seems every year we face a world of opportunities and challenges in the agricultural

Industry, and 2010 has not disappointed us,” Paggi said. “The conference is a chance to examine where we have been and where we might be headed, and to help identify where our opportunities lie.”

Among the presenters are:

  • Dr. John B. Penson Jr., an award-winning economics professor at Texas A&M University.
  • James Christie, president and managing partner of Bryant Christie Inc., which works with agricultural, food and beverage companies and organizations on international marketing.
  • George H. Soares, managing partner with Khan Soares & Conway, LLP, which lobbies for and represents agricultural interests.

Water issues will be the focus of the panel presentation, “No Water Bond – What Now?,” moderated by David Zoldoske, director of Fresno State’s Center for Irrigation Technology and executive director of water resources and policy initiatives for the California State University.

Joining him will be Mario Santoyo, assistant general manager of the Friant Water Authority, and Jim Verboon of Laton, a farmer, former chair of the California Farm Bureau’s Water and Natural Resources committees.

Other panels will explore the impact on agriculture of health care reform, food safety and traceability initiatives and quarantine programs.

For more information, call 559.278.4405 or http://cab.cati.csufresno.edu/PDF/2010_Agribusiness_Brochure.pdf.

 

Linnea Finley contributed to this copy.

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