11/3/97

Contacts:
William Meyers, (515) 294-6237
Brian Meyer, Agriculture Information, (515) 294-0706

ISU COORDINATES VISIT BY DAIRY OFFICIALS FROM LITHUANIA

AMES -- A group of Lithuanian farmers, processors and government officials is visiting Iowa through Nov. 8 to learn about American dairy policy.

"We will acquaint these high-level officials and dairy representatives with U.S. programs and institutions," said William Meyers. "We will discuss the development of effective policy for the Lithuanian dairy industry. We want to help Lithuanian policymakers and the public evaluate and choose from among the options available to them as they privatize and restructure their industry."

Meyers is interim director of the Center for Agricultural and Rural Development (CARD) and executive director of the Midwest Agribusiness Trade Research and Information Center (MATRIC) at Iowa State University. ISU and Land O'Lakes, Inc., are hosting the visit, which was funded by the U.S. Agency for International Development through a grant to Land O'Lakes.

In workshops, the nine-member Lithuanian group will learn about credit, finance, cooperatives, marketing and policy formation. They will meet with Iowa dairy farmers and representatives from farm groups, cooperatives, agribusinesses and government agencies. They also will travel to Washington, DC, to meet with policymakers and legislators.

"This exchange builds on CARD/MATRIC's previous collaborations with other sectors in the Lithuanian economy," said Lori Dooley, MATRIC manager and coordinator for the visit.

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