6/25/98

Contacts:
Keith Heffernan, Center for Agricultural and Rural Development, (515) 294-0670
Judith Pim, Center for Agricultural and Rural Development, (515) 294-6257
Brian Meyer, Agriculture Information, (515) 294-0706

ECONOMIC EFFECTS OF AG CONTRACTS THE FOCUS OF ISU CONFERENCE

AMES -- Farmers now have more freedom to farm, but they face an increasingly interdependent business environment. Producers and agribusiness leaders want to know how new directions for agricultural contracts and other business agreements may affect them.

State and national experts will address this issue and others during the 1998 Fall Agricultural Policy Conference on Sept. 4 at the Scheman Building in Ames. "Agricultural Contracts - Freedom or Restraint?" is sponsored by Iowa State University's Center for Agricultural and Rural Development (CARD) and ISU Extension.

"Contracting and new alliances in the food supply chain are changing the way agriculture does business," said Keith Heffernan, assistant director of CARD. "We'll explore ways to share the rewards of specialized production systems, and implications of becoming more market-oriented, consolidated and integrated." Topics will include contracting issues related to risk management, finance, food safety and quality, the environment and competitive advantage.

The conference also will mark CARD's 40th anniversary. Since 1958, the center has provided information and analysis for trade and agricultural policy, resource and environmental policy, food and nutrition policy, and rural and economic development policy.

Registration fee for the day-long conference is $45 before Aug. 28 and $60 after. Student cost is $20. To register, call Deb Schmidt at (515) 294-5961.

A registration form also is available on CARD's Web site: www.ag.iastate.edu/card/. For more information, call (515) 294-6257.

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