January 2007

A University of Nebraska-Lincoln conference at four cities in January and February will provide perspective on a variety of agricultural management and outlook issues for 2007.

The Cornhusker Economics Management and Outlook Conference is scheduled for 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Jan. 30 in Beatrice, Jan. 31 in Norfolk, Feb. 1 in Sidney and Feb. 2 in Kearney. Each conference will feature a morning session covering the outlook for the livestock and grain industries in 2007, along with discussion of policy outlook, including development of the new farm bill.

The keynote session, from 1-3:30 p.m., will be "Food, Feed, Fuel and Farms: Agriculture's Role and Response to Bioenergy Sector Developments."

"Bioenergy is the hottest topic in agriculture today," said Brad Lubben, a UNL public policy specialist who's helping organize the conference. The conference will include discussion by UNL experts about several aspects of bioenergy, including industry outlook, crop and livestock sector outlooks and resulting policy implications.

Registration costs $25, which covers lunch and all conference materials. Call (800) 535-3456, or e-mail ssterkel1@unl.edu for more information. The conference Web site is here. Online registration is available here. Once there, search for "Cornhusker Economics" for registration information.

Locations and local contacts are as follows:

• Beatrice, Jan. 30, Gage County Extension Office; Paul Hay, (402) 223-1384
• Norfolk, Jan. 31, Lifelong Learning Center; Tim Lemmons, (402) 370-4040
• Sidney, Feb. 1, Holiday Inn; Karen DeBoer, (308) 254-4455
• Kearney, Feb. 2, Buffalo County Extension Office; Brent Plugge, (308) 236-1235

The conference is sponsored by UNL Extension and UNL's Department of Agricultural Economics, both part of the university's Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources.

IANR News Release