December 6, 2001

Two-Day Summit Slated On Value Added Animal Agriculture

"Putting the Pieces Together," a two-day summit on value-added animal agriculture, is expected to draw livestock producers, economic developers and financial lenders from across the state, Jan. 16-17, at the Seven Seas Inn, Mandan.

Sponsored by the North Dakota Department of Agriculture and the North Dakota State University Extension Service, the seminar will focus on job creation and community wealth through value-added ventures related to livestock production.

"We need to increase awareness of the potential for economic development through animal agriculture," said Agriculture Commissioner Roger Johnson, who will open the conference at 1 p.m., Wednesday. "We can do this through creating new partnerships and building on existing opportunities for raising, finishing and processing quality products."

After North Dakota Commissioner of Commerce Lee Peterson speaks on livestock economic development, the conference will hear about success stories in animal agriculture from representatives of the dairy, beef, pork and sheep industries. Other afternoon sessions will deal with environmental regulations and costs and agricultural law.

Following dinner, Ian MacLachlan, professor of geography at the University of Lethbridge, Alberta, will give the keynote address, "Economic Development through Animal Agriculture."

The evening will conclude with a panel discussion on economic development in action, featuring executives from several city and county economic development authorities.

Bill Patrie, rural development director for the North Dakota Association of Rural Electric Cooperatives, will be the breakfast speaker Thursday morning. He will be followed by two panel discussions – "Where’s the Market" with representatives from dairy processing, meat processing and beef production, and "Where’s the Money" with representatives of the Bank of North Dakota, Farm Service Agency, Small Business Administration, USDA Rural Development and the North Dakota Bankers Association.

"It’s Time to Make It Happen" is the subject of Lt. Gov. Jack Dalrymple’s address at 11:30 p.m. Following lunch, the meeting will break up into roundtable discussions on the potential for value-added ventures in the dairy, beef, pork and sheep industries.

Registration is $50 per person before Jan. 9, and $65 after Jan. 9. Checks should be payable to "Value-Added Summit" and sent to Value-Added Summit, North Dakota Department of Agriculture, 600 E. Boulevard Ave., Dept. 602, Bismarck, ND 58505-0020.

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Sources: Roger Johnson, (701) 328-4754, Greg Lardy, (701) 231-9629, glardy@ndsuext.nodak.edu,or J.W. Schroeder, (701) 231-7663, jschroed@ndsuext.nodak.edu
Editor: Tom Jirik, (701) 231-9629, tjirik@ndsuext.nodak.edu