Farmers, agribusinesses and agriculture leaders alike can learn about the role, importance and significance of international trade on local agriculture production, markets and economies at the Mid-South Agricultural Trade Conference, scheduled to begin with on-site registration at 9:30 a.m., March 5, in the University of Tennessee at Martin's Boling University Center. Conference sessions will begin at 10 a.m. and conclude by 3:15 p.m.

The conference registration fee will be waived for the first 75 participants who preregister, as well as for all current university students, thanks to generous conference supporters. Preregistration for all others is $50 prior to Feb. 26, 2020, and $75 after Feb. 26, including on-site registration.

The conference is hosted by the University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture, UT Extension, UT Martin and the Tennessee Department of Agriculture and will equip attendees with an increased awareness of agriculture exporting tools and resources. The conference format will include various speakers, presentations and a panel discussion with commodity representatives.

Seven experts are slated to share their knowledge. Speakers and panel members include Daniel Whitley, associate administrator of the USDA Foreign Agricultural Service; Andrew Muhammad, Blasingame Chair of Excellence in Agricultural Policy in the UTIA Department of Agricultural and Resources Economics; and Jody Campiche, vice president of economics and policy analysis for the National Cotton Council in Cordova. Also on the agenda are Whitney Flatt, Tennessee Department of Agriculture international trade consultant who leads the Business Development Division’s trade-focused initiatives, promoting Tennessee value-added food, horticulture, livestock and genetics, and forestry and wood products abroad; Jennifer Houston, a Tennessee native and current president of the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association; Parks Wells, executive director of the Tennessee Soybean Promotion Council located in Jackson; and Rob Dongoski, leader of Ernst and Young’s agribusiness sector.

For more information or to register, contact Dr. Joey Mehlhorn, UT Martin conference coordinator, at <a href="mailto:mehlhorn@utm.edu">mehlhorn@utm.edu</a> or call 731-881-7211.

###