Third annual Agricultural Development Forum, hosted by Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler. Keynote speaker will be Gerald Bange, chairperson of the World Agricultural Outlook Board. Other speakers will talk about alternative fuels, drought and topics of interest to farmers and agribusinesses.

The forum, which is being held in conjunction with the Southern Farm Show, is free and open to the public.

Bange will offer the 2008 outlook for agricultural commodities. His talk should begin at about 10 a.m. As chairperson of the World Board, Bange is responsible for the monthly forecasts of the World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates report and also oversees the Joint Agricultural Weather Facility.

Other speakers will include John Ganzi, president of the Biofuels Center of North Carolina, and Jeff Orrock, warning coordination meteorologist with the National Weather Service.

A panel consisting of N.C. State University economist Arnie Oltmans and representatives of the animal, cotton, forestry and greenhouse/nursery sectors of the state’s ag industry will discuss challenges and opportunities for N.C. farmers. In addition, representatives of North Carolina’s power companies will talk about renewable energy.

A complete agenda is available online at www.ncagr.com.