Agriculture Commissioner will deliver his State of Agriculture address during the fifth annual Ag Development Forum.

In addition, there will be panel discussions on the economic outlook for animal agriculture, which has suffered during the recession, and federal policy issues. Among the panelists are economist Kelly Zering of N.C. State University and Joe Outlaw, a nationally known agricultural policy expert at Texas A&M University.

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

Troxler is scheduled to speak at about noon.

The panel discussion on animal agriculture’s economic outlook is scheduled for 9:55 a.m. The panel discussion on federal policy issues is scheduled for 11:20 a.m.

The forum is being hosted by the N.C. Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services and is sponsored by the N.C. State Grange.

To see the complete agenda, go to www.ncagr.gov/agforum.