Brian Long, director
NCDA&CS Public Affairs
(919) 707-3007

The sixth annual Ag Development Forum, featuring keynote speaker Matthew Martin, an economist and senior vice president with the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond’s Charlotte branch. He will give an economic outlook for agriculture.

Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler also will deliver his annual State of Agriculture address. And a panel of industry representatives will talk about the outlook for input costs – fuel, equipment, feed and seed – that farmers must factor into their production intentions this year. In addition, Troxler and other agricultural and conservation leaders will unveil a new strategic plan for agricultural water resources in the state.

9:35 a.m. – Matthew Martin, economic outlook for agriculture

10:15 – Presentation of N.C. Exporter of the Year Award

10:40 – Industry roundtable on agricultural input costs, featuring Jay Brinn of East Coast Equipment Co., Nick Duck of Bayer CropScience, Daniel Moenter of Marathon Petroleum Co. and Nick Piggott of N.C. State University.

11:50 – Commissioner Troxler’s State of Agriculture address

12:20 p.m. – Unveiling of agricultural water strategic plan

The complete agenda is online at www.ncagr.gov/agforum.