Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler encourages farmers, agribusiness professionals and others interested in U.S. farm policy to attend the 2007 North Carolina Agricultural Development Forum Thursday, Feb. 1, at the State Fairgrounds.

The forum will begin at 10 a.m. in the Holshouser Building. Admission is free.

"The 2007 Farm Bill is going to be a hot topic in the upcoming session of Congress," Troxler said. "Through this forum, we want to provide the agricultural community with the opportunity to gather information and give their opinions about Farm Bill programs pertaining to commodities, conservation, alternative energy and biomass research."

The N.C. Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services is organizing the forum. For information, contact Dewitt Hardee at (919) 733-7125, ext. 239, or go to www.ncagr.com.