Next Week’s Forum on Agriculture to Look at Research Initiatives
State and national leaders in the field of agriculture, including Gov. Bill Ritter, Commissioner of Agriculture John Stulp, Colorado State University President Tony Frank, Robb Fraley, executive vice president and chief technology officer for Monsanto, and Ralph Otto United States Department of Agriculture administrator, will speak at the annual Governor’s Forum on Colorado Agriculture on Thursday, Feb. 18 at the Renaissance Denver Hotel, 3801 Quebec St.
The forum themed, “Energizing Colorado Agriculture through Strategic Research,” will begin at 8 a.m. with opening remarks by Gov. Ritter and Commissioner Stulp.
Otto, associate administrator with the National Institute of Food and Agriculture, will discuss agricultural research and the role the NIFA plays in the research effort.
Fraley will talk about meeting global grain demands through sustainable solutions.
Colorado State University President Frank will discuss CSU’s research efforts and the mission of the university to educate the next generation of Colorado’s farmers and ranchers. CSU College of Agricultural Sciences Dean Craig Beyrouty will detail some of the specific strategic agricultural research efforts underway at the university.
Afternoon breakout sessions will examine research needs in the areas of livestock, crops and organic crops, plus a look at CSU’s Crops for Health program, whose goal is to improve the disease prevention characteristics of food crops, thereby reducing the occurrence and effects of human diseases. The focus of the program is on the major staple crops of the world’s population: dry beans, corn, potatoes, rice and wheat.
A pre-forum reception will be held from 5:30-7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 17 at the Governor’s Residence at Boettcher Mansion.
Registration for the forum is $120 or $50 for students. To register, visit www.colorado.gov/ag/forum or call (303) 239-4100.
The Colorado FFA Foundation’s Agriculture Hall of Fame banquet on Feb. 18 is held in conjunction with the Governor’s Forum on Colorado Agriculture. The event begins will a reception at 4:15 p.m., dinner will be served at 5:30 p.m. Separate registration for the banquet is required at http://www.coloradoffafoundation.org.
The Governor’s Forum on Colorado Agriculture is hosted by Gov. Ritter, the Colorado Department of Agriculture and Colorado State University with the support of the Colorado Agricultural Leadership Associates and more than 50 organizations, businesses and agencies interested in the future of Colorado agriculture.
-30-