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FAPRI to report on economic impact of ag, biofuelsMissouri Economists will report on the impact of agriculture and biofuel markets on the state economy at a Missouri Agricultural Outlook Conference, March 11, in Jefferson City. Economists from the Food and Agricultural Policy Research Institute will deliver reports for state legislators, policymakers, farm leaders and producers. The FAPRI economists will be returning from Washington, D.C., where they deliver an annual report to Congress, the U.S. Department of Agriculture and national commodity groups. "We're bringing the reports home to Missouri leaders just after delivering them nationally," said Brent Carpenter, University of Missouri economist with FAPRI. "The reports have major implications for Missouri farms and the rural economy in both short and long terms." Agenda items include: --An overview of the outlook for both U.S. and Missouri agriculture by Lori Wilcox, FAPRI program director for research and operations. --Perspective on the economic outlook by Jon Hagler, director of the Missouri Department of Agriculture. --"Outlook for Crops" by Pat Westhoff, co-director of MU FAPRI. --"Outlook for Livestock" by Scott Brown, FAPRI livestock and dairy economist. In addition to 10-year baseline reports, FAPRI economists will bring the latest information from Washington on implementation of the 2008 farm bill. Under that bill, crop producers have to decide whether to enroll in a new program called Average Crop Revenue Election or continue with the existing price-based program. Peter Zimmer, director of MU FAPRI's Representative Farms Project, will demonstrate FAPRI's ACRE Decision Tool, a software application designed to help farmers decide between the two programs. Producers can enroll in the new program at USDA Farm Service Agency county offices or online at www.fsa.usda.gov/dcp. The conference, at the Capitol Plaza Hotel, will begin at 9 a.m., and adjourn by 2:30 p.m. Advance registration to assure space at the conference is requested by March 4. A $25 fee covers a copy of the reports and lunch. Copies of the agenda and registration form are at www.fapri.missouri.edu. For more information on the program, contact 573-882-6121. For questions about registration, contact Jennifer Hartwick of the MU Conference Office at 573-882-4349. MU FAPRI is funded by Congress and the MU College of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources. FAPRI maintains a model of the U.S. agriculture economy and cooperates with a similar unit at Iowa State University that models international agriculture.
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