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October 20, 2000

Third annual biotech
conference scheduled

The Third Annual Texas Agricultural Biotechnology Conference, sponsored by the Texas Ag Industries Association (TAIA), will be held Wednesday, Nov. 1, at the Holiday Inn-Civic Center in Lubbock.

Co-sponsored by Texas Agriculture, the conference will focus on industry and consumer perspectives of biotechnology, its impact on farms and ranches in the state, and regulations.

"Biotechnology may be the biggest change ever to hit agriculture," said conference organizer Bob Sasser. "The last two years' conferences were so successful, we have scheduled this conference to continue to keep our members and the agribusiness community up-to-date on these biotech changes.

"This conference will go the next step in developments to date and review those expected in the future," Sasser continued. "Members of TAIA and Texas Farm Bureau have a special interest in how biotech will impact their business."

Conference speakers will be leaders from the crop protection industry, the seed industry and university agricultural researchers. Featured will be a kick-off address by Charles Fisher, president and chief executive officer of DowAgro Sciences.

Other topics and speakers at press time included the following:

•Updates on trends in planting transgenic seed in Texas: cotton and soybeans, Dr. Dave Albers, director of technical service, Western Region, Delta & Pine Land Co.; corn, Jim Schrib, area manager for Pioneer Hi Bred.

•Impact of biotechnology on ag retailers: Rick Schmidt, Helena Chemical of El Campo; Larry Beseda, Beseda Farm Supply of Whiteface; Clay Petrus, UAP-SW of Bryan; Jerry Bellar, Ag Supply of Earth; and Keith Stephens, Agro Distribution of Ropesville.

•Future biotechnology developments: rice, Dwight Cowan, chief executive officer of Horizon Ag, Memphis, Tenn.; Peanuts: Dr. Charles Simpson of Stephenville; other crops and biotech trends, Dr. Barry Knight, Monsanto, St. Louis, Mo.

•Update on biotechnology legislative and regulatory issues: Dr. Leah Porter, executive director of ACPA Biotechnology Committee, American Crop Protection Association.

•How to communicate biotechnology benefits to customers and the public: Dr. Andy Vestal, Extension specialist-education, Texas A&M University.

•Being pro-active about the benefits of biotechnology: Lori Fenimore, DuPont, Council for Biotechnology Information.

Seven CEUs will be offered for Certified Crop Advisers. Five CEUs for the Texas Department of Agriculture Pesticide Training will be offered.

Mention TAIA to receive a special rate at the Holiday Inn, phone 806/763-1200.

For more information call the Texas Ag Industries Association at 512/259-2118.