The 2018 Farm Bill is on the minds of farmers and ranchers. The agricultural policy and political considerations for the next farm bill will also be the topic of the Texas Ag Forum set for Jan. 29 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Hilton Austin Airport, 9515 Hotel Drive in Austin.

It will feature experts from all major commodities, providing both policy and market outlook projections.

“For more than 30 years, the Texas Ag Forum has provided policy and market outlook for Texas agricultural producers and commodity leaders providing informative analysis,” Dr. Joe Outlaw, Texas Ag Forum secretary and Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service economist, told AgriLife Today. “Several major policy issues will be at the forefront of discussion in Austin as the next farm bill is debated.”

Scheduled speakers and topics include:

  1. Outlook on commodity price trends by Dr. Pat Westhoff, Food and Agricultural Policy Research Institute director for the University of Missouri
  2. Texas agricultural trade update and outlook by Dr. Luis Ribera, AgriLife Extension economist and director of the Center for North American Studies in College Station
  3. Dairy market and policy outlook, by Dr. Scott Brown, University of Missouri Agricultural Markets and Policy economist
  4. Modeling tools and capabilities by Dr. Henry Bryant, Agricultural and Food Policy Center economist at Texas A&M University

Advanced registration, which is coordinated by the Texas Agricultural Cooperative Council, is $125 and covers attendance and meals. Same day registration is $150.

The Texas Ag Forum was founded more than 30 years ago to provide a forum for open and public discussion of problems and emerging issues in agriculture. It’s an association of agricultural leaders and representatives from across the Texas food and fiber system. It’s a stakeholder-driven program in partnership with AgriLife Extension.