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SCFB
Federation Co-Sponsors Third Annual The South Carolina Farm Bureau Federation (SCFB) is co-sponsoring the third annual Governor’s Summit on Agriculture and Natural Resources Thursday, February 7, 2002 at the Adams Mark Hotel in downtown Columbia. Farmers,
legislators, policy makers, educators and others will convene
at 10 a.m. to learn about and discuss topics ranging from the
environment to farmland preservation, and homeland security as
it relates to agriculture. As a
non-profit advocate for agriculture, SCFB’s mission is to
promote agricultural interests in the State of South Carolina
and to optimize the lives of those involved in agriculture
while being respectful to the needs and concerns of all
citizens in our state. Federation
president David Winkles said, “I have represented Farm
Bureau as a member of the Summit planning committee since its
inception. This
year’s Summit will provide an opportunity for people with an
interest in agriculture and natural resources to hear from the
brightest and best in the field.
Participants will then have an opportunity to advise
lawmakers on specific ways they can help South Carolina
farmers. It’s
our hope that participants will gain a broader perspective on
the trends and issues facing agriculture in South Carolina in
order for them to make better informed decisions about their
future.” The morning
will feature five information sessions – Dr.
Venaye Reece, Field Veterinarian, Animal Health Programs,
Clemson University, and SC Animal Emergency Response
Coordinator; and Dr. Neil Ogg, Regulatory and Public Service
Programs Director, Clemson University will present Homeland
Bio Security. They
will discuss bio-safety as it relates to preventing foreign
diseases from affecting the state’s livestock and crops. SC
Department of Health and Environmental Control’s Director of
the Industrial, Storm Water, and Agricultural Permitting
Division Marion Sadler will discuss the latest developments in
the state’s proposed regulations of hog farms and
regulations for other state livestock industries. Georgia
farmer Murray Campbell will talk about how recent water
restrictions in and around the Atlanta area have affected
agriculture and the water supply for farms in Georgia.
He will also discuss the importance of drought
management plans. American
Farmland Trust Assistant Vice President for Field Programs Bob
Wagner and nationally recognized property rights attorney
Jerry Finkel will share information on private property rights
and farm and forestland preservation.
They will talk about programs in other parts of the
country that have been successful in protecting farmland. Organic
agriculture, marketing and alternative crops will be discussed
by Carolina Farm Stewardship Association Executive Director
Tony Kleese and Dr. David Howle of Clemson University. They will present plans for South Carolina’s new organic
commodity certification program and help farmers learn more
about niche crops. During the
12:30 p.m. luncheon SC Governor Jim Hodges will share his
vision for the state’s farmers as he challenges Summit
participants to share information about the latest trends and
technologies in agriculture and to reach consensus on ways the
State can help keep farming and agribusiness strong in the
state. The
afternoon will feature discussion groups based on the
morning’s information sessions where participants will be
asked to reach a consensus on what State policy makers can
specifically do to help farmers. The Summit
will end with a “meet the candidates” session featuring
any candidates who have announced their intentions to run for
SC Commissioner of Agriculture by
February 7. Walk-up
registrations for the summit are welcome beginning at 9 a.m.
The registration fee is $35, which includes admission
to each session, refreshments, lunch and a late afternoon
reception. In addition
to the South Carolina Farm Bureau Federation, major
contributors for the Summit include AgFirst Farm Credit, Clemson University, Pee Dee Farm Credit, Palmetto
AgriBusiness Council, Palmetto Farm Credit, South Carolina Department of Natural Resources, South Carolina Farm Bureau Insurance Companies, South Carolina Friends of Agriculture, and Wachovia. Other
Summit sponsors include Agriculture & Natural Resources Communicators for
the Environment, South
Carolina Department of Agriculture, South Carolina State University Research and Extension
Program, and USDA-Natural
Resources Conservation Service. #
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