09/26/2000

Ag Development Roundtable "Listening Session" to be Held in Greensboro

GREENSBORO, Ala.—A roundtable "listening session" focusing on identifying the current and future needs of Alabama agriculture will be held Oct. 5 from 3 to 5 p.m. at the Hale County Agricultural Extension Center in Greensboro, according to Luther Waters, dean of the Auburn University College of Agriculture and director of the Alabama Agricultural Experiment Station.

These listening sessions sprang from a meeting held earlier this year at Auburn University. That initial meeting focused on unifying Alabama's agribusiness leaders and university resources to strengthen the state's $4.7 billion farm and forestry industry.

A total of six "listening sessions" will be held with agricultural and forestry producers around the state in October and will be followed in February 2001 with a statewide, open-to-the-public Ag Summit. The goals of that first-ever event are to call attention to the importance of farming and forestry in Alabama's economy and to develop a strategic plan to ensure that the industry continues to grow and hold a pivotal role in economic development in Alabama. Currently, as the state's leading industry, agriculture and forestry accounts for 22 percent of Alabama's total economy.

Auburn's College of Agriculture, the Alabama Agricultural Experiment Station (AAES) and the Alabama Cooperative Extension System hosted the roundtable and are spearheading the listening sessions.

Subjects to be addressed at the listening sessions include economic development, profitability and sustainability of agriculture and forestry, diversification opportunities, the image of agriculture and the leadership role of Alabama's land-grant institutions in developing an initiative for current and future needs.

According to Waters, these meetings are open to the public and intended to gain feedback from all sectors of the communities. "Anyone interested in issues of rural-urban interfacing and rural development is invited and encouraged to attend," he said.

For more information on the area meeting, contact Jimmy Holliman at 334-872-7878 or Jamie Clary at 334-624-8710.

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News from:

Office of Ag Communications & Marketing

Auburn University College of Agriculture
Alabama Agricultural Experiment Station
3 Comer Hall, Auburn University
Auburn, AL 36849
334-844-4877 (PHONE) 334-844-5892 (FAX)

Contact Jamie Creamer, 334-844-2783 or jcreamer@auburn.edu
Contact Katie Jackson, 334-844-5886 or smithcl@auburn.edu

09/26/00