09/26/2000

Ag Development Roundtable "Listening Sessions" to be Held Statewide

AUBURN, Ala.—A series of listening sessions focused on identifying the current and future needs of Alabama agriculture will be held throughout the state in October and open to the public, according to Luther Waters, dean of the AU 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.

The 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.

The dates, times and locations for the meetings are:

October 3 Clanton, Alabama Power Building, 3:30-5:30 p.m. (contact: Gary Gray at 205-755-3240 or Jim Pitts at 205-646-3610)

October 5 Greensboro, Hale County Agricultural Extension Center, 3-5 p.m. (contact: Jimmy Holliman at 334-872-7878 or Jamie Clary at 334-624-8710)

October 10 Ozark, Dale Government Building, 3-5 p.m. (contact: Larry Wells at 334-693-2363 or Thomas Agee at 334-774-2329)

October 12 Bay Minette, Baldwin County Administration Building, 3-5 p.m. (contact: Ronnie McDaniel at 334-928-2740 or Buck Farrier at 334-937-7176)

October 24 Oneonta, Frank Green Building, 3-5 p.m. (contact: Tony Dawkins at 256-528-7133, Arnold Caylor at 256-734-5820 or Dan Porch at 205-274-2129)

October 26 Decatur, Wheeler Wildlife Refuge, 3-5 p.m. (contact: Chet Norris at 256-353-3978 or Ronald Britnell at 256-773-2549)

For more information about these meetings, call the contact names listed by each session.

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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