ag-formation

SOUTH CAROLINA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE                                  Telephone (803) 734-2210

D. LESLIE TINDAL, COMMISSIONER                                        Becky Walton, Director of Public Information

P.O. Box 11280, Columbia, South Carolina 29211                                                      bwalton@scda.state.sc.us

www.state.sc.us/scda

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 11, 2000

(Arlington, VA)---The U.S.D.A.'s 76th Agricultural Outlook Forum will be held February 24-25, 2000, at the Crystal Gateway Marriott Hotel in Arlington, VA.

Topics for the Forum will be:  Farm & Trade Prospects for 2000, Bio-Engineered Farm Products and Biotechnology Issues, Farming in the New Millennium, Retail Food Prices, Long-term Commodity Prospects, Production & Marketing Contracts, Rural America in the New Millennium, WTO Negotiations, Farming Strategies, Concentration & Structural Change in Agriculture, and the Outlook (for specific commodities in the 21st Century).

Conference registration is $200 if paid by February 1.  After February 1, the registration fee increases to $230.  Conference materials, two luncheons, and a dinner are included.

To reserve hotel rooms, call 703-920-3230 by February 1 and mention the U.S.D.A. Outlook Forum to receive the preferred rate.

To register, log onto www.usda.gov/oce/waob/agforum.htm.  Or, register by calling 202-694-5700 from a fax machine and follow the prompts to request document 66666.  For more information, call 202-314-3451.