Register today!
Sunday - April 23
2 - 5 p.m. - U.S. National Arboretum
Tour the beautiful gardens and learn more about the Arboretum which is administered by USDA’s Agricultural Research Service. We will also receive a short briefing on some of the interesting ARS research going on there and around the country.
7:30 p.m. - Dinner
Farmers Fishers Bakers
3000 K St. NW, Washington Harbour, Washington, D.C.
Monday - April 24
Annual Meeting - Cosmos Club 2121 Massachusetts Ave NW, Washington, DC
9-10 a.m. - Farm Bill Focus
John Newton, chief economist at Senate Agriculture Committee - Republicans
Mary Kay Thatcher, senior lead for federal government relations at Syngenta
Ellen Vollinger, SNAP Director, Food Research & Action Center
10:30-11:30 a.m. - USDA’s Impact on the Farm
Robert Bonnie, USDA undersecretary for Farm Production and Conservation
Zach Ducheneaux, Farm Service Agency administrator
Heather Manzano, Risk Management Agency deputy administrator
11:30 - Lunch
12:00 Keynote Speaker USDA Undersecretary for Marketing and Regulatory Affairs, Jenny Lester Moffitt
1:30-2:30 p.m. - Get Smart: Learn more about USDA’s Climate-Smart Partnerships
Rob Larew, National Farmers Union president
Tom Thompson, Virginia Tech College of Agriculture associate dean
Belinda Burrier, United Soybean Board farmer leader from Maryland
2:30-4:30 p.m. - Business Meeting
6-8 p.m. - Networking and Awards Reception
National Press Club
Awards will start at 7 p.m.
Tuesday, April 25
Capitol Hill press conferences - SV203
9 a.m. - Senate Agriculture Committee Ranking Member John Boozman, R-Ark.
Confirmed to speak, waiting on times:
10:30 a.m. - Rep. Jim Costa, D-Calif.
11:30 a.m. - Senate Agriculture Committee Chairwoman Debbie Stabenow, D-Mich.
12:30 - 2 p.m. - Canadian Embassy
Luncheon and short presentation from dignitaries
2:30 p.m. - House Agriculture Committee Chairman Glenn “GT” Thompson, R-Pa.
1300 Longworth Building
If you are planning flights, I would advise on Tuesday to leave late afternoon or early evening from Reagan Airport or later if you choose to fly out of the other nearby airports. You will not be able to bring your luggage to Capitol Hill or likely the Canadian Embassy.