Sep 08, 2011

2011 Ag. Enterprise Area Forum

Registration is still available to attend the September 27, 2011 Agricultural Enterprise Area Forum!

"Preparing for Wisconsin's Agricultural and Economic Future."

To register, visit: http://datcpservices.wisconsin.gov/confreg/agforum.jsp

DATCP is hosting this first Agricultural Enterprise Area (AEA) Forum on September 27, 2011, at the Kalahari Resort in Wisconsn Dells.

The intended audience for the forum is landowners, local officials, and county staff within designated AEAs, community leaders interested in forming AEAs, and agribusinesses and economic development organizations.  Any interested individual is invited to attend, regardless if they are part of a designated AEA.

The AEA program gives statewide designation to areas identified by the local community as critical for farmland preservation and important for future agricultural investment.  Currently, there are 17 areas designated or recommended for designation.  These 17 areas total approximately 340,000 acres statewide.

The forum begins at 10:00 am and will conclude by 3:30pm. See agenda below and the attached press release for more details.

Agenda

  • Welcome by Secretary Ben Brancel, Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection
  • Keynote presentations: “Preparing for Wisconsin’s Agricultural and Economic Future”
    • Steven Deller, Professor of Agricultural and Applied Economics, UW-Madison
    • Bruce Jones, Professor of Agricultural and Applied Economics, UW-Madison
  • Panel discussion: Resources to achieve economic development goals
    • Paul Dietmann, Director, Wisconsin Farm Center, WI Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection
    • Teresa Engel, Program Director, "Buy Local, Buy Wisconsin Program," WI Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection
    • Frank Frassetto, Regional Development Manager,Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation
    • Mike Powers (Moderator), Administrator, Agricultural Development Division, WI Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection
  • Breakout sessions
    • Roundtable discussion with AEA representatives including updates, activities, and challenges
    • Steps involved to establish a successful AEA proposal - Coreen Fallat, Program Manager, AEA Program, WI Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection