USDA’s Office of the Chief Economist announced today that U.S. Trade Representative Ronald Kirk will be a featured speaker at the 2010 Agricultural Outlook Forum on Feb. 18 in Arlington, Va. Kirk serves as the principal trade advisor and negotiator to President Obama.
Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack will deliver the Forum’s keynote address. The theme of this year’s Forum is “Sustainable Agriculture: The Key to Health & Prosperity and the two-day event will feature more than 125 moderators and speakers. While sustainable agriculture is this year’s theme, USDA’s traditional commodity supply and demand sessions will anchor the conference. Topical sessions will address global trade, health and food safety issues, organics, renewable energy, conservation, food prices and a host of other topics.
Since his Senate confirmation on March 18, 2009, Kirk has developed trade policies that focus on America’s small- and medium-sized businesses, increased enforcement of existing trade agreements, and advanced the Doha Round of world trade negotiations.
Before joining USTR, Kirk was a partner at Vinson & Elkins LLP. He was named one of “The 50 Most Influential Minority Lawyers in America” by The National Law Journal and one of the nation’s top government relations lawyers by The Best Lawyers in America from 2007-2009. He was the first African American mayor of Dallas from 1995 - 2001, served as Texas Secretary of State, as a legislative aide to U.S. Senator Lloyd Bentsen (D-Tex.) and as chair of the Texas General Service Commission.
The Forum will be held at the Crystal Gateway Marriott Hotel in Arlington, Va. It begins at 8 a.m. on Thursday, Feb. 18, and ends at 3:30 p.m. Friday, Feb. 19. A full roster of speakers, topics and registration is at www.usda.gov/oce/forum. Registration is $350 until Jan. 15. Plenary speeches will be Webcast after 3:30 p.m. EST on Feb. 18, and speech and PowerPoint presentations will be posted online after 6 p.m. on Feb. 19.
Source : USDA