Agriculture Summit to explore energy issues

RICHMOND—The sixth annual Virginia Agriculture Summit will be held Feb. 9 and 10 at the Omni Richmond Hotel. This year’s theme will be “Energy: Impacts and Opportunities.”

The keynote speaker is Andy Karsner, former U.S. assistant secretary for energy efficiency and renewable energy. Karsner will give a presentation on “Building Our Energy Future: Innovation for the New American Century and the Implications for Rural America.”

Tom Dorr, former undersecretary for rural development for the U.S. Department of Agriculture, will provide the closing address.

Other speakers will include Frank V. Maisano, energy and environmental media specialist for Bracewell & Giuliani, and Stephen Walz, director of the Virginia Department of Mines, Minerals and Energy and energy advisor to the governor.

“Agriculture and rural America have been especially challenged by the volatile nature of energy prices and supply-demand dynamics over the last couple of years,” said Spencer Neale, senior assistant director of commodity marketing for the Virginia Farm Bureau Federation.

“The goal of this year’s summit is to look at some of these impacts and hear some realistic short- and long-term ideas and possible solutions to help increase energy independence.”

The summit is open to all interested members of the agriculture community. Registration is $50 by Jan. 30 and $75 afterward or at the door.

Agenda and lodging information is available at www.agsummit.com. Interested persons also can contact Brenda Fleming at 804-290-1155.

The summit’s sponsors are U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development; Virginia Cooperative Extension; the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services; Virginia Farm Bureau Federation; the Virginia Foundation for Agriculture, Innovation & Rural Sustainability; and Virginia Tech.