Ag Secretary Perdue to keynote Montana Ag Summit 2017

From the office of U.S. Sen. Steve Daines

U.S. Sen. Steve Daines, R-Mont., announced that newly confirmed U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue will deliver a keynote address at the Montana Ag Summit 2017.

"I'm excited to host Secretary Perdue in Montana for the Montana Ag Summit," Daines said in a press release. "This will be a great opportunity for Secretary Perdue to see Montana's number one economic driver firsthand and talk with our hardworking farmers and ranchers. Nothing replaces seeing our state and hearing what's on the minds of Montanans."

The summit, co-sponsored by Daines, will take place in Great Falls May 31 and June 1 in Montana ExpoPark's Pacific Steel & Recycling Arena.

The Montana Ag Summit will bring some of the nation's agricultural leaders to Montana's Golden Triangle. The summit will focus on strengthening international relationships for Montana agriculture, showcasing technological advancements, promoting the next generation of farmers and ranchers, and discussing the challenges of federal policies and regulations.

Daines invited Perdue to the Montana Ag Summit during his confirmation hearing March 23.

  Other speakers at the summit include:

• U.S. Sen. Pat Roberts, R-Kan., chairman of the U.S. Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry

• Phil DiPofi, president and CEO of Northwest Farm Credit Services

• J. Christopher Giancarlo, acting chairman of the U.S. Com-modity Futures Trading Commission

• Augusto Bassanini, president and CEO of United Grain Corp.

• Juan Ramon Alaix, CEO of Zoetis

• Keith McGovern, CEO of the R.D. Offutt Co.

Sponsors of the summit include Northwest Farm Credit Services, Montana Chamber Foundation, Cargill, Zoetis, Montana Farm Bureau Federation, Rain and Hail Insurance Society, Yellowstone County Farm Bureau, Northern Ag Network, CHS MillerCoors, National Cattlemen's Beef Association, TransCanada, First Interstate Bank United Grain Corp.

To register and for more information people can go to the website at https://www.agsummitmontana.com.

The agenda for the summit is:

Wednesday, May 31

4 - 6 p.m .: Welcome reception and opening remarks from Daines.

Thursday, June 1

7 a.m .: Registration opens and networking breakfast

• Welcome from Daines

• Innovation for Livestock Productivity; CEO Juan Ramon Alaix, Zoetis

• The Future of Ag: Technology and Business Transition, Keith McGovern, CEO of the R.D. Offutt Co.

• The Importance of U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission, Acting Chairman J. Christopher Giancarlo, U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission

• Supporting the Next Generation of Farmers and Ranchers, President and CEO Phil DiPofi, Northwest Farm Credit Services

• Panel: International Opportunities and Success Stories

• Lunch

• A conversation with Chairman of the U.S. Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry Pat Roberts, R-Kan., and Daines on the future of agriculture

• Panel:  Next Gen: Millennials and Agribusiness

  • Export Market Opportunities, President and CEO Augusto Bassanini, United Grain Corp.

• Panel:  Looking Toward the Future: Developments in Ag Research and High Tech Ag

• Closing remarks from Daines

5 p.m. conclude

Please note the schedule is subject to change.