AGRICULTURAL OUTLOOK FORUM ON FEB. 24
                                              Release No. 0048.97

              Raymond Bridge (202) 720-5447, rbridge@oce.usda.gov
              Maria Bynum    (202) 720-5192, maria.bynum@usda.gov

GLICKMAN TO OPEN USDA'S AGRICULTURAL OUTLOOK FORUM ON FEB. 24
     
     WASHINGTON, Feb. 13, 1997--Agriculture Secretary Dan Glickman, as well
as leading agricultural officials, academics, and farmers are scheduled to
participate in the U. S. Department of Agriculture's Agricultural Outlook
Forum  97 on  Feb. 24 and 25.

     The Department holds a forum each year to help farmers and the food
and fiber industry plan for the future.  "This year's meeting will focus on
long-term prospects and issues in light of recent farm and trade policy
changes, including passage of the 1996 Farm Act," Glickman said.
"The forum also will address an array of challenges confronting a more open
and competitive farm economy."

     Glickman will open the Forum '97 at 1:00 p.m. on Feb. 24 with a
keynote speech.  USDA Chief Economist Keith Collins will report on the farm
and food price outlook, University of Minnesota Agriculture Dean Michael
Martin will discuss changes ahead for farmers, and USDA's Deputy Under
Secretary for Natural Resources and Environment Thomas R. Hebert will assess
new environmental policies.         

     USDA's Risk Management Agency Administrator Kenneth Ackerman and
Commodity Futures Trading Commissioner Joseph Dial will address new risk
management tools for farmers.  In a concurrent session, top officials of the
International Food Policy Research Institute and the Organization for
Economic Cooperation and Development will discuss world food security and
market stability in the new century.  Council of Economic Advisers Chairman
Joseph E. Stiglitz will speak at a dinner scheduled for that evening.

      On Feb. 25, USDA will unveil long-term agricultural projections to
the year 2005 based on the 1996 Farm Act.  Government and industry analysts
and academics will take part in sessions on farm and commodity prospects,
the future of genetically modified crops, the consumer price index for food,
expanding high-valued farm exports, and market concentration in agriculture. 
European Commission agriculture official David F. Roberts is scheduled to
discuss farm policy choices facing the European Community.  U.S. Rep.Calvin
M. Dooley (D-CA); Farmland Industries, Inc., President and CEO Harry
Cleberg, and U.S. Meat Export Federation President and CEO Phillip M. Seng
are slated to discuss farm exports.  Danville, IN, farmer John Hardin, past
president of the National Pork Producers' Council, is among five producers
speaking at the Forum.

     The public is invited to attend the meeting, to be held at the Omni
Shoreham Hotel, 2500 Calvert Street, N.W., in Washington, D.C.  To register
call the USDA Graduate School at (202) 401-9421.  Journalists planning to
cover the conference should preregister by calling Martha Evans at (202)
501-6134.   A staffed press room will be in operation throughout the
meeting.

     For a schedule and a complete list of speakers, follow voice prompts
to request release no. 0049 on USDA's AgNewsFAX service, (202) 690-3944, or
access the Outlook Forum home page on the World Wide Web at
http//www.usda.gov/oce/waob/agforum.htm.
                                
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NOTE: The registration fee for the forum will be waived for accredited
media.  Journalists unable to attend the event can reserve press packets by
calling Martha Evans at (202) 501-6134 in advance of the meeting. 
Television coverage on Feb. 24 is invited.  Appropriate lighting will be
provided.  Sound feeds for recording will be available at all sessions. 
USDA news releases and media advisories are available on the Internet. 
Access the USDA Home Page on the World Wide Web at http://www.usda.gov