WASHINGTON, Oct. 31, 2023 – The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced today the opening of registration for the 100th Annual Agricultural Outlook Forum. This landmark event, titled “Cultivating the Future,” will be held in person at the Crystal City Gateway Marriott in Arlington, Va., on February 15-16, 2024. All Forum sessions will also be livestreamed on a virtual platform.
“As we reflect on a century of agricultural progress, we’re not just celebrating our achievements, we're also preparing for an even better future,” said Secretary of Agriculture Thomas Vilsack.
“The 2024 Forum underscores USDA’s commitment to fostering innovation, sustainability, and resilience in the sector and serves as a platform for bringing together minds dedicated to advancing America’s agriculture.”
The 2024 Forum program will feature a keynote address by Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack, a presentation on the outlook for agricultural markets and trade by USDA Chief Economist Seth Meyer, a plenary panel of distinguished guest speakers, and 30 breakout sessions covering a wide range of timely agricultural, food market, and environmental issues. More than a hundred experts from government, industry, and academia will share insights on topics such as commodity and food price outlooks, U.S. and global agricultural trade developments, agricultural innovations, climate change, and the bioeconomy.
The in-person event will also feature exhibit booths from agencies across USDA highlighting their missions and activities.
Future Leaders Program
The Future Leaders in Agriculture program is an academic competition focused on identifying college students from land-grant colleges and universities, Hispanic-Serving Institutions, and non-land-grant colleges of agriculture, who have the skills and experience to be tomorrow’s leaders in agriculture. This year, 20 students in agriculture-related fields of study (15 undergraduate students and five graduate students) will be selected to participate in this program in Washington, D.C. The program will include meetings with leaders from across USDA and agricultural staff on Capitol Hill, networking opportunities with fellow student participants and USDA staff, and full participation in the 2024 Agricultural Outlook Forum. All transportation, lodging, meals, and conference registration fees are covered for the students selected. Apply today.
About USDA’s Outlook Forum
USDA’s Agricultural Outlook Forum began in 1923 as a way to disseminate USDA data and analyses to farmers, so they had the tools to understand markets and make informed production decisions. Over time, the event has evolved into a unique platform where key stakeholders from the agricultural sector in the United States and around the world come together every year to discuss current and emerging topics and trends in the sector.
The Agricultural Outlook Forum, organized by USDA’s Office of the Chief Economist together with other USDA agencies, is independent of commercial interests and aims to facilitate information sharing among stakeholders and generate the transparency that supports more, better, and fairer markets for producers and consumers alike.
Visit the Agricultural Outlook Forum website to register, reserve discounted room rates, or apply for the USDA Future Leaders in Agriculture Program.
Follow the conversation at #AgOutlook100 on USDA’s Instagram, X, and Facebook.
USDA touches the lives of all Americans each day in many positive ways. In the Biden-Harris Administration, USDA is transforming America’s food system with a greater focus on more resilient local and regional food production and fairer markets for all producers. USDA is dedicated to ensuring access to safe, healthy, and nutritious food in all communities, building new markets and streams of income for farmers and producers. In order to reach these goals, USDA encourages the use of climate smart food and forestry practices. USDA is making historic investments in infrastructure and clean energy capabilities in rural America and is committed to equity across the Department by removing systemic barriers and building a workforce more representative of America. To learn more, visit www.usda.gov.
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