Clemson announces 3rd Annual AgOutlook Conference

WEST COLUMBIA – Financial opportunities and threats for the South Carolina agricultural industry in 2019 will be addressed during the third annual AgOutlook Conference slated for November 15.

The conference will be held from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. in the Phillips Market Center, 117 Ballard Court, West Columbia. Nathan Smith, Clemson Extension professor of agribusiness and economist, said the Clemson Extension Agribusiness Team will give the current situation in agriculture and the outlook for 2019, identifying opportunities and threats of financial success for South Carolina producers.

“Discussions will be held on various crops including corn, cotton, peanuts, soybeans, wheat, livestock, poultry and timber,” Smith said. “Special topics include a look at alternative markets related to bees, goats and industrial hemp.”

The agenda for this year’s conference includes an outlook for corn, soybean and small grains by Scott Mickey, Clemson Extension associate for farm finance and marketing. Smith follows with a cotton and peanut outlook and Bernt Nelson, Extension associate for farm management, will discuss the outlook for cattle and swine. Adam Kantrovich, Extension associate professor of agribusiness, will give the outlook for dairy and poultry.

Afternoon sessions begin with an outlook on the timber industry by Yanshu Li from the University of Georgia. Mickey and Kantrovich will discuss the financial outlook for 2019.

The day concludes with discussions of special topics including Alternative Markets: Bees and Goats by Steve Richards, agribusiness Extension associate. Kantrovich will discuss Trade and Tax Changes, followed by a discussion on Industrial Hemp by Smith.

South Carolina Ag Commissioner Hugh Weathers will give an update on South Carolina Department of Agriculture activities and Gary Spires from the South Carolina Farm Bureau will give an update on ag-related policies.

Cost to attend is $75. To register online, go to https://tinyurl.com/2019-AgOutlook. Registration ends November 14. For more information, contact Smith at nathan5@clemson.edu, Tish Baskett at lbasket@Clemson.edu, or call 803-788-5700.

“This conference is targeted at agricultural lenders and agribusiness professionals but we invite everyone who is interested in South Carolina agriculture to attend the South Carolina AgOutlook Conference to learn what is in store for 2019,” Smith said. “This will be a great opportunity to network and get a jump start on planning for 2019.”

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