Southwest Council of Agribusiness
Announces First Annual Meeting Date

Friday, January 11, 2008                  By Shawn Wade

      Having gotten off to a whirlwind start over the past 18 months, the Southwest Council of Agribusiness has quickly established itself as a major player in the Washington agriculture policy arena.

      In celebration of the organization's early successes, the Southwest Council of Agribusiness will hold its First Annual Membership Meeting on Friday, January 25, 2008 in the Board Room of the Plains Cotton Cooperative Association (PCCA). PCCA is located at 3301 East 50th Street in Lubbock, Texas.

      The SWCA meeting will begin at 1:30 p.m. and conclude following a Keynote Address from U.S. Senator Kent Conrad of North Dakota, Chairman of the Senate Budget Committee and member of the Senate Agriculture Committee.

      The annual meeting will give members and attendees an opportunity to hear more about the work of SWCA and also hear from a line up of great speakers, highlighted by Senator Conrad who will address the farm bill and other issues of interest to the group.

      Also speaking at the meeting are SWCA President Mark Williams, presenting an overview of the SWCA's recent activities and a report on the status of the organization; National Cotton Council President & CEO Dr. Mark Lange, presenting a macroeconomic outlook for U.S. agriculture; Texas Department of Agriculture Commissioner Todd Staples, who will discuss immigration issues impacting Texas agriculture; and, John Miller of Southwest Agribusiness Consulting, who will discuss price/energy trends heading into the 2008 growing season.

      The SWCA was formed just over a year ago as an alliance of business interests who recognize the value of stable and strong farm policy to our region's economy and want to support the development and passage of a sound 2007 Farm Bill.

      The SWCA membership totals more than 70 agriculture businesses, commodity organizations and financial service providers from across the State of Texas and includes most of the state's major commodity and livestock groups.

      The SWCA is a broad-based coalition of commodity groups, agricultural bankers, equipment dealers and agribusiness interests dedicated to advancing policies conducive to maintaining a strong U.S. agriculture industry.

      To assist its efforts, the SWCA retains the services of Combest, Sell & Associates, LLC, an agricultural lobbying firm organized by former HAC Chairman Larry Combest. Combest, Sell & Associates has quickly become one of the most respected agriculture lobbying firms operating in Washington, DC.