FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — Earlier this month, U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced the department's Fall Forum series to highlight the progress made on the top issues facing the future of agriculture and set the stage for the next administration to continue to support a strong future for American agriculture.

The University of Arkansas School of Law and Dale Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food and Life Sciences have partnered to present the USDA New Farmers and Land Tenure Fall Forum featuring USDA Acting Deputy Secretary Michael T. Scuse, which will begin at 9:30 a.m. Monday, Aug. 29, in the E.J. Ball Courtroom.

The day of panel discussions, remarks and audience feedback will focus on the next generation of agriculture and land tenure issues. This is the first in the USDA series, which will each be hosted in partnership with leading universities across the country and focus on a different agricultural issue.

With the average age of the American farmer exceeding 58 years, those in USDA recognize the need to bring more people into agriculture. Over the course of this administration, USDA has provided resources to increase support to the farmers of the future by improving access to land and capital; building new markets and market opportunities; extending new conservation opportunities; offering appropriate risk management tools; and increasing outreach, education and technical support.

In addition to Scuse, the audience will hear from Arkansas Secretary of Agriculture Wes Ward and University of Arkansas Chancellor Joseph E. Steinmetz as well as Lona Robertson, interim dean of Bumpers College and Stacy Leeds, dean of the School of Law.

Other participants include:

John Anderson, College of the Ozarks

Dr. Edmund Buckner, University of Arkansas Pine Bluff

Abraham Carpenter, Carpenter Produce

Cassie Davis, Davis Dairy

Shannon Ferrell, Oklahoma State University

Dr. Dewayne Goldmon, Dell-Cam Farm, Monsanto, National Black Growers Council

H.L. Goodwin, University of Arkansas  

Josh Hardin, Laughing Stock Farm

Dr. Tasha Hargrove, Tuskegee University

Janie Hipp, University of Arkansas

Zachery Ilbery, Zach's Angus Ranch

Ashlee Johnson, U.S. Department of Agriculture

Gary Matteson, Farm Credit Council

John McAlpine, Kingwood Forestry Services

Lawrence McCullough, Arkansas USDA Rural Development

Linda Newkirk, Arkansas USDA Farm Service Agency

Allen Olson, Olson Law Firm

Monica Rainge, Federation of Southern Cooperatives

Chris Roper, Quapaw Tribe of Oklahoma

Terrell "Spence" Spencer, Across the Creek Farm

Mike Sullivan, Arkansas USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service