The 2018 Agribusiness Conference is convening industry leaders, officials and executives today in Jonesboro to discuss the biggest issues and impacts to agriculture. Melvin Torres, Director of Western Hemisphere Trade is representing the World Trade Center Arkansas at this year's conference.

(Read about the World Trade Center Arkansas' participation in last year's conference.)

"This is really an opportunity for us to gain an in-depth understanding of the current agriculture industry and how today's issues in policy and the market will affect agriculture producers in Arkansas," Torres said. "We can then incorporate this new information in our service to Arkansas agriculture companies."

These issues include the upcoming Farm Bill, the impact of the new Tax Cuts and Jobs Act and the markets for rice, poultry, cotton and beef. The conference takes place at the Fowler Center on the ASU campus and is broken up into general sessions, a luncheon session and concurrent sessions in the afternoon.

Speakers at the 2018 Agribusiness Conference include Arkansas Secretary of Agriculture Wes Ward; Riceland Foods Senior Vice President and COO Carl Brothers; Executive Producer of Talk Business and Politics Roby Brock and others including ASU Chancellor Kelley Damphousse, deans, professors and business men and women.

A list of speakers and the program schedule can be read here.

The mission of the World Trade Center Arkansas is to grow trade and increase Arkansas exports by connecting Arkansas businesses to the world through international trade services. For more information and valuable updates, please follow the Center on Facebook and Twitter, or subscribe to the World Trade Center Arkansas newsletter.