The annual Agribusiness Economic Outlook Conference will be held on Tuesday, December 16, from 10 a.m. - 3:30 p.m. at Cornell.

Sponsored by Cornell's Department of Agricultural, Resource, and Managerial Economics, in cooperation with the Department of Policy Analysis and Management, the conference will feature economic outlook on agricultural and consumer issues. The conference is open to the public.

The morning plenary session begins at 10 a.m. in the David L. Call Alumni Auditorium in Kennedy Hall. William Tomek, Cornell professor of agricultural economics, will provide the national perspective on the economy and agriculture. At 11 a.m., Edward McLaughlin, Cornell professor of agricultural economics with the Food Industry Management Program, will moderate a discussion on "New Strategic Directions for Food Retailers: Implications for Agriculture," featuring panelists Gary Wolyczyn, store director of Ithaca Wegmans; Wayne Barton, director of category management of Price Chopper; and Jim Robinson, president, Olean Wholesale Grocery.

In the afternoon, three concurrent sessions will examine specific commodities and topics in more depth. These sessions will begin at 1:15 p.m.:

• In Session A, held in the David L. Call Alumni Auditorium, Tomek will address the outlook for grains, feed and other farm outputs; Mark Stephenson, Cornell senior extension associate, and Wayne Knoblauch, Cornell professor of agricultural economics, will discuss the dairy situation and outlook.
• In Session B, held in Room 145 Warren Hall, Gerald White, Cornell professor of agricultural economics, will address the fruit, grape and wine situation and outlook. Kristen Park, extension support specialist, and Debra Perosio, extension associate, both with Cornell's Food Industry Management Program, will discuss marketing and performance strategies for serving produce customers.
• Session C, which is co-sponsored by the Department of Policy Analysis and Management and by the Statewide Program Committee on Health, Nutrition, and Food Systems, will be conducted in E-405 Martha Van Rensselaer Hall. Lois Wright Morton, Cornell senior extension associate in the Department of Policy Analysis and Management, will address "Consumer Food Trends and Outlook." Christine Ranney, Cornell associate professor of agricultural economics, will provide a legislative update on "Welfare Reform and Related Food Issues." Ardyth Gillespie, Cornell associate professor of nutritional sciences, will discuss "The Rochester Plant Food Project."

The deadline for pre-registration is December 1. The pre-registration fee is $30. Registrations postmarked after December 1 will be $45. Registrations will not be accepted over the phone, so please plan accordingly. Box lunches, if desired, will be available for $6.00; parking permits will cost $2.00. For further information or to request a pre-registration form, contact Carol Peters at (607) 255-1602.