NEWS RELEASE

February 28, 2018 Contact: Suzie Roget (209) 368-3672

Woodbridge, CA…..With “Cannabis”, “Labor”, “Water”, and “Investor Activity” as just a few of the headlines this year, California’s premiere annual agribusiness conference will come to the Visalia Convention Center on Thursday, March 22nd with an unusual and interesting agenda. Outlook 2018 is presented by the California Chapter of the American Society of Farm Managers and Rural Appraisers (ASFMRA) and will feature a full day of programming under the theme ‘California Agriculture: Business NOT as Usual’.

Conference Chair and Accredited Rural Appraiser, JoAnn Wall, invites and encourages anyone with an interest in California Agriculture to attend the Outlook 2018 Agribusiness Conference. “Amid a sea of regulations, standards and professional expectations, we are partners in the long, essential chain that fuels California’s mighty contributions to feeding America and much of the world,” Wall states. “We are not a static profession, but one sensitive to the ever-changing economics of agriculture and the multitude of informed decisions made every day.”

Industry experts will speak throughout the day, exploring relevant, timely and cutting-edge topics being faced by California agriculture. A look at investor activity, agricultural labor challenges, California’s continuing water woes and the changes being brought on by the Cannabis industry are all on the agenda as well as commodity updates for wine grapes, beef cattle, and nut crops. The 2018 Trends in Agricultural Land & Lease Values publication will also be released at the conference during a session that focuses on the drivers behind rural land value changes and a look at what lies ahead.

Included in the Outlook Conference each year are the presentations to the recipients of the Distinguished California Agriculturalist and Agricultural Stewardship Awards. Both awards were created to honor and recognize individuals or companies who have contributed to California agriculture in a substantial way and have become a historical highlight for the California Chapter of ASFMRA.

The Outlook 2018 Conference is open to the public and preregistration is requested by March 9th. Fees to attend are $220 for ASFMRA members and $270 for non-members. Visit http://www.calasfmra.com/db_meetings/Outlook%202018%20Brochure.pdf to download a copy of the conference brochure. Questions may be directed to the California Chapter, ASFMRA Office at (209) 368-3672 or to info@calasfmra.com.

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