Nebraska Governor Dave Heineman and state Ag Director Greg Ibach have unveiled the details for the 25th annual Governor’s Ag Conference…coming up February 12th and 13th in Kearney.

Heineman says conference will be a different from its predecessors…featuring speakers looking at long-term issues facing the state’s ag producers and related businesses, and not just the drought and Farm Bill issues that currently make up much of the discussion.

The conference begins the afternoon of February 12th with Dr. Roger Beachy of the Donald Danforth Plant Science Center in St. Louis, Mo., talking about the future of biotechnology, and how new research and policy considerations may influence opportunities for Nebraska.

Tyson Redpath..a former aide to House Speaker John Boehner but now with The Russell Group…will discuss the effects of state animal welfare laws on interstate commerce. While UNL vice chancellor will talk about the school’s analysis of Nebraska’s position within the United States as a food producer now, and in the future.

Also speaking will be Jerry Hagstrom, with the Hagstrom Report, who will give an analysis of current activity in Washington that could affect Nebraska agriculture, and State Climatologist Al Dutcher on the year ahead in weather.

Greg Ibach says the lineup and topics for the Governor’s Ag Conference could change in the coming weeks, depending on what happens in Washington on the fiscal cliff and the new farm bill.

The conference will also once again include the “Celebrate Nebraska Agriculture” reception the first night. It will feature a wide variety of Nebraska food products as well as two Nebraska entertainers: magician Adam White and cowboy poet R.P. Smith.

Cost of the conference is $100…which covers participation at activities on both Tuesday and Wednesday. Registration is available online at www.agr.ne.gov, or by calling NDA toll-free at (800) 831-0550.