Greetings

Iowa's Center for Agricultural Safety and Health and the North American Agromedicine Consortium (NAAC) are co-hosting the “Changing Face of Agriculture: Alternative Agriculture, Biofuels, and Food Safety” conference to be held November 15-16, 2007 at the Embassy Suites in the Old Market of Omaha, Nebraska, and we need you there.

Farmers may attend the conference at a special rate of only $25 per day.  The deadline for registration is next Monday, November 5^th.

Registration fee includes an optional tour of the E³ Biofuels/Mead Cattle Company in Mead, NE, and Soaring Wings Vineyard in Springfield, NE.

The conference will feature the following plenary speakers:

Everything But…: Alternative Agriculture in the Midwest – Matthew Russell, MS

Biofuels: An EPA Perspective – Sally Shaver, MS

What the USDA Does to Guarantee Food Safety and Food Security for Meat & Poultry – Richard Raymond, MD

Ergonomic Interventions in California Labor Intensive Agriculture – Fadi Fathallah, PhD

Following the a.m. plenary session will be three breakout session tracks in the following areas: Alternative Agriculture, Biofuels, or Food Safety.  The Alternative Agriculture session will consist of a panel of 3 farmers, who will have 30 minutes each to describe their operations and accompanying health and safety concerns, with response from a panel of 3 health and safety professionals.  There will be an open discussion at the end.

Registration is for the 2-day conference includes a tour of E3 Biofuels plant, Mead Cattle Company, and Soaring Wings Vineyard . For more information, call 319-335-4224 or visit http://www.public-health.uiowa.edu/icash/  or register online at http://www.unmc.edu/dept/rhen/index.cfm?CONREF=77 

There will be a networking dinner at the Embassy Suites in Omaha (Council Bluffs Room) beginning at 6:00 p.m. on Wednesday, November 14th.  If you are interested in attending, the $40 cost is listed separately on the registration form, so be sure to select it.  http://www.unmc.edu/dept/rhen/index.cfm?CONREF=77

Space is limited on the tours, so register as soon as possible. Contact me if you have any further questions.


11/14 Wednesday

3:30 – 5:30 p.m.         I-CASH Board of Directors and Advisory Council Meeting, Elkhorn Rooms A & B

6:00 - 10:00 p.m.        Networking Dinner, Council Bluffs Room  


11/15 Thursday

      7:00 – 8:00 a.m.      Registration & Continental Breakfast; Exhibitors/Poster presentation set up

    8:00 – 11:30 a.m.       Announcements, Welcome, and Plenary Speakers (w/one break)

11:30 – 1:00 a.m.        Lunch

 11:45           Presentation of Youth Safety Awards by I-CASH

    12:00           “Ergonomic Interventions in California Labor Intensive Agriculture”  Fadi Fathallah, PhD, Associate Professor, University of California, Davis, CA

12:40            Visit Exhibits/Poster presentations in Missouri Room (refreshments)

 1:00 – 5:00 p.m.        Break-out sessions:  Alternative Agriculture, Biofuels & Food Safety.  Participants will select one of the three to attend.

                                            During this afternoon session, there will be two breaks, with refreshments served in the Exhibit Area.

 5:00 p.m.                  Adjourn.  Dinner on your own.  Breakout Leaders and Note Takers – meet to prepare presentation for Friday plenary session

                       

11/16  Friday

      7:30 – 8:45        Plenary session – Platte Room: Discussion and input to the report from previous day Breakout Sessions.

9:00 – 2:00        Farm Tours – Transportation to be provided

·          E³ Biofuels/Mead Cattle Company, Mead, NE

·          Soaring Wings Vineyard, Springfield, NE

2:00 p.m.        Conference Adjourned


Conference Homepage:  http://www.unmc.edu/dept/rhen/index.cfm?CONREF=77

Conference Brochure: http://www.unmc.edu/media/rhen/ag_health__safety_brochure_final_recd_10407.pdf

Sponsor Letter: http://www.unmc.edu/media/rhen/sponsor_letter_and_form_10042007.pdf

Registration Form: http://www.abcsignup.com/reg/event_page.asp?ek=0064-0003-04B96B36DFC946199F1F3A0C4B77E44E

Abstract Submission: http://www.unmc.edu/media/rhen/naac__icash_conf_call_for_abstract_submission_final.doc

Agenda: http://www.unmc.edu/media/rhen/agenda_updated_09132007.pdf

Iowa's Center for Agricultural Safety and Health was established to enhance the health and safety of Iowa's agricultural community by establishing and coordinating prevention and education programs.  The North American Agromedicine Consortium (NAAC) is devoted to the programmatic teamwork of land-grant and medical universities and their partners to promote health and prevent disease for farmers and farm workers and their families, others in rural communities, and consumers of food and fiber.

Please forward this information to anyone you think may be interested in this conference.

Hope to see you there!  Thanks.

Meggan Fisher

Research Assistant

The University of Iowa

Iowa's Center for Agricultural Safety and Health

100 Oakdale Campus, 124 IREH

Iowa City, IA 52242

(319) 335-4226 phone

(319) 335-4290 fax

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