NEWS RELEASE
July 13, 2010
ABA Media Contact: Margot Mohsberg Johnson
(202) 663-5470
E-mail: mmjohnso@aba.com

WASHINGTON — The American Bankers Association has partnered with the Canadian Bankers Association to hold the North American Agricultural Lenders Conference Nov. 7-10, 2010, at the Hilton Omaha in Omaha, Neb.

For more than five decades, the ABA has held the national forum for agricultural lenders to provide rare access to industry experts, academics and peers willing to share proven strategies for success in the ever changing world of agricultural banking. ABA and CBA held their first joint conference 15 years ago in an effort to create an international dialogue between agricultural lenders. Today, a new generation of bankers has decided that dialogue is more important than ever in this current economic climate.

Included in the conference will be sessions about the 2011 growing season, the big economic picture featuring nationally recognized economists, and agricultural portfolio stress testing. Keynote speakers include Thomas M. Hoenig, president of the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City; Walter Robb, co-president and CEO of Whole Foods Market; James Bradley, author of the New York Times #1 bestselling book, Flags of our Fathers; and returning favorite David M. Kohl, a professor emeritus of agricultural and applied economics at Virginia Tech.

More than 40 experts will provide the latest information regarding grain marketing opportunities, FSA guarantees, agriculture policy decisions and commodity outlooks for swine, dairy, cattle and grains. Sessions include:

• How Consumers and Retailers View Farmers and Food Today and Tomorrow;
  
  
• A Main Street Perspective on How Current Economic Conditions and Monetary Policy Can Lay the Foundation for a Stronger U.S. Economy;
  
  
• Challenges in the Pork Industry: A Cross Border Perspective;
  
  
• How to Build an Effective Advisory Board, and;
  
  
• Social Media as a Bank Marketing Tool.
  

Registration for the conference is $855 for ABA members. Special discounts are available for individuals who are from the same organization and register together. The fee for non-members is $1,225.

For additional information or to register for the conference, call 1-800-BANKERS or visit www.aba.com.

Note to editors: Complimentary press registration to the conference is available by contacting Margot Mohsberg Johnson at (202) 663-5470 or mmjohnso@aba.com.

The American Bankers Association represents banks of all sizes and charters and is the voice for the nation's $13 trillion banking industry and its two million employees.   Learn more at aba.com.

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