Leading experts in agricultural technology and production will speak to farmers at the 42nd annual Alabama Farmers Federation Commodity Producers Conference in Huntsville, Aug. 7-10. Registration for the conference ends July 11.

 The conference kicks off with a banquet Thursday at 7 p.m. featuring Alabama’s FFA string band quartet. Friday is filled with farm tours to north Alabama and southern Tennessee farms. Saturday, a slate of 21 speakers is scheduled. events. That evening, the conference closes with a banquet and concert by Guy Penrod, former lead singer of the Gaither Vocal Band.

Federation Governmental and Agricultural Programs Director Brian Hardin said the commodity conference seminars provide a lot of information in one location.

“Having this many speakers present will allow farmers to learn about new and emerging technologies and issues from some of the top speakers in the nation,” Hardin said. “Those educational opportunities along with the tours make this a great conference for farmers.”

Speakers include John Anderson, deputy chief economist with the American Farm Bureau Federation, who will discuss the economic and trade forecast plus the 2014 farm bill.

Federation Agriculture Professor John Fulton of Auburn University will present “Big Data—How Will It Help You in the Future?” He is a professor in Auburn’s Biosystems Engineering Department and an Alabama Cooperative Extension System (ACES) specialist.

Lewis A. Easterly of Easterly and Associates, LLC and Joseph Cowen of Cowen and Associates, LLC will host a presentation on taxes.

Easterly worked with the Alabama Department of Revenue for more than 35 years and served as an auditor, revenue research analyst, division chief and department secretary. 

Cowen is the former director of sales, use and business tax division of the Alabama Department of Revenue. He has conducted numerous sales tax training seminars.

ACES Director Gary Lemme and Bill Batchelor, dean of agriculture for Auburn University will hold a discussion on the past, present and future of ACES and the Alabama Agricultural Experiment Station.

The Federation’s Women’s Leadership Division luncheon is Saturday and coincides with the tables-capes, quilt and apron contests.

For more information or to register, visit AlfaFarmers.org.