Schedule

Farming with Grass:
Achieving Sustainable Mixed Agricultural Landscapes in Grasslands Environments

A Special Conference hosted by
the Soil & Water Conservation Society

October 20-22, 2008
Sheraton Oklahoma City
Oklahoma City, OK

2:00 PM – Opening Plenary Session

Dr. Frederick L. Kirschenmann, Leopold Center for Sustainable Agriculture

4:00 PM – ARS Grazinglands Research Laboratory, El Reno, OK

The Grazinglands Research Laboratory, at El Reno, Oklahoma, will host a dinner and networking event following the Opening Plenary Session. This event is included with your regular conference registration.

8:00 AM – Topic 1: Status and trends - Keynote, Response One/Two

Status and trends in types of agricultural systems, inputs, productivity, profitability, environmental indicators, and rural demographics and economics. John Ikerd, Professor Emeritus of Agricultural Economics, University of Missouri

9:30 AM – Break for viewing and discussion of posters on Topics 1 and 2

10:00 AM – Topic 2: Environmental, social, and economic benefits - Keynote, Response One/Two

Environmental, social, and economic benefits of mixed grassland landscapes to include farm level, rural community, and broad social perspectives. Deborah E. Popper, Associate Professor of Geography, College of Staten Island, City University of New York and Frank J. Popper, Professor, Planning and Public Policy Program, Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy, Rutgers University

11:30 AM – Lunch & Moderated Roundtable Discussion of Topics 1 and 2

1:30 PM – Topic 3: Factors driving change - Keynote, Response One/Two

Factors driving change in grassland environments (e.g., resource availability, demographics, social dynamics, economics, climate change, farm, environmental and energy policy, and local zoning/farmland preservation) Vivien Gore Allen, Thornton Distinguished Chair, Department of Plant & Soil Science, Texas Tech University

3:00 PM – Break for viewing and discussion of posters on Topic 3

3:30 PM – Moderated Roundtable Discussion of Topic 3

5:00 PM – Reception for viewing and discussion of posters

Evening – No scheduled activities – Transportation to Bricktown available www.bricktownokc.com

8:00 AM – Topic 4: Assessment tools - Keynote, Response One/Two

Assessment tools for monitoring and predicting changes and to support scenario analyses of alternatives and tradeoffs. Dennis Ojima, Senior Scholar, The H John Heinz III Center for Science, Economics, and the Environment

9:30 AM – Break for viewing and discussion of posters on Topic 4 and 5

10:00 AM – Topic 5: Science and policy - Keynote, Response One/Two

Science and policy needed to sustain agriculture in mixed grassland environments, including role of marketbased tools, state and local water laws and policies, and environmental trades (e.g. greenhouse gas emissions, water allocation, effluent releases). George Boody, Executive Director, Land Stewardship Project

11:30 AM – Lunch & Moderated Roundtable Discussion of Topics 4 and 5

1:30 PM – Closing Session

Jean Steiner, USDA-ARS