March 2, 1999

Illinois Ag Leadership Program National Travel

Washington D.C.

AG ISSUES, ANTI-TRUST, MONEY POLICY AND
THE ENVIRONMENT ADDRESSED

Dr. Joe Glauber (left), Deputy Chief Economist of the Office of Chief Economist, discussed the current hog market situation and domestic grain outlook.

The class also heard from Gary Margheim, Special Assistant to the chief, Natural Resources Conservation Service on water quality issues. Ann Carey Special Assistant for Strategic Natural Resource Issues covered the Kyoto Agreement on Climate Change. Robert Riemenschnieder, Director, Grain and Feed Division, Foreign Agricultural Services presented an international perspective. 

Over lunch, the class heard from Gary Myers, President of the Fertilizer Institute and Everett Zillinger, Director of Govermental Relations of the Fertilizer Institute on current agricultural  issues active on the hill.

After lunch, the class walked to the Federal Trade Commission building where they met with George Slover, (left) Attorney for Legal Policy, Anti-trust Division, Department of Justice and David Balto (right), Assistant Director for Policy Evaluation, Bureau of Competition. They spoke on the topic of maintaining a competitive marketplace and the evaluaton of mergers and consolidation.

Karen Fraase thanked the Honorable Edward Gramlich, Member, Board of Governors, Federal Reserve Bank following a lively question and answer session .

The day concluded with representatives from American Rivers, Justin Hayes, Associate Director of Public Policy on the salmon issue in Washington and Scott Fabor on the progress Illinois has made with soil erosion and runoff affecting the Illinois and Mississippi Rivers.