Registration Now Open for USMEF Strategic Planning Conference

Register now to attend USMEF's Strategic Planning Conference, November 8-10, 2023 at the Sheraton Hotel in New Orleans.

Click here for registration and lodging details.

Guest speakers for the USMEF Strategic Planning Conference include Alexis Taylor, USDA Under Secretary for trade and foreign agricultural affairs, and ag policy journalist Jim Wiesemeyer

The agenda will feature an in-depth look at USMEF marketing initiatives and priorities, including insights into the partnerships that help maximize the impact of members’ investments in USMEF programs. Joining this discussion will be keynote speaker Alexis Taylor, USDA Under Secretary for trade and foreign agricultural affairs, who will address attendees at Wednesday’s opening general session.

Guest speakers also include Jim Wiesemeyer, a journalist well-known for his unparalleled insights on farm and trade policy. Wiesemeyer will examine the challenges Congressional leaders face in crafting a new farm bill and achieving a FY 2024 budget agreement in a volatile political climate.

Thursday is dedicated to meetings of USMEF’s standing committees, where members will receive sector-specific updates from industry experts and USMEF’s international staff. These sessions will be followed by a tour of the Port of New Orleans and Lineage Logistics cold storage facilities. Friday’s closing business session will feature a discussion of how red meat exporters’ shipping patterns and options have evolved in recent years and offer perspectives on these issues moving forward. West Coast port congestion and labor unrest prompted significant shifts in cargo movement, but can the West Coast win back this business? Lack of trucking capacity created new opportunities to move red meat by rail – will this trend have staying power? Panelists will also provide updates on implementation of the Ocean Shipping Reform Act, which Congress approved in 2022.

Friday’s agenda will also include election of the 2023-24 USMEF officer team.

The Sheraton New Orleans hotel, located on Canal Street, is only steps away from the buzz of the French Quarter and in close proximity to the Warehouse District. World-class attractions and a vast array of restaurants are just a short walk away.

Register soon: Wednesday, Oct. 11 is the last day to receive the discounted rate!

SOURCE: USMEF