The American Society of Farm Managers and Rural Appraisers (ASFMRA) will host AgroNomics -Vision 2012, a U.S. Agricultural Investment Conference, in Phoenix, Ariz., Oct. 24 – 28, 2011. The conference is designed to bring land investors and fund managers together with the rural property experts who provide management, valuation, consulting and sales expertise for America’s farmland. The conference will be held in conjunction with the ASFMRA 82nd Annual Meeting at the Pointe Hilton Tapatio Cliffs Resort.

According to conference chair, Jeff Berg, ARA, “AgroNomics is a ‘must attend’ conference for everyone involved with purchasing agricultural property, managing farm land, appraising and valuing rural assets, or selling farm land and rural property.” An increased interest among national and international investors and fund managers to acquire US farm land inspired the development of the AgroNomics conference platform. “This opportunity to bring investors and the rural land professionals of ASFMRA together under one roof is truly a win-win,” said Berg. “We are working to meet the needs of all parties involved in these transactions.”

The AgroNomics conference will feature a number of training and program sessions in addition to an industry trade show. Attendees will have the opportunity to hear from high profile agricultural experts who will speak on a range of topics from Investment and Returns for US Agriculture to Investment Due Diligence, Capital Improvement Strategies and Financing. Larry Stenberg, Grain Leader with Dow AgroSciences is scheduled to lead off the AgroNomics program with his presentation, ‘ An Economic Outlook for US Agriculture in 2011 and Beyond’. Stenberg is predicting a situation described as ‘agriculture on steroids!’ as we look to the growing world population, emerging technology and demand for food, fuel and fiber.

Other program sessions offered during the conference include Opportunities for Investors, Managers, Valuers and Consultants with David Kruse from Grupo Iowa and Jerry Davis with the New Orleans Employees Retirement Fund; an Ag Investment Due Diligence Panel focusing on the acquisition of farm properties by institution investors with Jim McCandless of UBS Agrivest, LLC and Richard Brockmeyer from Wine Industry Investment Consulting; and The Future of Agriculture in the US and the World featuring Dr. Robert Fraley, Executive Vice President of Monsanto. (For complete conference schedule, please see www.agro-nomics.org).

Registration for the AgroNomics - Vision 2012 Investment Conference and the ASFMRA Annual Meeting are available at www.agro-nomics.org. Trade Show Exhibitor information as well as a Sponsorship Opportunity brochure can also be downloaded from this site. For more information, contact Cheryl Cooley at (303) 692-1215 or [email protected].

AgroNomics and the 82nd Annual Meeting of ASFMRA are sponsored in part by: Pioneer; Syngenta; Monsanto; Bayer CropScience; Rabo AgriFinance; Mycogen Seeds; LG Seeds; United Soybean Board; Mid States Farm Management; Land Pro LLC; Wyffels Hybrids; Northwest Farm Credit Services; Mic Group; and Crown Appraisals, Inc.