The organizers of this year's North American Agroforestry Conference have announced the preliminary program, which will include many papers and events of interest to agroforestry educators, researchers and practitioners. Two full days of plenary and concurrent sessions are planned, bracketed by both pre- and post-conference tours. CINRAM at the University of Minnesota is the principal organizer of the conference, co-sponsored with AFTA and the Southwest Badger RC&D.

"America's Best Small City" will welcome the 2005 North American Agroforestry Conference. (Photo courtesy Rochester CVB)

Preliminary Program

"Moving Agroforestry into the Mainstream" will open in Rochester, MN o­n June 12 with an evening reception for participants. The next day (Monday) begins with a plenary session that includes several international speakers, including a representative of ICRAF in Nairobi, Kenya, and two forest scientists from Mexico. The opening plenary will also include a presentation from the USDA National Agroforestry Center and the University of Arizona.

On Monday afternoon, papers will be presented in three concurrent sessions:

• Role of agroforestry in watershed management
• Economics, markets and profitability of agroforestry
• Applications and Practices of Current Systems

The Tuesday morning plenary session will be devoted to a panel discussion focusing o­n public policies that either encourage or discourage agroforestry, and opportunities to promote agroforestry for "productive conservation" through future policy initiatives. Both government and private agencies will be represented o­n the panel, including US Forest Service State and Private Forestry, USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service, and the Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education program. Time is set aside for audience participation in a Q&A session.

More papers will be presented Tuesday afternoon in several concurrent sessions, including Adoption of agroforestry: what is working and where; and Application and practices. A poster session that currently includes about 25 displays will be available for viewing Tuesday and there will opportunity to interact with the poster authors.

A panel of landowners from Minnesota and nearby states will speak Tuesday evening about their personal experiences in adopting and managing agroforestry enterprises o­n their lands. Click here to see the preliminary program schedule (subject to change).

Silent Auction

AFTA will o­nce again present a silent auction during the agroforestry conference. Participants will bid to win fun and useful prizes, and the proceeds will help support AFTA�s nonprofit educational activities. To make the auction a success, AFTA needs donations of items such as books, small tools, clothing, food, etc. Donations are welcome both from those planning to attend the conference and from those who cannot attend. The value of your gift is tax-deductible for US taxpayers. Click here for more auction details and a donation form.

Registration

To save money o­n registration, those planning to attend should register before May 2 at the regular rate of US$240 per person or $125 per person for students. Late and o­n-site registration, from May 3 to opening day, are $290 per person and $125 per person for students. Current AFTA members will receive a discount either o­n full or o­ne-day registration fees.

The registration fee entitles you to receive a paper copy of the program with abstracts, a CD-ROM of the proceedings, full participation in the conference, including the Sunday evening welcome reception and Wednesday field trip, and lunches and break refreshments for each day of the conference.

Information about how to complete the registration process is posted o­n the conference website.

Accommodations

The conference will be held at the Kahler Grand Hotel, located at 20 Southwest Second Avenue in downtown Rochester, MN. Special reduced daily room rate has been set aside for conference attendees: $75/night (king or two double beds) and $44/night for (one double bed). These group rates will be honored for three days before and after the conference (based o­n availability) for those who want to extend their stay in Rochester.

Details o­n how to book accommodation at the Kahler Grand can be found o­n the conference website. Alternative accommodation may be available at other hotels; check o­nline, e.g. at the Rochester Convention and Visitors Bureau.

What Else to Do in Rochester

Rochester was named "Best Small City in America" by Money Magazine. Check the Convention and Visitors Bureau and other web sites to find out what to see and do in the area. Some sample events that are o­n during the agroforestry conference include an exhibit of Marimekko, the Finnish textile design company at the Rochester Art Center, and public tours of the Mayo Clinic.