BUSINESS SECTION

 The Secretary of Agriculture has verbally confirmed that the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Mike Johanns will be conducting a 2-3 nationally televised "Listening Session" in Las Cruces, New Mexico to coincide with the First Annual Conference for Latino Farmers & Ranchers being held at the Ramada Palms de Las Cruces Hotel in Las Cruces August 25-27.

The Washington DC based National Association of Latino/Hispanic Farmers and Ranchers which was founded August 11, 2004 have been working on this conference and struggling to get the small Latino/Hispanic/Immigrant farmers to the conference. Special efforts are being done to do outreach to financial institutions that would be interested in providing access to credit for the new immigrant and starting farmers.

The Conference is expected to attract 300 hundred Latino farmers plus others interested in learning more about the burgeoning Latino/Hispanic market. The USDA Farm Census of 2002 confirmed Latino/Hispanic farm operators have increased by 50.8 percent between 1997 to 2002 and yet, the USDA funding to support and enhance their ability to survive as farmer has not been forthcoming.

For information on sponsorship and exhibits for the National Association of Hispanic Farmers and Ranchers contact conference coordinator, Jennifer Carter, at 202-725-5912, her email is sanghacafe@starpower.net.   NALHR, 717 D Street, NW, WSBACH Suite 400, Washington, DC 20004; Tel. 202-628-8833; Fax: 202-737-1350.

For information on the Secretary of Agriculture's scheduled visit, contact the Edgar Loyd, Press Secretary, Office of Communication, US Department of Agriculture @ 202-720-0622; Email: ed.loyd@usda.gov.

Source: Press Advisory from Office of Communication US Dept. of Ag.

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