With the business of farming constantly changing, the Center for Agricultural and Rural Development (CARD) is hosting a conference to showcase current issues in agriculture.

The conference, “Agricultural Contracts — Freedom or Restraint?,” will be held Friday.

During the conference, participants will discuss various topics that affect the farm community.

“This conference will address issues that go to the heart of agriculture,” said Judith Pim, communication and information manager of CARD. “We will be looking at some recent mergers and alliances in the agriculture business.”

The conference will focus on three main points: how the rewards of more specialized production systems can be addressed; the implications of agriculture and rural communities following the same path as other industries; and the key issues being addressed by innovative contracts and alliances.

“Contracting and other alliances are changing the way agriculture does business,” said Keith Heffernan, assistant director of CARD. “We’ll look at contracting issues related to risk management, finance, food safety and quality, the environment and competitive advantage.”

Coordinators are anticipating a large turnout and are expecting many areas of agriculture to be represented.

One of the conference’s speakers will be researcher Michael Boehlje from Purdue University. His speech will examine possible reasons for the mergers and alliances between agribusiness firms, particularly in the seed and agriculture chemical area. He also will address the changes to the “traditional” farms.

Since 1958, CARD has been providing information and analysis for policies on agriculture, trade, the environment, food and nutrition and rural and economic development.

The conference will be held in Rooms 220 through 240 of the Scheman Building and will begin at 8 a.m.

Registration is $20 for students and $45 for non-students. The fee includes meeting materials, refreshment breaks, a noon luncheon and the Terrace Party. For more information about the conference, call 294-6257.

The conference is being sponsored by ISU Extension and CARD.