TransAtlantic Dialouge on Direct Marketing Workshop

This initiative brings together representatives of the German and U.S. agricultural sectors for knowledge exchange and network building, with the intention of reducing trade barriers between Germany and the United States.

Today's workshop opens a dialogue between American and German experts on Direct Marketing in Agriculture. We will discuss programs that are working in Iowa and Germany as well as share issues that farmers face in direct marketing in both countries. In addition, we will have a discussion of current trade issues between the US and Germany (and the EU) and have an update on what is happening in trade discussions. We invite everyone to join us for this dialogue event.

The German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy supports this program through the European Recovery Program (ERP). Active exchange between American and German agriculture professionals in the context of this initiative will form professional and emotional bonds at the corporate and personal levels. We hope that you will share your experiences and insights gathered at this event with your fellow farmers, coworkers, friends and family.

The Iowa Farm Bureau has been a cooperator with the German-American Chamber of Commerce, Midwest in the TransAtlantic Dialogue series for 4 years. Prior dialogues have focused on soil health and conservation, diary industry, family farms, and consumer engagement with agriculture.

Agenda:

8:30 am Registration (Pastries, fruit & beverages)

9:00 am Welcome Statements
Corinna Jess, German-American Chamber of Commerce

9:05 am Direct Marketing Panel Discussion
Paul Ovrom, State Horticulturalist, IDALS
Greg Rinehart, Farmer and long time Farmer's Market Participant
Florian Kraus, Bavaria, Germany farmer
Johannes Paas, North Rhine-Westphalia

10:45 am Break

11:00 am US-EU (Germany) Trade panel
David Miller, Iowa Farm Bureau Federation
Markus Brill, Counselor Minister for Agriculture,
German Embassy in Washington DC

12:30 pm Conclusion and end of roundtable