International de­mand and issues surrounding crop and livestock product exports will be key topics during the Iowa Farm Bureau Federation’s (IFBF) 2019 Economic Summit, set for June 28 in Des Moines.

With U.S. agricultural productivity continually rising, farmers in Iowa and around the United States are more reliant on export demand than ever before. But the outlook for exports has hardly ever been more volatile, said Sam Funk, IFBF senior economist.

“The tariffs and countertariffs we’ve seen are raising fundamental questions and concerns about the future for several key export markets for Iowa farmers,” Funk said. “The barriers to trade coming down in multiple markets is welcome news as Iowa agriculture looks for expanded demand.”

At the 2019 IFBF Economic Summit, participants will get an inside look at export markets from two experts: John Hinners of the U.S. Meat Export Federation and Ed Beaman of the U.S. Soybean Export Council. “Both of these speakers will provide summit participants knowledge and insights on trade that go beyond the daily news headlines,” Funk said.

The 2019 IFBF Economic Summit will be held at the Des Moines Marriott-Downtown, beginning at 7:30 a.m. on June 28. Preregistration for the event, which includes access to all presentations and lunch, is $30 for Farm Bureau members and $150 for non-members before June 19. At the door, the cost is $60 for members and $150 for non-members.

Visit www.iowafarmbureau.com/economicsummit, or contact Lavonne Baldwin at 515-225-5633 or at lbaldwin@ifbf.org.