Dates Announced for 2015 Florida Agriculture Financial Management Conference

Orlando, Fla. – The executive committee of the Florida Agriculture Financial Management Conference (FAFMC) recently announced the dates for this year’s conference on August 27-28, 2015 at the Omni Orlando Resort at ChampionsGate. Some of the nation’s leading agricultural and economic experts will be in Orlando to address financial strategies impacting one of Florida’s top industries. They will provide growers and producers with the latest trends and tools to assess and manage the overall financial health of their business, including budgeting, insurance, marketing and investment strategies. Educational sessions cover topics such as economic forecasting, risk management, lending, cybersecurity, food safety, estate and income tax planning, regulatory issues and external factors influencing cash flow.

Back by popular demand, Dr. Edmond J. Seifried, keynote speaker and Professor Emeritus of Economics and Business at Lafayette College, will share his simplified approach to cope with the changing economic environment. He will lead participants through the maze of economic indicators and financial news to help them create a strategy for spotting trends and maximizing profits.

FAFMC is a collaborative effort to enhance Florida’s specialty crop industry. A portion of the funding for the conference is provided by the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS) through a USDA Specialty Crop Block Grant. Year after year, the partnership with FDACS has continued to elevate professional development, technology and networking benefits for attendees.

Event organizers have maintained their commitment to offer a high-quality experience and affordable pricing for farmers and agricultural producers at one of central Florida’s premier resorts. Regina Thomas, co-chair of the conference noted, “Our focus is on mentoring agribusinesses to grow in an industry that has seen rapid change. We want to help them diversify and stay ahead of the curve.” Industry leaders will share information to help business owners increase their bottom line. Attendees can expect to receive key take-aways they can implement immediately including:

• Examine cash flow analyses, custom reports and real-time technology for a 360 degree look at financial performance.
• Evaluate the impact of dash boards, benchmarking and cash vs. accrual accounting on business strategy.
• Maximize daily operations and financial results by utilizing economic indicators and performance metrics.
• Enhance understanding of financial markets, income tax planning and overall business management and marketing.

Educational sessions benefit everyone from farm owners and managers, to chief financial officers, controllers and other allied professionals such as lenders, accountants and attorneys. Each year conference organizers apply for continuing education credits for both CPAs and lawyers. For more information or to register, please visit www.fafmc.org. Key sponsors and contributors include University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Services (UF IFAS), McGladrey, Dean Mead, Wells Fargo, Diamond R Fertilizer, Florida Fruit & Vegetable Association, Florida Specialty Crop Foundation, and Farm Credit Associations of Florida. In addition, corporate sponsorship packages are now available. Contact Karen Keene at kkeene@www.deanmead.com for sponsorship details.

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