Agri-business leaders in Floyd County and across Northwest Georgia are being encouraged to attend the 2013 Ag Forecast session at the Rome-Floyd County E.C.O. River Education Center on Jan. 28. The Rome meeting is one of a half-dozen sessions across the state.

University of Georgia agriculture economists will offer their insight into the 2013 ag business forecast. Officials with the Georgia Department of Economic Development will also share strategies for increasing agricultural involvement in the global economy.

Kathe Falls will represent the Georgia Department of Economic Development. She’ll be talking about the Savannah port project and how it might affect farmers and the importance of farmers to Georgia’s export market.

Maggie O’Quinn, who directs the Certified Angus Beef marketing program across sections of the U.S. and more than a dozen markets spanning the Caribbean, Central and South America, will speak at the meeting in Rome. She currently serves on the executive committee of the U.S. Meat Export Federation.

As the number of fulltime farm producers continues to dwindle, a decision to get into the export market can be overwhelming.

The UGA’s 2013 Farm to Port Ag Forecast economic outlook series was designed to spotlight local producers and business people who will share how they were able to get involved in the global marketplace and talk about the benefits they’ve reaped since taking a leap of faith.

“As we continue to move toward a global economy, there are new opportunity overseas and across our borders that can provide a positive economic impact on Georgia’s farmers,” said Kent Wolfe, executive director of the UGA Center for Agribusiness and Economic Development, which is helping to organize the 2013 Ag Forecast. “However, being aware of these opportunities and the issues associated with accessing foreign markets can be an overwhelming task.”

The Center for Agribusiness and Economic Development at the University of Georgia report for 2011 showed Floyd County ranked No. 26 in the state for poultry and egg production, No. 35 for total livestock and aquaculture, No. 39 for all vegetable production and No. 79 for total row crop and forage production.

The program will be from 10 a.m. until noon, followed by a lunch at the E.C.O. center in Ridge Ferry Park.

Individual registration costs $20, while a table for eight costs $200. People can register online at www.areg.caes.uga.edu.