Release:                 #4256-99
For Release:         April 16, 1999

CFTC's Agricultural Advisory Committee to Meet on April 21, 1999

The CFTC's Agricultural Advisory Committee (AAC), chaired by Commissioner David D. Spears, will hold its 26^th meeting on Wednesday, April 21, 1999, from 1 to 5:00 p.m. The meeting will be held at the Commission's Washington D.C. headquarters, at Three Lafayette Centre, 1155 21st Street N.W., in the first floor hearing room. The meeting is open to the public.

The meeting's emphasis will be on risk management. The first topic on the agenda is "Risk Management Strategies for Producers of Agricultural Commodities." Bill Biederman, Allendale Inc., and Dr. Carl Anderson, Texas A&M, will be presenting their innovative ideas regarding risk management strategies. Following their presentation, the floor will be open for the AAC members to discuss the subject matter.

The second agenda item is "Risk Management/Crop Insurance Legislative Review." Staff members from both the Senate and House Agricultural Committees will speak along with staff members from Senators Kerrey and Roberts' offices. In addition, the American Feed Industry Association will present their Livestock Revenue Protection legislative proposal.

The last topic is a panel discussion on the agricultural trade options pilot program. Kendall Keith, National Grain and Feed Association, and Scott Stewart, National Introducing Brokers Association, will speak. Commissioner Spears and Paul Architzel, Chief Counsel of the Commission's Division of Economic Analysis, will moderate the discussion.

The AAC was created by the CFTC for the purpose of giving advice to the Commission concerning agricultural issues. For further information about the AAC meeting, contact Jennifer Roe at (202) 418-5040.