ORANGE BEACH, Ala. — The Mississippi Agricultural Industry Council and the Mississippi Seedsmen’s Association will hold concurrent summer meetings July 27-31 at the Perdido Beach Resort, Orange Beach. The joint meeting is expected to draw close to 500 agricultural industry representatives and their families.

In addition to social and recreational activities, MSA and MAIC members will attend concurrent educational sessions featuring keynote speakers such as D.D. Lewis, former Mississippi State University and Dallas Cowboys football player; Wes Burger, an MSU avian ecologist specializing in stabilizing and increasing the South’s bobwhite quail population; Arnold Foudin, referred to by his peers as a futurist who sees biotechnology as “the only true form of organic farming.”

Other speakers will address agriculture issues such as homeland security as it applies to protecting the agriculture industry; current research and educational efforts from public and educational institutions; and overall updates on the commercial agricultural industry.

The meeting will be preceded by a weed science roundtable July 27 featuring weed scientists, commercial representatives and researchers providing updates and discussing current challenges of weed control in all Mid-South row crops.

From 8 a.m. until noon on Wednesday, July 28, educational sessions will offer participants the chance to gain required Certified Crop Advisory units.

Registration for the MSA/MAIC meeting runs from 4 to 5:30 p.m., July 28, and will be open each morning of the event. Preregistration is not required but is encouraged. Information and registration packets are available from MAIC representatives Lee Daughtry at lee@mdac.state.ms.us and Tracy Gregory at tracy@mdac.state.ms.us or 662-325-3992; or MSA executive director Richard Taylor at msseed@tecinfo.com or 662-686-4621.