U.S. DEPARTMENT of Agriculture undersecretary Bill Hawks is scheduled to address beef and poultry disease concerns at an upcoming agricultural conference in south-central Mississippi. The Mississippi native will be the concluding speaker at the Magnolia Beef and Poultry Expo at the Smith County Agricultural Complex on Highway 35 South in Raleigh, Miss. The two-day conference is set for April 28-29. Organizers expect producers from across south Mississippi to hear the latest in health and marketing recommendations.

The trade show opens each day at 10 a.m., and the program begins at 11 a.m.

The free event is sponsored by the Mississippi State University Extension Service and the Community Bank of Raleigh. For more information, contact county Extension Service directors and event co-chairs Tommy Bishop at 601-764-2314, Victor Lee at 601-635-2267 or Charles Waldrup at 601-782-4454.