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+ PRESENTER PROPOSALS <br />Proposals should relate concepts, practices and policy options that help sustain agriculture in an urbanizing <br />environment; demonstrate how working lands meet conservation and economic development objectives; and <br />provide action - oriented plans and policies to save land, stop sprawl and strengthen agriculture. This year, we <br />encourage proposals that address issues of concern to farmers in the South, such as the challenges and <br />opportunities of a changing tobacco economy, small farm diversification, use of forest resources and the <br />dramatic loss of African- American owned land. Proposal topics must. address at least one of the following <br />broad conference subject areas: <br />. Protecting the best land <br />States and localities have been protecting farm and wood lands for 25 years. What techniques are most <br />effective? What innovations are being tried or are on the horizon? What does the public want from land <br />protection programs? How much lan d protection is enough?. <br />2. Keeping land healthy <br />".How can we improve conservation and stewardship practices on agricultural and forestal lands? Do you <br />have hands -on experience, suggestions and /or creative ideas of how land managers, landowners and <br />communities can protect water quality, provide wildlife habitat, support biodiversity and meet other <br />conservation goals? <br />3. Planning for agriculture <br />What is your community doing to plan for agriculture? What growth management policies promote <br />agricultural vitality, protect land and control sprawl ?.Provide real -life examples of how land use planning <br />and growth management policies have sustained working lands? How can they do a better job? <br />4. Rewriting federal farm policy <br />Farm bill.reform is increasingly likely as U.S. farm policy comes under more scrutiny both domestically <br />and around the world. Presenters will review the impacts of current policies and explore frameworks and <br />alternative policies that could re -shape farm programs for the 21St century. <br />• The deadline for proposals is March 31 2004. <br />Presenters will be selected on the basis of quality, innovation and relevance of topics to conference goals. <br />Selection decisions will be made in May 2004. To accommodate as many presenters as possible, and to avoid <br />redundancy, we may combine presenters and sessions on similar topics. <br />Responsibilities of Presenters <br />Presenters /co- presenters pay for their conference. registration, travel and accommodations. Final presentation <br />descriptions, audiovisual requests and materials for conference proceedings will be due in July. <br />Application Process <br />Please submit the'completed proposal form with a brief biography (200 words max.) and an abstract of your <br />presentation topic (300 words max.). You may submit up to three topic proposals. Each form must indicate the <br />names of the other co- presenters to be considered for a group presentation. Co- presenters also must complete <br />the proposal form. Incomplete applications will not be considered. <br />For updated conference information or, additional forms, visit us on the Web at www.farmland.org. <br />American Farmland Trust <br />