Everything from biotechnology to federal farm policy is on the agenda for Ag Expo on Jan. 31 in Owensboro.

The event, in its 27th year, annually attracts between 800 to 1,000 farmers from western Kentucky, southern Indiana and southern Illinois to the Executive Inn's Exposition Center.

The program includes topics divided into 30-minute break out sessions by subject matter. During each session, concurrent sessions will be held in separate rooms. Some sessions will be held only once while others such as grain marketing strategies will be repeated throughout the day.

Two afternoon sessions will include panel discussions and will be longer in length, lasting 45 minutes.

The event is sponsored by the Grain Day Committee in coordination with the University of Kentucky Cooperative Extension Service.

Session topics include managing heavy seed weed populations; the effect on contracting on the burley support program; understanding causes of corn lodging; opportunities and challenges in Phase I tobacco funding; an update on sudden death syndrome management; and the impact of the election on farm policy.

Other topics include understanding the policy and production issue on genetically modified organism technology; managing crop production practices in 2001; and entrepreneurship opportunities with Phase I tobacco funding.

The West Kentucky Growers Cooperative will give an update on their operations. The cooperative began in 2000 growing sweet corn and other vegetables.

Registration begins at 7:30 a.m. Sessions begin at 9 a.m. and conclude at 2:30 p.m.

Jolene Brown, an Iowa farmer and professional speaker, will give the keynote address during lunch. To attend the free luncheon, participants must register by 10:30 a.m. and receive a meal ticket.

For more information on Ag Expo contact Wayne Mattingly, Daviess County Extension agent for agriculture and natural resources, at (270) 685-8480.