Farmers and consumers from Iowa, Missouri and Kansas will be able to soundoff about trade issues at a summit in Des Moines next week. The U-S-D-A isholding what it calls a “listening session” to take comments on the issuesfrom farmers, agri-business representatives and anyone else.Brent Halling, Iowa’s Deputy Secretary of Agriculture says U-S AgricultureSecretary Dan Glickman will attend the session, along with Iowa’s AgSecretary Patty Judge and Iowa Senator Chuck Grassley. Halling says thepanel hopes to hear from a variety of people, not just farmers.U-S-D-A is holding the series of hearings to gather input from concernedAmericans before the World Trade Organization Summit in Seattle later thisyear. Halling says there is one “hot-button” issue he expects to come upduring the Des Moines session.Monday’s 8 a-m hearing will take place at the Iowa Historical BuildingAuditorium in Des Moines. It’s one of 11 listening sessions planned by theU-S-D-A nationwide.
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