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Ag Allies Conference

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September 30, 2025

With a $111 billion annual contribution to our state’s economy, agriculture helps drive a major share of North Carolina’s economic success — representing one-sixth of our state’s overall income. It is a powerhouse industry that continues to be a major employer for the state, providing jobs to 16% of employees in North Carolina.*

Ranked 9th in the U.S. for value of agricultural products sold, the agriculture industry is and will remain critical to North Carolina’s reputation as an economic leader in the Southeast. However, farmers and agricultural businesses across the state recognize that they must adapt to a changing workforce, evolving technology, and the latest state and federal regulations to continue thriving within their sector. The NC Chamber’s Ag Allies Conference addresses these issues to ensure the industry as a whole can keep its wheels in motion for the continued prosperity of the state.

*Data derived from the North Carolina State University’s College of Agriculture and Life Sciences.

Learn how the NC Chamber is advocating for our state’s agriculture and agribusiness communities here.

 

  • BASF Ag Allies Logo

Agenda

Tuesday, September 30
8:00 amRegistration and Networking
8:30 amWelcome Remarks
  • Ray Starling, General Counsel, NC Chamber, and President, NC Chamber Legal Institute
  • Fred Moore, Vice President, Head of Regulatory and Stewardship, Seeds & Traits, BASF
8:45 amAg Economic Outlook

Bart Fischer, Ph.D., Co-Director & Research Associate Professor, Agricultural & Food Policy Center, Department of Agricultural Economics, Texas A&M University

9:45 amQuick Hit: NC Ag Leads Update

Laura Kilian, Associate State Legislative Director, North Carolina Farm Bureau

10:05 amNetworking Break
10:30 amU.S. Department of Agriculture Update

Stephen Vaden, Deputy Secretary, U.S. Department of Agriculture

11:00 amPartner Spotlight: North Carolina Biotechnology Center

Paul Ulanch, Ph.D., Senior Director, Focused Initiatives, North Carolina Biotechnology Center

11:15 amThe War on Food

Andy Curliss, Vice President of Strategic Engagement, National Pork Producers Council

12:10 pmLunch and Networking
1:00 pmQuick Hit: Food for Thought: Food is Medicine as a Growth Opportunity for Agriculture

Merry Davis, Director of Healthy Food, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina Foundation

1:15 pmQuick Hit: DC Update

Corey Brown Weber, Chief Counsel, U.S. Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry-Majority

1:30 pmNavigating the DC Dynamic
  • Ken Barbic, Principal, Food and Agriculture Practice Group, Invariant
  • Janae Brady, Vice President, Government Affairs, American Seed Trade Association
  • Kellie Adesina, Director, Global Government Affairs, The Kraft Heinz Company
  • Moderator: Ray Starling, General Counsel, NC Chamber, and President, NC Chamber Legal Institute
2:15 pmClosing Remarks