October 20, 2006 -- Nearly 2,000 people with an interest in grazing are expected to meet in St. Louis, Mo., Dec. 10-13, 2006, for the Third National Conference on Grazing Lands. The conference is hosted by the Grazing Lands Conservation Initiative (GLCI) along with the Society for Range Management.

Highlighting the event will be presentations about grazing management from a variety of sources, including farmers, ranchers and representative of university and agricultural agencies. Technical assistance will be emphasized. The conference also should heighten public awareness of the economic and environmental aspects of grazing lands. The industry trade show will provide a chance to learn about new products and services within the grazing industry.

Invited speakers to the conference include U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Mike Johanns and former U.S. Secretary of Interior Gale Norton.

Presentations will focus on: building partnerships between agricultural, grazing and urban communities; successful cutting-edge management technologies for grazing practices; economic, marketing and public policy implications for grazing; and optimizing grazing land health for environmental and social benefits.

The Grazing Lands Conservation Initiative (GLCI) was established in 1991 with the mission of providing high quality technical assistance on privately owned grazing lands through Farm Bill funding and Natural Resources Conservation Service programs. Nine national organizations are the partners behind GLCI, they are the: American Farm Bureau Federation, American Forage and Grassland Council, American Sheep Industry Association, Dairy Industry, National Association of Conservation Districts, National Cattlemen's Beef Association, National Farmers Union, Society for Range Management and the Soil and Water Conservation Society.

For more information about the conference, including registration information, visit www.glci.org and click on the "Grazing Conference" link.

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