SOUTHERN EXTENSION PUBLIC AFFAIRS COMMITTEE (SEPAC)

PRIMARY PURPOSE OF GROUP:

To exchange information, network, coordinate, develop and implement policy education programs for the Southern U.S., and nationally through the National Public Policy Education Committee, with a primary underlying goal to provide objective information in an alternative-consequences mode.

SUMMARY OF ACCOMPLISHMENTS:

SEPAC members have jointly and cooperatively developed and conducted significant programs in international trade, food safety policy, risk management and related policies, animal confinement policy, rural development policy, tobacco policy and environmental policy. SEPAC often takes a leadership role in developing programs that are national in scope and/or are adopted by other regions.

CURRENT/RECENT MAJOR PROJECTS:

SEPAC members were the planners and developers of educational programs for the 2002 farm bill, including educational materials available via the World Wide Web and educational programs that were presented in 5 states across the nation.  These programs were jointly sponsored by the Farm Foundation and FSA/USDA.  SEPAC representatives planned the agenda for joint meetings with the farm management and marketing committees in Lexington. 

FUTURE PLANS:

SEPAC will continue to work on developing educational materials on farm policy issues.  A task force was set up to develop and disseminate educational materials on the conservation security program.  Joe Outlaw is chairing this committee.

PRIMARY DISCIPLINE(S) WHICH PARTICIPATE:

Agricultural Economics

OTHER DISCIPLINES WHICH PARTICIPATE:

Entomology, Animal Science, others

STATES REPRESENTED:

Formal or informal state representatives involved in activities and/or attending the annual meeting of SEPAC in 2003-2004 include Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Lousiana, Mississippi, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Texas, and Virginia.

LEADERSHIP:

Joe L. Outlaw, Texas	NPPEC Chair (2003-2004)
John Anderson, Mississippi	Vice Chair/Secretary (2003-2004)
David Mulkey, Florida	NPPEC representative (2002-2003)
Jim Pease, Virginia	NPPEC representative (2003-2004)
Edward Smith, Texas	Advisor

MEETINGS:

Annual meetings held jointly with Southern Extension Farm Management Committee & Southern Extension Marketing Committee; June 2003 meetings were in Charleston, SC; June 2004 meetings planned for Lexington, KY

Report Prepared By:

Joe L. Outlaw, Vice Chair/Secretary, Texas A&M University

Date: June 2003