8:00 – 9:00 Light Breakfast Available in Walder Room

9:00 – 9:15 Introductory Remarks
Jason Grumet, Executive Director, National Commission on Energy Policy

Peggy Miller, President, South Dakota State University

Senator Daschle, Special Policy Advisor, Alston and Bird

Senator Dole, Special Counsel, Alston and Bird

9:15 – 9:30 Special Guest Kevin Kephart, South Dakota State University – Supporting Agriculture Through Research, The Sun Grant Program

9:30 – 10:15 Maintaining an Adequate Safety Net
Scott VanderWal, President, South Dakota Farm Bureau – Designing a Safety Net for the 21st Century (invited)

Doug Sombke, President, South Dakota Farmers Union -- Designing a Safety Net for the 21st Century

Lisa Richardson, SD Corn Growers – Designing a Safety Net for the 21st Century

10:15 – 10:45 Discussion of Safety Net Design – Bob Metz (ASA)

10:45 – 11:30 Conservation Programs
Dave Nomsen, Pheasants Forever – Partnerships with Farmers

John Cooper, Secretary, South Dakota Department of Game, Fish and Parks – Value of Conservation Programs to Wildlife and Rural Economy

Lynn Tjeerdsma, TRCP – Summary of Conservation Community Consensus-Building Process

11:30 – 12:00 Discussion of Conservation Policy Options – Bill Wilson (NACD)

12:00 – 12:45 Lunch Break with Speaker – Don Endres, CEO, Verasun Energy

12:45 – 1:45 Renewable Electricity and Transmission
Terry Hudgens, PPM Energy – Prospects for Wind Energy Development in Rural America

Dave Dresher, John Deere – What Farmers and Ranchers Need to Develop Community Wind Projects

Jeff Nelson, East River Electric Coop – Developing Renewable Electricity Projects

Tom Heller, MRES – Expanding Transmission and Renewable Electricity

1:45 – 2:15 Discussion of Renewable Electricity and Transmission Policy Options – Howard Learner, ELPC

2:15 – 2:30 Closing Comments by Senators Daschle and Dole

National Commission on Energy Policy