A conference aimed at increasing information technology awareness among the farming community will take place next Wednesday at Moran's Red Cow Hotel, on the Naas Road in Dublin.
Organised by the Irish Farmers Associations farm business committee, "Farming in the Information Age" will be officially opened by the Minister of State for Science, Technology and Commerce, Mr Noel Treacy. The morning session will be chaired by the IFA president, Mr Tom Parlon, and will feature elementary introductions to computers by representatives of Microsoft, Dell Computer and the national farm information technology centre.
The afternoon sessions will be hosted by Mr John Fitzsimons, chairman of the IFA farm business committee, Mr Matt Dempsey, editor of the Farmers Journal, and Mr Michael Berkery, IFA general secretary.
Issues to be addressed include combating rural exclusion through IT, whether IT can help deliver better services to farmers and IT developments within the Department of Agriculture and banking. Telecom Eireann will provide all conference telecommunications and presentation facilities.
The conference fee is £25, with admission free to IFA members. More information is available from the IFA, tel: 01 450 0266.
