Early registration for the Animal Agriculture Alliance's 12th annual Stakeholders Summit ends on 15 April 2013. The organisers say not to wait to register to be among the leaders from the food and farm sectors who will meet on 1 to 2 May in Arlington, Virginia, and discuss ways to protect and grow the animal agriculture industry in the future.

The event will include a highly-anticipated panel discussion on the Hallmark/Westland Meat Packing Company undercover video and subsequent recall.

Former Under-Secretary for the Food Safety and Inspection Service, USDA, Dr Richard Raymond, as well as former food safety consultant at the Hallmark/Westland Meat Packing Company, Steve Sayer, will share their insights into the Hallmark/Westland Company and mistakes made, the subsequent recall, the use of undercover videos and lessons learned five years later.

The Summit's theme, 'Activists at the Door: Protecting Animals, Farms, Food & Consumer Confidence', will feature discussions on the crucial issues facing the future of the animal agriculture industry, from animal rights activism to current legislation.

Joe Miller, General Counsel for Rose Acre Farms will share with the audience his perspective on the importance of Farm Protection, so-termed 'Ag Gag', legislation, and provide an overview of the various bills currently being considered by approximately eight state legislatures.

Other distinguished Summit speakers include Charles Penry of Tyson Foods; Janet Riley of the American Meat Institute; John Simpson, the attorney for Feld Entertainment; Greg Peterson, of the famed Peterson Farm Brothers Parodies; and other guests from the media and various industry organizations.

Early registration for the one-and-a-half day event is $325 for Alliance members and $375 for non-members. The Alliance is offering a special rate of $275 for those in government or academia. Registration materials are available online at www.animalagalliance.org/register. Early Summit registrations are due by Monday 15 April.

The Summit will be held at The Westin Arlington Gateway hotel in Arlington, Virginia. Visit the hotel's web site or call (703) 717-6200 to reserve a room.

Sponsors of the 2013 Summit include US Poultry and Egg Association, Murphy-Brown LLC, Farm Credit, Provimi North America, Merck Animal Health, Zoetis, Hy-Line, American Feed Industry Association, Bayer Animal Health, United Soybean Board, Alltech, National Cattlemen's Beef Association, National Pork Board, National Pork Producers Council, Diamond V, Aviagen, Genus/PIC/ABS, United Egg Producers, WATTPublishing Co., Cactus Feeders, Brakke Consulting, Kemin, Agri Beef Co., Seaboard Foods, National Association of Farm Broadcasting, Protect the Harvest, Elanco Animal Health and the Potash Corp.