UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. -- Penn State's College of Agricultural Sciences will host a "Seeds of Change" listening session, designed to gather input from agricultural producers, conservation groups, nutrition advocates, consumers and other citizens on the 2007 federal farm bill and how it can benefit Pennsylvania.

The listening session -- the sixth in a series of seven sponsored by the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture around the state -- will be held from 6:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. on Oct. 26 in the community room at Memorial Park in Martinsburg, Blair County.

Considered by many to be one of the most important pieces of legislation crafted by Congress, the farm bill directly affects local agribusiness, rural residents, consumers and farmers through commodity programs, conservation programs and payments, rural development and trade support. The bill also includes support for consumer-oriented food programs, such as the WIC, Food Stamp and School Lunch programs.

Dennis Wolff, Pennsylvania Secretary of Agriculture, and Robert Steele, dean of the College of Agricultural Sciences, will preside over the session. After comments from Wolff and Steele, there will be opportunities for as many as 12, five-minute prepared presentations.

Presenters are asked to register in advance by contacting April Sparks by phone at (717) 705-9512 or by e-mail at cdg5@psu.edu