AMARILLO -- With beginning of the year forecasts out for the economy, we wondered what may happen to our local commodity producers. 

Amarillo National Bank predicted yesterday that our local comodities would keep our economy fairly strong this year. So today we took advantage of a gathering of commodity producers to find out their opinions.

Wednesday and Thursday, the Texas AgriLife Research Center is offering a seminar for producers, on how to market their products, using new technologies to keep their products selling.

One producer told us that he is not concerned about the stock market, and people just don't realize how important the producing business is to their daily life.

Local Producer Bill Smithton said "We're a very small percent of the population, 2-percent or something. The world doesn't give a rats about us farmers--nor does the US because if they want food they just go to the store and get it."

Organizers said that area producers will be well prepared for this year, as close to ten more producers than expected attended the seminar.