Sharing strategies to increase farm profitability and promote sustainability has been at the forefront of UMES Extension’s Small Farm Conference over the past two decades. Agricultural producers in the Mid-Atlantic can network for practical know-how and gain valuable research-based knowledge at the event’s 20th edition, Nov. 2-4.
“To celebrate this milestone, we have added a pre-conference day to the usual hands-on workshops, bus tours to sustainable and unique farming operations, notable speakers, networking opportunities and agricultural vendor exhibits,” said Berran Rogers, coordinator of UMES Extension’s Small Farm Program.
The Thursday pre-conference, consisting of workshops on preventive animal health and fruit tree propagation, is free to one-day or two-day conference registrants. Sessions for Friday morning are offered under three tracks: non-traditional agriculture (repurposing poultry houses, exploring the demand for ginger), business and market sense (tax considerations for small farms, agritourism for small farms), and ag research and trending topics (food safety and water quality, quinoa cultivation). After a luncheon keynoted by Tope Fajingbesi Balogun (above left), an agricultural/social impact entrepreneur and co-owner of Dodo Farms featured in the Washington Post and MD Farm and Harvest, conference attendees can choose one of three bus tours that afternoon to agricultural locations, including BayBees Honey LLC, Layton’s Chance Vineyard, and Tallawah and Wood Duck Landing farms.
Seminar topics for Saturday follow the same tracks and touch on: grape production, enterprise budgets, DIY farm marketing, insect and weed management in vegetables, and Maryland Department of Agriculture’s new initiatives to support small farms. The speaker for Saturday’s luncheon is Michelle Hughes (at right), co-executive director for the National Young Farmers Coalition.
All three days feature networking opportunities and agricultural vendor exhibits.
“The long-term objective of the conference is to better position limited-resource, new and beginning farmers and other underserved farmer audiences for success,” Rogers said.
Early-bird pricing before Oct. 6, is $60, with admission at $80 from Oct. 7-31. Single-day registration for Friday or Saturday is $40. To register, visit www.umes.edu/extension/events. If you are in need of any special accommodations, contact ada@umes.edu. For more information, contact smallfarms@umes.edu, or call 410-621-5450, Ext. 101.
*NOTE: Change in keynote speaker for Fri., Nov. 3 luncheon.
Gail Stephens, agricultural communications and media associate, University of Maryland Eastern Shore, School of Agricultural and Natural Sciences, UMES Extension, gcstephens@umes.edu, 410-621-3850
Photo submitted.
