Small farm conference coming to Wooster

WOOSTER, Ohio – Landowners new to agriculture or small farmers wanting to diversify their farm operations who aren’t sure where they can potentially find farm funding can learn more about the U. S. Department of Agriculture’s Farm Service Agency farm loan programs during a small farm conference March 28.

In addition to offering a session on the FSA farm loan program, the Living Your Small Farm Dream conference and trade show will offer landowners and producers tips, techniques and methods to help make their small farm operations more successful, profitable and sustainable, said Tony Nye, an Ohio State University Extension educator and conference organizer.

Researchers and educators with OSU Extension and the Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Center, as well as industry experts, will conduct the workshops.

Another opportunity

A similar small farm conference is being held in southern Ohio, in Wilmington, March 13-14.

The Wooster conference will be held in the Fisher Auditorium and Shisler Conference Center, 1680 Madison Ave., Wooster, on the OARDC campus. It will feature more than 25 sessions, including workshops on haymaking 101,chain saw operation, maintenance and safety; on-farm solar energy development, women in agriculture networks and much more.

The conference is an outgrowth of the Ohio New and Small Farm College, an eight-week program created by OSU Extension that offers an introduction to the business of small farming for those who are new to the industry.

The program offers information on budgeting, business planning and developing a farm structure, among other issues. Registration for the conference is $60. The deadline to register is March 20. For more information or to register, visit agnr.osu.edu/small-farm-programs, or contact Nye at 937-382-0901 or nye.1@osu.edu.