By: Tony Nye, Extension Educator
The mission of the OSU Small Farm program is to provide a greater understanding of production practices, economics of land use choices, assessment of personal and natural resources, marketing alternatives, and the identification of sources of assistance.
We at Ohio State want to help farm families improve economic growth and development on their farms.
To help small farmers become more profitable, the Ohio State University Extension Small Farm Program is pleased to host two conferences in March of 2012 dedicated to assisting small farm landowners.
These intensive conferences will give participants the opportunity to choose from a diverse variety of seminars that can help them be successful in their farming operations.
The first conference is the 4th annual “Opening Doors to Success” Small Farm Conference and Trade Show” to be held March 9 & 10, 2012 at Wilmington College located in Wilmington, Ohio. The conference will feature 30 breakout sessions and a trade show for small farmers.
The conference kicks off on Friday, March 9 at 5:30 p.m. with a session: “Meat Marketing—Front and Center” which will address such issues as, the obstacles to marketing meat, your label and what it means to you and your customer, the meanings of grass-fed, antibiotic free, free range, organic, grain fed, finding the right processor, and pricing my product.
On Saturday, March 12, registration begins at 7:45 a.m. and the day will conclude at 3:45 p.m. The day will feature 30 breakout sessions offered throughout the day and will cover a variety of topics that will include such examples as: Aquaculture; Bee Keeping; Cut Flower Production; Herb Production; Raised Bed Production; Invasive Species Affecting Your Woodlot, Pasture Management; Goat Production; Beef Production; Greenhouse/Tunnel Production; The Organic Process; Poultry Production; Addressing Health Issues for Livestock; Equipment Needs; Food Safety; Agricultural Law Considerations; Tomato Production, Pasture and Hay Production; Local Foods; Social Media Marketing; Financial Management; Livestock Production that will include pasture pork and poultry; Resources – How do I find the Info I Need and so much more.
The program is co-sponsored by OSU Extension Small Farm Program; Wilmington College; Farm Credit Services of Mid-America; and the U.S. Department of Agriculture offices of the Farm Service Agency, Natural Resources Conservation Service, National Agriculture Statistic Service and Rural Development.
Registration is $20 on March 9, $50 on March 10 or $60 for both days. Registration deadline is March 5. For more information, log on to: http://clinton.osu.edu , or contact OSU Extension educator Tony Nye at nye.1@osu.edu or 937-382-0901.
The third annual “Living Your Small Farm Dream” Northeast Ohio Small Farm Conference and Trade Show” will be held on March 31, 2012 at the R.G. Drage Career Center from 8:30 a.m. until 4:15 p.m. in Massillon, Ohio.
The conference will begin with a keynote address, “Top Ten Trends in Local Foods and How You Can Profit from Them,” – Eric Barrett, OSU Extension followed by 23 breakout sessions attendees can pick and choose from.
Examples of breakout sessions at this conference will include: Managing the Woodlot for Profit; Leasing Farmland for Oil and Gas Production; Raising and Marketing Meat Goats; How You Can Profit from Social Media Such as Face book and Twitter; Utilizing High Tunnels to Extend the Growing Season; High Tunnels and Organic Cost-Share Programs; Grape Production and Wine Making; Direct Marketing of Meat in Ohio; Herb and Cut Flower Production; Irrigation Systems for Fruits and Vegetables; Taxes Issues for Small Farms; Pasture Raised Poultry; Rules and Regulations for Direct Marketing Food Products; Maple Production; Oil and Gas Legal Issues; Managed Grazing; Resources Available for Small or Beginning Farmers ; Starting an orchard and much more.
This program is co-sponsored by OSU Extension Small Farm Program; Farm Credit Services of Mid-America; and the U.S. Department of Agriculture offices of the Farm Service Agency, Natural Resources Conservation Service, National Agriculture Statistic Service and Rural Development.
Registration is $50 per person. Registration deadline is March 22. For more information log on to: http://jefferson.osu.edu, http://clinton.osu.edu, or contact OSU Extension educator Mike Hogan at hogan.1@osu.edu or 330-324-6341.
