NevadaGrown offers marketing, training for area farmers

NevadaGrown, a relatively new program established to help agriculture producers market their goods, is hoping to take some of its members to the next level through industry-targeted business training.

The NevadaGrown program is a network of growers and producers, farmers markets and certified-organic producers. According to its Web site, the program is a marketing initiative to help bring producers and communities together. The free program is in Fallon's Churchill Economic Development Authority building. Through CEDA, the NevadaGrown program has received grants that directly benefit producers.

The most recent grant will provide NxLevel business training for farmers and ranchers through a 10-week course.

The NxLevel training program, titled "Harvest Your Future," is designed to assist ag producers in building stronger management skills. The courses will be held via video conference in six Northern Nevada towns and broadcast on Tuesday evenings from January to March. Participants will pay a registration fee of $95, which is completely refundable upon conclusion.

Juliette Taylor, executive director of CEDA, said the training program needs at least five participants to be considered locally, with a limit of 25 per site.

Taylor said participants will be taught by agricultural experts, regarding Nevada-specific topics and will keep the curriculum folder with all class materials at the close of the course.

NevadaGrown has received a USDA grant for establishing the program and specialty crops.

For more information on NevadaGrown or the Harvest Your Future NxLevel Training, contact the CEDA office at 423-8587.