Small Farm Conference slated for late February

Calling all farmers and ranchers, beginning or experienced, rural or urban, and business and community members.

The 2014 Nevada Small Farm Conference has something for everyone at John Ascuaga’s Nugget in Sparks, Feb. 20-22.

Interested in traditional topics such as soils, bee keeping and egg production or innovative topics like agritourism, fodder production and renewable energy? The Small Farm Conference is lining up the best speakers for 25 sessions and five pre-conference workshops along with a Friday night social mixer.

Back by popular demand, there will be full-day, pre-conference workshops on Thursday, Feb. 20, on topics including Direct Marketing Meat; Hoop House Production Chinese Medicinal Herbs; Hops, Barley & Distillery Grains; and Building Sustainable Soils.

The conference will cover a variety of topics, including livestock and poultry production, aquaponics, business planning, agritourism, organic farming, food hubs, food safety and more.

Workshops and conference sessions will include candid discussions about the challenges facing producers. Lack of infrastructure, competitive pricing and Nevada’s high-desert climate are among the major challenges. Attendees are encouraged to register early as many of the workshops sell out before the Jan. 31 early bird registration deadline.

For conference details and registration information, visit the conference website, www.nevadafarmconference.com, or contact Ann Louhela at 775-351-2551 or ann.louhela@wnc.edu.