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Small Farm Conference draws diverse group of farmers together
|
This page is sponsored by Atlantic Tractor
11 locations to serve all your agricultural needs! Click on the logo to visit their web-site. |
|
Small Farm Conference draws diverse group of farmers together
11.30.04
PRINCESS ANNE, Md. — Beginning, seasoned, and aspiring farmers came to the Small Farm Conference at the University of Maryland Eastern Shore (UMES) on Saturday, November 20. Among the more than 80 guests who attended the day-long series of presentations were several from the Western Shore, including a couple in the sod business who recently bought a farm on the Eastern Shore, an individual who raised goats and was seeking to expand, and another farmer looking to grow specialty vegetables for high-end restaurants in the Washington DC area.
Lewis R. Riley, Maryland secretary of agriculture, spoke of his agency’s efforts to connect buyers and sellers, locally, nationally, and internationally; and he commented on the role of educational institutions such as UMES and Maryland Cooperative Extension (MCE) in providing the research and assistance to help farmers find a profitable niche. The conference was held at the Center for Food Science and Technology on the UMES campus in Princess Anne.
Conference sessions addressed niche markets and marketing strategies, financial management and risk management, household budgeting, homeland agriculture security, and sources of additional assistance for small farmers. The conference was coordinated by the Outreach and Assistance for Socially Disadvantaged Farmers and Ranchers Project, which is funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture and administered through Maryland Cooperative Extension.