Mid-Southern Small Farm Ag Summit dates announced

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Tribune Staff Reports

The inaugural Mid-Southern Small Farm Ag Summit is planned for April 12 and 13 at Southern Hills Church on Indiana 135 just south of Salem.

The purpose of the summit is to promote agriculture, small farm operations and family farms across southern Indiana.

Activities will begin April 12 with a breakout session. including topics such as incorporating bees on your farm, rotational grazing on small acreage, getting started with high tunnels, popcorn, food safety and ag advocacy. Following this, the group will travel to Cornucopia Farm LLC for a tour of the operation, a farm-to-fork dinner and a discussion of the Baird Family Farm.

April 13 will begin with a keynote speaker on “Why Do I Need to be an Ag Advocate?” with a second keynote speaker at lunch discussing “Ag Policy Update and Outlook Impacting the Small Farm.”

Between the speakers, there will be a series of breakout sessions, including the topics high tunnel do’s and don’ts, healthy soils for livestock and crop producers, grain marketing for small operators, the Indiana Grown label, optimizing woodlands on the small farm, agri-tourism, know your local government and raising small ruminants.

The summit will end with a general session about funding opportunities for the small farm.

Participants are encouraged to attend both days, but one-day registrations also will be available. Besides the April 12 catered meal, there will be a light breakfast and lunch April 12 and snacks between sessions with many of the food items from locally produced sources.

This summit is a joint effort of local U.S. Department of Agriculture agencies, Purdue Extension, the Washington County Soil and Water Conservation District, Indiana Farm Bureau Inc. and Farm Credit Mid-America.

Interested parties are asked to RSVP by contacting the Washington County SWCD at 812-883-3006, ext. 3, by April 8. There is a $20 registration fee for one day or $30 to attend both days of the summit. Event organizers reserve the right to cancel the program at any time or if the minimum number of participants is not reached.

Anyone with disabilities who require accommodations to attend or participate in this meeting should contact Jill Roll at 812-883-3006, ext. 3., or Federal Relay Service at 800-877-8339.

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