Winter Conferences and Workshops

For many experienced farmers, winter means a time to catch your breath from the busy season of growing and marketing, to revisit business plans and make adjustments to it, and to attend many conferences and workshops to gain more knowledge and to network. Even for beginning farmers, new farmers and what I call wannabe's, winter conference season is a great place to learn and meet new people. Here are just a few conferences and workshops that will be upcoming. Check out a few if your schedule allows. You won't be disappointed.

Jan 5—Soil Testing and Plant Diseases, DeSoto, MO. Call 636-797-5391.

Jan 7—Great Plains Vegetable Growers Pre-Conference Workshops: 1. High Tunnel Production; 2. CSA Mini School and 3. Pricing & Profits, St Joseph, MO. Go to http://extension.missouri.edu/buchanan/GPVGC.shtml

Jan 8-9—Great Plains Vegetable Growers Conference, St Joseph, MO. Go to http://extension.missouri.edu/buchanan/GPVGC.shtml

Jan 10—From Recipe to Reality, Lincoln NE. Call 402-472-2819.

Jan 12-14—MidAmerica Fruit Growers Conference, Nebraska City, NE. Call 402-209-1748 or pres@midamericafruit.org

Jan 13—Food Defense Workshop for Meat Processors, Columbia, MO. Call 573-882-4042, savageclarkek@missouri.edu

Feb 2—Tools for Marketing and Pricing Your Ag Products, DeSoto, MO. Call 636-797-5391.

Feb 5-6—Missouri Organic Association’s Annual Conference, Columbia, MO.

Feb 6-7—Missouri Young Farmers/Young Farm Wives State Convention, Lake Ozark, MO. Call 573-751-8467

Feb 6-9—Midwest Grape and Wine Conference, Osage Beach, MO

Feb 8—High Tunnel Workshop: High Tunnel Equipment and Installation, Mt. Vernon, MO. Call 417 483-8139 or eileennichols@sbcglobal.net

Feb 12-14—Missouri Farm Bureau Young Farmer Conference, Osage Beach, MO.

Feb 15-17--Missouri Agritourism Conference and the 30th Annual Small Fruit and Vegetable Conference, Lake Ozark, MO. Go to http://mtngrv.missouristate.edu/commercial/Conference2010.htm

Feb 19-21—Western Farm Show, Kansas City, MO. Call 816-561-5323

Feb 25-26—21st Annual Organic Farming Conference and Organic University, La Crosse, WI. Go to http://www.mosesorganic.org/conference.html

Feb 27—Food Safety from Field to Market, Neosho, MO. Call 417 483-8139.

March 2—Weights and Measures—Learn Regulations for Selling at Farmers’ Markets, DeSoto, MO. Call 636-797-5391.

March 12-13—Missouri State Beekeepers Association Annual Spring Meeting, Hannibal, MO. Email sgibbons314@att.net

April 7—High Tunnel Workshop: Spring High Tunnel Management, Mt. Vernon, MO. Call 417 483-8139 or eileennichols@sbcglobal.net