Do You Need An ‘Extreme Farm Makeover’?

February 13, 2012

A conference, “Extreme Farm Makeover: Maximizing your farm’s potential” will be presented this Thursday at the Chumuckla’s Farmers Opry House.

Lecture topics will include produce marketing, Florida’s new cottage-food laws, fruit orchard management, as well as produce marketing and silvo pasture conversion. An afternoon session will be held at the University of Florida’s West Florida Research and Education Facility, where attendees will have the opportunity to learn about different hydroponic growing systems for produce and small ruminant marketing. Continuing Education Units will also be available.

One special speaker at the conference will be Bryan Cave of Pilot Mountain Pride (PMP), a produce-marketing association based out of Surry County, North Carolina which has similar goals and operations as local organization Panhandle Fresh Marketing Association (PFMA). PMP opened its doors in May 2010 with a goal of bringing in $30,000 to $50,000 in first-year sales. Instead, they pulled in more than $250,000.

Cave explains how PMP’s success can be a model for local farmers hoping to utilize PFMA.

“I think it’s a universal issue, the market for locally grown produce. For the farmer, the barriers are the same: the need for someone to evaluate the market and sell the produce is the same, and not all farmers have the time, resources or experience for that.” Produce marketing associations fill that gap and makes locally grown produce a viable option for farmers and consumers.

Many farmers have reservations about diversifying their operation because they have already specialized in certain crops. However, with the help of the University of Florida, West Florida Research and Education Center, County Extension Services and the PFMA, any farm can undergo an extreme makeover and learn to maximize their profits by getting the most eggs out of the most baskets.

Farmers looking to diversify their operation and learn about their options are encouraged to attend the Agribusiness Conference. Registration is now open, with a pre-registration fee of $20.00 before February 14th; afterward, the fee increases to $25. To see a complete listing of speaker topics or to register online visit Miltongators.com

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Written by William Reynolds · Filed Under News