January 4, 2004

Conference focuses on small farms

Topics include organics, tools and nutrition

GAYLORD - Small farm operators and those interested in starting small farms can learn more about alternative markets, products and enterprises at the fifth annual Northern Michigan Small Farm Conference here this month.
The event will be held Jan. 31 at the Evangelical Free Church in Gaylord.
The conference will begin at 8 a.m. with keynote speaker Eliot Coleman, an author and organic farmer from Haborside, Maine. Coleman will talk about the benefits of organic agriculture for Michigan small farms. He will also provide two breakout sessions, including Tools for the Small Farm and Winter Harvest-Season Extension with High Tunnels
Sally Fallon, a journalist, chef, nutrition researcher and author, will offer the afternoon keynote address with a presentation on the importance of value-added operations to small farms and rural communities, and why nutrition and health should matter to producers.
Other sessions will focus on soil management, wood lot management, business planning, grazing management, using livestock as production tools and the new Michigan State University Product Center for Agriculture and Natural Resources.
Admission for the conference is $35 for the first registrant from a farm and $20 for each additional registrant. Registration includes lunch, refreshments and conference materials.
Registration deadline is Jan. 15. Late registration or walk-in registrations will be charged an additional $5 per person.
For more information about the conference, call the Antrim County MSU Extension office at (231) 533-8818 or visit antrim@msue.edu.

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