By james art 
To help provide education and support for Nevada farmers, related companies and others, the University of Nevada, Reno Extension partnered with other organizations to host the Small Farms Conference in SPARKS at the resort Nugget Casino, February 20-22.
“The extension is very excited that it can offer educational capabilities to farm manufacturers and others, provide them with the most research and information about resources to help them be successful,” says Staci Emm, Extension Educator. “We are aware that our local food systems are extremely important to our communities and want to facilitate long -term stability.”
According to EMM, the smaller operations sometimes have a more difficult time to market their products and networks, as their base is rural, but this conference provides the opportunity for the smaller operations to share information about the available resources and meet with Other professionals in the industry, also regarding presentations on various topics to help them maintain profitable and sustainable operations. Current and new farms owners, local food defenders, chefs, farmers, FFA members and other agricultural stakeholders are encouraged to attend.
The first day (Thursday) will provide a variety of seminars for a preliminary difference, and the next two days will offer a series of seminars, presentations and events on the network. On Friday, the main speaker Cody Vit, the owner and manager of Full Circle Compost, will talk about his family’s heritage in agriculture in North Nevada. From a fifth-generation milk farm to the largest composting company in Nevada, the Vit family is a pioneer and adapted to the changing agricultural landscape, focusing on regenerative agriculture and soil health. Also on Friday, expansion specialists will offer a breakthrough session to prevent and navigate foreign animal diseases, and farmer Ray Johnson will present a practical seminar for seedlings and transplantation. A full schedule of seminars and topics for the breakthrough of the three -day event is available online.
Register online for the $ 75 conference, which includes all seminars and presentations, network events and sweets for breakfast and lunches on Friday and Saturday. The conference is made possible by funding by the US Agency for Risk Management by the Ministry of Agriculture and other partners. For more information, send an email to Kali Chapin or call her at 702-467-2668. See the Extension Risk Management Website for more information on other agricultural conferences and resources available to farmers manufacturers.
Persons in need of special accommodation or assistance places must send an email to Paul Lesik, Civil Rights and Compliance Coordinator or call him at 702-257-5577 at least five days before the planned event with their needs or for their needs More information.