Small Farm Conference keynote speaker to highlight sustainability

February 13, 2015  


WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - Purdue Extension's third annual Indiana Small Farm Conference in March will feature a keynote speaker who has written five books on sustainability of small farms.

John Ikerd, emeritus professor of agricultural economics at the University of Missouri, will give his presentation March 7, the last day of the three-day conference at the Hendricks County Fairgrounds, 1900 E. Main St., Danville.

Ikerd worked in private industry after his graduation from the University of Missouri, where he earned his Ph.D. in agricultural economics. He held four different professorial positions during his 30-year career. Since his retirement in 2000, he has written five printed books relating to small-farm sustainability and two online books on other topics.

The conference will provide an opportunity for participants to meet with small-farm owners, Extension specialists and researchers. Nearly all of food at the conference will come from Indiana farms and be catered by The Juniper Spoon.

The event will consist of educational sessions led by Extension specialists and other experts in the industry. They will give presentations on cover crops, soil health, managing pollinator habitat, composting, new poultry regulations, liability issues, preventing and dealing with livestock death, understanding the value of woodlands, grant writing, food safety planning and other topics.

Participants can register online until Sunday (Feb. 15) at https://ag.purdue.edu/extension/smallfarms/Pages/default.aspx, where they will also find additional information about the conference. After that, they can register by calling Purdue Extension's The Education Store at 888-398-4636 or register at the conference. 

Writer: Emma Hopkins, 765-494-8402, hopkine@purdue.edu 

Source: Kathleen Sprouse, 765-641-9522, ksprouse@purdue.edu

Ag Communications: (765) 494-2722;
Keith Robinson, robins89@purdue.edu
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