Beginning Farmer workshop series starts in New Albany

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - New and aspiring farmers will learn more about production systems, business planning and other agribusiness topics in a series of regional workshops sponsored by Purdue Extension's Beginning Farmer program.

The first workshop is set for noon to 8 p.m. Aug. 20 at the Purdue Polytechnic Institute in New Albany. Discussion will focus on food safety issues, available resources for beginning farmers, livestock production systems, beekeeping and on-farm animal processing. Participants will also have an opportunity to network with Purdue Extension educators and other agribusiness professionals.

Future workshops will be held at locations throughout the state.

"Each workshop will cover a variety of different issues that are important to beginning farmers and small-scale producers," said Tamara Benjamin, one of the coordinators of the Beginning Farmer program. "Our goal is to provide practical, real-world guidance and to help participants develop their own professional support networks."

Workshop dates and locations:

Aug. 20 - Purdue Polytechnic Institute, 3000 Technology Ave., New Albany.

Nov. 15 - Tippecanoe County Fairgrounds, 1010 Teal Road, Lafayette.

Nov. 19 - Indiana University-Purdue University Fort Wayne, 2101 E. Coliseum Boulevard, Fort Wayne.

Dec. 14 - Normandy Barn at the Indiana State Fairgrounds, 1202 E. 38th St., Indianapolis.

The workshops are free, but registration is required. For more information, contact Benjamin at 765-496-1930, tamara17@purdue.edu. To sign up for the Aug. 20 event, go to https://edustore.purdue.edu/wk_rules.asp?itemID=22539.

The Beginning Farmer program is also offering a series of farm tours through October at locations throughout the state. For more information on the tour series, or to sign up, go to https://mdc.itap.purdue.edu/wk_group.asp?wk_group=BeginFarmer.           

Writer: Darrin Pack, 765-494-8415, dpack@purdue.edu 

Source: Tamara Benjamin, 765-496-1930, tamara17@purdue.edu

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