HUDSON, N.Y. — This year, HVADC has joined the host committee of the third National Farm Viability Conference, working with The Vermont Farm and Forest Viability Program (VFFVP), GrowNYC, the American Farmland Trust (AFT), Cornell Small Farms Program and Kitchen Table Advisors to present the May 22-24 conference in Albany. Working with these like-minded partners is helping HVADC advance its mission of supporting prosperous agricultural communities that consciously invest in resilient and viable local food systems.
The National Farm Viability Conference is intended for professionals and organizations who work to support farmers and farm businesses in the many aspects of sustaining, managing and growing agribusiness. Presenters from around the country will discuss best practices in the fields of farm and food business planning, financial planning, agricultural financing, farmland conservation, agricultural market development and food hub management. Organizations and leaders as varied as an agribusiness incubator from Hawaii, Alabama’s Tuskegee University and Montana’s Community Food & Agricultural Commission will be in attendance to exchange ideas and present workshop sessions on many of the important issues facing farm businesses today.
The conference creates a powerful network of support for farmers by providing the opportunity for the free exchange of ideas amongst organizations and individuals with similar agendas, such as HVADC. Coordinating with other host committee participants, and a program of the caliber of the National Farm Viability Conference, elevates the visibility and exposure of the HVADC mission and its programs. And, being involved in the conference development has also allowed HVADC to spotlight some of its clients, supporters, and partners from the Hudson Valley in workshop sessions and conference tours and as sponsors. Hudson Valley participants include Field Goods, Rise and Root Farm, Indian Ladder Farm, Nine Pin Cidery, Hawthorne Valley Farm, Soul Fire Farm, Valley Table magazine, Capital Roots, Farm Credit East, Dirt Capital, Moxie Ridge Farm, Carey Institute for Global Good, and Farm Bridge.
“While bringing together this group and presenting best practices in the field, HVADC is also able to further their mission to support agricultural entrepreneurship and economic growth,” said Todd Erling, HVADC’s Executive Director.
Erling will be part of the opening session of the conference, along with Richard Ball, New York Commissioner of Agriculture. John Piotti, President and CEO of American Farmland Trust will deliver the conference closing sessions. Other Hudson Valley based speakers include Karen Washington of Rise & Root Farm who will participate in the Producer’s Panel, and Donna Williams of Field Goods who will appear on the Food Systems Panel.
Registration for the National Farm Viability Conference closes May 8. For more information, visit: http://www.farmviabilityconference.com
—Hudson Valley AgriBusiness Development Corporation (HVADC)
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