DIGHTON, Mass. — The Southeastern Massachusetts Agricultural Partnership (SEMAP) will hold its 12th Annual Agriculture & Food Conference on Sunday, February 24th, 2019, 9AM – 5PM at the Bristol County Agricultural High School, 135 Center St. Dighton, MA.
Whether you’re a professional farmer, a backyard gardener, or just curious about locally grown food, the Ag & Food Conference is for you! Each year, the lineup includes workshops for the general public as well as info-packed sessions for farmers and gardeners of all experience levels. Registration includes a locally-sourced lunch and at the Resource Fair, you’ll learn about local organizations and businesses that provide services and products to help you grow, whether you’ve got a hundred-acre farm or a small backyard garden.
The workshop schedule includes:
Session 1: Integrated Pest Management of Brassicas
Session 1: The Food Safety Modernization Act, and How it Applies to Your Farm
Session 1: Essentials of Seed Saving
Session 1: Beekeeping Programs at Small Scale Farms: Drumlin Farm Case Study
Session 1: Dual-Use Solar: Produce Energy & Food on Your Farm
Session 1: Add Microbial Activity, Organic Matter, & Trace Minerals with Compost
Session 1: Agricultural Commission Roundtable Discussion
Session 1: Food Fermentation: History, Processes, Pros & Cons
Session 2: Home Cultivation of Specialty Mushrooms
Session 2: Panel Discussion: Growing for the Greater Good (Nonprofit Farms)
Session 2: Growing Culturally-Appropriate Crops for Immigrant Communities
Session 2: Beginning Farmers: “What I Wish I Knew Then” w/ Carrot Project
Session 2: Growing Rice in Massachusetts
Session 2: Get a Head Start: Starting Seeds Indoors
Session 2: Meal Planning: How to Get the Most Out of Your CSA Share
Session 3: Growing Hemp: Panel Discussion with Regional Growers
Session 3: Diversified Livestock for Farm Sustainability
Session 3: Insects, Diseases, & Weeds – Oh My!
Session 3: The Ins & Outs of MDAR Grants
Session 3: So, You Want to Become a Beekeeper?
Session 3: Biodiversity, Soil Building, and Climate
Children’s Workshops
Session 1: All about Wool: From Farm to Felt
Session 2: Meet the animals in the Aggie Barn
Session 3: Chicken Showmanship
Keynote: Mike Hoffmann, Ph.D., is the Executive Director of the Cornell Institute for Climate Smart Solutions, which was created to help raise the profile of the challenges posed by a rapidly warming climate and to help those who grow our food adapt to those challenges. Michael will be speaking about climate change and its impact on local farms in SE Mass, as well as the global implications for our food supply. Previous positions he has held at Cornell include Director of the Cornell University Agricultural Experiment Station, Associate Dean of the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Associate Director of Cornell Cooperative Extension, and Director of the New York State Integrated Pest Management Program. He is also a professor in the Cornell Department of Entomology.
Locally-sourced lunch provided by M+C Cafe & Catering Co. included with your ticket. We will also have a Resource Fair with ag-related organizations from the region.
Tickets Prices:
General Admission: $45, SEMAP Members: $35,
College & HS Students: $15, Children under age 14: $10
Link for more information: https://semaponline.org/2019-
Registration link: http://bit.ly/ag-food-2019
–Southeastern Massachusetts Agricultural Partnership (SEMAP)
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