February 1, 2001

NDSU Small Farm Symposia Scheduled

Four symposia on the economic, management and lifestyle aspects of small farms have been scheduled by the NDSU Extension Service in the coming weeks.

"Small farms are the fastest growing segment of American agriculture," says Brad Brummond, NDSU Extension agent in Walsh County and one of the organizers. "Even in states with a large agriculture base like North Dakota, the number of small farms is increasing."

The programs begin at 7 p.m., will end at about 10 p.m. and are free. For more information, contact the NDSU Extension Service office in Nelson County at (701) 247-2521 or Walsh County at (701) 284-6624. The schedule of programs follows.

• Sustaining the Small Livestock Farm will be held Monday, Feb. 5, in Park River at the Walsh County office of the NDSU Extension Service. The symposium will feature a discussion of sheep flocks for the small farm by Roger Haugen, NDSU Extension sheep specialist, a discussion of small farm poultry flocks and organic meat production by Brummond, and a presentation on small and low-input hog operations by Thomas Socha, NDSU Extension swine specialist.
• Horses — Horsing Around with our Favorite Farm Animal will be held Thursday, Feb. 15, in Grand Forks at the Grand Forks office of the NDSU Extension Service. NDSU Extension range management specialist Kevin Sedivec will outline the feeding, pasture and forage concerns associated with raising horses. Nels Peterson, NDSU Extension agent in Nelson County, will discuss facilities, equipment and waste management needs. Greg Lardy, NDSU livestock nutritionist, will review nutritional needs.
• Commercial Vegetable Production on a Few Acres will be held Tuesday, Feb. 20, in Lakota at the Nelson County Courthouse Community Room. NDSU Extension horticulturist Ron Smith will discuss small fruit and berry production. Joshua Peterson, a Nelson County cantaloupe grower and teen entrepreneur, will discuss his experiences producing cantaloupe and cucurbits. Nels Peterson will discuss production of hot and sweet peppers.
• Selling What You Grow will be held Monday, March 5, in Lakota at the Nelson County Courthouse Community Room. Rudy Radke, NDSU Extension high-value crops specialist, will discuss market development. Peterson will outline steps to doing your own market study. Willie Huot, NDSU Extension agent in Grand Forks County, will talk about building alliances.

Brummond notes that the symposia are the beginning of a new program of educational efforts aimed at small farm producers. "Many small farm producers are committed to small communities and have a need and desire to produce value-added products. Consumers will benefit from these nearby producers. Small farms benefit rural communities by giving producers and their families an opportunity to stay on the farm, make a living and contribute to the community."

NDSU’s programs for small farm producers will include information on high-value crops, intensive small herd livestock management, marketing, record keeping and enterprise assessment.

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Source: Brad Brummond, (701) 284-6624, bbrummon@ndsuext.nodak.edu
Editor: Tom Jirik, (701) 231-9629, tjirik@ndsuext.nodak.edu