University of Wisconsin - Extension

As the face of agriculture evolves to include small farms with more diversified products, farmers are looking for new ways to make the family farm sustainable and profitable.

The 2000 Midwest Small Farm Conference and Trade Show offers a wealth of information for people seeking to earn a living on a small farm. Entitled "Small is Beautiful," the conference emphasizes that small farms can contribute to a healthy environment and play a pivotal role in rural community life. The conference is scheduled for Nov. 17th and 18th at the 4-H Exhibition Center, northeast of Indianapolis in Noblesville, Indiana.

Speakers will include nationally recognized authors and researchers, but the majority of presenters are farmers involved in organic or reduced chemical production on small farms. Twenty-four seminars will present topics such as livestock health and nutrition, business plans, controlling weeds and pests with soil fertility, building soils, beneficial insects, buying rural property, sustainable community energy systems and biodiversity.

Other sessions will focus on production, adding value and marketing for enterprise topics such as meat goats, fancy mushrooms, herbs, essential oils, cheesemaking, sheep, a mobile poultry processing facility, selling to restaurants and more. Keynote speakers are Michael Shuman, author of Going Local, who will speak on "The Importance of Local Economies," and John Ikerd, retired University of Missouri agricultural economist, presenting "Economics as If People Mattered."

For a conference brochure contact Steve Bonney, 765-463-9366, sbonney@iquest.net.