Workshop Set for Low-Budget, Beginning Farmers

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Beginning farmers and those with limited resources who
need help in marketing, finances and resource management can get
that help for free.


Team Agriculture Georgia is offering a free workshop for
small, beginning and limited-resource farmers Aug. 1 at Georgia
Southern University in Statesboro.


The TAG partnership is made up of leaders from government
agencies, the University of Georgia College of
Agricultural and Environmental Sciences and other academic
institutions and community-based organizations. Together, they
work to create broader and easier access to agriculture-related
programs and services.


Timely Topics


Workshop topics will include:

  • Techniques and strategies for identifying and
    selling specialty crops to niche markets.

  • Financing available for small farmers, including
    direct and guaranteed loans through the Farm Service
    Agency.

  • How to benefit from the growing trend of using
    computers to find information for your enterprise and markets for
    your products.

  • The current situation, outlook and opportunities for
    Georgia’s green industry, including nursery, greenhouses,
    floriculture, sod and turf.

  • How to produce and sell organic products. It’s a lot
    more than simply omitting pesticides.

  • The basics of federal crop insurance and its value
    as a risk management tool.

  • How to select, operate and maintain an irrigation
    system. And how to decide when and how much to irrigate.

  • An overview of the vegetable industry in Georgia:
    the basics of vegetable production, including crop and variety
    selection, soil and fertility management, cultural practices,
    pest control and special production systems.

  • The ABCs of poultry. A representative from the
    poultry industry and a grower will discuss each step of the
    poultry business from beginning to end.

  • Exploring alternatives to traditional crops and
    their special management, marketing and financial
    considerations.


    • Time, Place, Registration


    The workshop will be from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the Russell
    Union Building on the GSU campus. Lunch and a luncheon speaker
    are provided by the Georgia Farm Credit Association. An exhibit
    area will also be available for gathering information.


    The workshop and lunch are free. Organizers ask that
    participants sign up beforehand, though, so they can know how
    many to prepare lunch for.


    To sign up, or to learn more about the program, contact
    the Georgia Department of Agriculture at (800) 282-5852. For
    information about exhibiting at the workshop, contact Marc Thomas
    at (912) 825-6269.

    Expert Sources

    Tina Williams

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