ORLAND, Calif.—Registration is being taken for an inaugural two-day conference in November that will educate growers on how to make the most out of new technology and plan for their operation’s future.
The local fairgrounds are hosting the North State Precision Ag Expo and Farm Business Forum on Nov. 15-16, which will feature workshops and panel discussions on the newest of precision agriculture equipment as well as best business practices.
The event is the creation of new Glenn County Fair chief executive officer Ryann Newman, who was told by area growers that they’d like to learn more about all of the new ag-related technology in California, she said.
“We were really looking to find an event that was relevant to our community and the area we live in,” Newman said. “Obviously this is a huge farming area, so we got together and did some focus groups with farmers and ranchers in Glenn County and started talking about things that were of interest to them.”
Rather than having an all-encompassing event like the Colusa Farm Show, Newman and other organizers wanted to focus more narrowly on “farming smarter not harder,” she said. The fair is teaming with Legacy by Design, a succession planning firm, and the California State University-Chico College of Agriculture to host the event.
Seminars will focus on such topics as the best way to use soil monitors, drones for spray and other applications and agriculture-related phone and tablet applications to improve the way they do business, according to a news release.
Topics at the business forum will include succession planning, family consulting, financial planning, leadership development and creating a successful business culture.
Scheduled presenters will include author and Legacy by Design founder Kevin Spafford, Rabobank agribusiness researcher Roland Fumasi and John Unruh, the new dean of the agriculture school at Chico State. There will also be a trade show and equipment demonstrations.
Registration is $100 before Oct. 15, $125 before Nov. 1 and $150 in November. The registration fees include breakfast and lunch both days as well as a mixer. For the full lineup and registration, visit http://www.glenncountyfair.org/p/precision-ag-expo .
Source: www.capitalpress.com