Workshop offers information for rural landowners, small farmers

The 5th Annual Southeast Wisconsin Rural Landowner Conference scheduled for Saturday, Nov. 5th will offer opportunities for rural landowners and small farmers and well as individuals who are considering a farm enterprise.

Tim Baye, business development educator with University of Wisconsin Cooperative Extension will begin the day with a discussion of "Biomass: Turning Green into Green $".

After the keynote speaker, participants will be able to choose from a variety of educational topics from three tracts: entrepreneurship, small farm or conservation. The entrepreneurship tract will feature topics such as Growing Grapes and Starting a Vineyard, Growing Hops, Brewing Beer and Wine and Running a Winery Business. The small farm tract will offer information on Raising Chickens, Raising Ducks and Geese, Raising Beef and Raising Pigs. The conservation tract will include workshops on Invasive Species Identification, Creating Natural Landscapes, Vermicomposting (composting with worms), and a panel discussion on the various government programs a landowner might be eligible to participate in.

In addition to the educational sessions, a trade show and farmers' market will be held in conjunction with the conference.

The program will be held at the Kenosha County Center in Bristol and will run from 8:00 a.m. until 3:00 p.m. Costs $20/person and $15 for youth between the ages of 14 and 18. Costs increase by $5 after the Oct. 21 early bird deadline. Lunch will be included with the registration fee.

Registration information as well as the brochure is available at: http://walworth.uwex.edu/ag/ For questions, contact Peg Reedy, 262-741-48=961 (peg.reedy@ces.uwex.edu) or Rose Skora, 262-857-1945 ( rose.skora@ces.uwex.edu).