Register for Beginning Farmer Summit

OMAHA (DTN) -- Practical Farms of Iowa is hosting its second annual Beginning Farmer Summit in Ames, Iowa, in February to help the next generation of farmers get started.

The summit will be held Feb. 13 at Harvest Vineyard Church and is open to both beginning and experienced farmers and landowners who are looking to help the next generation get started and access land, according to a news release from the organization.

Although the event is free, registration is required and open online until Feb. 8.

"Beginning farmers face many barriers to getting started, from daunting land access challenges and high start-up costs to steep learning curves and lack of support to help them navigate these challenges," the release stated.

The event aims to address some of those obstacles through targeted training based on beginning farmer experience levels and related needs, offering networking formation and tailored tracts throughout the one-day conference.

"We recognize that beginning farmers need different support and resources as they move through different stages within their first 10 years of farming," said Greg Padget, PFI's beginning farmer viability manager. "This is why we have designed the summit with tailored tracks to support each phase of farming."

Some of the Beginning Farmer Summit tracks include:

-- Aspiring farmers who have not yet started farming will learn about setting goals related to preparing to farm. This track focuses on building connections and mapping out ways to access farmland.

-- Beginning farmers will choose between two tracks: Enterprise Budgeting for Decision-Making or Fundamentals to a Marketing Plan. Each track includes a deep dive on the topic and focuses on next steps to improving their farm business and decision-making ability.

-- Farmers and landowners seeking to support beginning farmers will participate in the farmland owner track. These sessions will help participants set goals focused on providing farmland access to beginning farmers and meeting aspiring farmers looking for farmland to get started.

In addition to networking opportunities in the afternoon, a farm plan pitch session will be held "where beginning farmers can pitch their farm idea to a panel of experienced farmers, bankers and others for feedback.

"Attendees will leave with many resources and connections to support their farming journey," the news release stated.

To register until Feb. 8, go to https://practicalfarmers.org/….

For questions about the summit, or to register after Feb. 8, contact Greg Padget at 515-232-5661 or email greg.padget@practicalfarmers.org.

Susan Payne can be reached at susan.payne@dtn.com

Follow her on Twitter @jpusan

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