TILTH PRODUCERS ANNUAL CONFERENCE OPEN FOR REGISTRATION
Seattle, WA - Tilth Producers of Washington is pleased to announce registration is open for its annual conference at the Yakima Convention Center, November 8-10. The conference is open to all and typically attended by 400 organic and sustainable farmers, orchardists, ranchers and industry representatives. The 3-day conference features 30 workshops, Spanish language sessions, farm tours, an organic apple tasting and a keynote address by fourth generation farmers David Mas Masumoto and daughter Nikiko Masumoto of California's Central Valley. Attendance is $170 for members and $220 for non members. Scholarships applications will be accepted until October 11th.
The theme for this year's conference is "Nourishing the Future: Cultivating Our Farming Legacy." Workshop presenters from the state's organic and sustainable farming sector will address topics such as ecological weed management, fire blight, seed growing, leasing land, renewable energy, farm financing, quinoa production, draft horses and food safety.
The conference is preceded by a Friday symposium, "Small Scale Livestock and Poultry Production," hosted by Washington State University, and a tour of Yakima Valley farms utilizing high tunnels to extend the growing season and increase productivity. Conference social events include a Friday session dedicated to the intergenerational transfer of farming knowledge, "Learning from Elders", in addition to an annual organic wine tasting and auction, a dance and an awards banquet where Tilth Producers honors a Farmer and Advocate of the year. The weekend concludes with Tilth Producers annual meeting and board elections.
The conference is funded in part by USDA's Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program and USDA Specialty Crop Block Grant. For more information and to register please visit www.tilthproducers.org/programs/conference.