Women In Ag Conference
Women In Ag Conference
I’m Lacy Gray with Washington Ag Today.
Women producers in the state have voiced often that they have the skills needed to grow their crops, but they would appreciate help with the financial aspect to help them make better farm operating decisions. They have been heard. This year’s Women in Agriculture Conference is entitled “Growing Your Successful Farm Business” and will be held simultaneously in 21 county locations throughout the state of Washington on February 23. Margaret Viebrock, WSU Douglas County Extension Director and chair of the conference explains the reason for the variety of different locations.
VIEBROCK: We’re bringing the program to the women producers where they live and where they work so they don’t have a distance to travel.
Keynote speaker will be Trini Campbell, owner of Riverdog Farm in California.
VIEBROCK: She’s going to share her experiences of being a beginning farmer in the Napa Valley in 1990 with two acres, and how today she has diversified and expanded to a 500 acre organic operation.
Following the keynote speaker a second workshop on financial information will be offered.
VIEBROCK: We’re working together with Farm Credit. The presentation they’re having is called “Financial Statement Basics”. So it’s understanding what is involved with a balance sheet, looking at assets and liabilities, working capitol, looking at ratios - doing all the comparisons to understand “where am I at, am I making any money, how will I grow and survive depending on what’s happening with the economy?”
The third part of the conference will be a panel of three local producers who will talk about their risks and challenges with farming, and the financial tools that they use to manage risk. Women farmers, supporting spouses, aspiring farmers, ag students and farm interns are all encouraged to attend. Deadline to register is February 18. For conference locations and more information visit www.WomeninAg.wsu.edu.
I’m Lacy Gray and that’s Washington Ag Today on the Ag Information Network.
