Hydroponic Workshop & Women's Ag Conference

I’m Lacy Gray with Washington Ag Today.

On April 4 at Skagit Valley Gardens in Mt. Vernon the Northwest Agriculture Business Center will be presenting the Hydroponics: Testing the Waters workshop. Attendees will be instructed on hydroponic system basics - which cover crops, what methods, which structures and proper environments by world renown expert on hydroponic systems Dr. Merle Jensen. Hydroponics is a technology for growing plants in nutrient solutions. Jensen says compared to growing crops in soil hydroponics is highly productive, conservative of water and land, and protective of the environment. For workshop information visit agbizcenter.org.

A reminder that the 2014 Women in Ag Conference is quickly approaching. The March 15 conference offers women in Washington, Oregon and Idaho an opportunity to gather simultaneously in 28 locations. Farm Service Agency’s Chris Bieker explains.

BIEKER: It happens the same day in multiple locations throughout the northwest. What makes it unique is that it’s the same conference happening at all of these locations. We video conference a keynote speaker to all of the sites and then the rest of the day the conference is made up of a panel of local women speakers.

Bieker tells why they do the conference this way.

BIEKER: We discovered having a Women In Agriculture Conference at one location was so difficult for women to travel. They just have so many activities and responsibilities in their communities that it’s really difficult for them to get away to a statewide meeting.

The event will feature keynote speaker Heather Darby, seventh generation owner of the centuries old Darby Farm in Vermont . For conference locations and information on registering for the event visit www.WomeninAg.wsu.edu.

That’s Washington Ag Today.

I’m Lacy Gray on the Ag Information Network.