This is the last week to register for the Niagara County Agribusiness Outreach Forum, set for 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. March 14 at the Cornell Cooperative Extension of Niagara 4-H Training Center.
Hosted by the Niagara County Center for Economic Development, the forum will feature presentations including: From Application to Action, Recruiting and Retaining H2A Workers; Rooted in Success — Building Your Agribusiness Through Marketing & Networking; and Harvesting Funding — Mastering the Art of Finding, Writing & Being Awarded Ag Grants.
“Agribusiness is such an important part of the Niagara County economy, yet it continues to be under tremendous stress, as we have lost more than 60 farms and nearly 19,000 acres of farmland in the last five year,” said Niagara County Legislator Mike Hill, who represents Hartland and Royalton. “This forum is a way to bring in all stakeholders to share information, talk about available assistance and join together in support of our agriculture industry.”
Keynote speaker Andy Turner, director of the Cornell Cooperative Extension at Cornell University’s College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, will present “From Application to Action, Understanding State and Federal Policies for CCE.”
The facilitator is Kevin Bittner, president of the Niagara County Farm Bureau.
Tours of the CCE-Niagara Veggie Van and the Oak Orchard Health Mobile Health Unit will be available, along with information from more than 20 organizations including the Niagara County Center for Economic Development, Cornell Cooperative Extension-Niagara, the Small Business Development Center, the Farm Bureau and Niagara USA Chamber.
Complimentary lunch will be provided by Beans’ Smokehouse.
There is no fee to attend the forum but advance registration is required. Sign up at www.NCagforum.com.