As Nevada farmers navigate a changing agricultural landscape, with rising costs and shifting markets, many are turning to one another for support. To help strengthen these connections, the University of Nevada, Reno is hosting the Nevada Farmers Forum, Jan. 23–24, at the Joe Crowley Student Union on campus, bringing producers together to share practical tools, strategies and success stories.

The event is coordinated by the Desert Farming Initiative, a program of the College of Agriculture, Biotechnology & Natural Resources’ Experiment Station unit, through its Grow Organic Nevada Program. It will include workshops where attendees can discuss operational challenges and exchange ideas for solutions. Attendees will also come together for a Friday evening mixer at Liberty Food & Wine Exchange, sponsored by Reno’s Local Food Group and restaurateur and chef Mark Estee.

Farmer and author Ben Hartman, author of “The Lean Farm” and “The Lean Micro Farm,” will be a featured speaker and will share insights on strategies farmers can apply to reduce waste and increase profitability.

“What shapes us as producers is hearing directly from other farmers—what works, what doesn’t and what they dream of doing next,” said Rob Holley, a local farmer with Holley Family Farm and coordinator of the Grow Organic Nevada Program. “The Nevada Farmers Forum brings that honest, farmer-to-farmer knowledge sharing to Nevada’s agricultural community.”

Forum sessions will include:

• Seeds of change: Growing the future of organics
• Lean farming: Cutting edge tools and farming without plastic
• Managing livestock for soil health and increased production
• Innovations in infrastructure and production for small farms
• Viticulture and wine making in Nevada
• Less but better: Stories of lean farming from around the world
• Agroecology: Building an ecologically sound farm landscape
• Annual and perennial floriculture
• Food sovereignty in Indigenous communities
• Chicken or the egg? Poultry production in Nevada
• Start with the customer: Lean customer management for farmers

Regional farming experts and University agricultural researchers will provide guidance tailored to diverse climates and to small farms and ranches. Attendees will gain practical knowledge they can apply directly to their operations.

Register online for the forum for $95, which includes all workshops and presentations, refreshments and Saturday lunch. The Friday night mixer ticket is $30, and includes appetizers, refreshments and libations. Parking passes are provided for Friday; parking is free on Saturday.

The forum is made possible by funding from the U.S. Department of Agriculture through its Transition to Organic Partnership Program. For more information, email Ann Louhela or call her at 775-250-1339.

Persons in need of special accommodations or assistance should email Paul Lessick, civil rights and compliance coordinator, or call him at 702-257-5577 at least five days prior to the scheduled event with their needs or for more information.

For more information visit the Nevada Farmers Forum event page.