Fertile Ground USA...Celebrating the people behind the plow

Registration now remains open until July 28 for the Kerr Center's popular "Future Farms 2008: Planning for Change" conference.

In this era of change, Oklahoma farmers and ranchers are branching out
- trying new crops and marketing options.

The Future Farms 2008 conference will feature the best of these innovative farm enterprises, August 5 and 6 at the Bricktown Convention Center in Oklahoma City.

The two-day conference will offer one day of farm and ranch tours and one day of indoor presentations.

"Our aim is simple-to help Oklahoma producers find success in this rapidly-changing world," said Maura McDermott of the Kerr Center, sponsor of the event.

On August 5, buses will leave from the conference center, bound for three different parts of the state-northwest, central and east. Each tour will visit four or more farms, including at least one livestock operation, one vegetable farm and one winery.

Tour stops will also explore on-farm food businesses and agritourism enterprises.

"Each tour will be limited to 50 people," says Alan Ware of the Kerr Center. He advises those interested to register early.

On August 6, conference attendees can choose from sessions under three
tracks: financial planning, production and marketing.

More than thirty experts and producers will present information and outline opportunities and resources to help Oklahoma farmers/ranchers be successful.

Just a few of the topics include: labor, insurance and legal issues; unconventional marketing opportunities; business planning; and how to raise in-demand crops and livestock.

Some highlights include Robert Waldrop, president of the Oklahoma Food Cooperative. The co-op does about $60,000 in sales each month, 90% of which goes directly to Oklahoma farmers and ranchers.

Wyoming's Charley Orchard will teach ranchers about his "Land EKG," a simple, yet comprehensive approach to monitoring the health of rangeland .

The USDA's Risk Management Agency (RMA) is partnering with the Kerr Center to sponsor the conference. Other sponsors are High Country Rural Conservation and Development Program; the Oklahoma Department of Agriculture, Food and Forestry; the Robert M. Kerr Food and Agricultural Products Center at Oklahoma State University; Langston University; Fun Country Rural Conservation and Development Program; and the National Center for Agricultural Law.

Complete information on speakers and farm tour stops is on the Kerr Center website, www.kerrcenter.com.

Registration is $40 for tours only, $35 for presentations only, or $75 for both days. Register online or call 918.647.9123.

Future Farms 2008 is the fifth in the Kerr Center's popular Future Farms series of conferences that began in 2000.