Regional agricultural conference set for Saturday in Northampton
Published: 02-01-2024 10:59 AM |
NORTHAMPTON — The Pioneer Valley Regional Agricultural Conference planned for Saturday will present three guest speakers on low-impact forestry, cheese making and small-scale maple syrup production for agricultural professionals looking to diversify their offerings.
The free event — presented by the Northampton Agricultural Commission — also features resources from the National Resources Conservation Service for farmers looking to participate in local and state programs.
“We’re always looking for different topics to be of interest or of use for the benefit of people in agriculture,” said John Omasta, chair of the Northampton Agricultural Commission. “Each year we try to get something new and different, and try to appeal to the public.”
Omasta said there is not a central theme connecting the three speakers, but rather each guest will share their expertise and experiences to support and benefit the region’s agricultural community.
Tom Jenkins from Blue Dog Forestry in Westhampton will discuss ways to use oxen for low-impact, sustainable forestry and managing forests for income while preserving wildlife habitat.
Laurie Cuevas of Thomas Farm and Dairy in Sunderland will bring her expertise on chevre cheese made from Nubian goats milk for farms who lack the land for larger livestock. She will also talk about her experience diversifying her farm with local beef, seasonal vegetables and eggs.
“It’s a low-impact agricultural thing. You don’t need the same amount of land you need for cattle, so if people have smaller plots, this is for them,” Omasta said.
Missy Leab, coordinator of the Massachusetts Maple Producers Association and owner of Ioka Valley Farm in Hancock, will highlight current trends in maple sugaring for agricultural professionals interested in small-scale maple syrup production.
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“There’s a lot of people that do maple production,” Omasta said. “If you have tracks of land that are agricultural, this is something you can do on a small scale.”
The program starts at 9 a.m. at Smith Vocational and Agricultural High School’s library and continues until noon. Doors open for coffee and baked goods at 8:30 a.m.
Emilee Klein can be reached at eklein@gazettenet.com.