Tarleton to host agricultural workshops in Bay City and El Campo
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Many Texas farmers, ranchers and agribusiness professionals are finding creative ways to diversify their operations as a supplement to traditional agriculture.
In an effort to address questions associated with farm and ranch diversification, Tarleton State University and Texas AgriLife Extension Service are holding a series of workshops across Texas on June 9-10.
On June 9, the Business Development Center in Bay City will host the workshop and on June 10 the workshop will be at the Wharton County Electric Co-op Edison Room in El Campo.
The workshop, titled "Increasing Profits and Managing Risks in Rural Ag Businesses," will begin at 8 a.m. with registration. Topics of discussion will include agricultural diversification, rural entrepreneurship, online promotion, value-added activities and addition of new products. The first session will begin at 8:25 a.m. and sessions will conclude by 4 p.m.
The workshops are the result of a grant awarded to Tarleton from the U.S. Department of Agriculture. In addition to Tarleton and AgriLife Extension, project partners include Ag Texas Farm Credit Services and Tri-County Agribusiness Association in Stephenville, Innovative Capital Solutions in Early and the Texas Department of Agriculture.
The workshops are geared toward agricultural producers considering diversifying or expanding their businesses, as well as other new/existing businesses. Much of the content and discussions will be applicable to all of those interests.
Examples of diversification include dairy farmers who develop and sell cheese products, ranchers who establish wild game hunting operations or grow and market grass-fed beef or small landowners who plant and harvest seasonal crops such as Christmas trees.
"Those starting new businesses may not anticipate many risks ahead or fully understand how to prevent risks," said Ashley Lovell, one of the speakers who will be featured at the workshops with the AgriLife Extension. "The workshops will focus on success through risk management practices."
Participants will engage in general presentations, breakout sessions and a roundtable session to identify profitable ventures and risks. After the final session, informal concurrent sessions or one-on-one discussions will be available. Participants can bring copies of business plans, loan applications, health insurance tax reporting forms and other appropriate information.
Speakers and those providing assistance are Ashley Lovell, Greg Clary and John Park from Texas AgriLife Extension Service; Kyle Smith, director of the University of Houston Coastal Plains SBDC; local entrepreneur Michael Maraggie, owner of South Texas Milling; and representatives from the Texas Department of Agriculture and Rural Development.
Grant sponsors are the USDA's Cooperative State Research, Education and Extension Service and the Southern Region Risk Management Education Center.
For additional details regarding the workshop or to register, contact your county extension agent or go to http://agecoext.tamu.edu/resources/workshops.html or Lovell at lovell@tarleton.edu or 254-968-a1984.
