Agriculture Department to hold crop diversification workshops

A workshop opportunity for Missouri farmers to learn more about crop diversification will be held Feb. 20 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Vernon County Fairgrounds in Nevada, Mo. and from 7:15 a.m. to noon at the Best Western Inn in Sikeston, Mo.

Sponsored by the Missouri Department of Agriculture, the Thomas Jefferson Agriculture Institute and University Extension, the workshops will cover the benefits of diversifying production with fruits, vegetables, sunflowers and agroforestry as well as the resources and financial assistance available to producers.

The workshop in Nevada is free and includes lunch. Advance registration is recommended. The workshop in Sikeston includes breakfast. The cost is $10 in advance or $15 the day of the meeting. For more information or to register, contact Amy Bax, Agriculture Business Specialist with the Missouri Department of Agriculture, at (573) 751-0736, or call the Thomas Jefferson Institute at (573) 449-3518. The Thomas Jefferson Agriculture Institute Web site is www.jeffersoninstitute.org.