The 5th National Farm Viability Conference took place virtually in October 2021. The conference featured 75 workshop sessions and brought together over 400 professionals for peer-to-peer learning and networking with a focus on strengthening farm sustainability, building stronger and more resilient local food systems and supporting the long term profitability of farming and agri-entrepreneurs from start-ups to generational businesses.
2021 Conference Topics:
Accessing Capital
Advocacy and Policy
Business Planning and Development
Equity and Social Justice in the Food System
Farm Viability and Climate Change
Equity and Social Justice in the Food System
Farmer Training via Incubator and Apprenticeship Programs
Food and Farm Marketing and Distribution
Land Access and Succession Planning
Program Development, Funding and Design
Accessing Capital
Advocacy and Policy
Business Planning and Development
Equity and Social Justice in the Food System
Farm Viability and Climate Change
Equity and Social Justice in the Food System
Farmer Training via Incubator and Apprenticeship Programs
Food and Farm Marketing and Distribution
Land Access and Succession Planning
Program Development, Funding and Design
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The 2021 National Farm Viability Conference was supported with funding from the Western Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education Program.
In 2021, the National Farm Viability Conference collaborated with the New Entry Sustainable Farming Project’s 10th annual FIELD School which offers professional development for service providers who operate incubator farm and apprenticeship training programs for beginning farmers and ranchers. FIELD School sessions relevant to incubator farm and apprenticeship training programs will be organized within a track throughout the conference.
2021 National Farm Viability Conference Policy Plenary
The mid-conference Policy Plenary Session focused on federal support for farm viability & business technical assistance and featured Jennifer Moffitt, USDA Undersecretary for Marketing and Regulatory Programs, as well as short video presentations from Senator Patrick Leahy of Vermont and Representative Antonio Delgado of New York, speaking directly to the conference audience of business technical assistance providers.
A panel of congressional staff that work on agricultural policy also addressed federal policy opportunities related to farm viability - and business technical assistance in particular, along with the 2023 Farm Bill. Panelists included:
Katie Naessens, Senior Professional Staff of the Senate Agriculture Committee (Majority)
Jeremy Witte, Professional Staff of the Senate Agriculture Committee (Minority)
Andrew Bahrenburg, Legislative Assistant with the Office of Senator Leahy
Katie Bergh, Senior Policy Advisor with the Office of Rep. Chellie Pingree
The panel was moderated by Cris Coffin, Senior Policy Advisor at American Farmland Trust and Todd Erling, Executive Director at the Hudson Valley Agribusiness Development Corporation.
View the recording of our Policy Plenary Session here:
The mid-conference Policy Plenary Session focused on federal support for farm viability & business technical assistance and featured Jennifer Moffitt, USDA Undersecretary for Marketing and Regulatory Programs, as well as short video presentations from Senator Patrick Leahy of Vermont and Representative Antonio Delgado of New York, speaking directly to the conference audience of business technical assistance providers.
A panel of congressional staff that work on agricultural policy also addressed federal policy opportunities related to farm viability - and business technical assistance in particular, along with the 2023 Farm Bill. Panelists included:
Katie Naessens, Senior Professional Staff of the Senate Agriculture Committee (Majority)
Jeremy Witte, Professional Staff of the Senate Agriculture Committee (Minority)
Andrew Bahrenburg, Legislative Assistant with the Office of Senator Leahy
Katie Bergh, Senior Policy Advisor with the Office of Rep. Chellie Pingree
The panel was moderated by Cris Coffin, Senior Policy Advisor at American Farmland Trust and Todd Erling, Executive Director at the Hudson Valley Agribusiness Development Corporation.
View the recording of our Policy Plenary Session here:
