National Farm Viability Focuses on Resilience

Dorothy Suput addressing the 7th National Farm Viability Conference at the Hotel Albuquerque in Albuquerque, New Mexico. PC: AVA

The 7th Annual National Farm Viability Conference was hosted on September 22-24 in Albuquerque, New Mexico by The Agricultural Viability Alliance (AVA) with cohosts HMI and The Quivira Coalition.

The National Farm Viability Conference is the foremost gathering for agricultural professionals from across the nation to engage in peer-to-peer learning and networking, with a focus on effective approaches in farm viability programming, building resilient local food systems, and supporting the profitability and growth of farms and food businesses from start-ups to multigenerational businesses. Over 250 professionals attended the conference

Dorothy Suput from AVA and HMI Education Director Ann Adams after opening remarks. PC: AVA

The conference began with opening remarks by Julia Griggs, Benneth Phelps, and Dorothy Suput from the AVA organizing committee and HMI Education Director Ann Adams

The Loose Leaf Farm greenhouse provided a dry place to share information about the farm and learn about their innovative farming practices. PC: Sarah Robertson.

Dr. Adams also co-led a workshop with HMI Whole Farm/Ranch Trainer Stevie Schafenacker on "Making Holistic Management Work: Adapting Whole Farm Planning Tools for Real World Farm Advising." HMI Certified Educator Seth Wilner from the University of New Hampshire Extension led another a session on "Designing Effective Farm and Ranch Programs to Build Skills."

Rainy afternoon field tour at Loose Leaf Farm. PC: Sarah Robertson

Wednesday afternoon was reserved for field tours which included a field tour to Loose Leaf Farm in the North Valley of Albuquerque led by HMI Program Manager Sarah Robertson and her husband, Mark, on how they build soil health in the arid Southwest and their business model for the farm. HMI Education Director also led a field tour out in the Estancia Valley at John and Debbie Humphries' Hearth Wind Sol Farm where the focus was on how John has engaged in a variety of innovative practices like developing his infrastructure for high density grazing on NM rangelands as well as experimenting with Halter virtual fencing collars for the cattle and signing a contract for carbon credits with Grassroots Carbon which has helped him with income during a drought year that required destocking. Our thanks also to 4 Daughters Pecan Orchard for being another field tour site for the conference.

John Humphries, co-owner of Hearth Wind Sol Farm, presenting on his innovative rangeland management practices. PC: Ann Adams

Thanks to all the sponsors who made this conference possible including: American Farmland Trust, Joyce and Irving Goldman Family Foundation, Farm Credit, Farm and Food Growth Fund, Hudson Valley Agribusiness Development Center, The Carrot Project, Western SARE, Oregon Tilth, Oregon State University Center for Small Farms & Community Food Systems, Vermont Housing and Conservation Board, Renewing the Countryside, Vermont Center for Agriculture & Food Systems, Grapevine Local Food Marketing, and the USDA NIFA Grant #2024-67023-41747.