Released: February 17, 2003

Specialty Ag Products Workshops Scheduled

MANHATTAN, Kan. -Kansas’ agricultural heritage includes a history of diverse and robust fruit and vegetable crop production.

In the mid-19th century, Kansas was one of the leading fruit-producing states with over 22,000 acres of fruit. Prohibition and the Armistice Day freeze in November, 1940 significantly reduced the fruit acreage in Kansas.

Vegetable production declined throughout the 1950s and 60s as available farm labor declined.

Today, more and more agricultural producers are looking to diversify their operations and decrease risk. Some are turning back to those specialty crops to do the job. Growing fruits, vegetables and herbs along with the customary field crops can increase profits in areas that have been taken out of traditional field production.

To help inform about various specialty products and to examine their financial feasibility, K-State Research and Extension and the Kansas Center for Sustainable Agriculture and Alternative Crops will present two specialty products seminars in March and April.

The first seminar will be held March 28 at the Pottawatomie County Extension office in Westmoreland. The workshop will focus on the different types of specialty products, their marketing strategies and resources available to entrepreneurial growers. Presenters from K-State and the Kansas Rural Center will examine the possibilities of adding crops such as nuts, herbs, vegetables, flowers or fruits to traditional operations.

"These types of crops provide an opportunity to diversify," said Chuck Marr, K-State Extension horticulture state leader. "However, producers need to recognize that these crops take a high level of production and marketing management."

Registration for the March 28 seminar is $10, which includes handout materials and a lunch featuring Kansas-grown foods. The agenda and registration information are available on the KCSAAC Website at http://www.oznet.ksu.edu/kcsaac/calendar.html or by calling (785) 532-1414.

The second seminar is scheduled for April 5 at the Historic Railroad Depot in El Dorado. The workshop will also feature presentations from K-State faculty and include panel discussions regarding marketing of specialty products. Other topics to be discussed include growing information on brambles and small fruits, productive conservation and financial feasibility.

"This workshop is designed to explore the income opportunities from non-traditional enterprises or crops on the farm," said Larry Crouse, workshop coordinator and Butler County Extension horticulture agent. "We want to identify some different options that are available to landowners that can increase profits from areas that have been taken out of traditional field production or should be taken out of production."

Registration for the April 5 workshop is $20 and is limited to the first 50 registrants. For more information or to register, contact Crouse at (316) 321-9660 or visit the KCSAAC Website at http://www.oznet.ksu.edu/kcsaac/calendar.html.

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K-State Research and Extension is a short name for the Kansas State University Agricultural Experiment Station and Cooperative Extension Service, a program designed to generate and distribute useful knowledge for the well-being of Kansans. Supported by county, state, federal and private funds, the program has county Extension offices, experiment fields, area Extension offices and regional research centers statewide. Its headquarters is on the K-State campus, Manhattan.

Story by:
Lisa Solomon, Communications Assistant
lms4577@ksu.edu
K-State Research& Extension News