Family farmers, researchers, experts, gather for small farm conference

SRJC's Shone Farm hosted a day of workshops as part of the week long programming for the 36th edition of the California Small Farms Conference

photo credit: Ethan Harrison/CAFF

Small farmers from across California have been gathering this week to look at best practices and techniques, innovations, and the future.

Each year, the Community Alliance with Family Farmers, known as CAFF , hosts its California Small Farm Conference . Helping organize proceedings: CAFF's Evan Wiig.

"We've had over 1,100 people attend this year," Wiig said. "It's been a hybrid event...so we've had farmers attending our workshops while they're fixing their tractors, while they're in their greenhouse, putting seeds in the ground. And then we also have 10 different in-person gatherings all over the state."

Wiig, was at Santa Rosa Junior College’s Shone Farm, located between Forestville and Windsor, where the Thursday gathering was held.

Wiig said the conference gives farmers, researchers, and there allies a chance to share ideas and expertise across disciplines.

Shone Farm hosted a day of workshops for this year's conference, with a variety of topics Wiig said.

"We had workshop on soil testing, so helping farmers to assess the quality of their soil and what kind of healthy soils and ecological farming practices can improve their health and how to monitor that," Wiig said. "We've also had workshops on irrigation efficiency, rainwater catchments, small scale vineyards and culinary gardening."

One of the speakers: Monarch butterfly expert Erin Arnsteen.

"So we're in a really great spot where we can help with overwintering monarch butterflies, and also inland breeding monarchs where we can plant that native milkweed, which also attracts lots of other really great beneficial [species] for farms and ranches," Arnsteen said.

This year’s conference comes as the state budget heads towards a major contraction. That presents a challenge for family farmers and CAFF, Wiig said.

"Expectations did not come through," Wiig said. "We were all pretty shocked to see how many programs were cut. Here at Community Alliance with Family Farmers, we had a number of bills and funding initiatives that would've provided support for things like cooperative food hubs to help get that local produce into schools and hospitals and to families in need."

Wiig said other family farm programs facing tens of millions in budget cuts include emergency relief for small farms impacted by disastrous climate events, and healthy soils programs.