FRANKFORT, Ky. — Kentucky farmers, officials, and business people will talk about the future of agriculture and the need to cultivate the next generation of producers in three conferences this month.

“Agriculture is changing rapidly with advances in technology and consumer interest in local food,” Agriculture Commissioner James Comer said. “But the industry also is encountering new challenges. Prices for inputs, machines, and land are going up. Government regulations are adding new burdens to farmers. Labor is becoming harder to come by. On top of all that, the average age of the American farmer is nearing 60. These conferences will enable people from various agricultural interests to share ideas on keeping agriculture profitable and viable in the 21st century.”

The 13^th annual Kentucky Women in Agriculture Conference is scheduled for Nov. 7-8 at the Hilton Garden Inn in Louisville. It will be followed by the Kentucky Agricultural Summit at the Kentucky Exposition Center Nov. 8-9. The two events will overlap at the Taste of Kentucky Proud Reception Nov. 8 at 5:30 p.m. at the Hilton Garden Inn.

For more information about the Kentucky Women in Agriculture Conference and the Taste of Kentucky Reception, email info@kywomeninag.com or call (877) 266-8823.

To find out more about the Kentucky Agricultural Summit, go to www.kyagsummit.com

The University of Kentucky College of Agriculture will host a conference on farm transitions Nov. 15 at the Kentucky Dam Village State Resort Park conference center in Gilbertsville and Nov. 16 at the James E. Bruce Convention Center in Hopkinsville. The conference is intended to encourage farmers to develop a plan for transitioning family farms to the next generation.

For more information, contact your local cooperative extension service office.

Source: Press release courtesy of Department of Agriculture