NOBLESVILLE, Ind. – The Indiana Farm Bureau (INFB) will host a new conference in September designed to help farm families find ways to expand and strengthen their operations.

The first Farm Business and Diversification Conference is 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Sept 10 at the Hamilton County Fairgrounds in Noblesville. The conference is free for INFB members and $50 for nonmembers.

The conference is an educational opportunity “to help farmers or those in agriculture through tough economic times by diversifying or learning about other income streams for their farming operation,” explained Kendell Culp, INFB’s vice president. “We hope this event will encourage better investment in agriculture by providing practical business advice and inspiration for entrepreneurial opportunities in rural communities around the state.”

Topics include digital marketing, alternative income streams, business funding, direct-to-consumer sales models, insurance and liability protection, and succession planning.

In addition to the experts, Culp said the conference will also include producers who have successfully diversified their own farms.

“Sometimes it’s helpful for people to see someone just like them who took a risk and it paid off,” he noted. “You may not get all the answers at this event, but you will find out who does have the answers you’re looking for.”

Culp said INFB hears a lot from farmers that they worry about the financial stability of their farms long term. He said the people they hear are doing the best are the ones who have their hands in more than one commodity or revenue stream, or are using technology to work more efficiently.

“It’s no secret that when livestock prices are up, grain prices seem to go down, and vice versa,” Culp said. “So there’s been more and more farmers who are trying to diversify what they produce to hedge against market downturns for a single crop.

“I’ve heard lots of great ideas from members about how they want to improve their operations, but sometimes the logistical details like contracts, insurance and liability for something new seem daunting. We’ll have experts there to talk about those details and hopefully provide some simple next steps for attendees to take for their operation.”

The farm economy lately has discouraged a lot of young people from coming back to the farm, he said, adding that’s why INFB wanted to provide resources such as the conference so more farmers can get their operations in a better financial spot to be able to pass them to the next generation.

“By securing your farm operation’s financial future, you’re supporting your community and allowing it to flourish,” Culp said. “The more your local family farms are succeeding, the more our rural communities will thrive and drive more people to live there. It’s in all of our best interests to help farmers succeed.”

Patrick Nycz, lead food business and marketing administrator for Purdue University’s Food Entrepreneur and Manufacturing Institute (FEMI), will share advice on launching a new product.

Before the launch, farmers should research the state’s food safety regulations and determine what their short- and long-term goals are, Nycz said. They should also be sure their new product can be scaled and consistent.

“Maybe most importantly, determine whether your product can even be priced in a way that can turn a profit,” he noted. “Start very small with direct-to-consumer sales. Try selling your product at a farm stand or your local farmers markets to establish that there is a market for your new product.”

FEMI has assisted Indiana agribusiness entrepreneurs with a range of products as diverse as their crops and imaginations, Nycz said. Those products include beef tallow steak butter, lavender honey simple syrup, freeze dried candy, artisan jams and lentil flour dry mixes.

He said it’s been his experience that most farmers are entrepreneurial by nature. Farmers shouldn’t, however, work in a vacuum, Nycz said.

“I recommend leveraging resources like the Purdue Extension for wholesale and commodity sales programs, Purdue Food Sciences and FEMI when it’s time to scale, Indiana Grown for community, networking and visibility, and Indiana’s regional small business and entrepreneurial hubs.”

Your brand is your reputation, he added.

“Branding is not a logo; it’s what people say when you’re not there. When potential customers are considering buying local, they want to know who you are, why you farm and how you do it differently. They want to know all of that without reading or listening to corporate language.”

The conference is at the Silos at 37 event center at the fairgrounds. Registration is required. Visit www.infb.org/events for more information and to register.