About this Event
The and Bloomin' PGC Partners invite you to participate in our upcoming Urban Farmers & Growers Open Mic Night ! This event is a platform for the urban farm community to collaborate and share useful information. While the focus is on urban ag conservation, any topic is open for discussion. All farmers (not just PGC urban farms) and growers are welcome to join us!
Must have at least 12 farmers registered BY NOON the day before the Open Mic Night or it's subject to cancellation.
*** THIS MONTH ....HYBRID (IN-PERSON PREFERRED)***
The Role of Conservation in Enterprise Budgets & Business Planning with Dr. Kenesha Reynolds
Before you plant, buy, or expand, know your numbers. This presentation focuses on the business of farming, the importance of enterprise budgeting and pricing as a foundation for sound decision-making, and real-world findings on the economics of soil health practices to support smarter production decisions.
Dr. Kenesha (Ken) Reynolds currently serves as the Director of Conservation Programs with the National Association of Conservation Districts (NACD). Prior to her current role, she worked in academia and the nonprofit sector, providing business-focused research and educational programming to agricultural producers and agribusiness operators to support farm profitability and long-term viability. Kenesha holds a Ph.D. in Applied Economics from Auburn University. She is most proud of having grown up on a farm, where she developed her lifelong passion for agriculture and conservation.
UMD Local Food Systems & Entrepreneurship Program Updates with Dr. Pride Ebile
One thing Pride has consistently heard from farmers across the state: farming isn’t just hard in the field; it’s hard in business. Rising costs, paperwork, regulations, marketing decisions, labor, and recordkeeping can quietly drain time and money, even when production is strong. In the coming months, UMD Extension will offer practical programs and webinars focused on the real farm business issues farmers raise.
Dr. Pride Ebile is the Local Food Systems and Entrepreneurship Specialist with University of Maryland Extension, based in Prince George’s County. He leads initiatives in local foods, entrepreneurship, and marketing, working with partners to strengthen farm and food businesses, support rural communities, and promote economic growth statewide.
USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service Financial Incentive Program Updates
Learn what financial incentive programs NRCS MD is offering to farmers this year, including the new funding pool for the Regenerative Pilot Program and our Resource Conservation Partnership Program for urban farms.
Colleen Kiefer has been the District Conservationist with USDA, Natural Resources Conservation Service for Prince George’s County, Baltimore City and Washington DC since 2022. The NRCS Field Office for Prince George’s County, Baltimore City and Washington DC is located in the Prince George’s Soil Conservation District in Upper Marlboro, MD. NRCS field staff work with partners in the Soil Conservation District and Maryland Department of Agriculture to provide technical and financial assistance to all farmers to assist in achieving their conservation goals for their farming and forest operations.
Networking begins at 4:30 and the program will begin promptly at 5:00pm. Light refreshments will be provided. Please refer to your confirmation email for additional instructions and the Zoom link for those attending virtually. If the event is sold out, please email us at [email protected] or 301.574.5162 x3 so that we may add your name to the waiting list.
For more information on the Bloomin’ PGC Urban Farm Initiative: https://www.pgscd.org/urban-agricultural-conservation/urban-farms/bloomin-pgc/
is an initiative launched by the Prince George’s County Food Equity Council in partnership with the Prince George’s Soil Conservation District, the University of Maryland Extension in Prince George’s County, ECO City Farms, Maryland-National Capital Park & Planning Commission, the Prince George's County Department of the Environment, the Office of Food Security, and The Capital Market to support the growing urban agriculture movement in Prince George’s County.
Event Venue & Nearby Stays
Prince George's Soil Conservation District, 5301 Marlboro Race Track Road, Upper Marlboro, United States
USD 0.00
