2024 Upper Midwest Urban & Rural Ag Innovation Conference Recap
The 2024 Upper Midwest Urban & Rural Ag Innovation Conference (UMURAI) drew agricultural professionals, researchers, and enthusiasts to Cedar Shore, S.D., on Feb. 8-9, 2024. Over two days participants engaged in dynamic discussions, learned from industry experts, and explored the latest urban and rural agriculture trends.
Keynote
The conference opened with a keynote presentation by top administration from the South Dakota Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) – Tony Sunseri and Jessica Michalski. Sunseri and Michalski welcomed the large crowd, shared information about NRCS programs, and set a vision for the future of agriculture in South Dakota.
Urban Agriculture Sessions
The topic of Urban Agriculture is hot! Sessions related to Urban Agriculture included Cut Flowers, Raised Bed and Container Gardening, Biodynamic Agriculture, Overcoming Barriers to Healthy Local Food, Controlled Environment Agriculture, and Mushroom Production.
Building Agriculture Business Knowledge
The conference included several sessions on business topics relevant to agricultural producers, including Business Planning, SD Food System Development, Farm Labor and Apprenticeship Programs, Opportunities for Urban Producers, Using Solar on Farms, Organic Certification, and Crop Insurance for Specialty Producers.
Sessions for the More Advanced
This conference also provided more advanced agriculture producers sessions, including Biostimulants, Soil Health, Growing Alliums, Reading Your Plants, Nutrient Dense Production, and Soil Health Gardening.
Keynote Panel
Day two opened with a panel of representatives from South Dakota agriculture-related agencies. Each panelist shared new updates from their agencies. Included were the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), the South Dakota State University Farm-to-School Program, the Department of Agriculture and Natural Resources (DANR), the Value Added Agriculture Development Center (VAADC), and the Farm Services Agency (FSA).
Vendors
The vendors at the UMURAI conference provided attendees with valuable information about their organizations. The list of vendors included:
- SD Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS)
- SD Farm Services Agency (FSA)
- Integrated Soil Plant (ISP) Technologies
- South Dakota State University Extension
- North Central Sustainable Agriculture Research & Education (SARE)
- Budding Moon Farm
- Meadowlark Hearth
- GenPro Energy Solutions
- South Dakota Specialty Producers Association (SDSPA)
SD Specialty Producers Association Annual Meeting
SDSPA held its Annual Membership meeting and Board of Director elections on Feb. 8th during the conference. Congratulations to our newest board member Kelly Scheetz of Scheetz Mercantile. Christy Heckathorn was announced 2023 SD Specialty Crop Producer of the Year, and an update on SDSPA’s work throughout 2023 was given to the members and attendees.
Networking! Networking! Networking!
Of course, this conference provided ample opportunity to network! Attendees participated in hallway discussions with friends and neighbors, connected with agriculture-related government agency representatives, met with instructors from post-secondary education institutions, and explored vendor exhibit booths showcasing agricultural products and services.
The Impact of UMURAI
The conference successfully fostered a vibrant community of farmers, researchers, and enthusiasts around the shared goal of building a more sustainable and prosperous agricultural future. Participants left UMURAI equipped with new knowledge, valuable connections, and a renewed enthusiasm for their work.
Feedback
We want to hear about your experience at the conference and how we can make future events even better. We ask that attendees please take a few moments to fill out our quick feedback survey. Your insights will help us understand what you loved about UMURAI 2024 and where we can improve.
Looking Ahead
The organizers of UMURAI are already looking forward to next year’s conference, which promises to build upon the success of this year’s event. If you’re interested in learning more about UMURAI or staying connected with the vibrant agricultural community it fosters, visit the conference website.