The Van Buren Conservation District has held its annual Farming for the Future conference. Nearly 170 southwest Michigan farmers attended the event last Wednesday in Lawrence. The conservation district holds the forums to teach local ag producers about ecologically-friendly ways of growing. The meeting was opened by Congressman Fred Upton, who discussed tariffs and immigration issues. The guest speaker was agricultural consultant Gary Zimmer. His keynote focused on carbon-based farming and how to incorporate biological practices into a farm. The Van Buren Conservation District’s Collen Foestieri says the discussions are “a good reminder to not be married to one system,” telling us she hopes the farmers “came away with inspiration to try something new on their farms this year”
