2025 California Small Farm Conference

Welcome to the 37th annual California Small Farm Conference, a week-long event featuring over 40 online workshops as well as a dozen in-person gatherings around the state. Whether you’re a beginning farmer or a seasoned grower, a local food advocate or a farmers market manager, you’ll find something here for you. This year’s theme, "Rooted in Place", honors the vital relationship between farmers, communities and the land they steward.

Check out the schedule below for event times and locations. Click "Reserve Tickets" to register. Admission is on a sliding-scale, to ensure everyone can attend. Please select the amount you’re comfortable paying. Enjoy the conference!

Interested in sponsoring this event? Learn more here

8:00am PST

A New Model for Farmland Access and Transition: The Farmland Commons OnlineIan McSweeney • Kristina Villa

9:45am PST

Practical Entrepreneurship Guide for Raising Poultry on Pasture or Integrated with Crops OnlineCaleb Barron • Ann Baier

11:30am PST

Beyond the Newsletter: 5 Strategies to Scale a 100+ CSA Program in Less Than One Season OnlineAri Memar

1:15pm PST

Which Direct Market Channel Is Right for Me? OnlineRamiro Lobo • Darlene Ruiz Agricultural Land Equity in California OnlineTessa Salzman • Qi Zhou • Dorian Payán

4:45pm PST

Wildlife Safe Ranching OnlineGowan Batist

8:00am PST

Rethinking "Small Farm": What Does It Mean, What Should It Mean? OnlineKrista Marshall • Evan Hazelett • Nathaniel Brown • Rachel Soper Let’s Talk About Nitrogen on Your Organic Farm OnlinePatricia Lazicki • Margaret Lloyd

9:00am PST

Farmers' Market Manager Training Level 1: Elevating Market Management Standards OnlineMinni Forman • April Treona • Portia Bramble • Marikit Mayeno

9:45am PST

Small-Scale Composting: Getting Started, Growing, and Building a Network OnlineYaynicut Franco • Eric Wellington • Michael Rodriguez • Rocio Perez • Rebecca Ryals Ag Technology: Funding Opportunities OnlineMaria Ridoutt-Orozco

11:30am PST

A Farmer's Guide to Groundwater and SGMA OnlineRogelio Ponce • Cheetah Tchudi • Sadie Morris • Catherine Van Dyke On-Farm Recordkeeping Technologies and Strategies OnlineMaria Ridoutt-Orozco • Paulina S. Hernandez • Arabelle Schoenberg

1:15pm PST

Organic IPM for Vegetables OnlineEllie Andrews Path to Organic: How to Prepare for an Organic Certification OnlineMegan Robertson • Kristen Draz • Grace Jackson

3:00pm PST

Steps for Conducting Research on Your Own Farm OnlineEllie Andrews • Reyna Yagi • Caiti Hachmyer • Samuel Guitron • Moet Takata Asian Specialty Crop OnlineAddison Vang • Chiang Rai Lor • Johnny Moua

4:45pm PST

Regulatory and Advocacy Tools for Small Food Producers OnlineChristine Dzujna Organic Practices for Citrus and Avocado Growers OnlineBen Faber

8:00am PST

What is Carbon Farming? OnlineJoshua Kouri • Margot Flynn • Elena Bischak Research on CalFresh & Other Nutrition Assistance Programs at Farmers’ Markets OnlineSamantha Sam-Chen • Cassandra Nguyen • Olivia Henry

9:45am PST

Grants: Preparing for the Proposal OnlineLaura Ting • Logan Dreher • Lauren McCawley

11:30am PST

CNIP Nutrition Incentive Program, Advocacy and Funding Updates: A review of the CA State Budget funding for food and agriculture programs OnlinePortia Bramble • Andy Naja-Riese • Sam Greenlee • Minni Forman • Tiffany Germain Mentorship Magic! How mentorship strengthens organic & bolsters beginning farmer success OnlineJustin Miller • Molly Nakahara

1:15pm PST

Blending Habitat Conservation & Restoration into Ag Landscapes: From Research to Reality OnlineJesse Trace • Alex Palmerlee • Miranda Kersten Farmers' Market Roundtable: Navigating Hot-Button Issues in Today’s Certified Farmers' Market Landscape OnlineCara Mae Wooledge • Minni Forman • Portia Bramble • Marikit Mayeno

3:00pm PST

New and Ongoing Resources for Producers: Simple Grants for Compost and up to $25k for Healthy Soil Practices OnlineAlana Williams California Agriculture & A New White House Online

4:45pm PST

Introduction to Soils and Soil Health in Urban Areas OnlineMartin Guerena Small Farm Innovation Challenge Awards Ceremony OnlineElizabeth Vaughan

8:00am PST

ABC Aves: como establecer un emprendimiento ecológico con pollos y gallinas OnlineBruno Vasquetto Practical Tools for Implementing Regenerative Agriculture Practices OnlineSarah Light Talleres en Español: Miércoles 2-26 Online

9:45am PST

Soil Health In-Field Tests and Lab Analyses: What do they tell us? What are their limitations? How do they compare? OnlineMargaret Lloyd • Lindsey Kelley • Vivian Wauters

11:30am PST

Apple Orchard Health OnlineEllie Andrews

1:00pm PST

Humboldt Regional Gathering Green Spiral FarmMichelle Wyler

1:15pm PST

Developing a Business Plan with the AgPlan Online Software OnlineCurtis Mahnken • Mariah Beverly • Katie Wilts Johnson

3:00pm PST

Legal & Business Considerations for Non-Farm Income OnlineElizabeth Vaughan • Rachel Armstrong

4:45pm PST

Water Rights, Rural Water Systems and Water Use Efficiency OnlineTom Hammond

5:00pm PST

Central Coast Regional Gathering TBAPaulina S. Hernandez

1:00pm PST

North Bay Regional Gathering Green Valley Farm + MillEvan Wiig

5:00pm PST

Sacramento/Yolo/Solano Gathering TBAElliott Ge

TBA

Northern San Joaquin Valley Regional Gathering Lagier RanchesMoet Takata

9:00am PST

Merced / San Joaquin Valley Gathering Merced Community CollegeRasheed Hislop

9:30am PST

Ventura Regional Gathering TBA

10:00am PST

Nevada County Foothills Regional Gathering Feeding Crane FarmsKali Feiereisel

1:00pm PST

Inland Empire Regional Gathering Bourns Technology CenterPatrick Mitchell • Sandy Ramirez

3:00pm PST

North Valley Regional Gathering Chico State University Farm PavilionEmily Ayala

2025 California Small Farm Conference

From $20.00