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Organic Farming Conference Looks At Economic Benefits Of Going Chemical Free

A conference in Torrington on Wednesday will explore the economic benefits of organic farming in arid climates like Wyoming and Nebraska.

Speakers at the conference will offer advice on a wide range of subjects including how to get certified as an organic farm, composting and growing potatoes for organic starch. Event organizer and soil fertility specialist Jay Norton says the event is not meant to stir debate of the merits of organic versus conventional farming. 

“One thing I hear is that, well, if you're not maximizing production then you're not feeding the world. Well, if you go broke, you're not feeding the world either. So we really look at this as an important economic opportunity for Wyoming producers to make value-added products.”

Norton says organic products simply sell for higher prices. He says the market for organic wheat is especially strong right now, and that could offer Wyoming dryland wheat farmers a chance to improve profits.

The public is invited to register for the event which will take place at the Goshen County Fairgrounds on Wednesday, February 11 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Melodie Edwards is the host and producer of WPM's award-winning podcast The Modern West. Her Ghost Town(ing) series looks at rural despair and resilience through the lens of her hometown of Walden, Colorado. She has been a radio reporter at WPM since 2013, covering topics from wildlife to Native American issues to agriculture.
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