Improving efficiency on the farm will be all the more important in 2017 and the upcoming SC AgriBiz & Farm Expo set for Jan. 11-12 at the Florence Civic Center in Florence, S.C. will be a must attend event for farmers in the Carolinas looking for ways to improve the bottom line.

“The focus of  the 2017 Expo is ‘Efficiency on the Farm,’” explains Jody Martin, executive director of the SC AgiBiz & Farm Expo. “This year and last year have been very challenging for our farmers because of heavy rains and flooding. Improving efficiency in 2017 will be critical no matter what crop you grow. The 2017 Expo will give you the insights you need to be more efficient.”

The Expo will celebrate its fifth anniversary in 2017. Martin and Expo organizers are planning for big crowds of farmers and others who turn to the Expo to plan and strategize for the new crop year ahead. Since its inception, educating farmers on improving efficiency on the farm has also been a key goal of the Expo.

“The idea of the SC AgriBiz & Farm Expo was discussed six years ago when a group of leaders from the South Carolina Farm Bureau, Clemson Extension, ArborOne Farm Credit, Ag South Farm Credit, the South Carolina Department of Agriculture and a few key farmers were sitting around a boardroom table discussing the opportunities of starting an agricultural expo,” Martin explained.

“At that meeting, the seeds of a common mission to collaborate together on a special expo to promote and expand the business of agriculture in South Carolina and beyond were established,” he said.

Martin notes that Florence provides a good geographic location for farmers from North Carolina, South Carolina and neighboring states to attend. “Each year, the Expo focuses on agricultural education, connections and innovations,” he said. “The 2017 Expo at the Florence Civic Center will involve many great exhibits, education and optimization clinics that will share timely information to help growers fine-tune their operations.”

Production agriculture sessions will include:

Other highlights of the Expo include the Taste of SC and the Commissioner’s Breakfast. New for 2017 is Youth Day hosted by FFA and the Statewide Tractor Operations and Safety CDE Contest.  Confined Animal Manure Managers (CAMM) will once again be offered at the Expo.

The Small Farmer Symposium will once again be an important part of the Expo. Martin said the expo will include many exhibitors and clinics that can help improve efficiency on the farm.

 “We want to invite all farmers and everyone with an interest in the business of agriculture to participate in the 5th annual SC AgriBiz & Farm Expo.  This is a great opportunity to get updates on agricultural education, connections and innovations,” Martin said.

To learn more, visit the website at www.SCAgriBizExpo.com.