Acres of Opportunity conference explores new paths for farm income

With some forecasts showing net farm income could drop by nearly a quarter in 2026, Iowa farmers are looking for ways to make every acre count. Acres of Opportunity, a one-day conference hosted by Iowa Farm Bureau Federation on February 21 at the Clay County Regional Events Center in Spencer, gives farmers a chance to learn from industry experts and other farmers who have successfully diversified their operations.

"Roughly 30% of Iowa's family farms are 49 acres or less, and those farmers are exploring what's possible-and profitable-on smaller pieces of land," said Amanda Van Steenwyk, Iowa Farm Bureau's farm business development manager. "At the same time, traditional farms tackling slim margins are looking to add value or explore new markets to what they're currently doing. Iowa Farm Bureau felt it was important to bring everyone together to share what's worked, what hasn't and what ideas they can take back home to help their farms flourish."

Keynoting the event is Adam and Jenn O'Neal, founders of PepperHarrow Farm in Madison County, Iowa. The O'Neals will discuss how their flower and lavender operation grew into a destination farm that blends production, agritourism and customer experience.

The conference will also feature Mollie Ficocello, Annie Gorder and Grace Lunski of 3 Farm Daughters who will share how they turned their North Dakota family farm into a nationally recognized pasta brand.

In addition to the keynote presentations, attendees will choose from a variety of breakout sessions including:

• From Overwhelmed to Optimized: Tech Made Simple for Small Businesses - Lashonda Brown, Bootstrap Biz Advice
• Profitable Practices: Managing Meat Goats and Sheep on Your Farm - Greg Christiansen, Grandview Livestock
• The Power of Compost: Boosting Yields and Soil Health - Abe Sanquist, Natural Fertilizer
• Cultivating Experiences: Agritourism at Its Best - Adam and Jenn O'Neal, PepperHarrow Farm
• Tech Meets Tradition: GPS Collars for Grazing Systems - Matt Vermeersch, NoFence
• Berry Growing 101: Starting and Thriving on a Small Scale - John Sieser, Treasures Acres Farm
• Unlocking Opportunities Through Choose Iowa - Beth Romer, Choose Iowa, Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship
• More than Honey - Chelsa Bronnenberg, Spring Valley Farms
• Unlocking USDA Funding for Small and Medium Farms - Malik Miller, Norma's Basket

Registration for Acres of Opportunity is free for Farm Bureau members. For more information or to register, visit https://www.iowafarmbureau.com/acres. To become a member, visit iowafarmbureau.com.