Registration is open now for the annual event for professional and aspiring farmers.
ASHEVILLE, NC (Jan. 14, 2026)—The 23rd annual Business of Farming Conference, presented by ASAP (Appalachian Sustainable Agriculture Project), will be held Feb. 28, from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., at A-B Tech Conference Center in Asheville. The conference offers beginning and established farmers financial, legal, operational, and marketing tools to improve farm businesses and make professional connections.
Workshops Focused on Resilience and Recovery
This past year was a tough one for farms in the region as they continued to recover from hurricane damage, adjust to market impacts, and shift financial strategies. More than a dozen workshops presented by innovative farmers and specialists will help farmers navigate those challenges.
In addition to returning workshops like “Legal Considerations for Farms” and “How to Start Your Farm Business,” the conference will offer eight new workshops, including “Managing Stress and Preventing Burnout,” led by the NC Agromedicine Institute, and “Balance Sheets, Production Costs, and Pricing,” led by the Center for Farm Financial Management. A full list of workshops is available at asapconnections.org/conference.
“Over my 20 years in farming, the Business of Farming Conference has been a consistent source of relevant information that helped me to become a better farmer and prepared me in my new role in supporting other farmers as ASAP’s Farm Resilience Manager,” said Jason Roehrig. “No matter how my experience and expertise evolved, I always took home something valuable from the conference.”
Networking and Market Opportunities
The popular Grower-Buyer Meeting, in which farmers meet with chefs, grocers, wholesalers, and other buyers to discuss products and potential business relationships, will be held at lunchtime. Other networking opportunities include an exhibitor hall and one-on-one sessions on food safety, tax, and legal topics.
Embedded within the conference is the Farmers Market Summit, a chance for farmers market managers from across the region to come together for peer-sharing, technical assistance, and annual planning.
New Pre-Conference Event: Rooted in Research
New this year, a pre-conference event facilitated by N.C. Cooperative Extension, in partnership with ASAP, will focus on small farm production. This event, Rooted in Research, will take place on Friday, Feb. 27, from 1 to 6 p.m., also at A-B Tech. Discounts are available for registering for both events.
Business of Farming Conference Registration Details and Scholarships
Registration is now open at asapconnections.org/conference. The cost is $75 by Feb. 1 and $95 after, with a discount for farm partners registering together. Scholarships are available for limited-resource farmers. The registration price includes a locally sourced breakfast and lunch. Lunch is sponsored by Farm Burger.
Support for the conference is provided in part by Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE), the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) National Institute of Food and Agriculture, and Wells Fargo.
ABOUT ASAP (APPALACHIAN SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE PROJECT)
ASAP’s mission is to help local farms thrive, link farmers to markets and supporters, and build healthy communities through connections to local food. To learn more, visit asapconnections.org.
