Mississippi women involved in agriculture are invited to share ideas and develop new ways to make their businesses more profitable at an upcoming conference at Mississippi State University.

The 2011 Mississippi Women for Agriculture conference will be held April 12-14 at the Bost Extension Center on the MSU campus. The conference registration fee is $50, and attendees will have the option to choose either an annual or lifetime membership.

Participants will get the opportunity to learn about managing finances in the current economic environment and find out how the Mississippi Market Maker initiative can increase the visibility of their businesses. There also will be an interactive agriculture and forestry tour. New this year is a Mississippi Commissioner of Agriculture and Commerce candidates’ forum. Candidates Cindy Hyde-Smith, Max Phillips and Dannie Reed have confirmed that they will participate in the forum.

The highlights of this year’s conference will be the presentation of the Dianne Evans Lecture Award and the official kickoff of the Women for Agriculture organization.

Registration forms are available at local county Extension offices and can be downloaded from the MWA website at http://msucares.com/womenforag. For more information, contact Alan Barefield at (662) 325-7995 or womenforag@ext.msstate.edu.

The Mississippi Women for Agriculture association is a continuation of the MSU and partners’ Mississippi Women in Agriculture educational program. MWA works to increase the knowledge and skills of women in all aspects of farm and agribusiness management through educational and networking opportunities.