PRINCESS ANNE — A small farm bus tour offers a variety of educational stops over a two-day period late August/early September. Back by popular demand, the tour will allow participants to “Explore New Farm Income Opportunities,” on Monday, Aug. 31, and Tues., Sept. 1.

Tour participants will meet in the Cambridge Walmart Supercenter parking lot and depart for the tour at 8 a.m. sharp on Aug. 31. The two day tour will provide participants with many opportunities to experience successful and innovative farming ventures in Maryland and Pennsylvania and to explore alternatives and possibilities that will help the average farmer increase his or her bottom line and implement sustainable practices.

Major topics of discussion will be centered on direct marketing, value-added products, agri-tourism, sustainable farming practices, alternative “niche” crops, forestry, natural resource conservation and more. The tour will end as the bus returns to the Cambridge Walmart Supercenter parking lot around 6:30 p.m. on Sept. 1.

The “Explore New Farm Income Opportunities” tour is sponsored by the University of Maryland Eastern Shore’s Small Farm Outreach Initiative, a grant-funded project to help small-scale and underserved farmers prosper and become successful agriculture entrepreneurs through education, training and outreach. In the project’s sixth year, under the leadership of Small Farm Program Coordinator Berran Rogers, this project offers informational meetings, workshops, field tours, and conferences throughout the year.

The registration fee, which covers bus transportation, hotel accommodations for one night, educational materials and light refreshments, is $80 per person (single private accommodation) and $60 per person (double accommodation). To register online, visit: smallfarmbustour.eventbrite.com.

All registrations and payments must be received by Monday, Aug. 24. Early registration is recommended, as space is limited to 40 participants.

For more information about select tour stops during the “Exploring New Farm Income Opportunities” bus tour or the Small Farm Outreach Initiative, contact Rogers at 410-651-6070 or 6693.