Oregon agricultural community gathers at Jefferson County Farm Fair

Madras, Ore. (KTVZ) -- The Madras Fairgrounds hosted the 46th Annual Farm Fair today. The event brings together agricultural professionals for a trade show and information exchange.

Sponsored by the Jefferson County Seed Growers Association, the event focused on connecting members of the agricultural community, and sharing what works as them

The fair serves as a platform for growers to explore the latest agricultural supplies and technology while sharing their knowledge with each other.

The event's main draw was a series of lectures covering issues faced by farmers and ranchers. The topics included using drones for farming and ranching operations. Other presentations focused on soil science and the application of pesticides.

Water availability remained the primary concern for the agricultural community throughout the event. Steve Culman, director of the Central Oregon Agricultural Research Center, spoke about the issue saying: "We're facing unprecedented times right now with water, uncertainty and availability with, challenges with with market prices,"

Culman added, "It's a challenge, a very challenging time to be a grower. And it's, this is it's more important now than ever to get, together and share experiences and try to figure out the best path forward."

The Oregon State University Central Oregon Agricultural Research Center will host a presentation on crop management during times of water uncertainty next Thursday.