PRENTISS, Miss. -- Specialty crop farmers can learn how to build or improve their online presence and expand marketing strategies during the Alliance for Sustainable Agricultural Production field day May 20.

The on-farm field day will be at PL88 Farms, located at 5641 Highway 84 in Prentiss.

Roberto Gallardo, associate Extension professor and leader of the Intelligent Community Institute at Mississippi State University, will help farmers understand how to use social media and the Internet to process payments and improve customer relations. Laptop computers will be available at the field day, or attendees can bring their own.

Elizabeth Myles, a marketing specialist at Alcorn State University, will discuss the importance of planning in marketing and promotion strategies.

Participants also will tour and learn about PL88 Farms’ vegetable and watermelon production practices.

The field day is free, but preregistration is required. On-site check-in opens at 10 a.m. The program begins at 10:30 a.m. and ends at 2:30 p.m.  

Partners and sponsors of the field day include the MSU Extension Service, Mississippi Agricultural and Forestry Experiment Station, Alcorn State University Extension Program, University of Mississippi Transactional Law Clinic, National Center for Appropriate Technology, Mississippi Department of Agriculture and Commerce, Johnny’s Select Seeds, FarmTek and High Mowing Organic Seeds.

For more information, contact Keith Benson, alliance manager, at 601-988-4999 or [email protected].