Peony growers workshop scheduled

A Jan. 30 workshop in Anchorage will focus on the business aspects of growing peonies.

The financial risk management workshop will run from 2:30 to 5:30 p.m. at the BP Energy Center at 900 E. Benson Blvd. Rod Sharp and Jeff Tranel, agriculture and business management specialists from Colorado State University Extension, will lead the workshop. Topics will include start-up costs, annual expenses and revenues, profitability analysis and take-home tools.

Lydia Clayton, a University of Alaska Fairbanks Cooperative Extension Service agent from Soldotna, said the workshop will give current and potential commercial peony growers a good picture of the costs associated with growing the popular cut flower.

The fee is $30 or $20 for Alaska Peony Growers Association members. Register online at www.alaskapeonies.org or at 2 p.m. the day of the workshop. Sponsors include the UAF Cooperative Extension Service, Alaska Farmland Trust, RightRisk LLC and the U.S. Department of Agriculture Risk Management Agency.

The workshop will precede the Alaska Peony Growers 2014 Winter Conference Jan. 31 to Feb. 1, also at the BP Energy Center. See more information about the conference at www.alaskapeonies.org.