Opportunities for Dungog businesses to expand and grow their customer base will be key at a forum scheduled to be held in the town later this month.
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The Future of Farming Forum will highlight what is happening in the region with its equine and beef industries and agri tourism.
One of the highlights of the gathering will be a discussion about Williamtown Airport and an overview on opportunities regarding the export of fresh produce to the Asian market with flights to Singapore on the horizon.
"The forum should be of interest to anyone doing business in the shire as we are a rural shire," said Dungog District Chamber of Commerce president Marion Stuart.
Ms Stuart said while farming and agricultural - related businesses are still alive and well in Dungog, there is only a small percentage of farms who operate solely on on farm income.
"Most operations around our region would be classed as lifestyle farming, being supported to a various extent by off farm income," she said.
Ms Stuart said agri tourism is working to a small extent in the town and added that the forum will shed more light on this practice.
"We have Dungog Shire's planning and environment director Trevor Ryan who will give a update on the NSW Government's changes to Agri Tourism which have made it simpler for farmers to incorporate agri tourism activities into their farming operations," she said. "These changes have only come in over the past couple of years."
Belinda Blanch from Dungog Shire Visitors' Centre will speak on the opportunities of agri tourism. "If you have a strong agricultural industry in the shire, supporting businesses do benefit from providing services and goods.
"Agri tourism attractions though encourage visitors to the region and which brings in outside dollars particularly to accommodation, eateries and retail," Ms Stuart said.
Future of Farming Forum will be held at Dungog RSL Club on Friday, September 22, between 4pm and 6pm.
The Future of Farming Forum is a subgroup of Dungog Chamber of Commerce. It was formed to engage the community with discussion on developments in primary production in the shire.
Ms Stuart said community engagement and networking is a strong focus of this forum, which includes community wellbeing, and a sense of belonging.
To register for the forum go to https://www.trybooking.com/CLJEH
