Below you'll find descriptions of the workshops offered at our 2011 Organic Farming Conference in La Crosse, Wisconsin. Our informative pre-conference flyer mailed out at the end of November. The flyer is a preview of the entire conference, and includes a registration form. Not on our mailing list? Sign-up today!
NOTE: Continuing Education Unit (CEU) Credits
for Certified Crop Advisors have been applied for through the
Certified Crop Advisor Program and
will be available for many of the
workshops and Organic University courses.
Credits available will be listed in the
conference program.
Please sign up on in-room sign in sheets at the conference if you are eligible for CEU credits. Download a complete list of the CEU credits available at the 2011 OFC.
Healthy Soils
Healthy soils provide the foundation for organic farming. These workshops will provide the practical information you
need to improve your soil, your yields, and your bottom line.
Compost for the Mid-Sized Farm
Friday I - 8:30am
In organic farming systems, the living soil needs to be
nurtured and fed. Michigan State University's John
Biernbaum takes a down-to-earth look at tools and
techniques for making great compost on the mid-sized farm,
as well as the criteria for evaluating and deciding when and
how to use farm-made or purchased compost.
Cover Crop Benefits and Techniques
Friday I - 8:30am
Discover how cover crops, when properly used in a diverse
farming system, provide the key to unlocking your soil's
potential. Rodale Institute Farm Director Jeff Moyer will look
at cover crops for everything from vegetable production to
grain crops, discuss rotation designs that focus on cover crops,
and show how green manures can drought-proof your farm.
Crop Productivity through Plant Protection
Friday I - 8:30am
Healthy crops produce medicinal compounds that protect
the plant from insects and disease. Join dynamic speaker and
educator Jerry Brunetti to learn about farming practices you
can use to optimize these highly-desirable compounds to
increase the yields and health benefits of your crops.
Designing and Implementing Beneficial
Insect Habitat on Your Farm
Friday II - 2:00pm
Beneficial insects such as predators, parasitoids and
pollinators play an essential role in sustaining healthy
agricultural systems. Eric Mader of the Xerces Society for
Invertebrate Conservation will discuss the practical aspects of
habitat restoration for these insects, and how to integrate that
habitat into working farms.
Photosynthesis: Leaves, Chloroplasts, and Crop Yields
Friday II - 2:00pm
Why are leaves green? How much carbon dioxide is enough?
If photosynthesis only uses tiny amounts of water, why does
water limit photosynthesis? Join University of Minnesota
organic horticulture professor Bud Markhart to trace
energy and carbon as it moves through the photosynthetic
apparatus, and explore how we can use this information to
affect crop yields.
Carbon Sequestration on Organic Farms
Friday III - 4:00pm
Join Rodale Institute Farm Director Jeff Moyer for a discussion
of how current farming practices and policies contribute to
global climate change, how agricultural systems may need
to adapt to these issues, and how farms can actually mitigate
climate change through carbon sequestration. Moyer will
highlight readily-available tools proven to be successful in
building soil carbon levels and improving the soil's yield
potential.
Overview of Organic Fertilizer Options
Friday III - 4:00pm
Join Ag Resource Consulting's Glen Borgerding to learn
about the appropriate use of organic fertilizers and soil
amendments. Borgerding will discuss the use of soil tests,
nutrient crediting, and calculating nutrient requirements for
your crops, as well as reviewing organic fertilizer options.
Tillage with a Purpose
Friday III - 4:00pm
Gary Zimmer, of Otter Creek Farm and Midwestern Bio-Ag,
characterizes tillage as a thoughtful disturbance of the land,
with the goal of improving air and water in the soil and the
management of residue decay. Zimmer will take a look at the
principles and methods of tillage in this practical how-to
workshop.
Developing a Soil Fertility Plan for Your Farm
Saturday I - 8:30am
Taking care of your pocketbook and taking care of the
environment requires putting the right amounts of the right
fertility inputs on your fields. Join University of Minnesota soil
scientists Deborah Allan and Carl Rosen to learn how to
develop a soil fertility plan that fits your farm and your crops.
Using Mycorrhizae for Crop Production
Saturday I - 8:30am
Over 96% of plants form a relationship with beneficial fungi
in the soil. Join author Jeff Lowenfels for this informative look
at the most recent science and practical methods for using
mycorrhizae to create healthy plants and crops.
Designing Rotations to Reduce Weed Density in Organic
Systems
Saturday II - 2:00pm
Organic producers may be able to reduce inputs for weed
management by designing rotations to disrupt population
dynamics of weeds, reducing the long-term input costs for
weed control as weed density declines over time. USDA-ARS
weed ecologist Randy Anderson will discuss a rotation of
perennial forages and annual crops designed to reduce weed
density in organic systems.
Teaming with Microbes: an Overview of Soil Microbiology
Saturday II - 2:00pm
No one ever fertilizes the Redwoods. How did these trees live
over 500 years and grow to 380 feet without Miracle-Gro or
other chemicals? Join author Jeff Lowenfels to learn how to
harness the soil food web to get it working for you.
Organic No-Till: Can It Work for You?
Saturday III - 4:00pm
Using cover crops, a roller-crimper, and other implements, it
may be possible to remove tillage from certain pieces of your
organic crop rotation. Join University of North Dakota's Pat
Carr, Iowa State University's Kathleen Delate, and University
of Wisconsin-Madison's Erin Silva for this discussion of the
challenges and potential for organic no-till in the Upper
Midwest.
Field Crops
Maximize yields and profits on your farm. Learn more about the tools that will help you do it.
Rotations and Weed Control
Friday I - 8:30am
Ask farmers about their number one concern about going
organic, and most will say weed control. Join Lily Lake Organic
Farm's Dave Campbell for this look at tillage, crop rotations,
fertility, and cover crops with regards to the role they play in
achieving good yields and minimizing weed pressure.
From Amber Waves to Market
Friday II - 2:00pm
For organic grain producers, especially those producing food-
grade grain or seeds, quality plays an important role. Lakeview
Organic Grain's Mary-Howell and Klaas Martens will discuss
how to keep grain in good condition from harvest to sale. They
will also cover mycotoxins and common mistakes made in
maintaining quality.
Growing Edible Beans in the Upper Midwest
Friday III - 4:00pm
If cabbage can be grown commercially in your region,
you might have the right climate for growing high value
pinto, black, kidney or navy beans. Jim Sattelberg of
Michigan's Everbest Organics will describe the right varieties,
soil management, planting, and cultivation and harvest
equipment to help you achieve the high quality you need to
serve this specialty market.
Integrated Pest Management in Organic Field Crops
Saturday I - 8:30am
The IPM continuum begins with a focus on monitoring and
suppression when insect pests approach unacceptable levels,
and ends with balanced systems where pests remain at
tolerable levels with minimal interventions. Join University of
Wisconsin Department of Entomology's Eileen Cullen and a
panel of researchers/farmers for this look at crop plant selection,
cultural tactics, fertility practices, insect biology, and more.
Organic Vegetable Production for the Processing Market
Saturday II - 2:00pm
Focusing on weed and fertility management systems in the
production of potatoes, snap beans, and sweet corn, this
workshop will provide the information you need to produce
organic vegetables for the processing marketplace. University
of Wisconsin's A. J. Bussan will share research results and
practical methods for profitable use of fertilizers while
managing weeds and pests.
Weed Management and Cover Cropping in
Organic Field Crops
Saturday II - 2:00pm
Organic farmers have many tools besides cultivation in their
toolbox. Join Michigan State University's Dale Mutch for an
informative look at how you can reduce weed pressure using
crop rotations, cover cropping, grazing, flame weeding, and
biological control.
Breeding Corn for Organic Farming
Saturday III - 4:00pm
Organic farmers want corn seed that fits their farming
systems. Join Michael Fields Agricultural Institute's Walter
Goldstein and Practical Farmers of Iowa's Sarah Carlson to
learn more about public-private breeding partnerships in the
world of organics; selection of seed varieties under organic
conditions; and research that shows the difference made by
selecting in an organic environment.
Market Farming
Organic farming is knowledge farming. Join the experts for the critical information you need to make the most of your
vegetable and fruit operation.
Developing a Successful CSA
Friday I - 8:30am
Join Windflower Farm's Ted Blomgren for this workshop about
managing your CSA, including labor and capital needs, crop
planning, share content and pricing, core groups, and add-on
shares. Blomgren will use his own 1,100-member CSA as a case study for
the discussion.
Elderberries: Bringing the Midwest's Super Fruit
into a Commercial Crop
Friday I - 8:30am
Elderberries offer a great opportunity for organic farmers. With
high market demand and very little domestic production, this
native fruit has real profit potential. Join Terry Durham of Eridu
Farms for this look at the basics of organic elderberry production.
Cold -Climate Winter Production
Friday II - 2:00pm
Join upstate New York's Michael Kilpatrick for this look at
producing vegetables from November through April. Michael will
share his experience with a variety of high and low tunnel designs,
the in's and out's of winter greens production, the costs and
advantages of supplemental heat, and crop management from
seeding through delivery.
Cucumber and Flea Beetle Control in Organic Systems
Friday II - 2:00pm
Flea beetles and cucumber beetles present some of the more
vexing challenges for organic vegetable growers. Pioneering
entomologist Ruth Hazzard and Atlas Farm's Gideon Porth will
provide an overview of the most current research on the ecology,
movement, feeding patterns, and organic controls for these pests,
with an emphasis on integrated management strategies.
Steel and Strategies:
Weed Control on the Organic Vegetable Farm
Friday II - 2:00pm
Join University of Wisconsin weed scientist Jed Colquhoun
for an in-depth look at practical weed control strategies for
the organic market garden. This nuts and bolts workshop will
examine the tools and techniques that you can use to keep your
weeds under control, as well as the pitfalls you’ll want to avoid.
Crop Production for Year-Round Weekly Markets
Friday III - 4:00pm
Paul and Sandy Arnold will take you through all four seasons
to show how they produce diverse organic vegetables sold
weekly at farmers' markets 52 weeks each year. Topics will
include greenhouse production, soil preparation, transplanting
by hand and with a waterwheel transplanter, direct seeding,
mulching with Biotello and straw, and storage in a root cellar.
Diversified Small Scale Fruit Production
Friday III - 4:00pm
Fruit trees and berries can provide excellent diversification
options for the market farm. North Wind Organic Farm's Tom
Galazen will present an overview of the approach he uses to
produce fruit on his farm outside of Bayfield, Wisconsin, with
over a hundred fruit trees and two acres of berries.
CSA Roundtable: Reflections on a Movement
Saturday I - 8:30am
How do today's Community Supported Agriculture(CSA) farms
balance innovation and creativity with the traditions of the
movement's founding principles? Join Blue Moon Community
Farm's Kristen Kordet and a panel of CSA farmers for a
participatory discussion about the successes, challenges, and
opportunities in the CSA movement.
Factors Affecting Biological Tomato Production
Saturday I - 8:30am
Growing organic tomatoes in the humid Midwest presents
significant challenges. Tomato Mountain's Chris Covelli and
Christa Barfknecht provide an exploration of seed and plant
sources, variety selection, plant support, disease concerns, and
soil fertility in field and greenhouse production of organic
tomatoes.
Growing Shiitake Mushrooms on Small-Diameter
Hardwood Logs
Saturday I - 8:30am
Shiitake mushrooms make a welcome addition to CSA shares
and provide a unique item to sell at farmers' market. Join Joe
Krawczyk of Field and Forest Products to learn how to get
started producing these mushrooms organically on smalldiameter
hardwood logs.
Pest Control in Organic Vegetables
Saturday II - 2:00pm
Whether you’ve got beetles, caterpillars, maggots, or aphids,
insects can cause big trouble in your vegetables. Join
University of Massachusetts's Ruth Hazzard and Atlas Farm's
Gideon Porth for this look at life cycles, timing, prevention,
monitoring, barriers, biocontrols, natural enemies, and organic
insecticides to reduce the pressure pests can put on your crops.
Succession Planting in the Hoophouse
Saturday II - 2:00pm
Drawing on several years of winter growing experience, Michael
Kilpatrick from upstate New York will talk about the succession
planting schedule he uses to provide year-round vegetables for
farmers' markets, CSA, and restaurants. With attention to different
tunnel environments, growth curves, and seasonality, Michael will
discuss planting schedules, transplanting dates, varieties and row
spacings for summer and winter crops.
Organic Hops Production
Saturday III - 4:00pm
Once extensively grown in Western Wisconsin, craft brewing may
make hops an important crop again. Join University of Wisconsin
Extension's Tim Rehbein for this exploration of the basics of
producing this perennial vining crop in an organic farming system.
Transplant Production for the Organic Market Farm
Saturday III - 4:00pm
Greenhouse-grown vegetable transplants create a wide range of
production and marketing opportunities. Whether you are just
getting started with transplant production or building on past
experience, Tipi Produce's Steve Pincus and Vermont Valley's
Barb Perkins will provide key information for producing great
vegetable transplants, including greenhouses structures,
heating and ventilation, growing media and fertility,
plant containers, seeding tools, germination and growing
environments, timing, and preparation for transplanting.
Livestock
From dairy to poultry, look to the Organic Farming Conference to provide you with the most up-to-date and practical
information you need to succeed.
Grazing Organic Dairy Cows
Friday I - 8:30am
Good grazing involves more than just putting cows on grass.
Learn how organic dairies can reap the benefits of a grassbased
system, and what tools and techniques you need to
put a great grazing system in place on your farm.
Poultry Diet Alternatives
Friday I - 8:30am
Join pastured poultry nutritionist Jeff Mattocks for this look
at poultry diet alternatives to corn and soybeans. Covered
topics include grains and grain by-products, as well as the
limitations and side effects of some feed ingredients, with
particular attention to alternatives to soy.
Crossbreeding Dairy Cattle for Improved Milk
Production on Pasture
Friday II - 2:00pm
Alternative dairy breeds may provide real opportunities
for use in crossbreeding programs for pasture-based dairy
production systems. Join University of Minnesota's Brad
Heins and Cedar Summit Farms' Dave Minar for a review of
research results about what breeds have the most potential
for use in pasture-based and organic production systems.
Raising Healthy Calves
Friday III - 4:00pm
Organic herd health requires holistic management and
disease prevention. Join Organic Valley staff veterinarian
Guy Jodarski for an overview of the best practices for raising
healthy calves on organic dairy farms, including facilities and
grouping strategies, introducing calves to grazing, and the
prevention and management of diseases.
The Economics of Grain Supplementation on Organic
Dairy Farms
Saturday I - 8:30am
The old adage "less is more" can be applied to grain
supplementation under managed intensive grazing systems
where pasture quality and quantity are in good supply. Join
California State University-Chico's Cindy Daley and Full
Circle Dairy's Rosie and Ward Burroughs for this look at
optimizing grain supplementation in a grass-based system.
The Wisdom Body: Nutrition, Health,
and Nature's Pharmocopeia
Saturday II - 2:00pm
The wisdom body refers to the ability of creatures to grow,
reproduce, and survive. Join Utah State University animal
behaviorist Fred Provenza for a look at how animals in
natural environments seek out and consume the plants they
need to create health.
Using CRP Ground in a Grazing Program
Saturday III - 4:00pm
Land in the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) can provide
a low-cost, high-value addition to your grazing program;
and when CRP contracts expire, you bring it back into full
production. Join Grass Run Farm's Ryan Jepsen and retired
Natural Resources Conservation Service grazing specialist
Jim Ranum to learn about best practices and program
requirements for grazing and transitioning CRP ground to
productive pasture.
Marketing & Business
Growing a great crop is only half of the organic farmer's job. The other half is selling products and managing the
business. The marketing and business sessions will help you find your own path to profitability.
Employee Management Systems
Friday I - 8:30am
Inspired by Michael Gerber's book The E-Myth while at Angelic
Organics, Bob Bower helped develop systems to support the
management of the farm's 1,500-member CSA, the employees
who help make everything happen, and all of the work
that goes into these efforts. Join Bob for an overview of the
creation and use of workplace directives, field procedures and
protocols, employee accountability systems, and more.
A Simple and Comprehensive
Approach to Yearly Farm Planning
Friday II - 2:00pm
A simple and comprehensive planning process can help you
to identify all of the activities you will need to undertake to
achieve your objectives for the coming year. Join organic
farmer and business consultant Penelope Tunnell and farm
business instructor Harris Ivens to learn about their system for
determining the human, financial, and other resources necessary
to create an easy-to-monitor farm plan that fits your operation.
Certification Basics
Friday II - 2:00pm
Becoming certified organic is not easy, but knowing the
potential pitfalls and having a plan can make everything easier.
Midwest Organic Services Association's Jackie Von Ruden and
Indiana Certified Organic's Cissy Bowman will assist farmers
ready to take the certification plunge as well as those currently
in transition and recently certified.
Farm to School: What You Need to Know
Friday III - 4:00pm
Farm-to-school programming provides new market opportunities
for organic producers nationwide. Facilitator Sara Tedeschi will
lead a panel discussion to provide organic producers with the
information they need about farm to school, including school food
budgets, school food programs and regulations, food safety plans,
creating relationships, and marketing options.
Working Backwards towards a Profit
Friday III - 4:00pm
What price should I sell my tomatoes for? How should I sell
them? What should I grow? And how should I grow them?
Join Iowa State University business management field
specialist Craig Chase to learn about methods and tools you
can use to better manage the financial decisions that can
make or break your farm business.
Capturing and Organizing Farm Information: A Simple
and Comprehensive System
Saturday I - 8:30am
Do you have a clear view of the work required to run your
farm and the information required to do this? Is your
information organized so that it is easy to Store and retrieve? If
not, join organic farmer Penelope Tunnell and farm business
instructor Harris Ivens for a simple and comprehensive way
to clarify your thinking about all your farm activities.
Whole Farm Insurance Options for Organic Farmers:
Adjusted Gross Revenue Lite
Saturday I - 8:30am
The federally-subsidized Adjusted Gross Revenue Lite
insurance program provides a viable means to insure a
percentage of a farm's historical revenues based on tax
records, rather than specific crops. Join the National Center for
Appropriate Technology's Jeff Schahczenski for a look at the
program, its limitations and opportunities, and tools you can
use to determine if AGR-Lite is a good fit for your operation.
Grant and Funding Options for Farmers
and Rural Enterprises
Saturday II - 2:00pm
Join Margaret Krome, policy coordinator with the Michael Fields
Agricultural Institute, to learn about the growing federal and
state funding opportunities available to both farmers and rural
businesses.
Wholesale Markets for Local Food: What's Next?
Saturday II - 2:00pm
Joan Stockinger and Bob Olson, of Cooperative Development
Services, will present an overview of what it takes to be successful
in creating and sustaining aggregation and distribution
approaches for local food producers, as well as an update on the
status of retail and institutional markets for local foods.
In Her Boots:
Sustainable Farming for Women, by Women
Saturday III - 4:00pm
Women are one of the fastest-growing segments of organic
farmers and business owners, cultivating fresh and creative
approaches to agriculture. Join MOSES' Rural Women's Project
director Lisa Kivirist and a panel of seasoned and beginning
women farmers as they dive into the pragmatics and
practicalities of crafting the farm life of your dreams.
Getting Ahead on the Farm
Saturday III - 4:00pm
You know you're getting a good return on your broilers and your
tomatoes, but how does your farm's overall profitability look? Join
Wisconsin Farm Center director Paul Dietmann for an exploration
of overall farm finances, including cash flow, profitability, and return
on individual and whole-farm investments.
Social Justice Certification
Saturday III - 4:00pm
Midwest Organic Services Association's Jackie Von Ruden, Rural
Advancement Fund International-USA's Michael Sligh, Centro
Campesino's Ernesto Bustos and Hoch Orchard and Gardens'
Jackie Hoch will provide an update from the Agricultural Justice
Project about progress to date with domestic fair trade certification.
Miscellaneous
These workshops may not have a definitive category, but each one tackles an important issue. From seeds to families,
these workshops cover a diverse range of topics.
How to Conduct Research on Your Farm and Interpret
the Results
Friday I - 8:30am
Interested in on-farm research? Join University of Wisconsin's
organic production specialist Erin Silva and farmer-researchers
Jim Munsch and Carmen Fernholz for a look at collaborative
and individual research efforts, including how to design
research questions and experiments; find partners and funding,
and apply traditional research results to your own farm.
Urgency in Organic Seed
Friday I - 8:30am
As we face today's challenges of climate change,
environmental degradation, shrinking natural resource base,
and an expanding population, the development of seed
resources that serve ecological approaches in farming will play
an increasingly important role. Join Organic Seed Alliance's
Matthew Dillon and Rural Advancement Fund International-
USA's Michael Sligh for a look at the outcomes of the Organic
Seed Report, an overview of successes in organic seed, and
opportunities to develop and protect seed in the upcoming
Farm Bill.
Creating a Regional Food Economy in Our Backyard
Friday II - 2:00pm
Across the country, regions have started to consider ways
to scale up local foods production and processing to take
advantage of efficiencies of scale while holding community
and environmental values intact. Join University of Wisconsin
Center for Integrated Agricultural Systems' Michelle Miller for
an overview of food hubs at the national level, and a focused
look at developments in the four-state Driftless Region.
GMO Contamination: What's an Organic Farmer to Do?
Friday II - 2:00pm
GMO corn, soy, canola, oh my! What should organic farmers
do to prevent contamination of their crops? Jim Riddle
will share ideas for steps farmers can take during planning,
planting, production, harvest, storage, and transport to
protect organic crops from genetic trespass, followed by an
interactive discussion with producers, processors, and buyers
on GMO contamination issues.
Get Paid for Conservation Practices through
Government Programs
Friday III - 4:00pm
Not only does the USDA have programs for farmers practicing
conservation, but farmers actually like the programs! Join
Michael Fields Agricultural Institute's Bridget Holcomb and
Land Stewardship Project's Adam Warthesen to learn about
how programs that could help you on your farm, such as the
Conservation Stewardship Program and the Environmental
Quality Incentives Program's Organic Initiative, and what the
prospects are for these conservation programs in the 2012
Farm Bill.
Organic Research Forum: Outlook and Opportunities
Friday III - 4:00pm
The outlook for organic research has changed dramatically
in the past ten years. Researchers, graduate students, and
those looking to participate in organic research are invited to
participate in a discussion of the future of organic research,
opportunities in the field, and special challenges faced by
organic researchers.
Balancing the Farming Life
Saturday I - 8:30am
Farming is a demanding lifestyle choice that goes beyond
a simple choice of occupation. Join farmers Mary-Howell
Martens and Jane and John Fisher-Merritt for a little advice
and a whole lot of discussion about balancing family, farm,
community and self while staying sane, healthy, and happy,
most of the time.
Integrating Organic at USDA:
A Progress Report and Report Card
Saturday I - 8:30am
The organic footprint at USDA is bigger than ever, going well
beyond organic standards and certification. Join USDA's
Organic and Sustainable Agriculture Policy Advisor Mark
Lipson, National Organic Coalition's Steve Etka, and Organic
Trade Association Chief of Policy, Laura Batcha for an update
on the long march through the USDA agencies from the inside
perspective, followed by an outside assessment.
Power Your Farm with Renewable Energy
Saturday I - 8:30am
Learn how to harvest wind and solar energy to spin your farm's
electric meter backwards. John Ivanko, the award-winning
author of ECOpreneuring, will cover conservation and efficiency
as well as renewable energy challenges and funding options.
Effects of Common Pesticides at
Environmental Concentrations
Saturday II - 2:00pm
Even at low-level concentrations, common pesticides and pesticide
mixtures have broad effects on learning, aggression, hormone
changes, immune suppression, and development in animals
and humans. Join University of Wisconsin's Warren Porter for a
fascinating look at the latest research, as well as simple, inexpensive
alternatives and methods as solutions for these problems.
Rebuilding Healthy Food Systems Keynote Followup
Discussion
Saturday II - 2:00pm
Join keynote speaker Tom Stearns of High Mowing Organic Seeds
for a follow-up discussion about the future of our food system and
his work with local food systems in Hardwick, Vermont.
Impacting Organic Change
Saturday III - 4:00pm
As advocates for organic change, we've come a long way, but we
still represent less than 5% of the food market and less than 2% of
agricultural production in the U.S. How can we take organic to the
next level, at the personal, local, state, regional, and national levels?
Come hear the ideas of leading organic activists in a panel led by
Jim Riddle and share your ideas for impacting organic change.
NRCS State Technical Committees:
Integrating Sustainable and Organic Farming Systems
with Federal Conservation Programs
Saturday III - 4:00pm
Are you interested in learning how to shape federal
conservation programs at the state and local level? Join the
Center for Rural Affairs' Traci Bruckner to learn more about
available conservation programs and how to participate in the
committees that shape them.
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