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Here is the lowdown for the Organic Program on Thur, Dec 11-Look forward to seeing many of you  (GLEXPO.org) for more info.
Please note the trade show ends at 1 pm so come early, enjoy the trade show and enjoy the program.
Then at 3-5 Michigan Organic Food and Farming Alliance will host a meet and greet there on the 2nd floor. Look for signage. This is open to all and a chance to learn about MOFFA and the great farmers that belong. We hope that you TOO will join this organization for and by organic farmers and those passionate about good food

If you have not YET registered you can register at walk in. Special on Thur, you can register for a single day fee.

Organic Session Information

Thur 9:00 am
Introduction to Organic Production
Organic Opportunities and Markets
Thur 1:00 pm
Current Issues in Organic Fruit Production
Organic Vegetables

Introduction to Organic Production

Thursday morning 9:00 am

Where: Gallery Overlook (upper level) Room A & B
CCA Credits: SW(0.5)
Moderator: Vicki Morrone, Outreach Specialist for Organic Fruit and Vegetable Growers, MSU

9:00 am Building A Healthy Soil 
  • Lisa Tiemann, Plant, Soil and Microbial Sciences Dept., MSU
9:45 am Revealing What A NOP Farm Inspection is All About 
  • Tom Schoenfeldt, USDA NOP Inspector, Redford, MI -- Tom will share how he inspects a farm to verify it for NOP certification. He will share some common situations and how they are handled and answer your questions too.
10:30 am Farmers Panel - Making It Work for the Farm and Markets: Topics to be covered:
  1. Intro to farm
  2. Any specific pest challenges and how crop planning is impacted
  3. The crop production and rotation plan
  4. Current Markets
  • Karen Warner, Big Head Farm, Benton Harbor, MI -- Organic vegetable and fruit with multiple markets including CSA, restaurants, and Frmers Markets
  • Julia Studier, Tower Hill Farm, Sodus, MI -- MAEAP and NOP certified since 2009. Mostly apple production and some vegetables.
  • Linda Torony, Nature's Harvest Organic Farm -- An urban permaculture farm using biodynamic, hugelkultur, contour cropping, and incorporating an edible water garden. Will be growing annual vegetables, fruits, flowers, and herbs. The neighborhood is excited and is looking forward to see what happens this spring. She will share how she got started from literally scratch and what she plans to do with the food and farm, serving the urban community.

11:30 am

Session Ends


Organic Vegetables

Thursday afternoon 1:00 pm

Where: Grand Gallery (main level) Room D
MI Recertification credits: 2 (1B, COMM CORE, PRIV CORE)
CCA Credits: NM(1.5) PM(0.5)
Moderator: Vicki Morrone, Outreach Specialist for Organic Fruit and Vegetable Growers, MSU

1:00 pm Organic Management of Cucurbit Diseases 
  • Anthony Keinath, Clemson University Coastal Research & Education Center, Charleston, SC
1:45 pm Nitrogen Release and Disease Suppressive Activity of Four Compost Amendments on Three Vegetable Farms 
  • Lori Hoagland, Horticulture and Landscape Architecture Dept., Purdue Univ.
2:30 pm Cover Crop Combinations Useful in Organic Vegetable Systems 
  • Greg Downing, Southern Agronomist, Cisco Seeds, Indianapolis, IN
3:15 pm Question and Answer: This is a chance to ask questions that can be answered by more than one of the speakers and get their perspectives. Its also a chance for the experience in the room to be shared. Farmers and practitioners can share their knowledge and experiences to answer questions.

3:45 pm

Session Ends

Organic Session Information

Thur 9:00 am
Introduction to Organic Production
Organic Opportunities and Markets
Thur 1:00 pm
Current Issues in Organic Fruit Production
Organic Vegetables
Vicki Morrone
Organic farming specialist
Center For Regional Food Systems at MSU
480 Wilson Rd Rm 303
East Lansing, MI 48824
517-353-3542/517-282-3557 (cell)
Www.MichiganOrganic.Msu.edu


If you would like to access a searchable archive of the all the previous Mich-Organic listserv postings copy this URL and paste in your browser address field http://list.msu.edu/archives/mich-organic.html