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Michigan State University Organic Listserv
Hosted by Center for Regional Food Systems

For more info or questions. Vicki Morrone @ 517-282-3557 or [log in to unmask]<mailto:[log in to unmask]>

Farming Educational Events Special Listing
With a focus on organic production

This is a special edition of the newsletter featuring special educational programs upcoming specifically on organic production systems in Michigan. Hope you can join us for some of these fun and educational events

The Following three events are being held at Michigan State University, Brody Complex on Harrison St.. The forth event listed is a webinar series.
Register today! Click on title of 1, 2, or 3 for details.
1.  Herbrucks Organic Seminar,  March 8, 9-2:30. Brody Complex Rm 112. Offering presentations on organic production systems around egg production and business management and possible marketing opportunities.

2.  Organic Intensives offered by MOFFA,  March 9, 2017. Brody Complex, East Lansing, MI

Choose from one of the three topics:

  1.  Organic Weed, Insect and Disease Management<http://moffa.us4.list-manage.com/track/click?u=b37b9145bf2061d9456aab6f7&id=3933c8e76b&e=75ddb9e813> for the Diversified Vegetable Farm
  2.  Successful Organic Gardening<http://moffa.us4.list-manage.com/track/click?u=b37b9145bf2061d9456aab6f7&id=461fcd11be&e=75ddb9e813>: Growing Nutrient Dense Vegetables in a Changing Climate—A Comprehensive In-Depth Discussion
  3.  The Changing Face of Organic Field Crop Marketing<http://moffa.us4.list-manage.com/track/click?u=b37b9145bf2061d9456aab6f7&id=e1a1183649&e=75ddb9e813>


3.   Michigan Organic Reporting Session, March 10, 2017 in East Lansing at Brody Hall on Harrison St. Focus is on cover crops in organic systems. $25 farmers, $30 for others, educators (all types) call for a scholarship.

4.  Reduced Tillage for Organic Vegetables-A WEBinar Series. March 9, 16, and 23. 3-5 pm
The series is free, but registration is important so we can send you the link.
This work is supported by USDA OREI. Focus of series is on reduced tillage in organic vegetable farming operations.
Michigan State University is teaming up with Cornell University and the University of Maine to offer a 3-part webinar to share the latest research on reduced tillage for organic production and learn about the practices, equipment, and cover crops that can work for your farm. A series of 3 held on Thursdays in March, 3-5p.m.:

March 9, 2017 Reduced Tillage Organic Vegetables on Permanent Beds
March 16, 2017  Strip Tillage – How To and Its Values
March 23, 2017 Cultivation for Reduced Tillage Systems




[https://gallery.mailchimp.com/72bf0d6c8ec122cedbe872fa6/images/f07ab037-c799-4b0c-b690-5ff4bb2e2d24.png][cid:[log in to unmask]]
ITINERARY
9- 9:30 a.m. Registration with Continental Breakfast & Opening Remarks
Dan Bewersdorff – Organic Grain Program Director, Herbruck’s

9:45 a.m. Herbruck's Welcome / Outlook for the Organic Egg Industry

10 a.m. Herbruck Pelleted Poultry Fertilizer Program
Brian Geerlings – Fertilizer Sales Manager

10:15 a.m. Soil Health: Ecosystem Properties
RJ Rant - Nutralink Biosystems LLC

11 a.m. Organic Grain Market Update
Heath Dewey-USDA-AMS

11:45 a.m. Keeping your Organic Paperwork Straight
Darcy Campbell - Herbruck’s Feed Mill Administrator

12 p.m. Lunch at Brody Square in Brody Hall - Michigan State University

1 p.m.  Organic Farmer Panel Discussion
Moderated by Dan Rossman, Retired MSU Extension & Paul Gross, MSU Extension-Education

2 p.m. Open Discussion for the Good of Organic Agriculture - Vendor Presentations


2:30 p.m. Closing remarks
Register online for Herbruck’s Organic Seminar at www.herbrucks.com/events<http://www.herbrucks.com/events>.
To Attend: $10.00 pre-paid registration fee includes continental breakfast, lunch, the seminar and parking. For Commercial Vendors: $150.00 registration fee for a vendor display. (Non-Profit – No charge). Parking will be available in the Kellogg Parking Garage. The seminar will be held in Brody Hall which is conveniently located across the street from the Kellogg Parking Garage. You will receive a parking validation ticket at registration. For more information, please contact Gayle Bantle at 313.701.0822, [log in to unmask]<mailto:[log in to unmask]> or contact Sherrie McKinch at 616.642.3016, [log in to unmask]<mailto:[log in to unmask]>.
__________________________________________________________
            Michigan Organic Food and Farming Alliance
Visit Registration by clicking here: Organic Intensives<http://moffa.us4.list-manage1.com/track/click?u=b37b9145bf2061d9456aab6f7&id=8a6e1683e3&e=75ddb9e813>
Scholarships Still Available for Organic Intensives
March 9, 2017

We hope you are planning to join us for Organic Intensives<http://moffa.us4.list-manage1.com/track/click?u=b37b9145bf2061d9456aab6f7&id=8a6e1683e3&e=75ddb9e813> — an opportunity to acquire practical, detailed information from experts and practitioners on one of three topics:

  1.  Organic Weed, Insect and Disease Management<http://moffa.us4.list-manage.com/track/click?u=b37b9145bf2061d9456aab6f7&id=3933c8e76b&e=75ddb9e813> for the Diversified Vegetable Farm
  2.  Successful Organic Gardening<http://moffa.us4.list-manage.com/track/click?u=b37b9145bf2061d9456aab6f7&id=461fcd11be&e=75ddb9e813>: Growing Nutrient Dense Vegetables in a Changing Climate—A Comprehensive In-Depth Discussion
  3.  The Changing Face of Organic Field Crop Marketing<http://moffa.us4.list-manage.com/track/click?u=b37b9145bf2061d9456aab6f7&id=e1a1183649&e=75ddb9e813>

We still have a limited number of scholarships available.  Thanks to a generous donation from George and Anne Bird, we are able to subsidize all but $25 of the registration fee for those whose participation is limited by the cost of registration.

We also have a "mini-grant" from North Central SARE<http://moffa.us4.list-manage1.com/track/click?u=b37b9145bf2061d9456aab6f7&id=8d6e1bd968&e=75ddb9e813> which covers the registration fee for Michigan educators — Extension and Conservation District personnel, university and high school teachers — anyone who is involved with imparting agriculture-related information to the citizens of Michigan.  For more information about either type of scholarship, please email us at [log in to unmask]<mailto:[log in to unmask]>.

Click here to register for: Organic Intensives<http://moffa.us4.list-manage1.com/track/click?u=b37b9145bf2061d9456aab6f7&id=8a6e1683e3&e=75ddb9e813> — an opportunity to acquire practical, detailed information from experts and practitioners on one of three topics:






_____________________________________________

Organic Reporting Session
When:
Friday, March 10
8:30 a.m-4:30 p.m.

Where:
MSU Brody Hall
241 W. Brody Rd, East Lansing, MICH

What’s on offer?

Cover Crops for Organic Production

  *   Long-term trail at Ohio State Farm-Management practices that include cover crops-organic and conventional. Dr. Alan Sundermeier


  *   Cover crop mixes and aerial application.  Colleen Forestieri-Van Buren Conservation District with Aaron Molter-Molter Family Organic Orchards


  *   Presentation and Discussion on what’s happening at MSU on cover crops?


  *   Farmer/Research discussion to identify priorities for organic systems and future research needs.


On-line registration at:
https://events.anr.msu.edu/2017ORS/
Cost is $25 for farmers and $30 for others
All materials and lunch are included.

All Types of Educators:
Call about Scholarships!!!

Questions? Email:  [log in to unmask]<mailto:[log in to unmask]> or
517-282-3557









____________________________________________________________
Calling All Farmers!
Learn about Reduced Tillage for your Organic Vegetable Farms
This WEBinar series is free, but registration is important.

Click here to register: Tillage webinar series registration  <https://msu.zoom.us/webinar/register/98e6288a06d0f0b14ac87b605f06faf5>

Michigan State University is teaming up with Cornell University and the University of Maine to offer a 3-part webinar to share the latest research on reduced tillage for organic production and learn about the practices, equipment, and cover crops that can work for your farm.

The webinar topics include:

1.    Reduced Tillage Organic Vegetables on Permanent Beds
Ryan Maher (Cornell University)
Mark Hutton (University of Maine)
Brian Caldwell (Cornell University)

On: Thursday, March 9, 3-5 pm EST
About: Permanent bed systems can help small farms improve soils and reduce tillage for a diversity of crops. Learn how these systems take shape and how different practices are being used to manage weeds, reduce labor, and improve productivity.

 2.  Strip Tillage – How To and Its Values
Anu Rangarajan (Cornell University -Soil Health)
Dan Brainard (Michigan State University - Weed Management)
Meg McGrath (Cornell University - Disease Management)
Zsofia Szendrei (Michigan State University - Pests and Beneficial Insects)

On: Thursday, March 16, 3-5 pm EST
About: Adapting strip tillage for organic production requires system-wide changes. Learn the tools and equipment and what research is showing about integrating cover crops, managing residue, attracting beneficial insects, and controlling diseases and weeds.

3.    Cultivation for Reduced Tillage Systems
Dan Brainard and Sam Hitchcock (Michigan State University - Tillage to manage weeds)
Eric Gallandt and Bryan Brown (University of Maine-Soil management)

On:  Thursday, March 23, 3-5 p.m. EST
About: Cultivation of the in-row zone is challenging, especially in reduced tillage systems. Learn about innovative in-row cultivation techniques in reduced tillage crops.

Direct questions to:
Vicki Morrone, Organic Farming Specialist
[log in to unmask]<mailto:[log in to unmask]> or 517-282-3557




Vicki Morrone
Organic Farming Specialist
Center for Regional Food Systems
480 Wilson Rd Rm 303
East Lansing, MI 48824
517-282-3557 (cell)
www.michiganorganic.msu.edu<http://www.michiganorganic.msu.edu/>
sorrone11 SKYPE