Beginning Organic Farming-Farmer Round Table and Networking

Hear from three farmers how they farm; non certified organic , NOP certified and Naturally Grown- and learn why they choose these approaches

Tuesday

Dec 8

7-8 PM

Farmer Round Table-Farming practices with or without certification and why

Some farmers see a better fit for their farming and markets without organic certification and some see their markets/farming benefiting from organic certification. Hear from farmers first-hand the reasons for their decisions and how it has impacted their management and market sales.

Susan Sharp-Open Sky Organic Farm-

Pellston, Michigan

Mikayla Rowden –

Still wind Farm, Muskegon, Michigan

Carol Caplan-

Farm on Jennings Road

Ann Arbor, Michigan

Tuesday

Dec 8

8:00-9:00 pm

Farmer Round Table-Farming practices with or without certification and why

Join in a discussion following the farmers' sharing -with experienced farmers of their story and ask your questions via the chat

All invited to participate

Large Scale Organic Production

Wednesday-

December 9

9:00-9:25

Soil Fertility Management in Organic Systems

Allen Philo

BioStar Organics

Overland Park, Kansas

Wednesday-

December 9

9:25-9:50

Electric discharge systems for weed control in sugar beet

Tom Peters

North Dakota State University

Wednesday-

December 9

10:00-10:25

Mechanical cultivation at PrairiEarth Farm

 Hans Bishop

PrairiErth Farm

Central Illinois

Soil Health

We are constantly hearing that soils are valuable to our farming operations. But, what does this really mean? Learn about the services that a healthy soil can provide to your farm, and different ways that soil health is measured, both in the laboratory and on the farm.

Wednesday December 9

3:30-3:55

Is my soil healthy? Observing and assessing soil health indicators on your farm

Julie Grossman

University of Minnesota-St Paul

Dept of Horticultural Science

Wednesday December 9

3:55-4:20

Fertility in the context of Soil Health

Allen Philo

BioStar Organics , Overland Park, Kansas

Wednesday December 9

4:30-4:55

Mustard cover crops for biofumigation

Jim Jasinski

The Ohio State University

Wednesday December 9

4:55-5:20

Experiences in integrating cover crops on a diverse vegetable farm

Jean-Paul Stewart-Cortens

Philia Farm

Johnstown, NY

Organic Vegetable Production Session 1

Thursday

Dec 10

3:00-3:40 PM

Food Safety Certification for Organic Production

Food Safety Modernization Act is now law and must be followed by farmers earning more than $25,000 gross per year. Learn how organic production can be done while still meeting the needs of FSMA.

Phil Tocco-

Michigan State University Food Safety Specialist

Thursday

Dec 10

3:40-4:10 PM

Organic field and high tunnel tomato production

Tomatoes, especially if available early season are an excellent product for fresh markets.  Whether growing in the field or high tunnel organic production, good management practices and careful scouting are required.  Learn about the common challenges and approaches to reduce disease outbreaks and crop loss.

Steve Bogash-organic IPM specialist with Marrone Bio Innovations

Thursday

Dec 10

4:10-4:30 PM

Q & A for previous 2 speakers

All invited to chat-in questions and ask previous 2 speakers your questions

 All invited to participate

Organic Vegetable Production 2

Thursday

Dec 10

4:30-4:50 PM

Vegetable disease Management for organic systems

Using multiple approaches to manage disease outbreaks is your best bet, especially in organic production. Learn a whole system approach to reduce disease build-up and crop loss.

Judson Reid-

Cornell University Vegetable Specialist

Thursday

Dec 10

4:50-5:10 PM

Nematodes managed while improving soil health for organic production

Nematodes that attack vegetables are challenging to manage, especially in organic systems. Learn how improving your soil’s health along with better crop production practices will manage nematode problems and reduce the risk of nematodes becoming a problem.

Marisol Quintanillia-

Michigan State University Assistant Professor in Nematology

Thursday

Dec 10

5:10-5:30 PM

Q & A for previous 2 speakers

All invited to chat-in questions and ask previous 2 speakers your questions

 All invited to participate

Organic Marketing Opportunities

Presenters are Farmer who use these market practices NOW!!

Thursday-December 10

1:00-1:20

Socially Distant Direct Marketing: REKO Markets

REKO (RA-ko) is a Swedish acronym meaning “fair consumption.” This Facebook-based sales model creates a direct relationship between customers and 28 small scale farmers & producers. Members place their orders and pick up weekly in Holland or Ada, Michigan. Join this session to learn the how, when and why REKO markets.

Heather Anderson

Green Wagon Farm

Thursday-December 10

1:20-1:40

Socially Distant Direct Marketing: Customizable CSA

Green Wagon Farm has offered traditional CSA shares, a points-based choice system and is now using a fully customizable CSA. This system maximizes choice and social distancing. Members choose the season length, share size, and pickup frequency, as well as how many and which vegetables will be in their weekly share. Or members can just take the “Suggested Share” similar to a traditional CSA. Join us to learn about this marketing option.

Rebecca Henderson Green Wagon Farm

Thursday-December 10

1:40:1:50

Live Q&A

 All are invited to ask questions and engage in the conversation

Anderson & Henderson

Thursday-December 10

2:00-2:40

Cooperative Farm Marketing: Grown in Detroit

Grown in Detroit (GID) provides urban growers with low-barrier opportunities to sell the fruits and vegetables they grow in Detroit, Hamtramck, and Highland Park. Growers receive 100% of the profits from produce sold, assist at the market stalls at Eastern Market and benefit from shared marketing via a well-respected brand. Growers have access to seeds, plants, tools and workshops as part of the Garden Resource Program, which supports a network of 1,600 urban gardens and farms in the city. Grown in Detroit is part of Keep Growing Detroit, a nationally recognized non-profit that also operates a 1.5-acre urban farm and teaching facility in Detroit’s historic Eastern Market District. Join this webinar to learn about this cooperative marketing model and to consider whether a similar effort could work in your community.

Imani Foster

Keep Growing Detroit

Thursday-December 10

2:40-2:50

Live Q&A

 All are invited to ask questions and engage in the conversation

Imani Foster

Keep Growing Detroit