Organic Production Listserv
February 2, 2021
Center for Regional Food Systems at MSU
Shared with you by Vicki Morrone
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What’s on offer?
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Virtual Conferences on organic and sustainable agriculture
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Seeking your input for a survey from your responses to COVID19 at a Michigan Farmer
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Employment opportunities
Organic and sustainable agriculture conferences (virtual)
Growing Stronger - a collaborative conference on sustainable and organic agriculture focusing on farming in the Midwest.
We hope you can join us and learn so much from farmers, marketers, and extension type folks.
They say, “With every cloud there is a silver lining”. Now you can participate in six, high quality conferences for the price of one and over a single week!!!
This pandemic has sent us to learn new ways of doing while striving to keep safe from the infection by the coronavirus. Well, our smart conference organizers have teamed up to
produce one fantastic program, all for the low price of $125 and you don’ t even have to drive in bad weather to get there!!
This virtual mega-conference takes place Feb. 22-27, 2021.
Here is a description of the programs that will be offered. (click each name to see info on their program being offered at this joint conference)
MOSES (the Midwest Organic & Sustainable Education Service) provides training, resources, mentoring,
and practical advice to help farmers succeed in organic and sustainable farming. Free resources include the
Guidebook for Organic Certification, Midwest Organic Resource Directory, and the
Organic Broadcaster newspaper. Talk to a specialist on the Organic Answer Line (888-90-MOSES).
GrassWorks is a grassroots membership organization that provides leadership and education to farmers
and consumers for the advancement of managed grass-based agriculture to benefit present and future generations. GrassWorks links farmers with the resources and training they need to be successful grazers.
Iowa Organic Association
Midwest Organic Pork Conference will be a part of this program over the six days of conference offering multi-topic, must-see event for the
organic and sustainable farming community. IOA was founded in 2006 and serves all of Iowa’s organic farmers, gardeners, food and farm businesses, and consumers in building a more sustainable Iowa.
The Organic Grain Resource and Information Network (OGRAIN) offers an educational framework
for developing organic grain production in the Upper Midwest. OGRAIN offers the latest organic grain research and information generated by the University of Wisconsin-Madison’s College of Agricultural and Life Sciences, UW Extension, and collaborating farmers.
FairShare CSA Coalition supports and connects farmers and consumers through Community Supported
Agriculture (CSA). The nonprofit provides robust resource-sharing, trainings, and discussions for CSA practitioners and advocates.
University of Wisconsin Extension in Dane County supports educational programs for farmers, businesses, communities,
families, and young people to help them understand and solve problems. The
Organic Vegetable Production Conference is a producer-initiated conference which is built around farmer-to-farmer skill sharing and attracts experienced growers from Wisconsin, Minnesota, Michigan, Illinois, Iowa, and beyond this year being virtual
farmers across the globe can participate. This conference offers technical details with practical solutions that are in demand by farmers trying to make a difference.
The Northern Michigan Small Farm Conference
The Northern Michigan Small Farm Conference brings together farmers and gardeners from across Michigan to learn and connect.
This year's conference offers farm education and virtual spaces to gather with peers. So, put on some comfy pants, make some tea, grab that favorite blanket and settle in for a different kind of farm conference.
The 5-day conference will consist of pre-recorded presentations you can view on your own time prior to conference week.
During the conference week of February 17 to February 21, there will be two roundtable sessions each day, one at the lunch hour (noon ET) and one at the after-dinner hour (7pm ET). Here, you can have a conversation
with the presenter and your peers about the pre-recorded presentations.
This has been a tough year, so the price is low—just $25 per household covers the entire week: every pre-recorded presentation, every roundtable, all conference week. Attend one, attend them all. The flexibility
is all yours.
Announcing the 2021 Michigan Farmers Market Conference:
Farmers Markets Are Essential!
March 1-3, 2021
This virtual conference focuses on bringing together the numerous individuals necessary to create and support a thriving marketplace for local food and farm products in Michigan including
market managers, farmers, vendors, volunteers, non-profit and municipal employees, as well as an array of persons involved in local food systems work. Engaging educational sessions, roundtable discussions, as well as networking and exhibitor opportunities
will offer up-to-date information on timely topics related to farmers market cultivation and management.
Due to the ongoing global pandemic, the 2021 Michigan Farmers Market Conference will be an entirely virtual experience. More information will be available upon registration.
To view the agenda, learn more, and register, click here: https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://mifma.org/for-markets/michigan-farmers-markets-conference/__;!!HXCxUKc!lr06LGVd2D9l8ID_cXcwT60RYWmQfJmnBKHTZv44W5jF8quyyREmbhhZTH4T1w$
Seeking feedback how you as a Michigan farmer has managed during COVID-19
We are reaching out to you as a key member of the Michigan farming community and an important contributor to our regional food systems and offering $20 thank you for your time (for
first 200 responses).
The Covid-19 pandemic has shown us how critical local farming is to the resilience to our regional food systems. We are a team of researchers mapping the contributions of local farmers
and food producers to the Chicagoland food system (those located within 300 miles of the city, including Michigan). Through our work, we hope to identify new market opportunities and sales channels for locally produced food from businesses like yours.
We would greatly appreciate it if you could take ~10 minutes to complete
a survey to understand what “Good Food” practices farmers, like you, are employing and the challenges you face.
As a token of appreciation for your time, we are offering a $20 gift card to the first 200 people who complete
the survey.
Thank you!
--
Weslynne Ashton, PhD
Associate
Professor of Environmental Management & Sustainability
Stuart School
of Business | Institute
of Design | Illinois
Institute of Technology
Employment Opportunities
The Purdue University Agronomy Department has an opening for a new faculty position in the Soil Microbiome. Please see below and the link, for more information, and please pass along to others who might be interested.
Assistant Professor of Agronomy in Soil Microbiome
Job Summary
The Agronomy Department of the College of Agriculture, Purdue University, seeks applications for a tenure-track Assistant Professor in soil microbiomes. This
is a full-time (9 month) tenure track position with an appointment in research and teaching. A microbiome is defined as a community of microorganisms (e.g., bacteria, archaea, viruses,
fungi, and other microeukaryotes) inhabiting and influencing an environment. We expect the candidate to build a nationally and internationally recognized research program focused
on understanding how the soil microbiome influences the development and functioning of critical soil processes. The successful applicant will have an interest in mechanistic understanding of soil microbiome function. Our
ideal candidate will use molecular and computational techniques to explore environmental microbiology and soil microhabitats to address i) the impact of diverse microbiomes and their
function on soil and plant physiology, ii) the roles of microorganisms across various ecosystems, and/or iii) mechanisms of rhizosphere plant microbiome interactions. Research areas may include but are not limited to soil
carbon and nutrient cycling, soil health, crop performance, soil biodiversity, including soil eukaryotes, fungi, Bacteria, Archaea, and/or viruses. The successful
candidate should also have demonstrated abilities in classroom education. Teaching responsibilities include a graduate course in some aspects of soil microbiomes and undergraduate teaching responsibilities. Service expectations include participation in appropriate
professional organizations and on departmental/college/University committees.
To Apply: https://career8.successfactors.com/sfcareer/jobreqcareer?jobId=12704&company=purdueuniv
Eileen J. Kladivko, Professor
Agronomy Dept., Purdue University
Vicki Morrone
Organic Farming Specialist
Center for Regional Food Systems at Michigan State University
480 Wilson Rd
East Lansing, MI 48824
517-282-3557 (cell)
sorrone11 (skype)
Diversity is having a seat at the table, inclusion is having a voice, and belonging is having that voice be heard.