Calendar of Events

July 21-23, 2008
Nashville, Tennessee

The Community Food Systems Program of Southern Sustainable Agriculture Working Group (SSAWG) is holding its 2nd Annual Training Intensive in partnership with the Food Security Partners of Middle Tennessee. They are inviting individuals representing local food systems organizing to join them for 2.5 days of learning lead by some of the best minds in community food systems work. Pre-registration is required.

July 21, 2008
Orchard, Iowa

Producers interested in fruit and vegetable production and marketing are encouraged to attend a field day at the Dan Zimmerman farm and Cedar Valley Produce Auction. Producers will see tomatoes, green beans, watermelon and pumpkins on raised beds; cover crops and windbreak systems for vegetables; greenhouse production and alternative packing sheds.

July 22-23, 2008
Bozeman, Montana

University of Nevada Cooperative Extension provides a 2-day training for educators and conservationists interested in using the "Living on the Land: Stewardship for Small Acreages" curriculum for educating small acreage owners. By attending the training, you’ll become familiar with the content of the curriculum (marketing and economics of small acreage properties; wildfire threat reduction; ponds; wildlife; irrigation systems; the whole farm approach; and more); you’ll gain competencies in identifying learning styles, engaging adult learners, implementing small-acreage programs, including understanding and targeting your audience, marketing your program, and improving your delivery methods, and evaluating and assessing your program. You’ll also discover how to use the activities in the curriculum to engage learners, and you’ll learn methods for sustaining your program over the long term. Request a brochure and registration form from Sue Donaldson, donaldsons@unce.unr.edu

July 22, 2008
Ottawa, Illinois

For the sixth consecutive year, University of Illinois Extension is offering tours that highlight sustainable agriculture operations around the state of Illinois. The July tour visits Cedar Valley Sustainable Farm Community Supported Agriculture. Registration at least one week in advance is required.

July 22, 2008
Lebanon, Oregon

OSU's Integrated Plant Protection Center is sponsoring an afternoon farm walk (2-5 PM) at Persephone Farm, an established, certified organic vegetable farm in the foothills of Oregon's Cascade Mountains. Conservation biological control methods such as insectary plantings and beetle banks will be highlighted. The event will include hands-on identification of beneficial insects and native pollinators, ending with a vegetarian pot luck. For information, contact gwendolyn@science.oregonstate.edu

July 22, 2008
Madison, South Dakota

Northern Plains Sustainable Agriculture Society presents this day-long event including tours of the 2,400-acre certified organic Johnson Farm and the 1,000-acre organic Wilcox Farm livestock and crop operation. Panel discussions on "Managing Obstacles in Organic Production" and "Marketing and Equipment Sharing" are also scheduled.

July 22, 2008
Fond du Lac, Wisconsin

This school is offered several times around Wisconsin during the summer. The school includes sessions on economic considerations in grazing, agronomics, soil fertility, pasture monitoring and grazing systems layout and design.

July 22, 2008
Goodhue, Minnesota

MOSES field days are held at certified organic farms where experienced organic farmers will showcase their farming operations and offer tours of their fields. Each half-day session is for all farmers who are interested in organic and sustainable farming practices. Join them for this afternoon event to learn how Jon Luhman operates his beef lamb farm.

July 23-26, 2008
Chicago, Illinois

The conference theme is "25 Years - Looking Back, Looking Forward." The event includes cheese competitions, pre-conference tours, workshop and plenary sessions, networking opportunities, and more.

July 23, 2008
East Wells, Vermont

At this workshop sponsored by NOFA Vermont and the VT Pasture Network at the Center for Sustainable Agriculture, Chris Burrows will share his production model and marketing tools with discussion on the principles guiding his business direction and maximizing his land base. Jenn Colby will facilitate farmer discussion.

July 24, 2008
Shelburne, Massachusetts

NOFA/Mass, USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) and the University of Massachusetts Extension have organized a series of on-farm pasture walks and Grazing Workshops as a continuing education resource for Massachusetts farmers. This event takes place at Wheel-View Farm.

July 24, 2008
Decatur County, Indiana

This tour on Organic Production and Processing - Transitioning to Organic is one in a series of farm tours developed to provide an opportunity for farmers and other rural residents who are investigating ways to diversify their operations to learn from other diversified Hoosier farmers. This series of educational programs is made possible by the financial support of North Central Regional SARE (Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education), with the collaborative efforts of Indiana State Department of Agriculture, the Purdue New Ventures Team, and the Purdue Small Farms Team.

July 24-26, 2008
Virginia, Maryland, Pennsylvania

Chris Reberg-Horton & Molly Hamilton of North Carolina State University will lead a three-day tour sponsored by Golden LEAF. The tour will involve travel to Virginia, Pennsylvania, and Maryland to visit the Rodale Institute and several large-scale, successful organic grain farms.

July 24, 26 and 31, 2008
Milan, Lincoln, and Marion, Illinois

University of Illinois Extension, Illinois Forage and Grassland Council and the USDA's Risk Management Agency are sponsoring a conference on the advantages and risks of mixing pastured livestock species. The one-day conference will be held in three different locations. Topics to be covered include: Understanding Livestock Species Grazing Behavior/Advantages and Disadvantages of Multiple Species Grazing; Pasture, Weeds, Brush, and Poisonous Plants; Health or Parasite Worries When Species Co-Mingle; Do Sheep and Goats Offer Profits to Cattle Grazers?; What Forages are Suited for Multiple Species Grazing; and Fencing Considerations that Work for "Hard-to-Control" Species.

July 24, 2008
Milan, Tennessee

The University of Tennessee Research & Education Center at Milan presents the nation's largest Field Day devoted to no-tillage crop production techniques. It includes techniques for increasing production, reducing expenses, improving marketing skills, and increasing the efficiency of your crop production operation.

July 24-25, 2008
Burlington, Vermont

Vermont Law School presents this free conference open to the public. It features sessions on moving beyond industrial animal agriculture, farm policy, climate change, sustainable agriculture, and a local farm tour.

July 24, 2008
Newport Center, Vermont

NOFA Vermont and the VT Pasture Network at the Center for Sustainable Agriculture present a morning pasture walk led by Sarah Boutin, with discussion facilitated by Willie Gibson on organic livestock management, healthcare, fly control, record keeping, grazing, forage quality and more.

July 24, 2008
Harlan, Iowa

The Leopold Center for Sustainable Agriculture Fruit and Vegetable Working Group and others present a field day for producers interested in fruit and vegetable production and marketing. The free field day begins at the Bill Buman farm. Participants will see a variety of fruit species grown in high tunnels, including peaches, raspberries and melons; tomatoes in high tunnel and outside production and a new tomato trellis system. No pre-registration is required and lunch is provided. The field day starts at 9:30 and ends at 2:45.

July 26-30, 2008
Tucson, Arizona

This conference offers plenary sessions, oral and poster presentations and symposia, tours, workshops, and special events. Presentations will report the results of research and evaluation projects, and/or lessons learned from professional experience working with conservation and environmental management technologies, programs and policies. Tours offered include watershed research, grassland protection, and water harvesting.

July 26-30, 2008
Minneapolis, Minnesota

The 2008 Centennial Meeting of The American Phytopathological Society will feature world-renowned scientists presenting the latest in plant pathology research. Field trips, special sessions, plenary sessions, and workshops are scheduled, addressing national and global issues related to agriculture.

July 26, 2008
Coolville, Ohio

Ohio Forage Network offers a field day that includes Established Rotational Grazing System (Spectrum Farm), Dr. Fernando Silveiro (Beef Genetics), Electronic Livestock Breeding and Management Systems (Larry Simmons).

July 28, 2008
Everson, Washington

During the tour of Alm Hill Gardens, a 35-year old diversified, fresh-market farm, the Alm Hill Garden team will cover season extension (using greenhouses and high tunnels), crop diversity (annuals and perennials), berry production, and direct marketing strategies. Research taking place on the farm in coordination with WSU will be highlighted, including integrated pest management and field trials of several varieties of fruits and vegetables. A new cooperative agreement being forged between the owners, the farmers, and a new generation of farmers will be discussed. This Farm Walk will be offered in both English and Spanish.

July 29, 2008
Mosier, Oregon

The walk will feature Colombia Blossom Orchards, a 32-acre diverse orchard of certified organic stone fruits such as cherries, peaches, plums, apricots, nectarines and grapes. The walk will take a detailed, hands-on, look into the identification, biology, and ecology of native bees, predators and parasitoids and the on-farm habitat that supports them. You will leave with a heightened appreciation for the natural biodiversity at Columbia Blossom Orchard and the opportunities that exist there and on your own farm to enhance it.

July 29-31, 2008
Tifton, Georgia

The 30th Southern Conservation Agricultural Systems Conference and the 8th Annual Conservation Production Systems Training Conference are being combined this year to bring together producers, extension and NRCS personnel from Georgia and the Southeast in a three-day meeting. The theme of the 2008 combined conference will be Conservation Tillage Systems in a Changing World. The conference will provide practical information on precision agriculture technologies and information on new and developing technologies.

July 29, 2008
Burlington, Vermont

This evening workshop presented by NOFA Vermont will take place at Intervale Community Farm. Farmer Andy Jones will present and discuss crop planning methods and forms he uses to keep 500 CSA member households in veggies for the season. After a look at records and handouts, you’ll tour the fields to discuss succession planning for specific crops.

July 30, 2008
Goldsboro, North Carolina

This workshop is part of the Seasons of Sustainable Agriculture series presented by the Center for Environmental Farming Systems. This day-long event will include information on beneficial insects used for pest management as well as beneficial insects involved in pollination. The pest management portion of the workshop will begin by providing a background on biological control and how it relates to IPM. We will also take an objective look at how and where biological control can be used and improved.

July 31, 2008
Goldsboro, North Carolina

Discover why eating seasonal and locally produced food is one of the most important choices you can make for improving the health of your family, community, and the planet. In this workshop we will discover what is a "local food system"; the health and environmental benefits of eating local, seasonal foods; and why local food systems stimulate communities and local economies. Also, find out what you can do to support the production and consumption of local foods through the Wayne County Local Food System Initiative.

July 31, 2008
Flagstaff, Arizona

Northern Arizona Food and Agricultural Council presents a morning workshop with Hans Peter Jorgenson and Mary Jorgenson, agricultural and rural heritage tourism experts. Learn how to be an agritourism host on your land and facilitate agritoursim in your community.