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North Central SARE Region Tag

March 5-6, 2021 Platte, South Dakota The Organic Farm TEAM Summit & Equipment Showcase will feature a diverse program focused on industry updates and innovative practices. Organic growers at all experience levels are invited to learn about the latest farm practices to produce valuable organic crops. The summit will assist growers to connect and stay ahead of changing federal policies, management protocols, market demands, and insurance coverage for organic and Non-GMO crops....

March 2-3, 2021 Online The 2021 Mid-America Organic Conference consists of two days filled with national speakers, educational workshops, and networking opportunities to connect farmers across the state. The goal of the conference is to help educate farmers and producers on the value and importance of learning organic principles of production for specialty crops that preserve natural resources and add value to their farming operations. It also strives to educate beginning and existing farmers on successful business practices, including methods of direct marketing, wholesale marketing, and value-added marketing of organic and sustainably grown specialty crops. Farmers and growers of all experience levels...

January 25, 2021 Wisconsin Dells, Wisconsin, and online The Wisconsin Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Conference is holding in-person event that will be completely streamed online live. The agenda includes educational programming for fresh produce growers: apples, berries, grapes, and vegetables, as well as agri-tourism and winery operators. Three different tracks will run concurrently....

January 14, 2020 Carrington, North Dakota North Dakota Department of Agriculture is offering a free, one-day training that satisfies the FSMA Produce Safety Rule requirement. ...

January 12-13, 2021 Medora, North Dakota The NDGLC Winter Conference and Annual Meeting features Diana Rodgers, RD and co-author of Sacred Cow, and Gabe Brown, NDGLC mentor. Registration is limited to 100 in-person participants....

December 6, 2020 Rochester, Minnesota Feast! Local Foods Marketplace will be online this year. More than 40 local food vendors are participating, with more than 400 products. Shoppers can order online until November 29 and pick up curbside on December 6....

November 20-21, 2020 Platte, South Dakota, and online This event, "Organic Resources for Changing Times," features 25 speakers and panelists and an exhibitor and equipment showcase. Select sessions will be available online via Zoom. Learn about the latest farm practices to produce valuable organic crops. The summit will assist growers to connect and stay ahead of changing federal policies, management protocols, market demands, and insurance coverage for organic and non-GMO crops....

October 28, 2020 Bismarck, North Dakota This day-long event from North Dakota Grazing Lands Coalition includes concurrent sessions on business and production, including panels of lenders and partners. Morning sessions are repeated in the afternoon....

October 1, 2020 Brainerd, Minnesota Sustainable Farming Association is offering this half-day, in-person silvopasture workshop at Sunup Ranch. Learn the principles of this managed intensive grazing system and hear from farmers utilizing silvopasture principles. Registration is limited....

September 21-25, 2020 Sturgis, Belvidere, Akaska, Crooks, and Yankton, South Dakota South Dakota Grassland Coalition presents five day-long workshops with Dr Tom Noffsinger, DVM. Learn about low stress livestock handling techniques, improved immune functioning of your animals, how to identify stress and low function, improved weaning practices, and creating a safer working environment....

September 15-17, 2020 Chamberlain, South Dakota The Grazing School is designed for producers and anyone with an interest in learning how to best manage grasslands to benefit livestock. The agenda features presenters from state and federal agencies, and universities. Area producers share their expertise about various topics related to grazing techniques and grassland management. Participants will hear presentations in the classroom and gain experience with hands-on activities in the field with a pasture allocation activities with cattle at the Totten Ranch. Space is limited....

September 9, 2020 Ames, Iowa The Department of Animal Science, Beef Teaching Farm, and Iowa Beef Center at Iowa State University offer a Fencing and Grazing Clinic that features a combination of classroom instruction and hands-on demonstrations showing new fencing technology, farm tours, and programs and resources to help producers make the most of their grazing season. ...

August 25-27, 2020 Wall, South Dakota South Dakota Grassland Coalition will host the West River/South Dakota grazing school, designed for producers and anyone with an interest in learning how to best manage grasslands to benefit livestock. The agenda features presenters from state and federal agencies, and universities. Area producers share their expertise about various topics related to grazing techniques and grassland management. Participants will hear presentations in the classroom and gain experience with hands-on activities in the field with a pasture allocation activities with cattle at the Guptill Ranch. Space is limited. ...

August 4, 2020 Watertown, South Dakota This free Organic Transition Training workshop offers an opportunity to learn from certification experts and industry partners about the process of transitioning to organic production. Visit with experienced organic growers from the region. Space is limited to 25 attendees at each session. ...

July 31, 2020 Turtle Lake, North Dakota The North Dakota Leopold Conservation Award and North Dakota Grazing Lands Coalition Summer Tour will take place at the 2019 N.D. Leopold Conservation Award Winners' Ranch, Gene and Christine Goven. Tour highlights include maximizing cross fencing, applying prairie practices to cropland, and managing regrowth, diversity, and soil health. ...

July 30, 2020 Lennox, South Dakota This free Organic Transition Training workshop offers an opportunity to learn from certification experts and industry partners about the process of transitioning to organic production. Visit with experienced organic growers from the region. Space is limited to 25 attendees at each session. ...

July 23, 2020 Garretson, South Dakota This free Organic Transition Training workshop offers an opportunity to learn from certification experts and industry partners about the process of transitioning to organic production. Visit with experienced organic growers from the region. Space is limited to 25 attendees at each session....

April 14, 2020 Online The Minnesota Office for Soil Health presents a Soil Health Economics Forum to examine the financial side of building soil health, identify gaps in knowledge, and plan next steps for research and building partnerships. The event is intended for representatives of agricultural industry, farmers, farmer organizations, researchers, educators, and local, state, and federal government agencies. Presenters will help attendees understand the potential of multiple approaches for analyzing soil health economics including farm enterprise budgets, risk management, resilience to weather variation, and the data needs of the financial services sector. ...

April 9, 2020 Winona, Minnesota This one-day training course is for produce growers. If your farm is not excluded or exempt from the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) Produce Safety Rule, at least one responsible party from your farm must complete a training that uses FDA-recognized curriculum or equivalent. This course meets those requirements. All produce growers interested in learning about produce safety, Good Agricultural Practices (GAPs), and the FSMA Produce Safety Rule are welcome to attend....

Cancelled Minnesota Institute for Sustainable Agriculture, Renewing the Countryside, and the Minnesota Farmers' Market Association are bringing a half-day workshop about local food regulations to every county in Minnesota. The goal is to make sure the entire state has access to information and resources about how to navigate food regulations that pertain to local food, in order to help individual food entrepreneurs and local food systems move forward....

Cancelled This full-day apple grafting and orchard school from Seed Savers Exchange includes an in-depth look at pruning and orchard care, soil health and pest management, as well as an orchard tour, scion wood swap, and bringing home six grafted trees to begin (or expand) your own orchard....

March 31 - April 28, 2020 Connersville, Indiana Purdue Extension's Beginning Farmer Workshop seeks to address the realities and challenges of starting a farm. The multiple-session workshop will guide participants in defining goals for their farm business, create a practical plan to reach those goals, assess current farm assets and outline farm management best practices. Evening sessions are held each Tuesday....

Cancelled Land Stewardship Project is offering Farm Dreams, a four-hour workshop designed to help people clarify what motivates them to farm, get their vision on paper, inventory their strengths and training needs, and get perspective from an experienced farmer. Each registration fee covers up to two people per family or farm....

Cancelled Join the Growing Growers training program for a workshop and farm tour focused on the latest tools for small and medium-sized growers. Topics include tools for field preparation, planting, cultivation, harvesting, and overhead and drip irrigation systems. Presenters will help you put together a wish list of must-have tools and provide a general overview of equipment maintenance, design, and modifications....

March 26-27, 2020 Online The Ohio Farmers Market Conference offers an opportunity to connect and learn from one another, and from professionals across the country. The virtual conference is open to market managers, farmers, food producers, and other vested individuals from around the state. This year's conference theme is "What's Up With Farmers Markets?" and will be led by keynote speaker Darlene Wolnik, Training and Technical Assistance Director at the Farmers Market Coalition. ...

Cancelled This course from Global Cow and Global Dairy Outreach offers an opportunity to hear about how producers are succeeding with value-added dairy products and agritourism. It includes presentations from producers and producer panels, a day of farm visits, and an optional cheesemaking school on the third day....

Cancelled North Dakota State University Extension presents this free workshop for crop and livestock producers and educators. Learn about the latest research data, cover crop seed regulations, herbicide residual considerations, farmer testimonials, and more....

Cancelled Seed Savers Exchange is offering the opportunity to learn how to graft and care for apple trees in a half-day workshop. Discuss apple histories, practice apple propagation, and take home three grafted trees to begin your very own orchard....

April 8, 2020 Buffalo, Minnesota Join University of Minnesota Extension for this half-day workshop addressing issues in vegetable and fruit production, geared to producers who sell vegetables or fruit at local farmers markets, groceries or restaurants. Topics will include Spotted Wing Drosophila exclusion, disease prevention, and pollinator habitat....

March 20, 2020 Decorah, Iowa Seed Savers Exchange is offering the opportunity to learn how to graft and care for apple trees in a half-day workshop. Discuss apple histories, practice apple propagation, and take home three grafted trees to begin your very own orchard....

April 7, 2020 Little Falls, Minnesota Join University of Minnesota Extension for this half-day workshop addressing issues in vegetable and fruit production, geared to producers who sell vegetables or fruit at local farmers markets, groceries or restaurants. Topics will include Spotted Wing Drosophila exclusion, disease prevention, and pollinator habitat....

April 8, 2020 Litchfield, Minnesota Join University of Minnesota Extension for this half-day workshop addressing issues in vegetable and fruit production, geared to producers who sell vegetables or fruit at local farmers markets, groceries or restaurants. Topics will include Spotted Wing Drosophila exclusion, disease prevention, and pollinator habitat. ...

March 17, 2020 Benton Harbor, Michigan Michigan State University Extension is holding a specialty crop irrigation meeting that will provide an irrigation update for fruit, vegetable, ornamental, and other horticultural crops....

March 14, 2020 Downs, Illinois This Savannah Institute workshop will provide an overview of the pros and cons of direct seeding, explore sources for seed, and demonstrate techniques for growing nut and fruit trees from seed. Crops covered include hybrid chestnuts, black walnuts, heartnuts, pecans, paw paw, persimmon, and others. ...

March 14, 2020 Mansfield, Ohio The Ohio State University's Small Farm Conference & Trade Show offers four rounds of concurrent sessions with tracks on horticulture, produce production, natural resources, livestock, specialty crops, farm management, marketing and miscellaneous. ...

March 13, 2020 Matteson, Illinois Angelic Organics Learning Center is offering this field day with a panel of farmers discussing ways in which they can extend their farm season and earn income all year long....

March 13-14, 2020 Dubuque, Iowa The 2nd Annual Midwest Organic Pork Conference will present the best resources and information available to help expand opportunities for organic pork production and distribution. This conference brings together those conducting research (academic and non-academic), expert organic and niche hog farmers, industry experts, and others to share current organic hog research and first-hand experience with new and advanced organic farmers from across the Midwest and other states....

March 6, 2020 Cambridge, Minnesota The East Central Chapter of the Sustainable Farming Association is hosting Farm Commons' "Cultivating Your Legally Resilient Farm" workshop, delivered by their staff of farm law experts and three local farmer co-presenters. The day-long workshop is framed around the 10 steps every farm needs to take to build legal resilience. You'll leave this workshop with a personal action plan for your own farm. ...

March 6-8, 2020 Madison, Wisconsin The intensive three-day course at the University of Wisconsin-Madison demonstrates what it takes to set up and run a successful orchard business. Topics include soil fertility, pest management, business planning, risk management, recordkeeping, marketing, and economics. Grower-instructors primarily teach the course, with featured presentations and hands-on labs by UW faculty and other specialists. This course is intended for people who are serious about starting an orchard business in the Midwest....

March 5, 2020 Elk River, Minnesota Sustainable Farming Association presents the 2020 Midwest Soil Health Summit: Farm as Reflection of Farmer. The summit will feature two educational tracks—Silvopasture and Agronomics—plus keynote speakers Jon Stika and John Mesko....

March 5-7, 2020 Danville, Indiana The Indiana Small Farm Conference begins with a series of daylong workshops on March 5. Topics include writing a food safety plan, vegetable crop planning, mushroom cultivation, biological orcharding, and two tours: agri-tourism and livestock processing. Breakout sessions on March 6-7 will cover topics ranging from vegetable and livestock production to farm management and marketing. Participants will have an opportunity to network with Extension educators, expert speakers, other farmers, and vendors. A trade show and poster session are also on the schedule....

March 4-5, 2020 Springfield, Illinois Practical Farmers of Iowa offers an opportunity to learn about growing small grains, cover cropping, and the benefits of an extended rotation. The conference has 12 breakout sessions that include topics such as integrating animals with a small grains operation, marketing small grains, the agronomy behind successfully raising small grains, and more. ...

March 3-4, 2020 Lansing, Michigan This annual conference brings together the numerous individuals necessary to create and support a thriving marketplace for local food and farm products in Michigan. It includes market managers, farmers, vendors, volunteers, non-profit and municipal employees, as well as people involved in local food systems work. Engaging educational sessions, roundtable discussions, and excellent networking and exhibitor opportunities will offer up-to-date information on timely topics related to farmers market cultivation and management....

February 29, 2020 Leoti, Kansas This day-long workshop is one of six in February offered by From the Land of Kansas. The agenda includes presentations, producer panels, and training on marketing, market management, regulations, and more. ...

February 28, 2020 Beloit, Kansas This day-long workshop is one of six in February offered by From the Land of Kansas. The agenda includes presentations, producer panels, and training on marketing, market management, regulations, and more. ...

February 27-29, 2020 LaCrosse, Wisconsin MOSES Organic Farming Conference is the country's largest educational event on organic farming. It features 60 workshops over six sessions, 10 full-day classes, a two-floor trade show, organic meals, and round-table discussions, plus more opportunities to network. Whether you're certified organic, using organic practices on your sustainable farm, or considering the switch to organic, you'll find information, resources, and connections to help you succeed....

February 26, 2020 DePere, Wisconsin The University of Wisconsin-Madison Division of Extension will host workshops in seven locations in January 2020, providing information and resources on farm succession and estate planning. Participants will have an opportunity to meet individually with speakers, including attorneys and tax specialists to ask specific questions about their situations....

February 24, 2020 Rochester, Minnesota The Southern Minnesota Hazelnut Grower Cluster is holding a free informational meeting. Growers are invited to come and learn about the emerging Midwest hazelnut industry and how to get involved. ...

February 22, 2020 Isanti County, Minnesota "Blazing Trails through the Jungle of Food Regulations" is a project to bring a half-day training workshop about local food regulations to every county in Minnesota. The training presents information and resources about how to navigate food regulations that pertain to local food, in order to help individual food entrepreneurs and local food systems move forward. "Blazing Trails" is a project of the Minnesota Institute for Sustainable Agriculture, Renewing the Countryside, and the Minnesota Farmers' Market Association. ...

February 22, 2020 Hiawatha, Kansas From the Land of Kansas is offering six workshops throughout the state. The agenda includes presentations and training on marketing, market management, regulations, and more. ...

February 21, 2020 Mankato, Minnesota This Land Stewardship Project "Renting It Out Right" workshop is for landowners and farmers who are interested in soil building, soil health, and conservation leases. It is being held in partnership with the School Sisters of Notre Dame at the Living Earth Center....

February 21, 2020 Olathe, Kansas From the Land of Kansas is offering six workshops throughout the state. The agenda includes presentations and training on marketing, regulations, and more....

February 20-21, 2020 Kearney, Nebraska The annual Nebraska Women in Agriculture Conference features five general-session speakers and more than 30 concurrent workshops that focus on agricultural risk management. Through workshops and presentations, attendees will learn how to better manage risk, improve their farms and ranches, and become more successful operators and business partners. Topics are production risk, market risk, financial risk, human risk, and legal risk....

February 19-20, 2020 West Lafayette, Indiana This annual education and networking event brings together the growing organic grain farming community in Indiana and surrounding states. Wednesday, February 19, offers a full-day workshop focused on transitioning to organic grain production. This workshop is for farmers exploring a transition of acreage to organic grain production and those with ground in transition. On Thursday, February 20, the full day of education and networking will include breakout sessions, farmer panels, networking time, and an industry trade show. ...

February 18, 2020 Detroit Lakes, Minnesota "Blazing Trails through the Jungle of Food Regulations" is a project to bring a half-day training workshop about local food regulations to every county in Minnesota. The training presents information and resources about how to navigate food regulations that pertain to local food, in order to help individual food entrepreneurs and local food systems move forward. "Blazing Trails" is a project of the Minnesota Institute for Sustainable Agriculture, Renewing the Countryside, and the Minnesota Farmers' Market Association....

February 18, 2020 Council Bluffs, Iowa The Iowa Organic Association and regional partners will deliver a series of organic workshops across Iowa to provide the information, tools and resources for ag service providers (NRCS, Extension, FSA, SWCD, RCD, County Conservation), crop insurance agents, farm lenders, farming organizations, farmers and others to support farmers interested in organic transition, diversification and expansion. This full day workshop will provide an overview about the National Organic Program, information about organic certification and transition, organic standards and production practices and insight into current organic market trends and demands. ...

February 15, 2020 Burlington, Kansas The first annual Southeast Kansas Specialty Crops Workshop covers production, marketing, and management. Both experienced and beginning specialty crop producers from across Kansas are invited to attend. ...

February 15-16, 2020 Madison, Wisconsin University of Wisconsin--Madison's Center for Integrated Agricultural Systems presents Wisconsin Cut Flower Growers School, a two-day workshop designed to help new and beginning growers learn the ins and outs of producing and marketing cut flowers. Learn from experienced growers about variety selection, seed starting, planting and harvest schedules and methods, post-harvest handling, pest management, tools and equipment, and direct marketing. Find out how to turn your passion for flowers into a sustainable small business....

February 13, 2020 Preston, Minnesota At this free event from the Land Stewardship Project, hear Dr. Richard Levins, professor emeritus of applied economics at the University of Minnesota and dairy policy advisor to the National Farmers Organization, speak on that group's response to the crisis in dairy farming in his talk, "A Plan to Take Action for Family Dairy Farmers." Hear from a panel of experts who will speak about the resources available to support farmers in need. LSP's "Farm Crisis Forum: Resiliency and Resources" features resilient farmers and a resource panel....

February 13-15, 2020 Dayton, Ohio The Ohio Ecological Food and Farm Association presents Ohio's largest sustainable food and farm conference. The agenda includes keynote speakers Laura Lengnick and Eric Holt-Giménez, as well as tours, workshops, exhibits, and social events. NCAT's Jeff Schahczenski is one of the featured speakers. The conference theme is "A Climate for Change."...

February 12, 2020 Elgin, Minnesota Come to one of the Land Stewardship Project's upcoming Farm Crisis Forums to hear resilient farmers share their stories. At this event there will be a panel providing legal and financial resources, including MDA Farm Advocate Connie Dykes, Stephen Carpenter from Farmers' Legal Action Group, and Dan Miller from Farm Business Management....

February 11-13 2020 Indianapolis, Indiana This event offers a major trade show and educational sessions in numerous tracks, including new tracks such as Urban Agriculture, Hemp Production, Agronomic Crops, and Farm 360. The event will also offer many opportunities for networking with fellow Indiana and other Midwestern farmers and vendors....

February 11-12, 2020 Kansas City, Missouri In cooperation with the Midwest Cover Crops Council, the University of Missouri Extension will host the Midwest Cover Crops Council Annual Meeting and Conference. February 11 is the annual meeting, which is open to the public. On February 12, there are poster sessions and education sessions open to farmers, farm advisors, and others interested in cover crops....

February 11-14, 2020 Floodwood and Grand Rapids, Minnesota Minnesota Institute for Sustainable Agriculture announces four days of workshops. February 11 is a day-long Produce Safety Grower Training. February 12 is a Farm Transition & Estate Planning workshop. February 13 is a Farm to School Workshop that addresses food safety, school garden best practices, aggregation, and education on resources and models. February 14 is a Farmer-to-Farmer regional gathering for fruit and vegetable producers....

February 11, 2020 Fairfield, Iowa The Iowa Organic Association and regional partners will deliver a series of organic workshops across Iowa to provide the information, tools and resources for ag service providers (NRCS, Extension, FSA, SWCD, RCD, County Conservation), crop insurance agents, farm lenders, farming organizations, farmers and others to support farmers interested in organic transition, diversification and expansion. This full day workshop will provide an overview about the National Organic Program, information about organic certification and transition, organic standards and production practices and insight into current organic market trends and demands. ...

February 8, 2020 Kalamazoo, Michigan The theme of the 17th Annual Michigan Family Farms Conference is "Nurturing Resilient Farms - 2020 & Beyond." Farmers, educators, and food system professionals gather to network, learn, and share resources and experiences. There will be a full lineup of workshops focusing on resilience of small Michigan farms as well as a special keynote and awards ceremony. It is an energizing, hands-on event featuring multiple tracks of breakout sessions, plus a youth track. ...

February 8, 2020 Des Moines, Iowa The Iowa Farmers Market Association presents this one-day workshop focused on positioning your farmers market as a community asset. Session topics include food trucks, grants, and market questions....

February 8, 2020 St. Joseph, Minnesota The agenda for Sustainable Farming Association's Annual Conference includes sessions on livestock, soil health, produce, farm business, and more. The schedule features several producer panels, as well as children's programming....

February 7-8, 2020 Shipshewana, Indiana The Northern Indiana Grazing Conference includes plenary presentations, breakout sessions, and producer panels. Topics include production, farm business, and general interest....

February 6, 2020 Ames, Iowa The Iowa Organic Association and regional partners will deliver a series of organic workshops across Iowa to provide the information, tools and resources for ag service providers (NRCS, Extension, FSA, SWCD, RCD, County Conservation), crop insurance agents, farm lenders, farming organizations, farmers and others to support farmers interested in organic transition, diversification and expansion. This full day workshop will provide an overview about the National Organic Program, information about organic certification and transition, organic standards and production practices and insight into current organic market trends and demands. ...

February 5, 2020 Eagan, Minnesota "Blazing Trails through the Jungle of Food Regulations" is a project to bring a half-day training workshop about local food regulations to every county in Minnesota. The training presents information and resources about how to navigate food regulations that pertain to local food, in order to help individual food entrepreneurs and local food systems move forward. "Blazing Trails" is a project of the Minnesota Institute for Sustainable Agriculture, Renewing the Countryside, and the Minnesota Farmers' Market Association. ...

February 5, 2020 Little Falls, Minnesota "Blazing Trails through the Jungle of Food Regulations" is a project to bring a half-day training workshop about local food regulations to every county in Minnesota. The training presents information and resources about how to navigate food regulations that pertain to local food, in order to help individual food entrepreneurs and local food systems move forward. "Blazing Trails" is a project of the Minnesota Institute for Sustainable Agriculture, Renewing the Countryside, and the Minnesota Farmers' Market Association. ...

February 5, 2020 Mt. Vernon, Illinois Illinois Extension presents an informative, practical, and up-to-date educational program to address the challenges of growing small fruit and vegetables commercially in Southern Illinois. ...

February 5-6, 2020 Champaign, Illinois The Organic Grain Conference & Trade Show is Illinois' premiere event dedicated to organic grain education and networking, with more than 200 participants and 20+ exhibitors. The first day of the conference will offer full-day workshops and networking time. The second day includes keynote speaker David Vetter and three tracks of concurrent breakout sessions, including panels, roundtable discussions, networking time, and an industry trade show. ...

February 4, 2020 Hardin, Illinois At this day-long event, Illinois Extension presents current research-based information on growing tree fruits. This year's program features a wide range of topics to help you meet the challenges of commercial fruit production in Southwestern Illinois. Industry representatives will also be on hand to talk about their latest products and services. Current trends in insect and disease management, as well as a variety of other production-related topics, will be discussed. Austin and Parker Flamm of Flamm Orchards will discuss the 2019 year in review....

February 4, 2020 Mason City, Iowa The Iowa Organic Association and regional partners will deliver a series of organic workshops across Iowa to provide the information, tools and resources for ag service providers (NRCS, Extension, FSA, SWCD, RCD, County Conservation), crop insurance agents, farm lenders, farming organizations, farmers and others to support farmers interested in organic transition, diversification and expansion. This full day workshop will provide an overview about the National Organic Program, information about organic certification and transition, organic standards and production practices and insight into current organic market trends and demands. ...

January 31 - February 1, 2020 Grand Island, Nebraska Nebraska Sustainable Agriculture Society's annual Healthy Farms Conference facilitates farmer-to-farmer training and support. The event includes breakout sessions, keynote presentations, ample time for meaningful conversation, a fun dinner on Friday night, and the annual NSAS membership meeting....

January 31 - February 1, 2020 Madison, Wisconsin This producer-initiated conference is built around farmer-to-farmer skill sharing and attracts growers from Minnesota, Michigan, Illinois, Iowa, Wisconsin, and beyond....

January 30, 2020 Columbia, Missouri and Online The Univeristy of Missouri Center for Agroforestry presents the 11th Annual UMCA Agroforestry Symposium, focusing on "Value-Added Processing for Missouri Agriculture and Forestry." The symposium is free and open to the public, but advanced registration is requested. Sessions are also available via livestream....

January 29, 2020 St. Joseph's Ridge, Wisconsin The University of Wisconsin-Madison Division of Extension will host workshops in seven locations in January 2020, providing information and resources on farm succession and estate planning. Participants will have an opportunity to meet individually with speakers, including attorneys and tax specialists to ask specific questions about their situations....

January 29, 2020 Menomonie, Wisconsin The University of Wisconsin-Madison Division of Extension will host workshops in seven locations in January 2020, providing information and resources on farm succession and estate planning. Participants will have an opportunity to meet individually with speakers, including attorneys and tax specialists to ask specific questions about their situations....

January 28, 2020 Marshfield, Wisconsin The University of Wisconsin-Madison Division of Extension will host workshops in seven locations in January 2020, providing information and resources on farm succession and estate planning. Participants will have an opportunity to meet individually with speakers, including attorneys and tax specialists to ask specific questions about their situations....

January 28, 2020 Kewaskum, Wisconsin The University of Wisconsin-Madison Division of Extension will host workshops in seven locations in January 2020, providing information and resources on farm succession and estate planning. Participants will have an opportunity to meet individually with speakers, including attorneys and tax specialists to ask specific questions about their situations....

January 28, 2020 Cold Spring, Minnesota "Blazing Trails through the Jungle of Food Regulations" is a project to bring a half-day training workshop about local food regulations to every county in Minnesota. The training presents information and resources about how to navigate food regulations that pertain to local food, in order to help individual food entrepreneurs and local food systems move forward. "Blazing Trails" is a project of the Minnesota Institute for Sustainable Agriculture, Renewing the Countryside, and the Minnesota Farmers' Market Association. ...

January 28-29, 2020 Wichita, Kansas The 24th annual No-till on the Plains Winter Conference features an expert lineup of soil health speakers, including Steve Groff, Dr. Daphne Miller, Lucinda Stuenkel, Doug Peterson, Brendon Rockey, and more. Topics include cover crops, soil biology, and livestock grazing, among others. ...

January 27, 2020 Sartell, Minnesota "Blazing Trails through the Jungle of Food Regulations" is a project to bring a half-day training workshop about local food regulations to every county in Minnesota. The training presents information and resources about how to navigate food regulations that pertain to local food, in order to help individual food entrepreneurs and local food systems move forward. "Blazing Trails" is a project of the Minnesota Institute for Sustainable Agriculture, Renewing the Countryside, and the Minnesota Farmers' Market Association. ...

January 27, 2020 Dodgeville, Wisconsin The University of Wisconsin-Madison Division of Extension will host workshops in seven locations in January 2020, providing information and resources on farm succession and estate planning. Participants will have an opportunity to meet individually with speakers, including attorneys and tax specialists to ask specific questions about their situations....

January 27-28, 2020 Chicago, Illinois During Farm Journal's Hemp College, experts will discuss the best agronomic practices for hemp production and touch upon marketing, legal considerations, and policy news....

January 26-28, 2020 Wisconsin Dells, Wisconsin The Wisconsin Fresh Fruit & Vegetable Conference is a three-day conference that provides educational programming for growers of fresh produce including apples, berries, grapes and vegetables; agri-tourism and winery operators; and farmers market vendors and managers. There are more than 80 educational sessions in seven different tracks. ...

January 25, 2020 Owatonna, Minnesota Farmers, landowners, and anglers can learn how to buck the damage caused by extreme weather to soil and water during a program hosted by the Izaak Walton League's Owatonna chapter and the Upper Mississippi River Initiative (UMRI). Confirmed speakers include Minnesota cover crop farmer-experts Tom Cotter and Myron Sylling, and George Boody of the Land Stewardship Project (LSP), also a co-sponsor. Speakers will address why no-till fields need cover crops to battle erosion, how to strike a better deal for conservation in rental agreements, the role of livestock, 260-bushel corn, and how soil health pays the bills....

January 24, 2020 Grand Marais, Minnesota "Blazing Trails through the Jungle of Food Regulations" is a project to bring a half-day training workshop about local food regulations to every county in Minnesota. The training presents information and resources about how to navigate food regulations that pertain to local food, in order to help individual food entrepreneurs and local food systems move forward. "Blazing Trails" is a project of the Minnesota Institute for Sustainable Agriculture, Renewing the Countryside, and the Minnesota Farmers' Market Association. ...

January 24-25, 2020 Acme, Michigan The Northern Michigan Small Farm Conference brings together farmers and gardeners from across Michigan to learn and connect. The agenda includes Farm School intensives on hemp, maple syrup, and herbs, as well as farm tours, workshops, a trade show, and more....

January 24-25, 2020 Madison, Wisconsin The fifth annual conference for those interested in organic grain production in the Upper Midwest will feature expert farmers, researchers, and industry representatives sharing their knowledge, along with ample opportunity for networking and discussion. Workshops and discussion will highlight issues important to organic grain farmers. ...

January 24-25, 2020 St. Paul, Minnesota The annual Emerging Farmers Conference serves to advance the success and sustainability of farmers who traditionally face barriers to the education and resources necessary to build profitable agricultural businesses. This innovative conference focuses primarily on the needs and interests of farmers of color and immigrant farmers, and supports their contributions to local economic development and building healthy communities. It does so by connecting farmers, farm advocates, educators, professionals, experts, and agency officials. ...

January 23-25, 2020 Wisconsin Dells, Wisconsin "Regenerating our Grass Roots" is the theme for the 2020 GrassWorks Grazing Conference. Featured speakers include Fred Provenza, Peter Ballerstedt, and Jasmine Dillon. There will be a trade show and concurrent sessions on a wide variety of pasture-health, production, and business topics....

January 23-24, 2020 Ankeny, Iowa The Iowa Specialty Producers Conference is a partnership between the Iowa Fruit & Vegetable Growers Association and the Iowa Wine Growers Association. The conference features keynote speaker John Stanley, a world-renowned retail consultant, speaker, and author, as well as six breakout session tracks focusing on viticulture, enology, fruits, vegetables, other specialty crops, and business/marketing. ...

January 21, 2020 Elkhorn, Wisconsin The University of Wisconsin-Madison Division of Extension will host workshops in seven locations in January 2020, providing information and resources on farm succession and estate planning. Participants will have an opportunity to meet individually with speakers, including attorneys and tax specialists to ask specific questions about their situations....

January 21-23, 2019 Columbus, Ohio The Ohio Produce Network is the annual gathering for the fresh produce industry, including markets, in Ohio. The two-day event includes numerous educational programs, a trade show, and ample opportunities to network with your peers. Programs often cover production techniques, disease/pest mitigation, management, marketing, and retailing strategies, food safety, and emerging technologies....

January 16, 2020 Minneapolis, Minnesota At this forum run by vegetable growers, for vegetable growers, discuss resilience and production practices in the face of a changing climate. This is an opportunity to gather as professionals and compare notes about what is and is not working....

January 16-17, 2020 St. Cloud, Minnesota This event is hosted by the Minnesota Farmers' Market Association, the Minnesota Apple Growers Association, and Minnesota Fruit & Vegetable Growers Association. Educational sessions in five tracks address fruit and vegetable varieties and production, soil health, farmers markets, pest management, and more....

January 16-18, 2020 Ames, Iowa Practical Farmers of Iowa's 2020 conference, "Reclaiming Resilience," will examine the current state of our farms and our food systems: what's working well and why, as well as what needs to change. You will leave this conference armed with ideas about how to strengthen resiliency on your farm, and how to build an agricultural system that benefits farmers, rural communities, and our natural resources....

January 15-16, 2020 Harrisonville, Missouri The Missouri Hemp Association is planning a conference for growers throughout the American Heartland. Speakers will cover growing hemp indoors and outdoors, as well as processing and end-use....

January 11, 2020 East Lansing, Michigan Michigan Organic Food & Farm Alliance presents a one-day, in-depth learning experience. Organic Intensives are an opportunity to acquire practical, detailed information over the course of a day with fellow Michigan farmers and gardeners. Topics for 2020 are Successful Biological Orcharding with Michael Phillips, Organic No-Till Farming with Andrew Mefferd, and Local Organic Herbs for Health....

January 10-11, 2020 Marshfield, Wisconsin The Wisconsin Maple Syrup Producers Association presents this event with speakers and workshops on production, marketing, and business topics. There will be workshops for beginners, as well as a trade show....

January 9-10, 2020 St. Cloud, Minnesota Each year, the Minnesota Department of Agriculture hosts this conference and tradeshow for farmers and others interested in organic agriculture. It offers two days of networking, learning, and great food. Keynote speakers are Charlie Johnson and Judith D. Schwartz....

January 9-11, 2020 St. Joseph, Missouri Great Plains Growers Conference for commercial fruit, vegetable, cut flower, and honey bee producers from Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, and other Midwest states provides research-based information, from both vegetable research specialists and local growers, to help your farms grow and thrive. The keynote is Charlotte Smith, speaking on Three Steps to a Profitable Farm, and other session topics include food safety, industrial hemp, cut flower production, legal resilience, and more....

January 9-10, 2020 West Des Moines, Iowa Iowa State University's Community Food Systems Program presents this fifth annual event. Two pre-conference workshops take place January 9: a Local Food Leader workshop, and a Business Model Canvas workshop. The community food systems event on January 10 will feature keynotes, open space, breakouts, and poster session presentations. The 2020 theme is Food Entrepreneurship and Inclusive Partnerships. ...

January 8-10, 2020 Springfield, Illinois This conference addresses fruit, vegetables, herbs, cut flowers, organic, and agritourism farming. The event includes pre-conference workshops on produce safety, cut flowers, pumpkins, hemp, and protected culture. Educational session tracks include fruit, vegetables, herbs, beginning farmers, agritourism, and business development. ...

January 9, 2020 Granite Falls, Minnesota As the farm financial crisis deepens, the Land Stewardship Project (LSP) is offering special workshops for farmers and rural communities. LSP is bringing together farmers, community members, and a resource panel at this free event. Farmers leaving this meeting will have a stronger network to support them through this crisis, and community participants will help identify potential opportunities to come together and create a vision for their communities....

January 7-8, 2020 Bloomington, Minnesota Attend the first-ever Discovery Farms Summit, co-hosted by the Discovery Farms Programs in Wisconsin and Minnesota to celebrate almost two decades of Discovery Farms research. Discovery Farms Programs in Wisconsin, Minnesota, Arkansas, and Washington have a combined 250+ site years of data to share from edge-of-field surface runoff and tile monitoring on agricultural fields of all varieties. Attendees will come away with practical on-farm management solutions developed from credible research that protect our water resources. ...

February 15, 2020 Burlington, Kansas Kansas Rural Center and other sponsors present this day-long workshop on specialty crops. Session titles include All About Tomatoes, Enlisting Community Support, What's Special About Specialty Crops?, Resources and Equipment Needs, Marketing Channel Suggestions, and Importance of Crop Enterprise Budgets....

December 20, 2019 Faith, South Dakota This day-long event is being offered by the South Dakota Grassland Coalition in five different locations. Holistic Management educator Joshua Dukart will cover converting a ranch from crisis management to holistic management, creating a profitable ranch business using holistic principles, and more....

December 19, 2019 Hot Springs, South Dakota This day-long event is being offered by the South Dakota Grassland Coalition in five different locations. Holistic Management educator Joshua Dukart will cover converting a ranch from crisis management to holistic management, creating a profitable ranch business using holistic principles, and more....

December 18, 2019 Belle Fouche, South Dakota This day-long event is being offered by the South Dakota Grassland Coalition in five different locations. Holistic Management educator Joshua Dukart will cover converting a ranch from crisis management to holistic management, creating a profitable ranch business using holistic principles, and more....

December 17, 2019 Oxford, Iowa Practical Farmers of Iowa is offering several evening farm transfer and succession workshops with Mike Downey of Next Gen Ag Advocates and Farm Financial Strategies, Inc. Mike will discuss the why and how of farmland transition, including farm leasing trends and how to communicate with family about your farmland transition. All workshops will include a meal and networking time and will conclude with some possible strategies and next steps for farm transfer. ...

December 17, 2019 Chamberlain, South Dakota This day-long event is being offered by the South Dakota Grassland Coalition in five different locations. Holistic Management educator Joshua Dukart will cover converting a ranch from crisis management to holistic management, creating a profitable ranch business using holistic principles, and more....

December 17, 2019 Springfield, Illinois The Illinois Department of Agriculture invites you to join Department staff, NGOs, growers, and processors at the Illinois Hemp Summit to discuss the 2019 growing season, best practices, lessons learned, and the future hemp industry in Illinois....

December 16, 2019 Watertown, South Dakota This day-long event is being offered by the South Dakota Grassland Coalition in five different locations. Holistic Management educator Joshua Dukart will cover converting a ranch from crisis management to holistic management, creating a profitable ranch business using holistic principles, and more. ...

December 14, 2019 Orange City and Elkader, Iowa Iowa State University Extension and Outreach will host a pair of simultaneous Fine-Tuning Your Dairy Goat Management meetings as part of the annual Dairy Directions program. The programs will focus on managing forages, utilizing health strategies, improving milk quality, implementing business practices and dealing with the challenges of managing dairy goats. There will also be a producer panel at both events. All dairy goat producers are welcome. ...

December 13-14, 2019 Ames, Iowa If you are starting or thinking about starting a farm, you should plan to attend Practical Farmers of Iowa's annual Beginning Farmer Retreat. In addition to networking with other farmers, attendees will set goals and create action plans for achieving them. Programming will be offered for both aspiring and beginning farmers, with experts and peers facilitating the sessions and assisting with work time....

December 12, 2019 Wisconsin Dells, Wisconsin, and livestreamed to Normal, Illinois; Mankato, Minnesota; and Oshkosh, Medford, Menomonie, Viroqua and Black River Falls, Wisconsin Compeer Financial and the University of Wisconsin-Division of Extension present this day-long event featuring keynote Tom Arnold, 20-minute breakout sessions from peers and experts on ideas and best practices in creating resiliency, and 50-minute intensive sessions. Topics include value-added dairy, income from woodlands, cash crops, legal issues, grant opportunities, and more. ...

December 11, 2019 Wisconsin Dells, Wisconsin The 8th Annual Discovery Farms Conference focuses on the state of Wisconsin's water quality from the perspectives of farmers, policy makers, and researchers. This water-quality focused day will leave you with practical solutions to address concerns at the farm level as well as update you on the multiple facets of research and political activity happening in Wisconsin....

December 11, 2019 Lincoln, Nebraska The Women Managing Agricultural Land Conference will allow women to build relationships with each other, attend workshops, and gain valuable knowledge. Three keynote speakers and 12 workshops will focus on helping Nebraska farmland owners and tenants navigate the challenges they face. ...

December 10, 2019 Cherokee, Iowa Practical Farmers of Iowa is offering several evening farm transfer and succession workshops with Mike Downey of Next Gen Ag Advocates and Farm Financial Strategies, Inc. Mike will discuss the why and how of farmland transition, including farm leasing trends and how to communicate with family about your farmland transition. All workshops will include a meal and networking time and will conclude with some possible strategies and next steps for farm transfer. ...

December 10, 2019 Holt, Michigan In the morning, MSU Student Organic Farm Farmer Field School presenters, participants, and advocates will meet to plan the next Farmer Field School year and other ways to collaborate. In the afternoon, join a group discussion about how to make sure that a portion of the good food you are growing is getting to lower income people in your community. ...

December 10-12, 2019 Minneapolis, Minnesota The annual Eco-Ag Conference unites farmers, ranchers, and ag professionals from every facet of eco-farming to share their experience and expertise. Beginning and generational farmers running sustainable farms—as well as those in transition from conventional to organic—will walk away with useful, practical information that they can apply to their operations right away. ...

December 10-12, 2019 Grand Rapids, Michigan The Great Lakes EXPO and Michigan Greenhouse Growers EXPO is touted as the premiere show for fruit and vegetable growers, greenhouse growers, and farm marketers. Over three days, the program includes sessions on fruit crops, vegetable crops, other specialty crops, greenhouse crop production and marketing, farm marketing ideas and operations, farmers markets, and organic production and marketing. There will also be sessions covering a diversity of general interest topics, including food safety and labor....

December 9-10, 2019 Minneapolis, Minnesota Preceding the Acres USA Eco-Ag conference, Eco-Ag U offers two days of all-day advanced learning classes for the dedicated eco-farmer. Topics include Mineral Nutrition & Plant Disease with Dr. Don Huber, Water Management Strategies with Mark Shepard, Raising Animals Organically with Dr. Paul Dettloff, and several more....

December 9-11, 2019 Fargo, North Dakota This workshop is designed to bring the latest science-based and practical information to farmers, industry, educators, researchers, and anyone else who is interested in soil health. Using breakouts, demonstrations, panels, and small discussion groups modeled after the NDSU Café Talk program, this event encourages discussion to custom tailor information and applications to your farm, business, or programs. ...

December 6-7, 2019 Dubuque, Iowa The Savanna Institute's Perennial Farm Gathering features speakers, panels and workshops with Midwest agroforestry experts, perennial food and beverage tastings, and five-minute Nutshell Show & Tell talks, open to all attendees. Session topics include chestnut, hazelnut, and elderberry production, silvopasture, financing perennial agriculture, land access and land tenure agreements, online marketing, beneficial insects, and more....

December 6, 2019 Columbus, Ohio OEFFA has partnered with the Institute for Conservation Leadership (ICL) to offer a special leadership training for OEFFA members. Participants will learn about OEFFA's structure, policy priorities, and avenues for engagement, while learning effective advocacy strategies and broadly applicable leadership skills that will benefit you in your own work, business, or volunteer efforts....

December 6-7, 2019 Kirksville, Missouri Missouri Livestock Symposium is a free educational event for livestock producers. The keynote speaker is Dr. Temple Grandin. In addition to the trade show, the event offers educational sessions on eight different topics every hour, featuring 48 top-notch speakers on 48 different topics, including beef, sheep, meat goats, forages, horses, farm management, stock dogs, healthy habits, horticulture, and women in agriculture....

December 6-7, 2019 Rochester, Minnesota Feast! Local Foods Network presents its annual industry-only Local Foods Marketplace trade show on December 6, 2019, followed by a festival open to the public on December 7, 2019....

December 5, 2019 Saint Charles, Minnesota University of Minnesota Extension will hold a workshop for dairy farms that will provide ideas and tips on value added options. Jennifer Wagner-Lahr of Ag Utilization Research Institute (AURI) will share results of value added dairy research and direct-to-consumer projects AURI has carried out. Brad Heins, UMN Extension, will discuss the unique milk quality characteristics of grass-fed and organic dairy management systems and marketing opportunities. Finally, CannonBelles Cheese of Cannon Falls will share how they started and developed into a successful company....

December 3, 2019 Decorah, Iowa Practical Farmers of Iowa is offering several evening farm transfer and succession workshops with Mike Downey of Next Gen Ag Advocates and Farm Financial Strategies, Inc. Mike will discuss the why and how of farmland transition, including farm leasing trends and how to communicate with family about your farmland transition. All workshops will include a meal and networking time and will conclude with some possible strategies and next steps for farm transfer. ...

November 24-25, 2019 Iowa City, Iowa The Iowa State University Organic Agriculture Program's 18th Annual Organic Conference is "Diversity = Stability: Elements of Diversity in Optimizing Organic Profitability." The conference's keynote speaker is Alex Heilman of Mercaris, Inc. speaking on "Profitability of Organic Ag: Now and Into the Future." Sessions address transitioning into organic farming, weed management, organic livestock production, and alternative crops such as hops and hemp. ...

November 20, 2019 Rose Hill, Iowa This Practical Farmers of Iowa free afternoon field day visits Mike Jackson for "Cover Crops for All: Thoughts on Machinery, Management and Grazing." Mike will share the latest results from his on-farm cover crop research—including a trial that investigates effects of different rye seeding dates and rates on rye biomass, soil health, and corn yield. Jason Steele, a soil scientist with the Natural Resources Conservation Service, will present on grazing cover crops. After lunch, Mike will lead a discussion about the diverse approaches to managing cover crops, covering financial and practical aspects. A short walking tour...

November 20-21, 2019 Indianapolis, Indiana The Sustainable Agriculture Summit is hosted jointly by six agricultural organizations representing America's commodity crop, specialty crop, beef, dairy, pork and poultry industries. The Summit convenes the organizations' collective membership of leaders from across the agricultural value chain to create the premier sustainability event for production agriculture....

November 19, 2019 Red Oak, Iowa Practical Farmers of Iowa is offering several evening farm transfer and succession workshops with Mike Downey of Next Gen Ag Advocates and Farm Financial Strategies, Inc. Mike will discuss the why and how of farmland transition, including farm leasing trends and how to communicate with family about your farmland transition. All workshops will include a meal and networking time and will conclude with some possible strategies and next steps for farm transfer....

November 19, 2019 Crawfordsville, Iowa This free afternoon field day, hosted by ISU Extension and Outreach, the STRIPS project, and the Southeast Iowa Agricultural Research Association, will feature on-farm conservation practices, prescribed burning 101, Prairie STRIP establishment and maintenance, and conservation planning and enrollment in USDA cost-share programs....

November 19-20, 2019 Minneapolis, Minnesota The 2019 Green Lands Blue Waters Conference has the theme "Over, Under, Through to CLC: Strong partners, new allies, and fresh perspectives moving continuous living cover (CLC) farming forward." Learn how grounded champions, who have worked for decades to change agricultural paradigms, are collaborating with the next generation of agricultural leaders and new allies in creative partnerships to break (or not break) new ground, keeping our soil and our communities rooted as we endeavor to create a resilient agriculture. The agenda includes keynote, panel, breakout, and lightning sessions....

November 19-20, 2019 Bismarck, North Dakota Join leaders from agriculture, industry, and government who are working to build the hemp industry in the Northern United States. Hear the latest from regional and national experts in a variety of areas including hemp production, processing, banking, insurance, policy, and feed....

November 16, 2019 Warrenton, Missouri This MU Extension Workshop on industrial hemp will cover a wide variety of topics related to the emerging hemp industry in Missouri, including a legislative summary and regulatory update, agronomic practices and pests for CBD, grain and fiber hemp, industry outlook, producer perspectives, crop enterprise budgets, and processing and contracts. Presenters will include MU Extension field specialists and economists, CBD-hemp growers and processors, the Missouri Department of Agriculture, and the Missouri Hemp Trade Association. ...

November 13, 2019 Andover, Minnesota This free evening Agritourism Workshop from Minnesota Department of Health covers best practices for human-animal contact, working farm safety issues, and food licensing and safe food handling. ...

November 11-12, 2019 Columbus, Ohio The Ohio State University hosts this two-day event, in which experts from New York state will be sharing resources and tools that have made their farmers markets more sustainable. ...

November 10, 2019 Des Moines, Iowa This Practical Farmers of Iowa afternoon field day visits Jenny Quiner at Dogpatch Urban Gardens, a vibrant urban farm and farm stand. Join Jenny for a tour of the farm's garden beds and infrastructure, including the packing shed, farm store, and high tunnel. She'll share tips for branding, sales and marketing and producing high-quality greens and salad vegetables....

November 8-9, 2019 Wichita, Kansas The Kansas Rural Center's annual Farm and Food Conference has the theme "Planting Ideas, Growing Our Future: Carbon, Climate and Communities." Speakers, panelists, and workshop sessions feature presentations and discussions on how biological, human, and economic diversity builds resilience and how we can make it happen on our farms and in our communities. The agenda includes 12 workshops each day, ranging from thought provoking presentations on hot issues to practical how-to's for your farm or community and organizing how-to's for advocacy and grassroots engagement. New this year will be a special Land/Farm Owner and Land Seeker Mixer....

November 7-8, 2019 Mt. Hope, Ohio The 5th annual Organic Farming Conference is themed "Having a Plan." Keynote speakers are organic dairy owner John Bansen on planning for healthy soils and Stephanie Frischie on planning for pollinators and pollination. There will also be breakout sessions, vendors, and demonstrations for livestock and produce topics....

November 6, 2019 Chicago, Illinois FamilyFarmed presents the 11th annual Good Food Financing & Innovation Conference. This industry-leading event is the Midwest's premier gathering for thought leaders, innovators, stakeholders, and entrepreneurs across Chicago's booming Good Food and Natural Products landscape. Keynote speaker is Seth Goldman of Beyond Meat, and there will also be a competitive entrepreneurial Pitch Slam....

November 4-6, 2019 Duluth, Minnesota The Food Justice Summit will build upon food access work in Minnesota by bringing champions of food justice together while also reaching into new sectors to broaden the scope and impact of food systems work. An emphasis will be placed on highlighting BIPOC/farming communities and the connection to restoring healthy food systems....

November 3, 2019 Columbus, Ohio Harmonious Homestead will host an open house as part of the OEFFA Sustainable Farm Tour series. Enjoy walking tours of the certified organic annual and perennial herb, berry, vegetable, and willow plantings. A "Mad About Saffron" Field Day will immediately follow, to share details from the North Central Region-Sustainable Agriculture and Research Education (NCR-SARE) funded saffron growing project, including information about in-field and high tunnel production, processing, packaging, and marketing. ...

November 1-3, 2019 Yellow Springs, Ohio The Arthur Morgan Institute for Community Solutions welcomes activists and researchers involved in the all-important work of regeneration to this event. Participants will revisit the wisdom of indigenous cultures and their use of healing plants, learn about the rising medical cannabis industry, discover the potential of real, whole food to alter the course of chronic disease, and how we can work with nature to nurture the web of life in our soil and water. Speakers will share the current research in these fields and introduce attendees to tangible ways to restore physical, emotional, cognitive, and spiritual...

November 1-2, 2019 Pierre, South Dakota Growers, processors, chefs, and consumers passionate about local foods are invited to register for the 2019 South Dakota Local Foods Conference. This regional event will provide networking opportunities, speaker panels, and educational sessions on tools for success, production, and collaborative ideas. Friday's conference features keynote speaker Kelsey Ducheneaux, Natural Resources Director for the Intertribal Agriculture Council. Saturday's keynote presenter is Carol Ford, a Minnesota vegetable producer specializing in Deep Winter Greenhouse (DWG) production....

October 29-30, 2019 Minneapolis, Minnesota Now in its fifth year, the Organic & Non-GMO Forum is the source for conventional food and ag businesses to learn about opportunities in the organic and non-GMO industry, and for those in the field to discuss the challenges and advantages it presents. Producers, processors, manufacturers, buyers, and more convene for engaging, informative discussions on the practical issues in the supply chain and the challenges in the industry. ...

October 29-30, 2019 Caledonia, Illinois Routes to Farm offers this two-day Farmer-to-Farmer Marketing Intensive. The first day is a full-day workshop, Build your Profitable Farm with Charlotte Smith of 3 Cow Marketing. Learn how to create a 12-month plan that provides the foundation you need to start and grow a profitable farm. The second day features Farmer-to-Farmer Breakout Sessions, an opportunity to learn from other farmers and individuals working within the sustainable agriculture field about modern-day marketing practices you can use on your farm....

October 22, 2019 Canton, Minnesota Sustainable Farming Association and Dairy Grazing Apprenticeship are hosting a series of free grazing field days, all of which include paddock viewing, grazing tours, and farmer discussion. This event at the Vance and Olaf Haugen farm is is co-sponsored with Great River Graziers and Kickapoo Grazing Initiative and will include discussion on evaluation of grazing and pastures for fall and planning for spring as well as considerations for Karst geology/water quality in the Driftless region....

October 22-24, 2019 Red Wing, Minnesota The National Farm Viability Conference is geared towards professionals in the fields of farm and food business planning, financial planning, agricultural financing, farmland conservation, agricultural market development, and food hub management. It offers attendees the opportunity to network and learn from industry leaders and other professionals in their fields, develop new knowledge and skills, and tour nearby farms and value-added processing facilities. ...

October 19-20, 2019 Topeka, Kansas This Mother Earth News Fair features expert speakers on natural building, modern homesteading, real food, and more, as well as demonstrations, workshops, hands-on workshops, exhibits, and a product marketplace....

October 18, 2019 St. James, Missouri University of Missouri Extension sponsors a free workshop to help beginning farmers and ranchers, including military veterans, learn about resources offered by state and federal agencies. Representatives of Farm Service Agency, Natural Resources Conservation Service, Rural Development, MU Extension, and Missouri AgrAbility will present information on how to access their agency services. ...

October 17, 2019 Ames, Iowa Farm Commons offers a day-long workshop for agricultural service providers that covers six core legal subject areas, including business structures, land purchasing and leasing, insurance and liability, employment law, and agritourism and adding value. Presenters highlight core "action steps" or legal best management practices that advisors should recommend to help farmers reduce risk. ...

October 17-19, 2019 St. Paul, Minnesota At the Women in Sustainable Ag (WISA) conference, connect with people from across the country who work in sustainable ag to exchange ideas, find new resources, and network. Workshops cover leadership skills, personal growth, farm business success, and more. The WISA Conference includes a Plate to Politics track organized by the Women, Food & Ag Network (WFAN)....

October 17-18, 2019 Madison, Wisconsin Organic Seed Alliance, in partnership with Seed to Kitchen Collaborative at University of Wisconsin–Madison, is hosting an Upper Midwest Seed Summit. This one and a half day gathering will bring together regional seed leaders to learn, connect, and identify opportunities to advance the regional organic seed system in the Upper Midwest. The retreat-style gathering will include famers, seed-growers, on-farm plant breeders, researchers and regional seed company representatives. The goals are to learn from each other, lay the foundation for grassroots collaboration and identify shared priorities for future regional seed work. Space is limited. ...

October 13, 2019 Clifton Hill, Missouri The Savanna Institute is holding a free afternoon field day at Shepherd Farms. Learn about Midwestern pecan production from Dan Shepherd, a producer with decades of experience. The field day will include a tour of the harvesting and processing equipment and a mature pecan orchard. ...

October 12, 2019 Clark, Missouri Green Pastures Farm and the Savanna Institute present a tour of Greg and Jan Judy's farm. They will discuss the benefits of silvopasture and the lessons learned over the years on their silvopasture operation that includes 16 farms. They graze grass genetic South Poll cows, cow/calf pairs, bred heifers, bulls, stockers and a parasite resistant St. Croix hair sheep flock. Greg and Jan's emphasis is on working in balance with nature and keeping inputs low....

October 12, 2019 Xenia, Ohio This free event is part of the 2019 Sustainable Farm Tour and Workshop Series. Finch Creek Farm has been transformed and revitalized through the organic management of their hay production, rotational grazing of cattle, and broiler production using the chicken tractor model. The entire 300 acre farm was fully transitioned to organic in 2019, and Finch Creek continues to implement regenerative management practices in their quest towards nutrient-dense food. Join this tour to explore the concepts of paramagnetism, mineralization, and soil balancing, and a discussion about the transformative path the farm continues to take. ...

October 11, 2019 Warsaw, Missouri University of Missouri Extension and partners are presenting a one-day conference designed to provide information and ideas for anyone interested in researching or starting an agritourism venture, as well as those who would like to expand their agritourism operations. Basics of Agritourism will provide information that you can use to make the best decisions for your particular situation....

October 10, 2019 Columbia, Missouri Farm Commons offers a day-long workshop for agricultural service providers that covers six core legal subject areas, including business structures, land purchasing and leasing, insurance and liability, employment law, and agritourism and adding value. Presenters highlight core "action steps" or legal best management practices that advisors should recommend to help farmers reduce risk. ...

October 10-15, 2019 Minneapolis and St. Paul, Minnesota Food–Ag–Ideas Week, led by Grow North and partners, convenes entrepreneurs, for-profit and nonprofit leaders, growers, investors, and others to create a more interconnected, dynamic, and competitive ecosystem for food and agriculture entrepreneurship and innovation. The event features six days of panels, speakers, tours, and demo showcases hosted in inspiring spaces with a build-your-own schedule format. Speaker sessions will address a variety of topics across sustainable agriculture, food innovation and tech, and food and society....

October 7-9, 2019 Rosemont, Illinois The National Direct Agricultural Marketing Summit provides a unique networking opportunity for direct agricultural market practitioners to form new partnerships and learn new business strategies that can improve the performance of their farms and businesses. The Summit features resources to assist market managers, direct marketing farmers, and agribusinesses as well as practitioners or technical assistance providers in understanding and enhancing direct marketing efforts. The Summit theme is "Entrepreneurship Opportunities Across the Food Value Chain," focusing on direct-to-consumer markets, local food systems, and value-added technical assistance. ...

October 6, 2019 Mt. Vernon, Iowa At this Practical Farmers of Iowa afternoon field day, visit Laura Krouse at Abbe Hills Farm. Tour a 100-share CSA farm that provides food from the gardens until late fall without requiring the use of a high tunnel. Laura will also show off her newest high tunnel, built in 2019, and share the results of her first season growing in it....

October 5, 2019 Yellow Springs, Ohio The Arthur Morgan Institute for Community Solutions and Rust Belt Fibershed present Dayton Fibershed Day, an opportunity to see what's going on in the region with local growing, weaving, and dying, and learn why it matters. Topics include fiber cooperatives, benefits of local textile systems, flax processing, natural dyes, and more....

October 3, 2019 West Lafayette, Indiana Farm Commons offers a day-long workshop for agricultural service providers that covers six core legal subject areas, including business structures, land purchasing and leasing, insurance and liability, employment law, and agritourism and adding value. Presenters highlight core "action steps" or legal best management practices that advisors should recommend to help farmers reduce risk. ...

October 2, 2019 Two Harbors, Minnesota Minnesota Premium Garlic Project offers an afternoon class at Little Chili Farm that will cover the elements of garlic growing including seed selection, planting, mulching, weeding, harvest, curing, and cleaning. Admission is free, but registration is required....

October 1, 2019 Holt, Michigan This Farmer Field School event at Michigan State University Student Organic Farm offers a hands-on opportunity to help build a greens dryer and a greens bubbler, and the chance to do a wash-pack design sketch....

September 28, 2019 Athens, Ohio This event is presented by OEFFA as part of the 2019 Sustainable Farm Tour and Workshop Series. Join the Freedman family for a tour of their newly constructed processing facility where an overview of wine and honey production, processing, and packaging will be presented. They'll focus on management challenges unique to Ohio, specifically those related to a vertically integrated business, from farmsteading, homesteading, and regulatory oversight perspectives. ...

September 28, 2019 Chelsea, Iowa At this free afternoon Practical Farmers of Iowa field day, Adam Ledvina will share why and how he raises Kiko goats to meet his goals of ecological restoration and profitability. Adam has started a profitable business using goats for brush management and selling Kiko breeding stock. ...

September 28, 2019 Athens, Ohio Rural Action and Woodland Ridge Farm present this Intro to Whole Farm Production workshop, a way to learn about various income streams for your new farm. Topics for the workshop will cover the methods used at Woodland Ridge, including pastured pork production, ginseng cultivation, on-farm sustainable energy, and Airbnb basics. ...

September 27-29, 2019 Salina, Kansas This year, the Land Institute's annual Prairie Festival has the theme "Carbon, Culture, and Change: From the Ground Up." The Prairie Festival offers a unique opportunity to interact with some of the world's most compelling authors, thinkers, artists, and advocates focused on agriculture, food, the environment, science, sustainability, and social and environmental justice. Presenters include Bill McKibben and Amory Lovins, and additional events include arts and music....

September 22, 2019 Glenwood, Iowa This Practical Farmers of Iowa free afternoon field day will focus on the basics of beekeeping in the fall and winter months in Iowa. Carol Fassbinder-Orth of Bountiful Blossoms Bee Company will discuss a range of topics, including honey harvesting, marketing, and storage options; preventing and detecting colony collapse and loss; site selection for beehives; bee forage considerations; supplemental feeding of bees; parasite and pest treatment options; bee breed characteristics; winterizing colonies; and more....

September 22, 2019 Two Harbors, Minnesota Join Zachary Paige of North Circle Seeds for an informative Seed Saving Gathering hosted by SFA Lake Superior Chapter. Paige will present a hands-on demonstration of seed processing as well as discuss opportunities for interested growers to partake in North Circle, which seeks to specialize in seed varieties that thrive in northern Minnesota. There will also be a farm tour plus plenty of networking time for seed growers and keepers to share seedy knowledge. ...

September 21, 2019 Iowa City, Iowa This Practical Farmers of Iowa free afternoon field day visits Susan Young at Lucky Star Farm. Susan will share her tips and tricks for raising poultry rotationally on pasture. See her setup for raising Thanksgiving turkeys. Susan will discuss how she has started the process of incorporating silvopasture into her system. The day will conclude with a marketing discussion about using home delivery to sell eggs. ...

September 21, 2019 East Troy, Wisconsin Farm Aid's annual festival is a an all-day celebration of music and family farmers featuring a unique lineup of artists and genres, along with family farm-identified, local and organic foods. The Farm Aid 2019 lineup includes Willie Nelson & Family, Neil Young, John Mellencamp, Dave Matthews & Tim Reynolds, Bonnie Raitt, Lukas Nelson & Promise of the Real, Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night Sweats, Margo Price, Jamey Johnson, Tanya Tucker, Brothers Osborne, Yola and Particle Kid. At the Homegrown Village, hear farmers and artists talk together about pressing issues on the FarmYard Stage, attend demonstrations to...

September 20, 2019 Mt. Vernon, Missouri Join University of Missouri researchers, extension specialists, and experienced growers at MU Southwest Research Center for a free afternoon field day to learn about alternative tree crops that have economic potential for Missouri. Topics will include jujube, pawpaw, American persimmon, hazelnuts, black walnut, tree-crop economics, sustainable urban orchards, and the Ag Intel Crop Decision Tool....

September 20-21, 2019 Dubois, Indiana The Indiana Sheep Association's (ISA) annual symposium is split into two days. Session topics on Friday include NSIP basics, sheep genetics improvement, marketing with NSIP and using Purdue's Animal Disease and Diagnostic Lab. Session topics on Saturday include sheep industry innovation and trends, NSIP for small flocks, high-speed Internet on the farm, grazing management, and marketing via social media. Both days will end with a farm tour of Southern Indiana Purdue Ag Center, and Saturday will include a brief business meeting and ISA awards....

September 19, 2019 Bloomington, Illinois Farm Commons offers a day-long workshop for agricultural service providers that covers six core legal subject areas, including business structures, land purchasing and leasing, insurance and liability, employment law, and agritourism and adding value. Presenters highlight core "action steps" or legal best management practices that advisors should recommend to help farmers reduce risk....

September 18, 2019 Lawrence, Kansas K-State Research and Extension Douglas County, in cooperation with the Kansas Rural Center, will hold a free farm tour and discussion at Juniper Hill Farms. The tour will focus on the challenges and opportunities for improved risk management in the production of fruit and vegetables and other specialty crops in Kansas. This workshop will provide a brief panel discussion of some of the challenges faced by specialty crop growers and then a tour of part of Juniper Hill Farms specialty crop production operations. Crop insurance agents, farm service providers and the general public with an interest in...

September 18, 2019 New Franklin, Missouri University of Missouri Extension and the Center for Agroforestry are presenting this free farm field day for Missouri producers. Tour chestnut orchards at the Horticulture and Agroforestry Research Center, meet with MU researchers and experienced growers, and get up-to-date information on successfully growing and marketing. Registration is required....

September 18, 2019 Becker, Minnesota The Sustainable Farming Association hosts an opportunity to dig deeper into soil health opportunities, challenges, and monitoring with soil health experts. This field day will include a tour of Snake River Farms' managed grazing and oak savanna restoration and discuss managed grazing in woodlands. ...

September 18, 2019 Waukesha, Wisconsin Learn about the basic principles and available tools for precise mechanical weed control at the 3rd annual Midwest Mechanical Weed Control Field Day. It features weeding tools and allied equipment, keynote speakers, company representatives, farmer-to-farmer networking, and in-field equipment demonstrations. It will feature demonstrations for both specialty crops and row crops....

September 17, 2019 West Branch, Iowa At this Practical Farmers of Iowa free afternoon field day, learn from Scattergood staff and students, as well as Xerces Society biologist Sarah Foltz Jordan, about the why, when, where and how of pollinator habitat design and installation. Mark Quee of Scattergood Friends Farm and Sarah will address farmer concerns about weed control using organic methods. Sarah Nizzi, the Natural Resources Conservation Service partner biologist for Xerces Society, will join to offer insights about cost-share opportunities available through farm bill programs. ...

September 17, 2019 St. Charles, Minnesota Sustainable Farming Association (SFA) and Dairy Grazing Apprenticeship are hosting a series of grazing field days, all of which include paddock viewing, grazing tours, and farmer discussion. Other graziers or anyone interested in dairy farming and/or grazing are welcome. These events are free and include lunch. This event visits the Arlene Hershey farm....

September 14, 2019 Hillsboro, Ohio This event is part of the 2019 Sustainable Farm Tour and Workshop Series. The Wilson Family Farm is a multi-generational, conventional farm that raises beef cattle, corn, soybeans, and hay. Brady and Amanda moved back to the farm and started Old Dutch Hops, where they produce pasture-raised poultry, lamb, and beef, grow a small amount of organic vegetables and hops, and make maple syrup. Amanda and Brady will discuss the difficulties and pleasures of trying to make a full-time living on a small, diversified family farm. ...

September 13, 2019 Cottage Grove, Wisconsin This CBD hemp field day, organized by West Star Organics, Circadian Organics, UW-Madison Horticulture, and Michael Fields Agricultural Institute, will focus on the harvesting, processing, and markets of CBD hemp. Included in the afternoon will be a panel discussion led by experienced producers, tour of an ongoing fertility trial, harvest demonstration, as well as a panel discussing markets with retailers, extractors, and those involved in the process....