Agroecology and Sustainable Agriculture Program

IL SPECIALTY GROWERS, AGRITOURISM, AND ORGANIC CONFERENCECROWNE PLAZA HOTEL IN SPRINGFIELD ON JANUARY 8-10, 2014

COME JOIN US AT THE

IOGA SUSTAINING MEMBERS:

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This mailer highlights sessions of interest to organic and sustainable producers. For the full conference program and registration information, see specialtygrowers.org/iscaoc-conference.html. Register by December 27, 2013, for the early bird rate of $75. On-site registration costs $90.

Become an IOGA member before or at our business meeting on January 9 and you will be entered into a drawing for a rebate of your conference registration. Visit illinoisorganicgrowers.org/join-ioga for a membership application.

Albert Lea Seed Blue Moon Farm Clarkson Grain

Illinois OrganicGrowers Association

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THURSDAY, JANUARY 9 FRIDAY, JANUARY 10: ORGANIC SESSIONS

CONFERENCE KEYNOTE SPEAKER

ORGANIC PLENARY SESSION

FARMER-TO-FARMER IDEA EXCHANGE

IOGA BUSINESS MEETING

> Nothing Is Impossible: Creating a Thriving Farm on a Rocky Maine Peninsula Eliot Coleman

ORGANIC GRAIN AND VEGETABLES ORGANIC SOIL AND FERTILITY

FRUIT PRODUCTION ORGANIC LIVESTOCK

Eliot Coleman—farmer, educator, and author of “The New Organic Grower”—will discuss how years of organic soil building created extremely productive soil that’s the envy of growers across the Northeast. Coleman grows ginger, globe artichokes, and other tender crops, far from the tropics, utilizing unheated, movable greenhouses, and he harvests cool weather crops throughout a Maine winter.

> Alleviating Soil Compaction With Cover Crops on Organic Farms: A Participatory Experience Rachel Welch and Maria Villamil, University of Illinois; Allen Williams, Williams Farms, Cerro Gordo, IL This presentation describes preliminary results of the researchers’ study on the effect of using winter cover crops to address soil compaction and weed control in organic grain production at Williams Farms.

> Illinois Soil Quality Initiative III: Stewardship on Organic, Conventional and Conservation Till Grain Farms Michelle Wander and Carmen Ugarte, University of Illinois We will discuss the stewardship benefits of Illinois organic farming systems by comparing carbon sequestration and soil quality on organic and conventional grain farms that employ standard or conservation-tillage practices.

> Permaculture Principles and Methods for Farmers: An Introduction Wayne Weisman, The Permaculture Project LLC, Carbondale, IL This presentation briefly delineates the principals and methodologies of permaculture and their practical application: climate, water and earthworks, annual and perennial crops and soil management.

> Organic Strawberry Production: Crop Management, Weed Control, and Marketing Matthew Peterson, Plow Creek Farm, Tiskilwa, IL This presentation will include information about strawberry production using the matted row system, organic weed control (including the use of weeder geese), variety selection, and marketing, including information about how Plow Creek Farm manages its Pick-Your-Own operation.

> Organic Tree Fruit: Challenges and Their Solutions for Beginning Growers in the First Several Years

Anton Ptak, Mary Dirty Face Farm, Menomonie, WI Learn about organic and sustainable approaches for dealing with the challenges involved with a young orchard (focusing on the 1- to 5-acre size) in the early years, from just after planting, through establishment and up to the first few years of production.

> Ribes: The Nitty Gritty on Producing Currants and Gooseberries for Fresh Market and Restaurant Sales Anton Ptak, Mary Dirty Face Farm, Menomonie, WI In this session we’ll explore the possibilities of growing and fresh marketing currants and gooseberries. Topics to be addressed are site preparation/planting, sourcing of plant material, training, pest and disease pressure, harvesting, and marketing.

> Nutrition + Genetics + Management = Gourmet Grassfed Beef Kendall Shrock, Circle K (Devons) Farms, Tampico, IL; and Gearld Fry, Bovine Engineering and Consulting, Rosebud, AR An overview of how soil health, animal health, livestock handling and genetics can be combined to produce a gourmet eating experience in an all-grass system.

> Chickens on Pasture—10 Years of Lessons Learned Brian Poeppel, Broad Branch Farm, Wyoming, IL From chicks to final sale, all aspects of pastured poultry will be discussed, with an emphasis on the tricks and tools needed to successfully raise both broilers and layers on pasture.

> Integrating Cover Crops in Crop and Livestock Systems Dave Bishop, PrairiErth Farm, Atlanta, IL

We’ll look at ways to leverage our cover crops by combining them with other conservation practices, and by using them as part of a “3Crop” program for value adding to each product our farm produces.

Consumer demand for organically produced food has grown steadily for decades and continues to provide an opportunity for farmers seeking to distinguish themselves in the marketplace. This presentation will examine what draws consumers to organic products and how all farmers can benefit from that interest. Mark Keating has worked in organic, local and sustainable agriculture for twenty-five years in a variety of positions: farmworker, county extension agent, policy advocate, university educator, journalist, organic inspector, and USDA National Organic Program crop and livestock standard specialist.

Tell us what you want IOGA to do in 2014 and elect the 2014 Governing Board.

The Illinois Specialty Crops, Agritourism, and Organic Conference is organized by the Illinois Specialty Growers Association in collaboration with the University of Illinois Extension, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the Illinois Department of Agriculture, and the Illinois Farm Bureau.

Conferences are great for meeting people with similar interests. In this session, you will connect immediately with farmers like you in one of five discussion groups: fruits, vegetables, grains/row crops, livestock, and diversified production. You will have the chance to introduce yourself to other farmers individually and to share ideas in group discussion facilitated by a veteran producer.  Names and contact information will be distributed to attendees after the session, and the session will conclude with a chance for participants to suggest ways that IOGA can support ongoing farmer-to-farmer networking. (formerly titled Veteran Farmer Idea Exchange)

> Growing Organic Agriculture: The Farmer - Consumer Connection Mark Keating, Wheel of Life Consulting, Belvidere, NJ

> Effective Equipment for the Small-Scale Organic Vegetable Grower Hans Bishop, PrairiErth Farm, Atlanta, IL

Hear about the trials and errors, successes and failures, problems and solutions, and other ideas about farm machinery for a mid-size vegetable farm.

> Production Practices for Organic Field Crops Dave Campbell, Lily Lake Organic Farm, Maple Park, IL This session

will cover strategies for growing grain crops organically, including weed control techniques, cover crops, and rotations.

> Advanced Organic Vegetable Production Grant McCarty, University of Illinois Extension This course will be

an introduction to the techniques, inputs, and management strategies for advanced organic vegetable production that can address diseases, pests, and soil fertility. Topics to be covered will include OMRI-approved pesticides, long- and short-term crop rotations, cover crop mixtures, and trap cropping.

> Non-Chemical Weed Management for Vegetable Growers Connie Echaiz, University of Illinois, with farmer panelists Matt DeJong, DeJong Brothers Farm, Lansing, IL and Zack Grant, University of Illinois Sustainable Student Farm Manager Farmer panelists will explain their holistic approach to non-chemical control of weeds on vegetable crops, illustrating methods from hand techniques to a variety of mechanical tools and methods.