Calendar of Events

March 5, 2009
East Troy, Wisconsin

Think outside the box and find alternative solutions for housing and farm land. At this morning workshop offered by Michael Fields Agricultural Institute, Bill Liebhardt will guide participants through their options and the decision-making process.

March 6, 2009
East Troy, Wisconsin

Learn the nuts and bolts of raising meat birds from day old chicks to getting them to consumers, in this offering from Michael Fields Agricultural Institute. This morning workshop is an exploratory course looking at care and daily management, health, marketing, and cost analysis of raising broilers.

March 6-14, 2009
East Lansing, Michigan

Michigan State University and the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources extends a cordial welcome to visitors to the 93nd of Agriculture and Natural Resources Week. The event now hosts more than 150 programs and annual association meetings, including Growing of Michigan’s Organic Future, the Michigan Organic Conference, Farmers' Market Manager Boot Camp, a Beekeeping program, and much more.

March 6-7, 2009
Morgantown, West Virginia

Speakers will present on topics to help grassland farmers improve productivity and profits in this challenging economy. Keynote speakers are oel McNair, editor and publisher of the magazine Graze, and Gerald Fry of Bovine Engineering and Consulting. Breakout sessions will address pasture management, carcass quality, and more, and a trade show runs throughout the event.

March 7, 2009
Dighton, Massachusetts

This one-day conference and resource fair offers workshops on farm energy, farm transfer, season extension, grassfed poultry and meats, and pest management.

March 7-8, 2009
Fairfield, Iowa

The Midwest Real Food Summit, organized by the Real Food Challenge, is a regional gathering of students, allies, and key members of the Just & Sustainable Food Movement that will build upon campus accomplishments from around the Midwest to catalyze regional communication and coalition building.

March 7, 2009
East Troy, Wisconsin

Discover the fascinating world of bees at this half-day workshop sponsored by the Michael Fields Agricultural Institute. Learn how to get started as a beekeeper with basic beekeeping equipment, and learn more about hive management skills, marketing your products and initial start–up costs.

March 7, 2009
Auburn, California

Sierra Nevada Small Farm Progress Days presents a Vineyard Field Day with workshops and appropriate small scale equipment demonstrations. Workshop topics include pruning, soil and irrigation management and pest management.

March 7, 2009
Normal, Alabama

The Alabama Cooperative Extension System’s Urban Affairs & New Nontraditional Programs unit will hold its Third Annual Small Ruminant Spring Symposium on “Sustainable Goat and Sheep Production.” Presenters include specialists from Alabama and Tennessee that will not only provide valuable information, but also will be there to answer questions.

March 8, 2009
East Troy, Wisconsin

Michael Fields Agricultural Institute offers an opportunity to learn about the possibilities for raising sheep and alpaca for fiber from two expert farmers. Presenters will share information about their farm infrastructures, economics, marketing and animal care. Take a visit to Earthcare Suri Alpacas LLC afterward to get a look at the animals they are raising and the products they sell.

March 8, 2009
New York, New York

Just Food’s annual Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) in NYC Conference will include workshops on agricultural policy issues, the link between food and culture, running a CSA, CSA best practices, preserving your CSA bounty and much more. Conference highlights include a discussion with New York State CSA farmer and MacArthur "Genius Award" Winner, Cheryl Rogowski; a panel discussion and Q & A with New York City regional CSA farmers; and a CSA Expo and Reception.

March 9, 2009
Lincoln, Nebraska

The one-day "From Recipe to Reality" seminar presented by the Food Processing Center at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln is the first step in developing a food business. It is specifically designed to provide entrepreneurs with an understanding of the key issues they will need to consider when starting a food business.

March 9-10, 2009
Ames, Iowa

This year the annual Iowa Water Conference looks at "Reducing runoff:
The agricultural and urban link to watershed improvement." The Iowa Water Conference is sponsored by the Iowa Water Center at Iowa State University, and organized in conjunction with the Iowa Stormwater Conference and Agriculture and Environment Conference. This is the first time that these conferences have joined efforts to advance urban and agricultural water issues through sustainable watershed management.

March 9, 2009
Knoxville, Nashville and Jackson, Tennesee

University of Tennessee Extension is presenting a ten-part workshop series that targets commercial producers and agriculture professionals interested in learning about organic crop production practices. Each workshop session is three hours and will be broadcast using ITV technology to three locations across the state.

March 9, 2009
Portland, Oregon

Presented by the Portland Chefs Collaborative, this opportunity for learning and networking will feature keynote speaker Brent Foster from the Oregon Department of Justice. In addition, the Farmer-Chef Connection will feature a Taste Pavilion where locally grown foods, both fresh and preserved, will be available for sampling.

March 10-12, 2009
Raymond, Mississippi

Participating in this program will be the best way to learn all about producing greenhouse tomatoes. Special topics of focus this year will be 1) new and sustainable heating systems for greenhouses, 2) season extension with high tunnels, and 3) a pest management workshop. Exhibitors from across the U.S. and Canada will be available to show you their products and discuss how to use them. All aspects of production will be thoroughly covered.

March 10, 2009
East Troy, Wisconsin

This one-day course offered by the Michael Fields Agricultural Institute will ease your transition into a certified organic operation with the guidance of an organic inspector, educator, and long time organic farmer. Learn the details of successful organic production as well as organic certification requirements. This course will help you develop the organic systems and organizational skills you will need to manage your certified organic farm.

March 10, 2009
Online

The Niche Meat Processor Assistance Network presents a webinar aimed at clearing up confusion about poultry processing exemptions. The webinar will offer both an FSIS and a state perspective on four different categories of exemption. Additionally two exempt processors will provide overviews of their operations. The webinar is set for 2:30 to 4 p.m. EST.

March 11, 2009
Everett, Washington

This workshop is part of a Wednesday evening series on raising livestock, designed for beginning small-scale producers. Learn what it takes to raise swine, poultry, and beef sustainably and, most importantly, profitably. At this event, find out how you can process your own poultry to maximize the quality of value added product for table or sale. Discover how to gauge how tough your birds are and how to keep processing them a manageable task.

March 11-13, 2009
Saratoga Springs, New York

Sustainable Farmers Network presents whole farm success stories from three experienced couples. The theme of the workshop will be on the methods used on each of these diversified farms that make them profitable and successful. Topics will focus on soil health, cover crops, rotations, marketing, and production relating to bed systems, weed control, cultivation, harvesting procedures, and managing employees, and much more. Presenters are Jean-Paul Courtens and Jody Bolluyt, Martin and Atina Diffley, and Mara and Spencer Welton.

March 12, 2009
Portland, Oregon

The Sustainable Food Industry Forum is an annual event that attracts more than 100 professionals from North America’s sustainable food industry. Hosted by Food Alliance, the Industry Forum is a key opportunity for business leaders to network and share their experiences in developing, supplying, sourcing, and marketing sustainable food products.

March 12, 2009
Mountain Grove, Missouri

Missouri State University is sponsoring this workshop on using solar-heated structures (i.e., a cold frame) to extend the traditional growing season of horticultural crops.

March 12, 2009
Mayville, New York

A focus on collaborating tourism experiences and supporting local
foods will highlight the 2nd "Enhancing Our Regional Flavor - A Tool for
Community and Economic Development Conference." The conference will be sponsored by the Concord Grape Belt Heritage Association and Cornell Cooperative Extension Chautauqua County. Organizers say this is a conference that should be of interest to agicultural and tourism businesses, public officials, local organizations and anyone interested in in the development of rural economies.

March 13, 2009
East Troy, Wisconsin

Michael Fields Agricultural Institute has assembled a panel of farmers for a morning workshop that will explore requirements such as payroll, insurance, compensation, housing, day to day structure, contracts, resources, job requirements, and other general managerial duties of having employees, volunteers and interns on the farm.

March 13, 2009
Winchester, Virginia

This forum will focus on innovative production, development of marketing skills and opportunities, and resources available to fund new projects. The conference is planned to provide farmers, landowners, rural business owners, local elected and appointed officials, and Extension educators, economic development and planning professionals an opportunity to see and hear industry leaders discuss innovative practices and methods of agricultural development. The forum will feature a series of presentations, with an emphasis on farming for high profitability by using innovative and sound business approaches particularly suited to the Mid-Atlantic region.

March 14, 2009
Unity, Maine

Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners presents a full day of presentations and discussions for home-scale and commercial growers, addressing varieties, fertility, harvesting and storage, and seed saving. Keynote speakers are Klaas & Mary-Howell Martens of Lakeview Organic Grain.

March 14, 2009
Sinsinawa, Wisconsin

This conference is designed for landowners in the Midwest. Concurrent sessions will provide participants with the knowledge and skills to manage woodlands using good stewardship principles. Sessions include selling carbon credits, marketing timber, Christmas trees as a small business, and many more.

March 14, 2009
Decatur, Illinois

Central Illinois Farm Beginnings program offers an afternoon workshop open to the public. Learn how to successfully start vegetables and flowers from seed, plugs, bare root or plant propagation. This workshop will include hands-on planting, transplanting and plant propagation, as well as practical plant practices and equipment the beginning farmer can utilize. Topics will include: Vegetable and Flower Production (variety selection, production equipment, production volume and scheduling, containers, soil mixes, seeding, plug and bare root and transplanting); Plant Propagation (plant selection and taking cuttings) and Sales. Participants will receive transplants to include in their farming operation.