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Ag Policy, Consumers, Trends
2008 Organic Farming Conference La Crosse, WI
Where in Academia to Learn about Organic Agriculture
Have you wondered which colleges and universities are offering programs and majors in sustainable agriculture? Join Juliet Tomkins, an Adjunct Professor at University of Wisconsin-River Falls, along with other panelists to discuss various institutions’ current and planned sustainable agriculture programs and majors.
2007 Farm Bill Update: Victories for Sustainable and Organic Agriculture and a Recap of Successful Grassroots Involvement
Come learn about the 2007 farm bill and the victories for sustainable agriculture. Center for Rural Affairs’ Traci Bruckner, Land Stewardship Project’s Adam Warthesen, and the Sustainable Agriculture Coalition’s Aimee Witteman will provide an overview of the sustainable and organic agriculture programs which survived the farm bill debate, as well as the necessary grassroots action to move forward.
Telling the Story of Sustainable Agriculture
The men and women of the sustainable ag movement need to write their stories. Join author and former Chicago Tribune columnist, Robert Wolf, for the presentation of an orally-oriented method of group writing that is easily adapted to the teacherless class.
China’s Agricultural Past, Present and Future
Roger Blobaum is a MOSES board member who recently completed his 11th agricultural visit to China and will present a special illustrated China program Friday evening. The program will show Chinese agriculture as it was practiced for 4,000 years. Roger will report on his participation in an Asia Pacific organic seminar in Beijing and his discussions with government officials regulating China’s organic food export sector. It will examine government-funded initiatives in China, South Korea, Indonesia, and the Philippines which are expected to substantially increase organic exports to the U.S. And this presentation will suggest what organic farmers in the U.S. may be able to do about it.
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National Organic Action Plan: What We’ve Learned and Where We’re Going
In 2006, a coalition of organic activists began a national dialogue process listening to farmers and consumers around the country about their visions for organic in the next decades. While they’re not done listening yet, the National Organic Coalition’s Liana Hoodes and the Rural Advancement Foundation International’s Michael Sligh have some preliminary results to share, leading up to increased participation at a National Summit in 2009 to develop a National Organic Action Plan
Government Programs: Opportunities for Organic Farmers and Ranchers
Traci Bruckner of the Center for Rural Affairs will give detailed information on farm bill programs that support sustainable agriculture and beginning farmers and ranchers, including details about how to apply for programs as well as program contacts.
Biotech v. U.S. Farmer: the Tide Is Turning
As the biotech industry pushes more genetically-modified crops into the market, farmer risk and resistance has grown. Genetic contamination and patent infringement lawsuits threaten farmers, yet new legal victories spell the beginning of the end for GMOs. Join the Center for Food Safety’s Andrew Kimbrell and Kevin Zelig Golden for a look at recent legal victories stopping GE crops, new scientific roadblocks, and the growing resistance to GMOs.
Local Food Systems Movement
Throughout the Upper Midwest, local food movements are gaining momentum and offering the opportunity for communities to support sustainable and organic farmers. Join the Minnesota Food Association’s Teresa Cuperus, Drake University Agricultural Law Center’s Matt Russell, and the Northwest Wisconsin Regional Food Network’s Tracey Mofle for a look at the opportunities and challenges for the development of a vibrant system of local food production and distribution.
Is Organic Becoming What We Hoped It Would Be An Alternative To?
The mainstreaming of organic, including new initiatives by Wal-Mart and other conventional retailers, processors and manufacturers, is creating concern and anxiety in the organic community. Join longtime organic activists Roger Blobaum and Liana Hoodesfor an exploration of the impact of these changes and their effect on consumer perception of the organic brand.
Educating Georgians in Sustainable Agriculture part 1
If you’re involved in training students, Master Gardeners, or other non-professionals in gardening or agriculture, come to this workshop to learn about the new curriculum developed by Georgia Organics with the support of a SARE (Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education) grant. The morning’s topics will include an overview of the entire curriculum and a general discussion of the issues surrounding organic and sustainable agriculture. If you’ve been wondering what’s behind all the media coverage of organics, this is the workshop for you. Presented by Lynn Pugh, Curriculum Project Coordinator with Georgia Organics. Lynn owns Cane Creek Farm, a CSA/ market farm, and is a former science teacher with a specialist degree in Science Curriculum.
Educating Georgians in Sustainable Agriculture part 2
Finding Food in Farm Country
The mainstream farm and food economy drains health and wealth from our communities. In this follow-up to his keynote address, Ken Meter will lead a discussion on ways to turn these trends around.
Organic Agriculture as an Economic Development Tool
Support and promotion of small organic family farms is not only a reasonable objective of economic development, it is a necessity for the creation of healthy rural communities. Join Woodbury County, Iowa, Director of Rural Economic Development Rob Marqusee for a look at how rural economic dynamics, including governmental policies, can be reshaped to support growth of small local farms.
Genetics: The More We Learn, the Less We Can Predict
The “one gene, one enzyme” model of modern genetics has developed to encompass a genetic “ecosystem” with one gene producing many types of molecules, genes responding to other genes, and multiple genomes in an organism. Join geneticist and biologist Dick Richardson for an in-depth look at genetics and the impact this has on the current genetic engineering industry.
Information Resources for Organic Farmers
Organic farming is knowledge farming, so organic farmers need to know where to turn for information. Join the Midwest Organic and Sustainable Education Service’s Harriet Behar and the National Center for Appropriate Technology’s George Kuepper for a look at the information resources available to organic farmers and how you can make the most of them.