MP3 $1.25
2008 Organic Farming Conference La Crosse, WI
Soil Health and Biodiversity in Practice: Harnessing Biology, Ecology, and Resiliency on the Farm
A healthy farm reflects a diverse ecosystem as complex as any rainforest. Join veteran grower Atina Diffley of Minnesota’s Gardens of Eagan to develop an understanding of biodiversity and how this complex living system works. Learn how to promote a bio-diverse system that includes all forms of life - from bacteria to fungi to trees and grasses - and a range of natural processes
Hay First, then Corn: An Organic Farming Plan that Makes Your Farming Life Easier, More Profitable, and More Successful
Organic production systems centered around hay with corn where it makes sense sets the stage for better quality forages, spreads out the work load, and make corn production - including weed control - a breeze. Midwestern Bio-Ag president, Gary Zimmer, shares the details of the system as they have used it at the family’s Otter Creek Organic Farm.
Weed Biology
Weed biology provides the key to a low-input weed management strategy. University of Wisconsin weed scientist, Jed Colquhoun, joins Kathleen Delate and Matt Liebman of Iowa State University for this informative look at research results and applied weed ecology, and the implications for weed management in the context of favoring the crop over weeds in organic production systems.
Soil Remineralization
Natural forces and humankind both demineralize soil over time, with deleterious effects on crops and civilizations. Join SeaAgri’s Bob Cain for an in-depth look at the Earth’s soils and cycles of fertility, and solutions for the remineralization of our agricultural soil
Farm Scale Composting: Production and Use
In an organic farming system, the soil is alive, and this life needs to be nurtured and fed. Join veteran Rodale Institute farm manager, Jeff Moyer, for a discussion about how you can turn manure, municipal yard material, or food waste into compost. This discussion will take place in the context of farm scale operations, including equipment and tools for daily management.
From Soil Problems to Progress: Advanced Cover Crop Systems Planning
University of Michigan soils and cropping system ecologist, Sieg Snapp, and organic vegetable and crop outreach specialist, Vicki Morrone, will discuss cover crop combinations for Upper Midwest agricultural systems, including a hands-on exercise with living plants to evaluate their impact on soil tilth and organic nitrogen management.
No Till, Ridge Till and Zone Till Panel
Ridge tillage, zone tillage and no till systems are all methods being used by organic farmers to control weeds, control erosion, and contribute to organic matter buildup in their row crop fields. Join University of Iowa researcher, Kathleen Delate, ridge-till farmer, Daniel Rosmann, and no-till experimenter, Tom Miller, as they compare and contrast the techniques, tools, and results in their organic row cropping operations.
Effective Weed Management Strategies for Organic Farming
Successful weed management without herbicides requires more than better cultivation equipment. Join Henry A. Wallace Chair for Sustainable Agriculture, Matt Liebman, for a look at how to weave multiple physical, biological, and cultural tactics together with basic ecological principles to achieve lower cost weed suppression.
Monitoring Soil Quality
Soils are dynamic communities that are the products of a variety of factors, some intrinsic, and some the result of our management. Join Mark Kopecky of the University of Wisconsin Extension Soil Quality Team for a nuts and bolts look at how to understand and monitor the characteristics of soil characteristics such as infiltration, compaction, structure, stability, and biological activity.
Other Conferences
The Art of Cover Cropping: Building Soil & Biodiversity
Rodale Institute research agronomist Dave Wilson will explore the benefits of using cover crops in a well-crafted crop rotation. Learn the how, when, and where of certain species in particular rotations including establishment and control methods, as well as times and methods for weed control and soil quality improvement.
The Basics of Transitioning to Organic Row Crops
Much of the hesitancy and trauma of transitioning to organic crop production centers around achieving acceptable weed management and soil nutrient levels to produce respectable and viable yields. 2005 MOSES organic Farmer of the Year Carmen Fernholz will share the secrets he has accumulated over 30 years of farming.
Rainbow Soil: Managing for the Ultimate in Soil Quality
Soil mesofauna - bigger than bacteria but smaller than earthworms - play an essential role in cycling nutrients and dispersing bacteria and fungi in soil and plants. Join University of Texas soil ecologist Patricia Richardsonto learn about these essential organisms - including video footage of mesofauna in action - and how to manage for soil life that will contribute to your “pot of gold.”
Lives Weeds Lead: Secrets They Don’t Want You to Know
In the final analysis, will weeds win? University of Minnesota weed scientist Roger Becker will help you understand the biological and ecological reasons that weeds have survived centuries of attempts by people to control them, and how you can use that knowledge to improve the efficiency and efficacy of weed control strategies on your farm.
Accelerating the System
We all want loose crumbly soil with lots of earthworms and other soil life, high levels of minerals, and fast-growing, beautiful, healthy crops with few or no insects, diseases, or weeds. Midwestern Bio-Ag president and organic farmer Gary Zimmer will share his outline for making rapid changes to your soil quality, getting to high-performing land faster.
Originating & Maintaining a Sustainable Forest
Woodlands help preserve pure water, prevent floods, and sequester carbon; they also provide enjoyment for the woodsman. Join part-time forester and author of Common Sense Forestry Hans Morsbach for an informative session about planting and maintaining your own woodlands, including site preparation, tree selection, tree care, and economics.
The AgroEcology Toolbox
AgroEcology is a discipline that uses ecological theory to study, design, manage, and evaluate agricultural systems. Hear from the team that founded and manages the University of Georgia’s AgroEcology Laboratory, a 100-acre biodynamic farm, education, and research center in Athens, GA. Carl Jordan is director and senior research scientist and an adjunct faculty member in the Department of Botany. Jason Mann is co-founder, biodynamic farmer, AgroEcological researcher, and community organizer. Krista Jacobsen is a PhD candidate conducting research focused on how organic farming techniques can restore degraded soils, with emphasis on changes in soil organic matter in the short and long term.
Success with Cover Crops Using Rotations and Field Planning
Learn how to use rotations and field planning to achieve optimum growing conditions without sacrificing production space. Daniel Parson manages Gaia Gardens, an urban CSA and market garden in Atlanta. He earned a Master’s degree in Plant and Environmental Science from Clemson University.