Fresh greens are sold by Grinnell Heritage Farm, a certified organic farm, at the Downtown Farmers Market in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. The annual Iowa Organic Conference is scheduled for Nov. 13 to 14, 2016, in Iowa City. (photo/Cindy Hadish)
The annual Iowa Organic Conference is coming up Nov. 13 to 14, 2016, in Iowa City, with early registration ending Monday, Nov. 7.
Learn more about the conference from Iowa State University Extension & Outreach:
There is still time to register for the 16th Annual Iowa Organic Conference that will be held on Nov. 13-14 on the University of Iowa (UI) campus in Iowa City, as a joint effort between Iowa State University and the UI Office of Sustainability. At this year’s conference there will be Farmer-Mentor Round-Tables, which will offer farmers interested in transitioning to organic, or with specific organic questions, to meet one-on-one with organic farmer and organic certification experts. Expert advice on organic Grain Crops, Vegetable Production, Fruit Cultivation, and How to Get Certified will be available on Sunday, November 13, from 2 to 5 PM.
The Farmer-Mentor Round-Tables and a keynote address by Dr. Caroline Halde of Laval University, speaking on “What it Takes to Be a Successful Local Food Entrepreneur” will kick off the conference on Sunday, Nov. 13, from 2 to 5 PM, in the UI Memorial Union. Monday’s sessions start at 8 AM with the keynote speaker, Fred Iutzi, of The Land Institute, encouraging everyone to look at the benefits of perennial plants for their farms/landscapes to help increase soil quality and biodiversity: https://landinstitute.org
The conference lunch on Monday afternoon highlights local and organic produce, meats, and dairy products assembled into a gourmet meal by UI award-winning Executive Chef, Barry Greenberg, and his team.
Over 50 exhibitors, ranging from organic seed sales, to local food system non-profits, to government offices working with transitioning and certified organic farmers, will be on site all day Monday to meet with producers. Producers and experts from across the country will share tips for transitioning into organic production, weed management, livestock production, and methods to enhance your organic operations.
Conference information is available online at: https://sustainability.uiowa.edu/2016-iowa-organic-conference/
with the link to registration at: www.signmeup.com/site/online-event-registration/116550
For additional conference information and directions to the conference, visit the webpage or contact Kathleen Delate at kdelate@iastate.edu or 515-294-7069.
Conference partners include Iowa State University Extension & Outreach, Leopold Center for Sustainable Agriculture, New Pioneer Co-op, Organic Valley and Practical Farmers of Iowa.
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