Midwest Organic Pork Conference

OVERVIEW
The Midwest Organic Pork Conference is seeking proposals from presenters on selected topics outlined below. 

Dates of Conference: March 8-9, 2019
Location: Waterloo, Iowa
Proposal Deadline: October 30, 2018 and presenters will be notified no later than November 15, 2018

The 2019 Midwest Organic Pork Conference is the first conference ever organized in the United States dedicated to presenting the best resources and information available to help expand opportunities for organic and natural pork production and distribution.  The conference will address a range of topics that include the background and benefits of organic hog production, information for transition, expansion or improving organic and pasture-raised hog production, systems for maintaining animal health and pest management, and methods for economic viability and success within an organic hog production system. The conference is being hosted by the Iowa Organic Association with support from the USDA’s National Institute of Food and Agricluture Organic Agriculture Research and Extension Initiative (OREI) grant program.

The Midwest Organic Pork Conference will bring together those conducting research (academic and non-academic), expert organic and niche hog farmers, industry experts and others to share current organic hog research and first-hand experience with new and advanced organic farmers from across the Midwest in March 2019. This conference will support further academic interest and farmer-researcher interest in identifying challenges in organic hog production and new research opportunities to help solve those challenges.

AUDIENCE
A mix of those with advanced experience in organic hog production along with those just entering the industry or with an interest in knowing more about organic hog production.  

CONFERENCE THEMES
We will organize our programming under the following themes:

• Feed & Nutrition
• Heard Health
• Economics of Organic Farming
• Marketing
• Transitioning from Conventional/Niche to Organic
• Soil Health/Genetics/Housing

PRESENTATION FORMATS
General Keynote: 1.5 hours
Seeking inspirational, high level lectures with Q & As (topics might include “state-of-the-industry,” marketing to consumers, etc.)

Workshop Intensive: 2-3 hours
The half-day programs should take an in-depth look at a specific topic (topic suggestions include parasite management or business models for new or expanding farmers). Tracks can include one or multiple presenters; however, we prefer to have no more than three. The proposal will require a draft agenda

Interactive Workshop: 1 - 2 hours
Hands-on sessions that provide attendees with practical solutions that they can immediately take back to their organization and implement.

Single Presenter/Panel Presentation  1.5 hours
This will include breakout sessionswhich allow time either to present research, provide an overview of a broad topic, or a focus on a very narrow subject. These include lectures, panel discussions, and facilitated group work. For panel discussions, we prefer to limit it to three presenters plus a moderator.

Presentations including the following will be given priority consideration

Innovative subject matter

• Expertise and experience of presenter(s)
• Topic relevance & timeliness to the Industry
• Clear and well-defined message and description
• Farmer case studies, examples and best practices (challenges, solutions, and metrics)
• Industry research & statistics
• Key learning objectives and take away value for farmers – What is at stake? Why should attendees care about the message?
• Colorful and innovative approach to presentation structure
• Supporting documents such as past presentations, published white paper and/or articles on a similar subject matter

Service Providers/Vendors
Service providers or vendors interested in presenting are highly encouraged and when relevant required to include farmer co-presenters in their proposal submission. We give preference to submissions that include the farmer perspective and successful case studies. We ask that direct marketing of a service or product be conducted as an exhibitor.

Presentation Summary
Presenters wishing to do so are asked to submit a 1 to 2-page summary for inclusion in a final digital conference packet. Those not selected to present may still be asked to provide a conference packet summary if interested.

CONFERENCE FEES AND ACCOMODATIONS
As a non-profit, limited funding is available to compensate speakers.  We are happy to provide complimentary registration for the entire conference. Presenters traveling more than 100 miles will be given mileage.  Please outline any compensation requests in the proposal form.

Click here to submit your application!