2021 Regional Workshops
As the $55B organic market continues to grow, Iowa producers, landowners and businesses are looking for opportunities to participate in this movement. Access to technical expertise and resources to support those interested in organic transition or expansion is necessary for Iowa producers to help meet the growing consumer demand for organic products and practices.
The Iowa Organic Association (IOA) and regional partners will deliver a series of virtual “Growing Organic Expertise in Iowa” workshops to provide the information, tools and resources needed for agriculture service providers and consultants to support farmers interested in organic transition, diversification and production.
This three-hour virtual workshop will provide information from organic experts about the National Organic Program, organic certification and transition, organic standards and production practices and insight into current organic market trends and demands. The target audience for the workshop includes: NRCS, Extension, IDALS, FSA, SWCD, RC&D, County Conservation, crop insurance agents, farm lenders, farming organizations, farmers, agriculture educators and students, and others interested in learning more about organic opportunities.
PRESS RELEASEThough these workshops are virtual, we are still trying to keep a regional focus to encourage some networking among community members (i.e. field staff, farmers, consultants, etc.) and is why you will see cities tied to the dates. Anyone can attend any program; just note we are targeting folks in these areas to participate during those dates/times, if available. We welcome you to participate in the workshop when it best fits your schedule.
The times and regions of focus for the 2021 workshops are as follows:
- Tuesday, January 26th – 12-3pm - Sioux City, IA
- Tuesday, February 2nd – 12-3pm - Seymour, IA
- Tuesday, February 9th – 12-3pm - Hazleton, IA
- Tuesday, February 16th – 12-3pm - Kalona, IA
To view the Agenda and to Register, click on preferred date above or visit https://www.iowaorganic.org/calendar.
There is no cost to participate, however, you must RSVP at the link above to join these workshops. To register, visit https://www.iowaorganic.org/calendar or call 515-412-4802.
IOA’s “Growing Organic Expertise in Iowa” workshop training series is made possible with grant support from the Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education program (SARE).
2020 SUMMER FIELD DAY SCHEDULE
Live Roller-Crimper DEMO (2-part series) – June 2 **IOA SPONSOR
Watch Levi Lyle roll-crimp a cereal rye cover crop with a dual-purpose goal in mind: 1) terminate the cover crop without herbicide or tillage and 2) lay down the cover crop as a mulch for weed control. Levi is a partner on a project investigating reduced tillage in organic crop production systems. The project is headed by Dr. Kathleen Delate of Iowa State University. After a few weeks, we'll take another look at the field with Levi and he'll also demo an electric Weed Zapper.
Early Season Organic Weed Control – June 25 ** IOA PARTNER
Matt Miller will show video of various passes of tine harrows and rotary hoes through the field in June and then we'll take a live look at the field. He'll also go over why and when he uses particular pieces of equipment, as well as the adjustments he makes. Learn about a European tine harrow which Matt says is a more unique machine to Iowa farms.
Flame Weeding and Crop Rotation for Weed Control – June 30 **IOA SPONSOR
Learn how Noah Wendt and Caleb Akin uses a flame-weeder as one of many tools for weed management on their organic farm. We'll check out a field that was previously flame-weeded and Noah and Caleb will also show video from a few weeks prior of the flameweeder in action. They'll also discuss the importance of including a small-grain crop in the rotation for their weed management strategy.
Approaching Oats as a Cash Crop – July 1 **IOA PARTNER
Oats are becoming a hot commodity as more grocery shoppers reach for oat-based products -- but in the field we're still treating them like a second-class crop. This virtual field day will showcase the steps Scott Wedemeier has taken to step up oat production on his organic crop and livestock farm, including his participation in a cooperator trial for better oat variety selection.
Live Weed Zapper DEMO and Roller-Crimped Rye (part 2) – July 2 **IOA SPONSOR
Revisit Levi Lyle's roll-crimped cereal rye from June 2 to see how well the cover crop terminated and to watch him demo an electric Weed Zapper. Levi is a partner on a project investigating reduced tillage in organic crop production systems. The project is headed by Dr. Kathleen Delate of Iowa State University.
EARLY MORNING HARVEST FALL HARVEST OPEN HOUSE – SAT, NOV 23; 10 A.M. – 4:30 P.M.
The Iowa Organic Association (IOA) is partnering with Earl and Jeff Hafner at Early Morning Harvest for their annual Fall Harvest Open House in Panora, Iowa on Saturday, November 23. Jeff will give a presentation at 3 p.m. on “Overcoming Potential Soil Imbalance with Tissue Testing and Foliar Feeding.” Visitors are welcome to tour the farm, greenhouse, mill and on-farm store, attend a sewing demonstration and try many different food samples highlighting local products provided in the farm store between 10 and 4:30.
Location: 2425 Willow Ave, Panora, Iowa 50216
PRESS RELEASE
October 2019 Regional Workshops
As the organic market continues to grow, Iowa producers, landowners and businesses are looking for opportunities to participate in this movement. Access to technical expertise and resources to support those interested in organic transition or expansion is necessary for Iowa producers to help meet the growing consumer demand for organic products and practices.
The Iowa Organic Association (IOA) and regional partners have developed a program to provide the information, tools and resources needed for agriculture service providers and consultants to support farmers interested in organic transition, diversification and expansion.
This full-day workshop (9 a.m. - 4 p.m.) will provide information from organic experts and presented resources about the National Organic Program, organic certification and transition, organic standards and production practices and insight into current organic market trends and demands.
PRESS RELEASE
REGISTRATION - by 9/27/19
The dates and locations for the October 2019 workshops are as follows:
October 1 -- Northeast Iowa Community College 1625 HWY 150 South, Calmar
October 2 -- Indian Creek Nature Center 5300 Otis Rd SE, Cedar Rapids
October 3 -- Rock Island Depot 102 Chestnut St, Atlantic
October 4 -- Hamilton County Extension 311 Bank St, Webster City
To view the Agenda and to Register, click on preferred date above or visit https://www.iowaorganic.org/calendar.
There is a $20 fee to participate, and lunch will be included. For questions or more information, email [email protected]. Registrations must be received by Friday, September 27.
IOA’s “Growing Organic Expertise in Iowa” workshop training series is made possible with grant support from the Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education program (SARE).
2019 SUMMER ORGANIC FIELD DAYS SCHEDULE
Join the Iowa Organic Association for our 2019 Field Days!
The following field days, with experienced organic farmers representing diverse farming practices, will be offered by the Iowa Organic Association with support from the USDA's Risk Management Agency.
For more information or to RSVP, contact Kelli Hanson at: [email protected]
MAY 7: EXTEND YOUR GROWING SEASON AND YOUR INCOME IN AN ORGANIC GREENHOUSE
Ben Saunders with Wabi Sabi Farm uses high tunnels and climate-controlled systems inside his diverse 20 acre organic farm and greenhouse. Ben produces organic fruit, vegetables, herbs and transplants. He starts his own plants for the farm and sells a lot more at the Downtown Des Moines Farmer’s Market and at his on-site farm stand. Learn what's needed – from equipment and potting mix to controlling pests and keeping records – for an organic greenhouse.
Tuesday, May 7, 10 a.m. - noon
Wabi Sabi Farm; 10743 NW 142nd St, Granger 50109
FREE and open to the public
WABI SABI FARM is USDA Certified Organic by the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship (IDALS). No genetically modified crops are grown and no synthetic chemicals are sprayed. We plant cover crops on fallow ground for soil health, but will also amend this with compost on crop ground.
While being USDA Certified Organic by a third party certifier (IDALS), we also strive to grow with a cooperative attitude toward Nature and encourage wildlife on the farm. We place an emphasis on using more physical controls (bird-netting, re-usable weed fabric, row covers, Surround WSP, etc.) than organically approved herbicides and pesticides (although we do use the pesticides sparingly if needed) as a way to increase our beneficial insect populations and native ecosystems. http://www.wabisabi-farm.com/
MAY 18: ORGANIC PASTURE WALK AND BIRD WATCHING FIELD DAY IN McGREGOR
Saturday, May 18, 2019, 2-5 pm and 5:30-9 pm
Hosts: Phil Specht and Mary Damm; Prairie Quest Farm, 12082 Iris Avenue, McGregor, IA 52157
Grazing is for the birds! Join IOA and Northeast Iowa Bird Conservancy with hosts Phil Specht and Mary Damm in McGregor for an organic pasture walk and bird watching field day in the afternoon, followed by a potluck and fundraising concert in the evening.g
From 2-5 pm, Phil Specht, grazier, will discuss cattle grazing on his intensively managed pasture system and research on nesting Bobolinks. Paul Skrade, ornithologist and Assistant Professor of Biology at Upper Iowa University, and Jon Stravers, Driftless Area Bird Conservation researcher, will talk about grassland bird conservation and lead walks in the pastures and adjacent forest to see and hear Bobolinks and other grassland and forest birds. Mary Damm, prairie ecologist, will discuss CSP activities implemented on the farm for planting wildlife habitat and lead a walk through a 10-acre reconstructed prairie.
Following the pasture and bird walk, drive a short distance for a potluck at 5:30, bird conservation program at 6:30 and music by Big Blue Sky from 7-9 at the Driftless Area Wetlands Centre,509 US Hwy 18, Marquette, IA 52158. Proceeds from the fundraising concert will go to Northeast Iowa Bird Conservancy.
This important topic of managed cattle grazing for grassland bird nesting success will be the focus of the field day. Grassland birds (Bobolinks, Eastern and Western Meadowlarks, Grasshopper and Savannah Sparrows, and Dickcissels) declined by 61 to 93% between 1966-1991 in Illinois due to habitat loss, in part from the conversion of diversified farms with long crop rotations, pastures, and livestock to intensively managed farms of corn and soybeans. However, some grassland birds can successfully nest and raise young on rotationally grazed livestock farms. Bobolinks have nested on the pastures and hayfields of Prairie Quest Farm, a 120-acre organic, grass-based farm, for over a decade, and their nesting success has been researched for the past four years.
The Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP) offers a number of activities for working farms that promote livestock grazing for nesting grassland birds and for planting native grass, herbs, shrubs, and trees that provide additional habitat for the birds as well as for pollinating and beneficial insects.
Hosts Phil Specht and Mary Damm hope that guests will learn how an organic, grass-based farm is a working ecosystem and learn practical cattle grazing and pasture management techniques that are conducive for beef and milk production as well as habitat for the declining, but once more common, grassland birds. They would also like guests to learn how the CSP can financially aid in achieving farm management goals of food production, wildlife conservation, and habitat improvement efforts on a working farm.
Directions to Prairie Quest Farm:
From Monona: Drive east on Pleasant Ridge Road (County Road B45) for 6 miles. Turn right (south) on Iris Avenue and drive approximately 0.5 miles. The farm is on the left (east) side of the road.
From Marquette: Drive west on US Hwy 18 for approximately 0.5 miles. Turn right (north) on Pleasant Ridge Road (County Road B45) and drive 5 miles. Turn left (south) on Iris Avenue and drive approximately 0.5 miles. The farm is on the left (east) side of the road.
JULY 9: BENEFITS OF GOING ORGANIC AND POLICIES NEEDED TO TRANSITION TO A FAMILY FARM ORGANIC SYSTEM
Tuesday, July 9, 4 to 7 pm, Light meal provided - please RSVP
Patti and George Naylor
288 M Ave. Churdan, IA 50050
IOA members, George and Patti Naylor, will host this Organic Transition Field Day at their farm near Churdan, Iowa on Tuesday, July 9th from 4 to 7 p.m. The field day will feature additional partners who will also discuss the benefits of organic transition and the policies and resources needed to transition to a family farm organic system. . “Everybody needs to understand why agriculture is in a crisis, the benefits of going organic and the policies needed to transition to a family farm organic system,”
Field day attendees will tour this diverse, organic farm that goes beyond the corn-soybean rotation to see an orchard that will soon produce apples for hard cider; pollinator habitat planted through a Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) to buffer between organic and non-organic crops, and to provide habitat for pollinators and other wildlife; a small field that is planted in oats and pasture mix; a field of transition soybeans planted into rye that was rolled into a mulch to suppress weeds, to control soil erosion and for water filtration; and a field that was too wet to plant with a crop this spring.
RSVP: Please RSVP to Kelli Hanson at [email protected]. A light organic meal will be served after the discussions and walking farm tour.
DIRECTIONS: the Naylor farm is about 5 miles northeast of Churdan. Directions to the farm at 288 M Avenue, Churdan, Iowa:
From Jefferson, go north of Hwy 30 on Hwy 4 for 8 miles. When Hwy 4 curves west, continue north on Cty Rd P29. Go for 2 miles to 120th Street (gravel) and turn west. Go 1 mile and turn north on M Avenue for 1/4 mile. Big white house is on west side of road.
Coming from north, turn off Hwy 175 just east of Farnhamville and go south on P29. Go 6 miles on P29 to 120th Street. Turn west and go 1 mile. Turn north on M Avenue and go 1/4 mile to big white house on west side of road.
JULY 17: ORGANIC ROW CROP PRODUCTION AND MECHANICAL WEED CONTROL (PFI event/IOA sponsor)
Wednesday, July 17, 1 to 3 pm
Paul and Karen Mugge
6190 470th St., Sutherland, IA 51058
Paul Mugge will share his approach to successfully raising crops and managing weeds in an organic production system. Keys to success include crop rotations, mechanical cultivation and cover crops. This field day is the afternoon portion of a two-part field day the Mugges are hosting that is joined by a shared lunch. Attendees are invited to attend one or both field days. The first part (10 am to noon), will explore prairie and beneficial insect habitat on an organic farm. In addition to organic crops, the Mugges’ farm has a restored prairie, prairie strips, and a beetle bank installed in 2018 with Xerces Society. Lunch will be provided from noon to 1 p.m. Field day partner: UNI Center for Energy & Environmental Education.
DIRECTIONS: From Sutherland: Take IA Hwy 10 for 3 miles west (it becomes U.S. 59). The farm will be on the right (north) side of the road, just past Taft Avenue.
JULY 25: MARKETING AND DISTRIBUTION OPPORTUNITIES FOR ORGANIC VEGETABLES
Thursday July 25, 4 to 7 pm, Light meal provided
Mike Bollinger and Katie Prochaska, River Root Farm
1007 Locust Rd., Decorah, IA 52101
Mike and Katie began River Root Farm in 2009, but have been farming organically with mentors and partners since 2001 when they met while serving in the Peace Corp in West Africa. This experience provided an awareness about the value of food from a health and economic perspective, but also led to the pursuit of growing food using a production system good for our bodies and the land. Mike shares that “organic production provides many local benefits, and the organic label provides an assurance, a guarantee to our consumers of how their food was produced.”
Mike and Katie will discuss the farm’s history, their organic production practices and how they successfully market and distribute their products through food hubs and co-ops in northeast Iowa, Minnesota and Wisconsin. Teresa Wiemerslage, local foods field specialist from ISU Extension, will discuss the local food hub system and how she helps support River Root Farm and other local producers in the area.
RSVP: Please RSVP to Kelli Hanson at [email protected]. A light organic meal will be served after the discussions and walking farm tour.
DIRECTIONS: 1007 Locust Rd, Decorah, IA 52101. From downtown Decorah, head west on E Main to Washington, St; turn right onto N Mechanic St; turn left on W Water; turn right onto College Dr; after about a mile turn right onto Locust Rd.
AUGUST 7: TOUR THE AMERICAN NATURAL PROCESSORS FACILITY
Wednesday, August 7, 1 to 3 pm
Mark and Julie Schuett, American Natural Processors
1510 S 2nd St, Cherokee, IA 51012
In 2000, Mark and Julie Schuett started American Natural Processors, a facility that processed organic and non-GMO soybeans without the use of chemicals or preservatives into high quality soybean meal and edible vegetable oil. Today, they process a wide variety of organic grains and oil seeds including soybeans, canola, flax, hemp, pumpkin, sunflower and rice as well as complete organic livestock feeds. ANP has grown to be one of the largest organic ingredient processors in the U.S. with processing plants in Hartley, Cherokee, Galva and most recently Sioux City, Iowa. Tour their state-of-the-art facility in Cherokee.
AUGUST 14: ORGANIC DAIRY PRODUCTION AT PRAIRIE STAR FARM
Wednesday, August 14, 2 to 5 pm
John Palmer, Prairie Star Dairy
835 McCabe Drive, Waukon IA 52172
Do you know what it takes to produce organic milk? This is your opportunity to peek inside the barn and stroll through the pasture, while learning some of the best practices of how to operate an organic dairy farm from John and Meghan Palmer. They milk 120 cattle and sell the milk to Organic Valley Cooperative, have 400 acres of crops for livestock feed and manage 200 acres of pasture.
DIRECTIONS: From Waukon: Head south on Rossville Rd/IA-76 S/IA-9 W for 1.9 miles, turn right onto IA-9 W and head west for .8 miles. Turn left onto 9th St. SW/N Fork Hollow Rd and drive 1.5 miles, then turn left onto McCabe Drive. The farm is on the right.
AUGUST 16: CULTIVATING FARM RESILIENCE FOR A CHANGING CLIMATE (PFI event/IOA sponsor)
Friday, August 16, 1 to 4:30 pm
Rosmann Family Farms
1222 Ironwood Road, Harlan, IA 51537
The Rosmanns use nature-based climate resilience practices on their diversified, organic livestock and crop farm. They will highlight how they work small grains into their field crop rotations and use cover crops for rotational grazing. They will also discuss their farrow-to-finish swine operation. Invited speakers for this field day, Art Cullen, Dr. Richard Cruse and Laura Lengnick, will touch on resilient farm planning, water quality and cultivating community resilience. Rosmann Family Farms grows and markets diverse crops and livestock on 700 certified organic acres. The farm consists of cattle, hogs, egg layers and a range of crops, including popcorn, soybeans, corn, small grains, hay and pasture, annual forages and cover crops. Maria operates the farm store, Farm Sweet Farm. Ellen and Daniel operate FarmTable Delivery and a restaurant, Milk & Honey in Harlan, featuring local foods. A meal will follow the field day, with food provided by Milk & Honey and Rosmann Family Farms.
DIRECTIONS: From Harlan: Go 2 miles west on IA Hwy 44 to Ironwood Road and turn right (north). Go 2.25 miles until you see the farm on the left (west) side of the road. Note: GPS or Google Maps may direct you to minimum-maintenance roads, which may be impassable during rainy conditions.
August 20 – NEELY-KINYON ORGANIC FIELD DAY (IOA sponsor)
Tuesday, August 20, 4-7 pm
Neely-Kinyon Researrch Farm
2557 Norfolk Ave., Greenfield, IA.
Sponsors: PFI, USDA-ARS, Iowa Organic Association
The Iowa State University Organic Ag Program (OAP) will highlight the Long-Term Agroecological Research (LTAR) experiment, one of the longest-running comparisons of organic and conventional grain production in the U.S.; the Organic No-Till experiment; and the organic corn breeding trial. A light meal will be served. Contact Kathleen Delate at [email protected] or 515-294-7069 for more information.
DIRECTIONS: Go 2 miles south of Greenfield on Highway 25, 1 mile east and a half mile north.