Registration is now open for this 5-in-1 event that combines the MOSES Organic Farming Conference, GrassWorks Grazing Conference, OGRAIN Organic Grain Conference, the Iowa Organic Association’s Midwest Organic Pork Conference, and Organic Vegetable Production Conference into one virtual conference experience with more than 60 workshops and opportunities to connect through roundtables, meet-ups, and socials. The conference includes a virtual exhibit space featuring suppliers, buyers, certifiers, consultants, and more.
The virtual conference takes place Feb. 22-27, 2021. Admission is $125, with a $25 discount through December. Scholarships for farmers are available. This team approach gives you access to expertise across a broad range of organic and sustainable farming systems without having to attend half a dozen conferences!
All the details are on the Growing Stronger website: https://mosesorganic.org/conference/
2021 MIDWEST ORGANIC PORK CONFERENCE: Despite the 2020 Midwest Organic Pork Conference setback, we are excited to share content from last year’s conference as part of the 2021 Growing Stronger Collaborative Conference.
Organic Pork Topics:
- Workshop: Lessons Learned about Parasites in Pastured Pigs, Diane DeWitt, University of MN
- Workshop: Becoming an Organic Processor, Ty Gustafson, Story City Locker
- Workshop: Economics for the new and transitioning organic pork producer, Dave Stender, ISU
- Workshop: Hazelnut Finished Pork in the Upper Midwest, Pete Lammer, University of Wisconsin-Platteville
- Workshop: Profitable Production Flow for the Organic and Pasture Based Pork Producer, Jude Becker, Becker Lane Organic
- Roundtable: The 10 Alternative Veterinary Tools, Dr. Paul Dettlof
Organic Broadcaster (Nov/Dec 2020): Demand for organic pork creates opportunity for producers plus processors, by Roz Lehman
It wasn’t that long ago when livestock roamed the landscape and rural communities thrived on a local producer-to-consumer food system. We don’t see pig huts or herds of grazing cows along our Midwest highways much anymore, but change is on the horizon. The demand for organic meat is growing, and the U.S. organic livestock sector needs to boost production and infrastructure to meet that demand.
… Currently, the U.S. market for organic pork is pushing American farmers to expand production and transition to organic hog production. Iowa and Wisconsin are the top two states for organic pork, placing Midwest farmers in a prime position to meet consumer demand. The organic market continues to provide consistent and reliable returns for organic products, and we know consumers are willing to pay higher prices for organic food. Likewise, adding livestock to a crop production system can prove profitable by diversifying income streams and utilizing farm resources for feed and land management. The on-farm environmental and regenerative benefits include improved soil and water from a range of practices such as varying crop rotations, grazing, and holistic land and manure management methods. Full Article