Calendar of Events

February 10, 2010
Madison, Wisconsin

The Profitability and Environmental Sustainability in the Dairy Industry Conference is a one-day event hosted by the Madison, Wisconsin-based Dairy Business Innovation Center as a part of ACEEE's 2010 Forum on Energy Efficiency in Agriculture. Attend this event to learn about how you can institute more environmentally sustainable practices on your farm or in your processing plant, and achieve greater profitability by doing so. Also hear about what others in the industry are doing around the country to improve energy efficiency, enhance sustainability and help reduce dairy's greenhouse gases.

February 10, 2010
Plymouth, New Hampshire

Presentations include High Tunnels and Other Season Extenders, Winter Production, Farm Planning and Evaluating Profitability, and Organic Management of Late Blight and Other Diseases. Also featured: a panel discussion on funding opportunities for farmers and an overview of crop and revenue insurance options.

February 11-13, 2010
Minneapolis, Minnesota

This conference will feature sessions on grape production and management, various aspects of wine making, and a trade show.

February 11, 2010
Denver, Colorado

This is a symposium at Working Landscapes... Providing for the Future, the 2010 annual conference of the Society for Range Management in Denver, Colorado. Ranchers Dale Lasater, Kit Pharo, Dennis Moroney, Meg Cattell, Richard Parry, George Whitten and Julie Sullivan will discuss how they produce grassfed and grass-finished livestock with excellent grazing management on ranches that are ecologically, economically, and socially sustainable.

February 12-14, 2010
Harlemville, New York

Do you have an apprenticeship program on your farm? Are you thinking about developing one? Join us for a weekend workshop to explore the art of teaching on the farm.

February 12-13, 2010
Albany, Georgia

The Federation of Southern Cooperatives/Land Assistance Fund (Federation) will hold it's 27th annual Small Farmers Conference, Marketing and Trade Show. Hosting more than 300 farmers, landowners and supporters from across the south, the conference objective is to provide information on USDA programs, marketing, technical assistance, legal risk management issues, insurance, conservation and a variety of other agriculture issues that impact the survival of small farmers.

February 13-15, 2010
Burlington, Vermont

Celebrating the Heart of Organic, will explore how local and organic agriculture provide a response to the national “Agenda for Change;” how climate challenges, inequities in food access, and increased demand for food grown closer to home are being addressed by innovative farmers, gardeners, and communities throughout Vermont.

February 13-14, 2010
Granville, Ohio

The conference will have a full offering of informative, hands-on, educational workshops, exhibitors, networking opportunities, and dynamic keynote speakers - Joel Salatin and Ann Cooper.

February 15-17, 2010
Napa, California

This workshop utilizes 100 actual soil tests taken for various grape-growing areas of the world, with emphasis on winegrape soils of the U.S. and in particular, soils from the west coast. The basic foundation for determining each nutrient required for achieving excellent soil fertility is provided as a specific formula. Each formula is explained in the context of the subjects covered, and is included as a handout in participant's notebooks, along with copies of all the soil tests used for the course.

February 15-17, 2010
Lake Ozark, Missouri

The Missouri Agritourism Conference and the 30th Annual Small Fruit and Vegetable Conferences have joined together! The conference will feature diversified topics, dynamic speakers, two choices for the bus tour, an expanded Trade Show, and a central location.

February 2, 9, & 16, 2010
Hart, Benton Harbor, & Detroit, Michigan

An advanced workshop series on Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) and Good Handling Practices (GHP) is reaching out to Michigan produce growers trying to tackle food safety certification, which is being required by regional grocery stores and wholesale distributors looking to source local products.

February 16, 2010
Corvallis, Oregon

This is a must for farmers and those who work with farmers who want to learn to identify, propagate and use native woody plants to enhance populations of beneficial insects and native pollinators on the farm.

February 16, 2010
Webinar

Tom Wahl will overview the potential for various high value tree crops suitable for Iowa’s climate, including cultural practices, production, prices, markets, pests and diseases. Tree fruits to discuss include chestnut, persimmon, heartnut, paw paw, and more.

February 17, 2010
Minneapolis, Minnesota

This session will cover:
• SPIN farming methods for growing,
• tools & equipment,
• marketing strategies, and
• case studies of urban farmers.

February 17-19, 2010
Tuskegee, Alabama

The conference aims to share up-to-date information relevant to small-scale farmers and landowners involved in production of traditional and alternative agricultural products.

February 17, 2010
Wooster, Ohio

"Futuring the Dairy Farm Business: In, Out, Moving Ahead" will provide the tools producers need to evaluate their current business position and make informed and effective decisions to meet the farm's short and long-term objectives.

February 18-20, 2010
Wisconsin Rapids, Wisconsin

Join people from around the Midwest to learn how better pasture management can result in both healthier prots and a healthier planet. The conference, organized by GrassWorks, Inc., is a key event for grass-based farmers or “graziers” of all species and at all levels. We bring in dozens of speakers—leading authors, successful farmers, researchers—to cover all facets of grazing. Hear from the people who are on the cutting edge of grazing and find out why grass-based farming is good for the environment, good for consumers and good for rural communities.

February 18, 2010
Auburn, Massachusetts

The theme of the conference is "Energizing the Rural Landscape—Renewable Power and Energy Efficiency Opportunities for Our Farms, Homes, and Communities." Topics will include renewable energy and funding for energy projects.

February 18-19, 2010
Arlington, Virginia

Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack will deliver the keynote address. A panel of distinguished speakers has been invited to discuss: Sustainability, Stakeholders & Customers: Achieving a Healthier & Secure Future.

February 19-20, 2010
Athens, Georgia

The Georgia Organics annual conference is Georgia’s largest event focused on local and sustainable foods and farms. “Reclaiming Agriculture” will engage the energy of the Athens good food community, especially focusing on the students, faculty and farms of UGA and the robust cultural scene of the city through farm tours, expert speakers, and in-depth workshops on sustainable food and farms.

February 19-20, 2010
St. Paul, Minnesota

The conference focuses on being as relevant as possible for farmers. Farmers are involved in the planning, presentations, participation and evaluation of the conference. The conference is free to farmers and this is only possible with the generous support from sponsor partnerships.

February 19-20, 2010
Albuquerque, New Mexico

The Conference will feature over 30 sessions on crops, livestock, weed and pest management, market gardening, and farm support. Sessions are taught by experienced organic producers and experts in the field.

February 19- April 3, 2010
Cincinnati, Ohio

The Permaculture Design Certification (PDC) is a 72 hour certification that empowers the student to design sustainable systems and sites that fulfill human needs while working with the laws of nature. It has a strong focus in ecology, design, food production, natural building, water management, politics, economics, & much more.

February 19-20, 2010
Danville, Virginia

The 2010 Virginia Biological Farming Conference will provide two days of educational presentations concerning ecological agriculture.

February 20, 2010
Northfield, Minnesota

Mark your calendars for the Sustainable Farming Association of Minnesota's 19th Annual Conference on Saturday, February 20, 2010. The event is being held at St. Olaf College in Northfield, MN.

February 20, 2010
East Troy, Wisconsin

Share our experiences in starting a pork Community Supported Agriculture program. We discuss the overall structure of our pork CSA program, how we market it and some of the questions that have come up. We also talk about communications with CSA members, how we raise our pigs and some of the challenges we had in our first season.

February 20, 2010
Chico, California

The 19th Annual California State University, Chico (Chico State) Beef Day and Trade Show will be held Saturday, Feb. 20, at the Chico State Farm. This year's featured speakers will be Fred Provenza, Ph.D., an animal behavior and management expert from the College of Natural Resources at Utah State University as well as Frank Mitloehner, Ph.D., an air quality specialist at the University of California, Davis, who will talk about his research on livestock contribution to climate change.

February 13, 14, 20, & 21, 2010
Stevens Point, Wisconsin

Two weekend course taught by experienced, professional, local farmers that covers all basic skills and
techniques to growing local food. The course emphasizes market garden or CSA scale techniques but can
apply to home gardens.