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Upcoming Educational Opportunities:

  • Anytime:
    • SARE 2018 Conference: Our Farms, Our Future.  All conference materials available as video, podcasts, and posters.
    • ATTRA Tutorials – self-guided and comprehensive multi-lesson tutorials in Scaling Up for Regional Markets, Pest Management, Farm Business Planning & Marketing for Beginnners, and Getting Started in Farming.
    • USDA Science & Technology Training Library – contains hundreds of archived webinars on Bioenergy, Conservation, Forestry, and Sustainable Forests.  Lists of upcoming webinars are also available on the site.
    • Farmer-to-Farmer Podcast with Chris Blanchard.  "Chris is a veteran farmer and educator who draws on over 25 years of experience to get at the big ideas and practical details that go into making a farm work.  Whether his guests are discussing employment philosophy or the best techniques for cultivating carrots, his down-to-earth conversations with experienced farmers - and the occasional non-farmer - will be time well spent."
    • Summaries of presentations at the 2016 Organic Agriculture Research Symposium are now available online at http://eorganic.info/node/16778. Many of the workshops and keynote presentations were recorded live and may be viewed via the eOrganic YouTube channel.
    • Recorded presentations and associated materials from the Bionutrient Association's Soil & Nutrition Conferences over the past several years.  Too many well-known names to list, connecting the dots between healthy soils, healthy people, and a healthy planet.
    • Videos and presentations from the 2017 National Conference on Cover Crops and Soil Health sessions are now available.

Seed Commons & Ownership: A Listening Session on Intellectual Property Rights – Nov 19 - Jan 19

Organic Seed Alliance (OSA), Vermont Law School's Center for Agriculture and Food Systems, and the National Center for Appropriate Technology (NCAT) will host a listening session to hear from farmers, seed growers, seed companies, plant breeders, and other food and farming stakeholders about issues they face with intellectual property rights (IPR) on seed. IPR decisions affect all growers, regardless of how they farm or garden (organic or otherwise) and have very real ethical and cultural implications for community seed systems. Listening session hosts will invite participants to answer the following questions: How does IPR impact your farming operation, gardening pursuits, and plant breeding or research? What questions do you have about IPR, and what resources do you need? What resources do you already have? Are there opportunities for improving how IPR is used in the seed system? Input gathered will directly inform future educational events and policy recommendations in 2021.

Register for the first session on Nov 19, 2020 12:00 PM

Greenhouse Online Courses — Dec 1 - Feb 28

These non-credit courses in the series are pre-recorded and registrants have three months to complete the courses: Dec. 1, 2020, through Feb. 28, 2021. Students in the course will take a pre-test and a final exam to gauge their learning on the topics. Registrants also can complete the optional self-assessment quizzes to engage with the material throughout the course. Each course is $129.

There are three scholarships for each of the courses for those interested but do not currently have the financial means to take it. The cost of the course will be reduced to $39.99 for scholarship winners. More information and registration can be found here. Registration for all courses ends Dec. 11, 2020.

High Tunnel Conference — Dec 1, 8 and 15

New Hampshire Extension’s High Tunnel Conference will be virtual this year, in three parts. The first session is a keynote and kickoff with Dave Chapman, from Long Wind Farm in East Thetford, Vermont, who will present: “Low-tech tunnels to high-tech greenhouses: choosing technologies that work for you,” and “Important business considerations for tunnel producers.”

Tues, Dec. 1. 5-7 PM. Keynote and Kickoff with Dave Chapman.
 
Tues, Dec. 8. 5-7 PM. Diseases & Insects in High Tunnels – Common and not-so-common problems and how to manage them.
 
Tues, Dec. 15. 5-7 PM. Soil, Pest and Crop Management in Tunnels. This third session will focus on adjusted high tunnel fertility guidelines and how they are working in practice, an update from the seed industry on high tunnel varieties, and tips for excellent pesticide coverage in tunnels.
 

Acres Eco-Ag Conference — Dec 1- 4

The Eco-Ag Conference sets the standard for innovation and learning in modern agriculture. An educational experience and trade show, the conference unites farmers, ranchers and ag professionals from every facet of eco-farming to share their experience and expertise. Learn the latest in cutting-edge technology and methods, and return home ready to make your farming operation the best it can be. If you’ve never attended, make this the year you do!

We have a lot in the works for the 45th year of the Eco-Ag Conference – including top-notch speakers, educational sessions and unmatched networking opportunities – plus some celebration. Stay tuned for more announcements coming soon!

Bioneers 2020 Conference — Dec 5-6 &12-13

Beyond the Great Unraveling:  Weaving the World Anew – The Conference will take place on four days: December 5-6 and 12-13. Each day of the Conference will be presented in two parts:

Part 1: Plenary Session and Panels
 
Part 1 of the 2020 Bioneers Conference feature topic experts, discussing and presenting on world-changing solutions, combined with performances, arts interludes, films and other content. The format of the Main Conference will be as follows:
A richly produced and visually engaging 75 minute period of keynote presentations from Bioneers speakers, with arts and performance woven throughout. 
A 75 minute period of concurrent breakout sessions, featuring keynote speakers alongside visionary leaders from a vast range of fields. Attendees will have the ability to choose between a small handful of concurrent panels on varying topics. These sessions will be presented webinar style, with opportunities for Q & A and ongoing dialogue. 
 
Part 2: Fully Interactive/Participatory Sessions (additional registration required)
Directly after Part 1, Part 2 of the 2020 Bioneers Conference will begin, and it’s all about connection. Participants will be able to sign up for one of a variety of 90 minute participatory sessions and workshops, hosted and moderated to support the community to connect directly with each other and learn together around timely and relevant topics of interest. Additional advance registration is required in order to manage the number of attendees in each session to allow for actual interaction and conversation to take place. If you’re interested, sign up for your session of choice ASAP. 
 
To see the complete schedule of speakers and sessions, and to register visit: https://conference.bioneers.org/how-it-works/

Perennial Farm Gathering – December 6-9

From the Savanna Institute and co-hosted with the Association for Temperate Agroforestry.  Connect with the Midwest agroforestry community.  Mark your calendars for our first ever virtual Perennial Farm Gathering, December 6th-9th. Ready to learn something new? Check out this year’s research talks and panels on topics including financing perennial agriculture, environmental and social justice, and specific agroforestry crops, as well as fun activities to help you network with other farmers, researchers, ag professionals, and anyone interested in perennial agriculture. Workshops include farm planning for carbon sequestration with Eric Toensmier author of The Carbon Farming Solution, grafting with Tom Wahl of Red Fern Farm, and decolonizing agriculture with Reginaldo Haslett-Marroquín, and a perennial foods cooking demo with Beth Dooley.  Follow this link to register and learn more about the event.

Loan Preparation for New and Beginning Farmers – December 7

Are you new to the world of borrowing? Is the idea of taking out a loan for your farm business a bit intimidating? Loans are an important tool for growing any business and if approached with the right groundwork, can be a beneficial part of your business development.  

This FREE series will prepare new and beginning farmers with the tools needed to approach a lender. A kickoff session on December 7th plus 1hr sessions in Jan, Feb, and March will spotlight representatives from each of the three popular lenders for farmers: Greenstone Farm Credit, the USDA Farm Service Agency, and Northern Initiatives.  
Dec 7th / Jan 11th / Feb 8th / Mar 8th - noon-1pm

Mid-Week Pop-Up Market: Best Practices and Reflections – December 9

On Wednesday, December 9th from 3pm-4pm EST, Georgia Organics’ Farmer Services team will be hosting a free webinar sharing best practices and reflections from our experience in operating a contactless virtual market as a COVID-19 response. Since launching the market in May in partnership with a local restaurant, we have provided eight Georgia farmers with an additional place to sell direct-to-consumer. More than 230 unique customers purchased from this market generating approximately $53,500 over 32 weeks. We’d love to invite you all, farmers, and community members within your networks to join and learn more as we feel this is an approachable and replicable model.

 

Building Food Council Networks That Support Health, Local Economies, and Equity – December 17

Stories from Kansas, Michigan, and North Carolina.

This webinar will share how Kansas, Michigan, and North Carolina have each developed robust local food (policy) council networks. These networks connect councils and local level coalitions to foster more equitable food systems that advance health and economic opportunity locally, regionally, and statewide. Presenters will discuss how they have leveraged partnerships to support more democratic action on local food, farming, and health issues and inform state policy. They will discuss responses to COVID-19 in their work, the importance of using an equity lens, lessons learned, and where their work is going next.
 
Click here to register: Dec 17, 2020 02:30 PM in Eastern Time

Real Organic Symposium — Jan 3 - 31

SAVE THE DATE – The Real Organic Project's Virtual Symposium will be presented every Sunday in January, 3-5pm EST.  Presenters include Al Gore, Leah Penniman, Eliot Coleman, Vandana Shiva, Paul Hawken, Alice Waters, JM Fortier, Allan Savory, Bill McKibben, and Jennifer Taylor.  Follow this link to learn more about the Real Organic Symposium.

 

 

Pasture Management for Limited Resource Farmers – Jan 12

This webinar will give small, limited resource farmers the tools they need to better understand the benefits of good pasture management. We will discuss why continuous grazing is not sufficient, how to find and create markets for their products, and the importance of establishing a business entity and keeping it separate from one's homestead. Participants will learn how these management decisions not only affect their farm but also their community and the earth's sustainability for years to come.

Tuesday, January 12, 2021 4:00 PM - 5:00 PM EST

To register follow this link.

Pasture Biodiversity for Animal Health – Jan 21

The health of livestock, humans and the environment are closely tied to plant diversity. Sustainable farming practices, which use grazing animals, are seen as a potential solution to continued biodiversity loss resulting from over-or-under grazing. There is evidence that healthy ecosystems with minimally disturbed soils, adequate access to diverse, high quality forages, and clean water have a robust correlation with livestock's well-being. 

In this webinar, Kara Kroeger, NCAT Sustainable Agriculture Specialist, will discuss how you can manage your pastures with regenerative methods to beneficially influence the health of your livestock and the ecosystem by fostering biodiversity both above and below ground.
Thursday, January 21, 2021 3:30 PM - 4:30 PM EST
To register follow this link.

Grazing to Avoid Trouble – Jan 26

Join FACT and NCAT Livestock Specialist and sheep and goat producer Linda Coffey to discuss some of the problems farmers might encounter while grazing their livestock. Bloat, toxic plants, fescue toxicity, predator control, parasite management, and more will be addressed in this hour, with time for questions. Help us meet your needs by sharing questions or comments on issues you have faced when you register below. 

Linda Coffey brings many years of experience grazing sheep, goats, and sometimes cattle, as well as her work through the ATTRA program (www.attra.ncat.org) and will be providing those who register with many resources to help you improve your grazing and avoid trouble on your farm.  

Tuesday, January 26, 2021 4:00 PM - 5:00 PM EST

To register follow this link.

OEFFA Annual Conference — Feb 10-15

Save the date! For the first time in OEFFA’s 42 year conference history, Our Time: Essential Links for a Strong Food Chain, set for February 10-15, 2021, will be held online and accessible to you using your computer or phone.

We’re excited to offer all the essential elements of our conference online. In some cases, we’ll be able to offer even more, and we expect the online format will save you time and money, making the region's premier sustainable food and farm event accessible to even more people! Learn more here.

 

 

 

 

Practical Advice for Solar Grazing – Feb 11

Join FACT and panelists from the American Solar Grazing Association to discuss new trends in solar grazing, best practices for shepherds and solar developers, and how you can get started. 

Thursday, February 11, 2021. 4:00 AM - 5:00 AM EST
To register follow this link. 
 
 
 

Growing Stronger Collaborative Conference – Feb 22-27

The 2021 MOSES Conference will be a virtual event in partnership with GrassWorks, Iowa Organic Association, OGRAIN, the University of Wisconsin, and Fairshare CSA Coalition.  Growing Stronger: Collaborative Conference on Organic and Sustainable Farming will include more than 60 workshops spanning 10 categories, Facilitated “roundtable” discussions to share ideas and move the needle on important issues, farmer Speed Presentations to highlight new practices, innovative tips, or simply explore each other’s farms, evening gatherings and farming-related films, keynote conversations from the Real Organic Symposium featuring prominent voices in the organic movement and much more.  

MSUE, Lean Farming Practices – Feb 23

On this webinar, the MSU Product Center and Center for Regional Food Systems Troy Rice, CEO Farm Brigge, will share how Lean farming can increase farm profitability. Implementing Lean techniques may include, creating process maps, leading brainstorming sessions, identifying improvement areas, creating SOPs, and creating a plan for managing and sustaining an efficient farm with minimal waste. Lean principles have been applied on farms across the world- small, mid-size or large scale farms.

Feb 23, 2021 12:00 PM EST    

To register for this webinar and to learn more about the speaker and Farm Bridge, click here.