Upcoming Educational Opportunities:

• March 16-Nov 9 – MSU Organic Farmer Training Program, East Lansing, MI
• March 26-Nov 12 – Rodale Institute Events, WEBINARS
• April 6-Sept 8 – Bine and Dine!, Hops growing Webinar Series, WEBINAR
• May 19 – Hemp Farm Accelerator Webinar, WEBINAR
• May 26 – Innovative Direst Marketing for Farmers, WEBINAR
• Nov 16 – Michigan Good Food Summit, East Lansing, MI
• Dec 1-4 Acres Eco-Ag Conference, Columbus, OH

• 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.

MSU Organic Farmer Training Program — March 16 - Nov 9

The MSU Organic Farmer Training Program (OFTP) teaches aspiring farmers in a 50/50 mix of field and classroom activities every Monday from 9am to 5pm at the MSU Student Organic Farm. In the field, everyone participates in hands-on activities, farm walks and equipment demonstrations. In the classroom, we focus on small group activities, full group discussions, guest speakers and participant presentations. You will also visit over 20 Michigan farms! Outside of class, video lectures, readings and practical assignments, like writing a Farm Business Plan will connect learning themes from the class to YOUR farm goals. The OFTP is a vibrant, diverse and positive learning community where students learn from each other and share their unique skills, experience and goals.

More information about the 2020 Organic Farmer Training Program and the application can be found at this link as well as a link to a scholarship application.

Rodale Institute Events — March 26 - Nov 12

The Rodale Institute offers not only classes at the farm but webinars for those who live a distance away.  Topics range from pest and disease management to soil health and nutritional quality of vegetables. RSVP at the link following the webinar you are interested in.

March 26 – Organic Disease Management in Cucurbit Crops  RSVP

April 23 – Innovations in Cover Crop-Based Organic No-Till Systems to Improve Soil Health and Nutrient Management  RSVP

June 18 – Updates on Soil Health and Water Quality under Contrasting Farming Systems  RSVP

Bine and Dine, Hops Growing Webinar Series — April 6-Sept 8

MSU Extension is excited to announce the second annual Bine and Dine webinar series. Join Rob Sirrine, Erin Lizotte and MSU faculty on the first Monday of each month to learn about agronomic practices, pest management, fertility, timing of hop management activities and more! The series will run the first Monday of each month (first Tuesday in September) from 12 p.m. – 1 p.m. EST. Each webinar will focus on providing timely information on current conditions and helping growers plan for upcoming management milestones. Recordings of the webinar will be available for registrants unable to attend live. See the schedule below for more information. The series is free, but registration is required. Registrants will receive email notification with instructions for joining the webinar. To register, visit the events webpage.