2019 OGRAIN Conference Schedule

Expanded workshop descriptions and presenter bios are below.

Download a printable conference brochure

Thursday January 24

5:30-9:00 PM at Brocach Irish Pub and Whiskey Bar, 7 W. Main Street, 2nd floor. Managing organic reduced tillage systems, roundtable discussion. Limited attendance, separate registration fee. (sorry, as of 1-15-19 the Thursday night discussion is sold out)

The remainder of the conference will take place at the Gordon Dining and Event Hall on the UW-Madison Campus

Friday January 25

7:30 AM Registration and light breakfast

8:00-8:15: Welcome and Overview, Erin Silva (Organic Production Specialist, University of Wisconsin-Madison)

8:15-9:15: Keynote Address with Jeff Moyer, Executive Director, Rodale Institute Future agricultural systems and soil health

9:15-10:30: Understanding the biological component of healthy soils, (1 CEU, soil and water management) Rick Lankau and Teal Potter (UW-Madison Plant Pathology)

10:45-12:00: Organic no-till: starting out right, (1 CEU, soil and water management) Jeff Moyer (Rodale Institute) and Erin Silva (UW-Madison)

12:00-1:00: Lunch

12:30: Exhibit Hall Opens

1:00-2:00: Concurrent sessions:
Organic no-till: planting, mulching, termination, (1 CEU, crop management) Jeff Moyer (Rodale Institute) and Erin Silva (UW-Madison)

Building climate change resiliency into our agricultural systems, (1 CEU, crop management) Chris Kucharik (UW-Madison Agronomy)

2:15-3:30: Concurrent sessions
Organic no-till: what we have learned from research and on-farm experiences, (1 CEU, soil and water management) Jeff Moyer (Rodale Institute), Erin Silva (UW-Madison), Will Glazik (IDEA network) and farmers: Megan Wallendal, Mark Klinski, and Bob Mierau

Strategies for transitioning to organic grain crops, (1 CEU, crop management) Moderator Michael O’Donnell, (Purdue Extension) with farmers Jon Jovaag, Joel Layman, and Dan Coffman

4:00-5:15: Concurrent sessions
New equipment technologies for row crop and cover crop management, (1 CEU, crop management) Joe Bassett (Underground Agriculture), Sam Hitchcock Tilton (Lakeshore Tech College), Brian Luck (Assistant Professor of Agricultural Engineering, UW-Madison)

Organic certification basics (1 CEU, professional development) Harriet Behar (OGRAIN)

5:15-6:30: Reception and Exhibit Hall

The UW Agronomy department invites those interested to a discussion about the perennial grain Kernza at 6:30 pm on Friday, Jan. 25. OGRAIN Kernza flyer

Evening supper on your own

Saturday January 26

7:30AM: Registration and light breakfast, Exhibit Hall opens

7:50: Welcome, Erin Silva

8:00-9:00: Organic crop rotations, (1 CEU, crop management) Joel Gruver (Western Illinois University), Gary Zimmer (Midwestern BioAg and Organic Farmer)

9:15-10:15: Concurrent sessions
Marketing organic grains and row crops, (1 CEU, professional development) Mike Schulist (NFOrganics), Ryan Koory (Mercaris), Ken Dallmier (Clarkson Grain)

Choosing the right varietal traits for organic grains,  (1 CEU, crop management) Mac Ehrhardt (Albert Lea Seed Co.)

10:30-11:30: Concurrent sessions
Turning grain into dough: Financial management and cost of production for organic grain farming, (1 CEU, professional development) Paul Dietmann (Compeer Financial), Jim Munsch (Organic Farmer)

Management of diseases and mycotoxins in organic grain crop rotations, (1 CEU, pest management) Gary Bergstrom, (Cornell University)

11:30-12:15: Keynote Address with Tom Frantzen (Organic Farmer), Values-oriented decision making: Improving every year based upon past lessons

12:15-1:15 PM Lunch

1:15-2:30: Integrating multiple tactics to manage weeds in reduced-tillage organic grain systems, (1 CEU, pest management) John Wallace (Weed Management Extension Specialist, The Pennsylvania State University)

2:45-4:00:  Incorporating cover crops before, during, and after cash crops, (1 CEU, crop management) Gary Zimmer (Midwestern BioAg and Organic Farmer), Megan Wallendal, (Wallendal Farms)

4:00: Adjourn

 

WORKSHOP DESCRIPTIONS and SPEAKER BIOS

8:15-9:15 Friday, KEYNOTE: Future agricultural systems and soil health

Jeff Moyer, Executive Director of the Rodale Institute, is a world renowned authority in regenerative organic agriculture. His expertise focuses on organic crop production systems with emphasis on weed management, cover crops, crop rotations, equipment modification and use, and facilities design. Jeff conceptualized and popularized the No Till Roller Crimper for use in organic agriculture. In 2011 he authored Organic No-Till Farming: Advancing No-Till Agriculture.

9:15-10:30 Friday, Understanding the biological component of healthy soils

Soil health, the foundation of both short and long term farm success, encompasses the physical, chemical, and biological properties of soils. Rick and Teal will discuss on-going research into complex soil ecosystems and their potential to lessen plant disease and increase crop quality and yields.

Rick Lankau, Assistant Professor UW-Madison Plant Pathology, seeks to understand how plant-associated microbial communities mediate individual plant health as well as susceptibility to disease in both natural and agricultural settings. He has studied how root-associated fungi of trees may mediate forest responses to climate change, as well as how microbial communities in agricultural soils respond to farm management and in turn contribute to yield, quality, and disease suppression. Teal Potter, Graduate Student UW-Madison Plant Pathology, conducts research on plants and soil microbes to understand how these groups influence each other in natural and agricultural systems. Her research addresses how nitrogen availability impacts plant-microbe associations, with a goal of understanding specific conditions in which soil microbial communities impact non-native plant invasions and crop yields.

10:45-12:00 Friday, Organic no-till: starting out right

Our experienced team will discuss important considerations in deciding to implement organic no-till, including appropriate crop rotations, field selection and preparation, equipment needs, cover crop selection, and crop variety selection.

Jeff Moyer, Executive Director of the Rodale Institute is a world renowned authority in organic agriculture. His expertise focuses on organic crop production systems with emphasis on weed management, cover crops, crop rotations, equipment modification and use, and facilities design. Dr. Erin Silva is an Assistant Professor in the Plant Pathology Department at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Her research and extension program focuses on sustainable and organic cropping systems, including cover crops and cover crop-based no-till production, the impact of organic management on soil biological and physical properties.

1:00-2:00 Friday, Organic no-till: planting, mulching, termination 

In this session we will cover the types of cover crops and cash crops most appropriate for the organic no-till system, as well as specific management considerations such as seeding rates, planting dates, termination timing and strategy, and in-season management issues.

Jeff Moyer, Executive Director of the Rodale Institute is a world renowned authority in organic agriculture. His expertise focuses on organic crop production systems with emphasis on weed management, cover crops, crop rotations, equipment modification and use, and facilities design. Dr. Erin Silva is an Assistant Professor in the Plant Pathology Department at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Her research and extension program focuses on sustainable and organic cropping systems, including cover crops and cover crop-based no-till production, the impact of organic management on soil biological and physical properties.

1:00-2:00 Friday,  Building climate change resiliency into our agricultural systems

With extreme weather events occurring more frequently, agricultural producers need good data and strategies to build resiliency into their farming systems. Join Chris Kucharik as he provides historical data and future projections for our midwestern climate as well as ideas for protection of soil and water quality in changing times.

Chris Kucharik, professor of agronomy and environmental studies at the UW Madison, performs interdisciplinary field work on cropping systems ecology and ecosystem modeling in a framework that is geared towards understanding the impacts of climate change and land management on the provisioning of ecosystems goods and services – more specifically crop production, water quantity and quality, carbon sequestration, and climate regulation.

2:15-3:30 Friday, Organic no-till: what we have learned from research and on-farm experiences

Organic no-till has succeeded in both research and farm settings, but there are still challenges to be met. Discussion of mid-season weeds, yield drag and timing of activities will start the conversation, with ample time for your thoughts and questions.

Jeff Moyer, Executive Director of the Rodale Institute is a world renowned authority in organic agriculture. His expertise focuses on organic crop production systems with emphasis on weed management, cover crops, crop rotations, equipment modification and use, and facilities design. Dr. Erin Silva is an Assistant Professor in the Plant Pathology Department at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Her research and extension program focuses on sustainable and organic cropping systems, including cover crops and cover crop-based no-till production, the impact of organic management on soil biological and physical properties. Megan Wallendal represents Wallendal Farms, a multi-generational 3200 acre farm near Grand Marsh, Wis that incorporates progressive farming practices. The farm has grown over 35 different vegetable crops in the farm’s 51 years, practicing organic no-till and interseeding of cover crops. Also joining us will be farmers Mark Klinski and Bob Mierau (both from Caledonia MN) and Will Glazik of the IDEA network.

2:15-3:30 Friday, Strategies for transitioning to organic grain crops

Join our panel of transitioning farmers discussing approaches to successful organic transition, as well as what they wished they knew before they started.

Moderator Michael O’Donnell, (Purdue Extension) with farmers Jon Jovaag, Joel Layman, and Dan Coffman

4:00-5:15 Friday, New equipment technologies for row crop and cover crop managment

Numerous equipment manufacturers and researchers are putting their engineering skills to creating improved and entirely new equipment to meet the needs of organic producers. Precision cultivation can control weeds right into the crop row. European techniques, shapes of sweeps, finger weeders, and different methods of steering cultivators (including camera guidance) can take weed control to a higher level. These are not your grandpa’s cultivators!

Brian Luck is UW Madison assistant professor and extension specialist in the biological systems engineering department with an emphasis on innovative machinery and computer technology. Joe Bassett is CEO of Dawn Equipment, Sycamore IL and Underground Agriculture, a mission driven company focused on providing innovative agricultural equipment and intelligence to farmers employing organic no-till methods. Sam Hitchcock Tilton of Sheboygan, Wis. is a horticulture instructor at Lakeshore Technical College.

4:00-5:15 Friday, Organic certification basics

Organic certification opens the door to new markets and can be a tool to help farmers improve their operations. This workshop will give you an understanding of the USDA organic regulations and ways to set up simple yet practical systems for tracking activities.

Harriet Behar has led trainings and on-farm tours introducing organic agriculture and organic certification requirements to farmers, feed mill operators, bankers, pest control technicians, extension agents, NRCS personnel, and other agriculture education professionals.  As an organic inspector for over 30 years, she has visited and worked with thousands of organic farmers in the Upper Midwest. As a current member of the USDA’s National Organic Standards Board, she aids in improving the organic standards and is kept current on all details of implementation and interpretation of the organic law.

8:00-9:00 Saturday, Organic crop rotations

Differences in markets as well as topographical and soil challenges can make development of a productive crop rotation difficult. Numerous approaches will be discussed, including cover cropping, double cropping, and short or long rotations, useful in developing diverse crop options responsive to your farm’s needs.

Dr. Joel Gruver is an Associate Professor of Soil Science and Sustainable Agriculture at Western Illinois University, and the Director of the WIU Organic Research Program. Recent research projects have focused on cover crop management, reducing tillage intensity and applications of precision technologies in organic grain production. Gary Zimmer, known as the “father of biological agriculture,” is an internationally known author, speaker, and consultant. He owns the 1000 acre Otter Creek Organic Farm near Lone Rock, WI, and is the author of three books, The Biological Farmer (Second Edition), The Biological Farmer and Advancing Biological Farming, and numerous articles on soils and livestock nutrition.

9:15-10:15 Saturday, Marketing organic grains and row crops

The organic grain market presents a diverse landscape with a variety of options and issues to consider. Our presenters discuss working with a grain buyer, broker, and/or marketing coop, as well as the future of organic grain prices and markets.

Ken Dallmier is president of Clarkson Grain in Illinois which offers contract opportunities for organic growers as well as those in transition to organic. Food grade and feed grade corn, soybeans and small grains are bought and sold. Ryan Koory is the Senior Economist with Mercaris, a comprehensive source of market data and online trading for organic and non-G.M.O. commodities. Mr. Koory has spent nearly a decade producing data and insights for the US livestock and feed grain markets. With Mercaris, he uses his knowledge and experience to bring clarity to the organic marketplace. Mike Schulist works with NFOrganics, an arm of National Farmers which works with their farmer members to negotiate prices and sales terms that benefit independent family producers.

9:15-10:15 Saturday, Choosing the right varietal traits for organic grains

Successful organic grain production starts with seed bred with organic systems in mind. Knowing which seed traits to look for can help you with better yields, higher quality and better prices at the end of the season.

Mac Ehrhardt is an owner of Albert Lea Seed, the business his grandfather founded in 1923. Albert Lea is focused on meeting the needs of organic farmers, and has taken a leadership role in developing organic seed varieties to meet the challenges found in organic systems.

10:30-11:30 Saturday, Turning grain into dough: Financial management and cost of production for organic grain farming

Farm financial management can benefit from planning which incorporates your own financial data as well as knowledge of standard costs/yields for your type of production. Paul and Jim will discuss their new OGRAIN organic grain financial planning tool developed with organic Midwest grain producers in mind.

Paul Dietmann is a Senior Lending Officer on the Mission Financing team at Compeer Financial, a Farm Credit System cooperative serving the upper Midwest. Dietmann spent eleven years as a county agriculture agent with the University of Wisconsin-Extension and five years as director of the Wisconsin Farm Center at the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection (DATCP). He was Wisconsin’s Deputy Secretary of Agriculture in 2010. Dietmann is co-author of the book Fearless Farm Finances: Farm Financial Management Demystified, and teaches numerous workshops on farm financial issues. Jim Munsch, a certified organic beef grazing farmer, is involved in a variety of organic and sustainable agricultural activities and has a passion to help farmers make data-driven decisions for pricing and profitability. He has worked with individual farmers to help them make more informed financial decisions and has developed a variety of cost accounting systems for diversified fresh market vegetable growers, livestock and grain producers.

10:30-11:30 Saturday, Management of diseases and mycotoxins in organic grain crop rotations

Unusually wet or humid weather can result in a variety of molds and toxins that lower grain quality and price. Methods in the field, post-harvest and in storage can lessen crop degradation. Gary will evaluate cultural and biological control strategies for corn, cereal grains and oilseed pathogenic diseases.

Gary Bergstrom, plant pathology professor at Cornell University, works with agronomists, plant breeders, and other plant scientists to evaluate cultural, biological, and chemical disease control strategies as a component of integrated crop management of corn, forage legume, small grain cereal, oilseed, and bioenergy feedstock crops.

11:30-12:15 Saturday, KEYNOTE: Values-oriented decision making: Improving every year based upon past lessons

Tom Frantzen explores how farmers can make sound management decisions and use those to guide our farms in relation to environmental, social, and economic conditions we face.

Tom Frantzen with his wife, Irene, owns and operates a 320-acre diverse grain and livestock farm in Northeast Iowa. They maintain a beef cow herd and a brood sow herd and feed all of the raised stock to organic market. Beginning farming in 1974, Tom transitioned the farm to organic in 2000, and was a founding member of the Organic Valley Pork program. Tom raises corn, soybeans, small grains, forages, as well as winter grain rye annuals.

1:15-2:30 Saturday, Integrating multiple tactics to manage weeds in reduced-tillage organic grain systems 

Understanding weed seedbank dynamics is critical for developing a long-term weed management plan and overcoming one of the top challenges faced by organic grain producers. John will discuss weed seedbanks and how tillage-based and cover-crop based weed control approaches influence weeds and weed communities. He will also explore specific cultural and mechanical approaches to improve weed control performance in reduced-tillage organic grain production.

John Wallace is Assistant Professor of Weed Science and weed extension specialist for field and forage crops at Penn State University. His research and extension program focuses on best management practices for new weed control technologies, integrated weed management tactics, negotiating tradeoffs between weed management and soil health practices, and organic weed management strategies in full- and reduced- tillage systems. His program studies weed management in the context of agroecological principles using field experiments, multi-disciplinary cropping system studies and participatory on-farm trials.

2:45-4:00 Saturday, Incorporating cover crops before, during, and after cash crops 

Cover crops provide many benefits including improving organic matter, lessening weed pressure, enhancing soil structure and protection of soil and water quality. Learn the many types and methods of including cover crops in your crop rotation, year-round.

Gary Zimmer, known as the “father of biological agriculture,” is an internationally known author, speaker, and consultant. He owns the 1000 acre Otter Creek Organic Farm near Lone Rock, WI, and is the author of three books, The Biological Farmer (Second Edition), The Biological Farmer and Advancing Biological Farming, and numerous articles on soils and livestock nutrition. Megan Wallendal represents Wallendal Farms, a multi-generational 3200 acre farm near Grand Marsh, Wis that incorporates progressive farming practices. The farm has grown over 35 different vegetable crops in the farm’s 51 years, practicing organic no-till and interseeding of cover crops.