2020 OGRAIN Conference Schedule

Preregistration is now closed. Please join us as a walk-in!

Expanded workshop descriptions, presenter bios and Certified Crop Advisor (CEU) credits applied for are listed at the bottom of this page.

Friday January 24

7:30 AM Registration and light breakfast

8:15-8:30 Welcome and overview Dr. Erin Silva (Organic Production Specialist, UW-Madison)

8:30-9:30 Building Healthy Soil Microbial Communities: What We Know and What We Don’t Know Adria Fernandez, (University of Minnesota)

9:30-10:15 Concurrent sessions:
Guide your financial options with the OGRAIN Compass John Hendrickson (UW-Madison CIAS), Jim Munsch (Deer Run Farm), Doug Alert (Ash Grove Farm)
Innovative weed management tools Loran Steinlage (Underground Agriculture), Brian Luck (Biological Systems Engineering, UW-Madison)

10:30-11:15 Build fertility and provide N with cover crops Matt Ruark (Department of Soil Science, UW-Madison)

11:15-noon Keynote: What does farm resiliency look like? Fred Kirschenmann, (Leopold Center and Stone Barn)

Noon-1:00 PM Lunch

12:30 Exhibit Hall Opens

1:00-2:00 Working with macro- and micro-nutrients in your soil Gary Zimmer (Otter Creek Organic Farm)

2:15-3:30 Alternative small grain crops John Wepking (Meadowlark Organics), Thor Oechsner (Oechsner Farms), Valentin Picasso Risso and Lucia Gutierrez (Department of Agronomy, UW-Madison)

4:00-5:15 Concurrent sessions
Ecological management for tough weeds, Adam Davis (Dept of Crop Science, U of I), Tom Frantzen (Frantzen Farms), Dave Campbell (Lily Lake Organic Farm)
Harvest and post-harvest tips for long-term grain quality Thor Oechsner (Oechsner Farms)

5:15-6:30 Reception and Exhibit Hall

Evening supper on your own

Saturday January 25

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

7:50 Welcome, Erin Silva

8:00-9:00 Optimize your organic crop rotations Joel Gruver (Soil Science, Western Illinois University)

9:00-10:00 Concurrent sessions
Improve pest management with habitat enhancement  Matt O’Neal (Department of Entomology, Iowa State University)
Hemp research- what we have learned  Lea Vereecke (Plant Pathology, UW-Madison), Brian Luck (Biological Systems Engineering, UW-Madison)

10:30-noon Turning problems into solutions (farmer panel) John Wepking (Meadowlark Organics), Thor Oechsner (Oechsner Farms), Jared Siverling (Siverling Farms)

Noon-1:00 PM Lunch

1:00-1:45 Keynote: Finding success with diverse small grains Thor Oechsner (Oechsner Farms)

2:15-3:15 Concurrent sessions
Organic no-till systems Erin Silva and Lea Vereecke (Plant Pathology, UW-Madison)
Organic transition, certification and crop insurance  Jared Siverling (Siverling Farms), Harriet Behar, OGRAIN and NOSB

3:15-4:00 Organic market options Anders Gurda (Pipeline Foods), Willie Hughes (Hughes Farms), Russell Coon (Organic Grain Exchange)

4:00: Wrap up and adjourn

2020 Workshop Descriptions and Speaker Bios

Friday January 24

8:30-9:30 Building Healthy Soil Microbial Communities: What We Know and What We Don’t Know Adria Fernandez, (University of Minnesota)
Soil is a living ecosystem whose members are crucial to short-and long-term crop health and productivity. In this session we’ll discuss what researchers are learning about the soil microbiome, what we don’t yet understand, and practical takeaways for organic farmers. We’ll cover how various organic management practices affect soil communities and their functions, what results you can expect from microbial inoculant products, and how to evaluate whether a particular product or practice is useful for your farm. (CEU:Soil & Water Management (0.5) )
Adria Fernandez is a Post-Doctoral Associate in the College of Food, Agricultural & Natural Resource Sciences, Agronomy and Plant Genetics at the University of Minnesota. She holds a PhD in PhD Applied Plant Sciences from the University of Minnesota.

9:30-10:15 Guide your financial options with the OGRAIN Compass John Hendrickson (UW-Madison CIAS), Jim Munsch (Deer Run Farm), Doug Alert (Ash Grove Farm)
This easy to use tool can predict financial results for organic grain production on a given piece of land over a ten-year period. Cropping decisions, equipment costs, likely yields and more are entered into the interactive spreadsheet, providing a holistic picture of financial results. Numerous scenarios can be compared, with the impacts on financial results providing a powerful tool for short- and long-term planning. (CEU: Professional Management (0.5))
John Hendrickson conducts research, outreach and training programs for small-scale growers for the Center for Integrated Agricultural Systems at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Among other responsibilities, he coordinates the Wisconsin School for Beginning Market Growers and is involved in the development of Veggie Compass, a whole farm profit management spreadsheet that helps growers identify costs of production and measures profitability by crop and by market. He also manages his own organic vegetable farm.
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.
Doug Alert and his wife Margaret Smith operate Ash Grove Farm, a diversified certified organic crop operation in north central Iowa with production for feed, food, and seed markets. Using a diversity of cover crops for many years, 2020 will be their 25th year of organic certification. Livestock in the operation were transitioned to a local young farming family in 2019.

9:30-10:15 Innovative weed management tools Loran Steinlage (Underground Agriculture), Brian Luck (Biological Systems Engineering, UW-Madison)
Implements designed to tackle the challenges of weed management in organic fields continue to evolve. Each situation can benefit from specific field tools that deal with tall weeds, in row weeds, and between row weeds. This workshop will cover the use of the weed zapper, tine weeder, row mow and more! (CEU:Crop Management (0.5))
Brian Luck is UW Madison assistant professor and extension specialist in the biological systems engineering department with an emphasis on innovative machinery and precision agriculture technology.
Loran Steinlage is a grain farmer who also works as a practical field engineer for Dawn Equipment and Underground Agriculture. He produces a diversity of crops on his farm, including corn, soybeans, cereal rye, wheat, barley, buckwheat and cover crops.

10:30-11:15 Build fertility and provide N with cover crops Matt Ruark (Department of Soil Science, UW-Madison)
Cover crops can be used for erosion control and to improve water quality. While there are always tremendous benefits to cover crop use, the species used and growth of the cover crop will influence the availability of nitrogen to the next crop. Wisconsin-based research will be highlighted in the discussion. (CEU:Nutrient Management (0.5))
Matt Ruark is a professor in the Department of Soil Science at UW-Madison and an extension specialist in the University of Wisconsin Division of Extension. His work focuses on improving the understanding of carbon and nitrogen cycling in dairy, grain, and vegetable production systems, as well as the water quality implications of management practices.

11:15-noon Keynote: What does farm resiliency look like? Fred Kirschenmann, (Leopold Center and Stone Barn)
Weather, markets, crop yields, land costs and more have always been unpredictable, but these past few years have seen even more extremes. There are creative innovations to meet these challenges, both on the ground and in our attitudes, to develop resiliency on our farms and livlihoods. Regnerative activities can accentuate biodiversity, broadening function and stability. Be inspired by examples and resources that lead to true sustainability. (CEU:Crop Management (0.5) Sustainability (0.5))
Born on a North Dakota farm during the Great Depression and the worst drought in U.S. history, Fred Kirschenmann has spent most of his life working to change how we farm, as well as our relationship to the land. For more than four decades Fred has been a champion of agricultural resilience, an articulate advocate for soil health and a pioneer of organic farming. His work has helped transform what was once obscure and marginal work—resilient, sustainable agriculture focused on the health and restoration of the soil—into an international movement. A longtime national and international leader in sustainable agriculture, Fred is Distinguished Fellow at the Leopold Center for Sustainable Agriculture at Iowa State University and a professor in the Department of Religion and Philosophy. He serves as the president of the Board of the Stone Barns Center for Food and Agriculture in New York. He also continues to manage his family’s 1,800-acre certified-organic farm in south-central North Dakota.

1:00-2:00 Working with macro- and micro-nutrients in your soil Gary Zimmer (Otter Creek Organic Farm)
While NP and K are important in growing crops, a successful farmer considers the micro nutrients as well, and all of them in balance with each other. This type of management provides greater efficiency for crop nutrient uptake. In concert with nature’s biological systems and strategic use of soil amendments and fertility inputs, farmers can improve their farm’s productivity and profitability. Be ready to take notes, Gary provides his audience with a fountain of information. (CEU: Nutrient Management (1))
Gary Zimmer, known as the “father of biological agriculture,” is an internationally known author, speaker, and consultant. He owns, with his family, 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, as well as numerous articles on soils and livestock nutrition.

2:15-3:30 Alternative small grain crops John Wepking (Meadowlark Organics), Thor Oechsner (Oechsner Farms), Valentin Picasso Risso and Lucia Gutierrez (Department of Agronomy, UW-Madison)
Organic farmers must have more than just row crops in their rotation, usually growing oats or other small grains, often interseeded with a legume. Crop rotations that include one or more high value small grain crops for both human and livestock feed can provide both financial and soil building benefits. (CEU:Crop Management (1.5) )
John and Halee Wepking operate Meadowlark Organics farm near Ridgeway, Wisconsin with their farm partner and mentor Paul Bickford, growing organic row crops, small grains and forages, as well as raising grassfed beef, with a primary emphasis on small grain and specialty crops for human consumption.
Thor Oechsner farms an array of organic grains in the Finger Lakes region of NY. His crops include flint corn, a variety of wheats, rye, buckwheat, red clover, and various cover crop seeds all of which he grows in rotation to rejuvenate the soil and create necessary biomass to support the growth of annual grains without chemical inputs. Thor is dedicated to creating a local grain economy and, in order to do so, has helped found both Farmer Ground Flour and Wide Awake Bakery. These value added markets have made it possible for Thor to help other grain producers in his region and beyond transition to organic and replicate his success by growing and marketing food grade grains.
Valentin Picasso, assistant professor of Agronomy at UW–Madison, is unraveling the potential of Kernza intermediate wheatgrass, a perennial grass that produces grain and forage which can be baled or grazed. His research at multiple UW-Madison Agricultural Research Stations and on farms is answering farmers questions on how to grow Kernza along with legumes, suppress weeds, and utilize the forage, while improving soil health.

4:00-5:15 Ecological management for tough weeds, Adam Davis (Dept of Crop Science, U of I), Tom Frantzen (Frantzen Farms), Dave Campbell (Lily Lake Organic Farm)
Understanding the life cycles of problem weeds can improve the timing and ultimate control to within acceptable levels. A variety of tactics, along with the exploration of specific weeds such as giant ragweed and Canadian thistle, will provide the knowledge to improve your integrated weed management system that does not rely on purchased inputs. (CEU:Pest Management (1.5))
Dr. Adam Davis uses innovative modeling tools to identify and test new management strategies to make cropping systems more productive, profitable, and environmentally friendly. His research spans investigations of weed seedbank ecology, efficacy of new tactics, and quantifying the impact of multi-tactic integrated weed management systems on the demography of weedy and invasive plant species.
Tom and Irene Frantzen own and operate a 320-acre diverse organic grain and livestock farm with 45 beef cows and 40 brood sows in northeast Iowa. The farm was fully transitioned to organic in 2000. Rotations utilize hybrid rye, corn, soybeans small grains, cover crops, hay and pasture. Giant Ragweed has been a major weed problem but a new strategy and a better rotation has now brought this plant under control.
Dave Campbell and his wife, Mary, own and operate Lily Lake Organic Farm in northern Illinois. They grow a variety of small grains, along with corn, soybeans, and hay on their 224-acre certified organic farm. Dave has served on the SARE Administrative Council as well as the Executive Committee of OFARM. In addition, he has served as Founding Board Chairman of the Midwest Organic Farmers Co-op and on the boards of MOSA and MOSES.

4:00-5:15 Harvest and post-harvest tips for long-term grain quality Thor Oechsner (Oechsner Farms)
Harvest and post-harvest handling and storage can affect the price and markets of the finished food grade grain. Having the right equipment that can handle your specific crops with minimal damage and aid in cleaning and drying it down for long term storage can retain the investment you made in growing the crop. Pre-harvest scouting for problem weeds and diseases, combine settings, use of screen/barrel cleaners, driers, grain insects, quality testing and different types of storage systems will be discussed. (CEU:Crop Management (1) Pest Management (0.5))
Thor Oechsner farms an array of organic grains in the Finger Lakes region of NY. His crops include flint corn, a variety of wheats, rye, buckwheat, red clover, and various cover crop seeds all of which he grows in rotation to rejuvenate the soil and create necessary biomass to support the growth of annual grains without chemical inputs. Thor is dedicated to creating a local grain economy and, in order to do so, has helped found both Farmer Ground Flour and Wide Awake Bakery. These value added markets have made it possible for Thor to help other grain producers in his region and beyond transition to organic and replicate his success by growing and marketing food grade grains.

Saturday January 25

8:00-9:00 Cropping system strategies Joel Gruver (Soil Science, Western Illinois University)
This presentation will explore the use of innovative cropping system strategies to improve nutrient availability, weed and pest control and crop and soil health in organic cropping systems. Foundational scientific concepts and specific examples of strategic crop and cover crop rotation/sequencing, cover crop interseeding, alternative row spacing (e.g., solar corridors) and rotational no-till at the WIU Organic Research farm and innovative farms across the Midwest region will be discussed. (CEU: Crop Management (1) )
In addition to teaching, Dr. Gruver is the director of the WIU Organic Research Program. He received the National No-Till Educator of the Year Award in 2015. His research interests include conservation cropping systems with a focus on cover crops and organic grain production, soil organic matter, and innovative teaching methods.

9:00-10:00 More beneficial insects (and honey) through habitat enhancement: lessons from the STRIPS project Matt O’Neal (Department of Entomology, Iowa State University)
Can agricultural production and conservation exist in the same field? The human impact on biodiversity contributes significantly to an unprecedented global rate of extinction, and human intervention is essential in preventing these losses. Matt O’Neal will discuss results from the STRIPS project: Science-based Trails of Row Crops Integrated with Prairie Strips. Adding a small amount of prairie back into a farm can reduce soil and nutrient loss as well as increase the abundance of natural enemies that attack pests. When beekeepers have access to these prairie strips, they can realize greater honey production. He will talk about how farmers can integrate this practice with support from the conservation reserve program. (CEU: Pest Management (1) Sustainability (1))
Dr. Matt O’Neal is a professor of entomology at Iowa State University, where he conducts research on the management of insect pests of annual crops and the conservation of beneficial insects. His overall goal is the development of pest management programs that are economically and environmentally sustainable. His lab is exploring how conservation methods may improve the abundance and diversity of beneficial insects that contribute to aphid mortality, crop pollination, and honey production.

9:00-10:00 Hemp research- what we have learned  Lea Vereecke (Plant Pathology, UW-Madison), Brian Luck (Biological Systems Engineering, UW-Madison)
The interest in industrial hemp has grown exponentially, and the University of WI has started research to provide farmers scientifically based information on growing this alternative crop. What varieties work well in the Upper Midwest, the nutrient requirements, the major pests and diseases as well as the type of specialized equipment needed. These issues, including harvesting and regulatory considerations will be discussed in the context of what was learned in this first year of research. (CEU: Crop Management (1))
Léa Vereecke is a research associate at UW-Madison, Organic and Sustainable Agriculture Research and Extension, where she manages trials at Arlington Research Station, including no-till.
Brian Luck is UW Madison assistant professor and extension specialist in the biological systems engineering department with an emphasis on innovative machinery and precision agriculture technology.

10:30-noon Turning problems into solutions (farmer panel) John Wepking (Meadowlark Organics), Thor Oechsner (Oechsner Farms), Jared Siverling (Siverling Farms)
Coping with unpredictable and sometimes extreme conditions can be stressful, however, farmers are a resourceful group, many have set up systems that provide some leeway if and when the unexpected happens. Dealing with delayed or prevented planting, difficult growing conditions (cold, wet, dry, hot), fickle markets and more will be discussed by the panelists with time for discussing solutions with attendees. (CEU: Sustainability (1.5) Professional Management (1.5)) John and Halee Wepking operate Meadowlark Organics farm near Ridgeway, Wisconsin with their farm partner and mentor Paul Bickford, growing organic row crops, small grains and forages, as well as raising grassfed beef, with a primary emphasis on small grain and specialty crops for human consumption.
Thor Oechsner farms an array of organic grains in the Finger Lakes region of NY. His crops include flint corn, a variety of wheats, rye, buckwheat, red clover, and various cover crop seeds all of which he grows in rotation to rejuvenate the soil and create necessary biomass to support the growth of annual grains without chemical inputs. Thor is dedicated to creating a local grain economy and, in order to do so, has helped found both Farmer Ground Flour and Wide Awake Bakery. These value added markets have made it possible for Thor to help other grain producers in his region, and beyond, transition to organic and replicate his success by growing and marketing food grade grains.
Jared & Vanessa Siverling are transitioning Jared’s 4th generation centennial family farm in Bloomer, Wis., approximately 400 acres, producing corn, edible soybeans, small grains, hay, and beef. Involved in the farm’s operation his entire life, in 2019 Jared and Vanessa will become primary owners and operators. Siverling Farms has been conducting organic-compliant row-crop trial plots for several years and is on schedule to certify 100% of the land as organic by 2021.

1:00-1:45 Keynote: Finding success with diverse small grains Thor Oechsner (Oechsner Farms)
Organic farmers need to have more than just row crops and perhaps oats (many times with a legume underseeding) in their rotation. Building rotations that include one or more high value small grain crops for both human and livestock feed can provide both financial and soil building benefits. Barley, hybrid rye, heritage wheats, kernsa, and buckwheat will be discussed along with sunflowers and open pollinated corn. (CEU: Crop Management (0.5))
Thor Oechsner farms an array of organic grains in the Finger Lakes region of NY. His crops include flint corn, a variety of wheats, rye, buckwheat, red clover, and various cover crop seeds all of which he grows in rotation to rejuvenate the soil and create necessary biomass to support the growth of annual grains without chemical inputs. Thor is dedicated to creating a local grain economy and, in order to do so, has helped found both Farmer Ground Flour and Wide Awake Bakery. These value added markets have made it possible for Thor to help other grain producers in his region, and beyond, transition to organic and replicate his success by growing and marketing food grade grains.

2:15-3:15 Organic no-till systems Erin Silva and Lea Vereecke (Plant Pathology, UW-Madison)
Organic no-till lessens labor, reduces tillage and improves soil structure and biology while growing a productive row crop. Timing, tools, fertility management and use of seed varieties can all affect the success of this promising organic farming system. Practical growing techniques learned at the UW research farm, as well as with cooperating farmers, will be provided to guide you in incorporating organic no-till into your crop rotation. (CEU: Soil & Water Management (1))
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, no-till production, and the impact of organic management on soil biological and physical properties.
Léa Vereecke is a research associate at UW-Madison, Organic and Sustainable Agriculture Research and Extension, where she manages trials at Arlington Research Station, including no-till.

2:15-3:15 Organic transition, certification and crop insurance  Jared Siverling (Siverling Farms), Harriet Behar, OGRAIN and NOSB
Transitioning to organic need not be a daunting task. Learn the basics of the organic rules, what to expect at your first inspection and how to take on the transition in a practical way. Information on crop insurance products tailored to the needs of organic farmers will also be provided. (CEU: Professional Management (1) )
Harriet Behar has led hundreds of trainings and on-farm tours introducing organic agriculture and organic certification requirements to farmers 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. A former member of the USDA’s National Organic Standards Board, she has worked to improve the organic standards and is current on details of implementation and interpretation of the organic law. She has worked with USDA to improve crop insurance options for organic farmers and written booklets and articles on the subject.
Jared & Vanessa Siverling are transitioning Jared’s 4th generation centennial family farm in Bloomer, Wis., approximately 450 acres, producing corn, edible soybeans, small grains, hay, and beef. Involved in the farm’s operation his entire life, in 2019 Jared and Vanessa became primary owners and operators. Siverling Centennial Farms has been conducting organic-compliant row-crop trial plots for several years, has 222 acres currently certified organic, and is on schedule to certify 100% of the land as organic by 2021.

3:15-4:00 Organic market options Anders Gurda (Pipeline Foods), Willie Hughes (Hughes Farms), Russell Coon (Organic Grain Exchange)
The organic marketplace is diverse, with many avenues available to move your product. Depending on what level of interaction and services you expect from your market, from direct-to-other-farmers or consumers to selling through brokers, cooperatives or on the commodity market, each producer can choose one or more of these options to meet their marketing capabilities and economic goals. (CEU: Professional Management (0.5))
Willie Hughes is the sixth generation on his family’s farm. He and his father, Randy Hughes, are niche-crop and value-added farmers operating nearly 5,000 acres of cropland. They have both organic and conventional crops as well as cover crops – such as blue-and-white corn, snap beans, peas, oats, rye, sweet corn, wheat, sunflowers and hemp.
Anders Gurda has worked in organic agriculture for over a decade. He has an MS in Agroecology, was the founder and first program manager of OGRAIN and worked as a research scientist in organic and sustainable agricultural systems before moving to Pipeline Foods in 2017 as Director of Agronomy Solutions, working with farmers from production to marketing.