GRANVILLE, Ohio — Whether one is interested in cover crop rotations, soil structure, crop pests or perhaps regional food systems, researchers and industry experts from The Ohio State University’s College of Food, Agricultural and Environmental Sciences (CFAES) have it covered.
They will present the latest information on some of the key issues in organic and sustainable agriculture next week during Ohio’s largest sustainable food and farm conference. The Ohio Ecological Food and Farm Assoc.’s (OEFFA) 36th annual conference, "Sustainable Agriculture: "Renewing Ohio’s Heart and Soil," will be Feb. 13-15 in Granville.
With numerous sessions and a full-day pre-conference event featuring OSU and industry scientists, the conference features more than 100 workshops plus a trade show, with activities for children and teens. The event will include locally sourced and organic homemade meals with keynote talks by Doug Gurian-Sherman, director of sustainable agriculture and a senior scientist at the Center for Food Safety in Washington, D.C.; and Alan Guebert, an award-winning freelance agricultural journalist (and weekly contributor to Farm World).
This event attracts 1,200 growers from Ohio and across the United States. "How we care for our soil has everything to do with the well-being of our food and water, how we feed ourselves in the future and who will be raising our food," OEFFA Program Director Renee Hunt said. "Soil health is at the core of sustainable agriculture, but by building connections between eaters and farmers we are also renewing the heart of our community-based food systems."
OEFFA will host three full-day pre-conference workshops on Feb. 13 from 10 a.m.-4 p.m.: "Principles of Regenerative Agriculture;" "Slow Poultry: Sustainable Poultry Production;" and "Udder Health and Mastitis Control in Organic Dairies."
"These events feature some of the country’s top experts, and are designed to provide ecological growers a deeper education than short workshops or webinars can," Hunt said. "This year, we’re also offering a session geared toward livestock veterinarians so they are better positioned to serve organic dairy clients. These practices can be used in non-organic dairy systems, as well."
During the "Principles of Regenerative Agriculture" workshop, John Kempf, founder of Advancing Eco-Agriculture, will help farmers learn regenerative farming principles which allow soil and plant health to improve, not degrade, over time. Using these techniques, growers will discover how they can produce disease- and pest-resistant crops that are healthier and more nutritious. An Amish grower from Middlefield, Ohio, Kempf is an internationally recognized lecturer on biological agriculture, plant immunity, mineral nutrition and soil microbiology.
Jim Adkins of the Sustainable Poultry Network will discuss effective and profitable strategies for sustainable poultry production during "Slow Poultry: Sustainable Poultry Production." For the past 30 years, Adkins has raised more than 50 breeds and varieties of chickens, ducks, geese and turkeys. A licensed poultry judge, he established the International Center for Poultry in 1992 and has taught at field days, workshops and conferences.
Designed for producers of any scale, this session will explore the unique advantages of sustainable production systems while exploring the history of traditional heritage breeds and the transition to hybrid breeds and industrial production models. Growers will walk away with an understanding of the breeding, feed, forage, facilities and care required for different-size production models, and how to make their poultry businesses profitable through effective financial planning, marketing and consumer education.
During the "Udder Health and Mastitis Control in Organic Dairies" workshop, veterinarians Dr. Päivi Rajala-Schultz and Dr. Luciana da Costa from the OSU College of Veterinary Medicine and Organic Valley staff veterinarian Dr. Guy Jodarski will help dairy producers and vets serving organic dairy farmers learn how practical management and mastitis control practices can improve milk quality and profitability. Attendees will learn the basic requirements for good udder health, strategies for managing clinical mastitis and more.
The regular conference workshops offered by CFAES experts Feb. 14-15 will address such topics as new berry crop pests, biopesticides for organic farmers, growing Ohio hops, advanced cover crop concepts, understanding soil biology, local and regional food systems, effects of fracking on Ohio’s watersheds, food and policy, decision-making on the organic farm, woodlot management, soil testing and others.
All pre-conference and conference workshops will be held at Granville High School, 248 New Burg Street, Granville. Pre-registration is required and costs $75 for OEFFA members and $90 for non-members. Register online at http://oeffa.org/conference2015.php
