ORGANIC ASSOCIATION
OF KENTUCKY
Virtual Conference Agenda
change this >>Healthy Soils, Healthy Farms: Reshaping Kentucky with Organics
January 27-29, 2022
Day 1: Thursday, January 27, 2022
PANEL: FARMER HACKS
All Farmers and Allies are Welcome and Invited to Join the Discussion
Time-saving, efficiency-boosting, quality enhancing must know farm hacks.
KEYNOTE
Reginaldo Haslett-Marroquin
Regenerative Agriculture Alliance
Decolonization and Indigenization: A Foundation of Regenerative Agriculture
Steve Diver
KY Farmer
Panel:
Conservation and Biodiversity in Kentucky
Day 2: Wednesday, January 27, 2021
Jennifer Walser
USDA-Natural Resources Conservation Service
Conservation Planning - How Can It Help Reach Your Farm Goals?
Have you been struggling to address concerns on your land? Are there aspects of the farm you would like to improve? If so, a Conservation Plan may be able to help with that. Come learn about the benefits of Conservation Planning to prioritize your challenges, learn of alternatives to solving the concerns and meet your future goals. Learn about NRCS conservation planning, transitioning to organic plans, and funding opportunities to implement needed conservation practices. Learn more about Jennifer's work >>
Justin Duncan
National Center for Appropriate Technology (NCAT)
Cover Cropping to Build Resilient Soils and Income
This session will discuss the benefits of cover crops and how to select them to compliment subsequent vegetable crops or improve concurrent ones. We'll focus on how to maximize cover crop plantings to improve soil health, reduce pest and disease issues, and improve nutrient density. Learn more about Justin's work >>
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Elizabeth Whitlow
Regenerative Organic Alliance
Regenerative Organic Certified™: What it is and Why it’s Gaining Attention
This presentation will introduce Regenerative Organic Certified™, a new label that encompasses soil health, animal welfare, and social fairness. Elizabeth will cover the goals of regenerative organic agriculture and the certification program, which aims to connect farmers with brands and consumers interested in paying a premium for regenerative organic products that help mitigate climate change. She will also address the Regenerative Organic Alliance’s plans to launch a Farmer Cost-Share Program in 2021 and efforts to make the certification accessible to farmers at all scales. Learn more about Elizabeth's work >>
Jeff Mattocks
Fertrell
Getting Started in Organic Pastured Poultry
This presentation will cover the day-to-day operations of a pastured poultry enterprise. We will cover all aspects of receiving day-old broiler chicks, managing their time in the brooder and finally managing their time out on pasture. Proper animal husbandry practices during crucial times of their lives will also be discussed. Learn more about Jeff's work >>
Andre Faul
Faul Family Riverside Farm
Getting Started in Organic Pastured Poultry
This presentation will cover the day-to-day operations of a pastured poultry enterprise. We will cover all aspects of receiving day-old broiler chicks, managing their time in the brooder and finally managing their time out on pasture. Proper animal husbandry practices during crucial times of their lives will also be discussed. Learn more about Andre >>
KEYNOTE
Dr Daphne Miller
How to Think Like a Farmacologist
Daphne Miller brings us beyond the simple concept of "food as medicine" and introduces us to the critical idea that it's the farm where that food is grown that offers us the real medicine. By venturing out of her clinic and spending time on seven family farms, Miller uncovers all the aspects of farming—from seed choice to soil management—that have a direct and powerful impact on our health. Bridging the traditional divide between agriculture and medicine, Miller shares lessons learned from inspiring farmers and biomedical researchers and artfully weaves their insights and discoveries, along with stories from her patients, into the narrative. The result is a compelling new vision for sustainable healing and a treasure trove of farm-to-body lessons that have immense value in our daily lives.
Day 3: Thursday, January 28, 2021
KEYNOTE
Will Harris
One Family, One Farm, Six Generations – White Oak Pastures’ Regenerative Journey
Will Harris will share the 150+ year full-circle transition of his family's farm in Bluffton, Georgia. From a full focus on the land, the animals, and the community - to a monocultural, industrial, centralized, commodity cattle farm - and back to the focus on land, animals, and community. It is a historical study, a regenerative how-to farm lesson, a cultural experience, an economic study - and we hope that it will be entertaining. Will is the fourth generation of the Harris family to run their farm. Today, he shares this management role with two of his daughters and their spouses. There are three members of the sixth generation now living on the farm. White Oak Pastures pasture raises cattle, pigs, rabbits, goats, sheep, chickens, turkeys, geese, guineas, and ducks. All of these are hand butchered on the farm. White Oak Pastures also produces pastured eggs, honey, organic vegetables, fruit, nuts, and many other products provided by the abundance of nature. With 165 employees, White Oak Pastures is the largest private employer in the county.
Erin Silva
University of Wisconsin-Madison / OGRAIN
Reducing Tillage in Organic Grain Systems through Agronomics and Equipment
In this session we will cover the types of cover crops and cash crops most appropriate for the organic cover crop-based reduced-till system, as well as specific management considerations such as seeding rates, planting dates, termination timing and strategy, and in-season management strategies with the latest research on equipment and planter modifications. Learn more about Erin's work >>
Brian Luck
University of Wisconsin-Madison
Reducing Tillage in Organic Grain Systems through Agronomics and Equipment
In this session we will cover the types of cover crops and cash crops most appropriate for the organic cover crop-based reduced-till system, as well as specific management considerations such as seeding rates, planting dates, termination timing and strategy, and in-season management strategies with the latest research on equipment and planter modifications. Learn more about Brian >>
Adam Barr
Barr Farms
Farming on Challenging Soils: Adaptations for a Changing Climate
Barr Farms has raised mixed vegetables and livestock on a fragipan (shallow soil) in the Ohio River Valley for 14 years. In response to increasing climate challenges – heavy rain events, high humidity all year, wetter than normal summers, and the possibility of droughts in the fall – they have implemented several mitigating systems. Hear about their use of rye grass and cover crops, biochar, drainage and other adaptations they have tried. Join in a discussion of the pros and cons of various strategies across our region for a changing climate. Learn more about Adam >>
Anna Raines
Rains and Sun Farm
Crop Planning for the Small to Medium CSA
Are you interested in starting a CSA but the thought of planning for a season of shares seems daunting? It really doesn’t need to be too difficult and the potential security for your farm is well worth the effort. This session will draw on my experience running a CSA program that has grown from 15 to 70 members at Rains and Sun Hilltop Farm located in Northern KY. We will discuss methods to streamline planning, how to choose crops wisely, succession planting, logistics of pick-up/delivery, and keeping members happy and returning year after year. Learn more about Anna >>
FARMER ROUNDTABLE
All Farmers and Allies are Welcome and Invited to Join the Discussion
No-Till Organic Grain Production
Tune in for an open discussion around the realities of no-till organic production... talk through cover crop rotations, equipment experiences, variety selection; pick up techniques for reduced tillage; share difficulties and learn from successes to improve your organic row crop and small grain operation in seasons to come!
All Farmers and Allies are Welcome and Invited to Join the Discussion! Invited Speakers Erin Silva (OGRAIN/UW) and Brian Luck (UW) will join in for this conversation.