Agenda - 2023 Iowa Organic Conference

7:30AM Continental Breakfast & Vendor Visits

Hubbard Commons
Main Lounge and East Commons

8:00AM Welcome - ISU Extension, UI, UI Office of Sustainability, and IDALS

Main Lounge

Kathleen Delate, Organic Specialist, Iowa State University Extension and Outreach
Jason Henderson, Vice President, Iowa State University Extension and Outreach
Stratis Giannakouros, Director, Office of Sustainability and the Environment, University of Iowa
Cornelia Lang, Associate Dean, Undergraduate Education, University of Iowa
Paul Ovrom, State Horticulturalist, Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship

8:30AM Keynote Speaker - “Why Organic Integrity Matters”

Jenny Tucker
Deputy Administrator, National Organic Program

9:30AM Break: Vendor Visits

Main Lounge and East Commons

10:30AM Breakout Session I

Breakout Sessions will cover the following topics.

Soil Health:
“Reaping the Benefits of Improving Your Soil”
Mike Henderson, NRCS
Sabrina Ruis, USDA-ARS
Emily Schmitz, University of Iowa

Weed Management:
“Weeding Innovations and Practical Advice to Reduce Weed Populations”
Bo Melander, Aarhus University, Denmark
Dave Campbell, Lily Lake Farms

Organic Certification:
“Transitioning to Organic: Certification Tips and Mentorship”
Jenny Tucker, USDA-NOP;
Allison Walent, Midwest TOPP;
*Margaret Scoles, IOIA (*Presenting on Zoom)

Economic Impacts:
“Water Quality and Soil Health: Making the Connections”
Marty St. Clair, Professor, Coe College
Jean Bertrand Contina, Rodale Institute

12:00PM Organic Lunch: Local Producer’s Bounty

Main Lounge

12:30PM Corn Breeders Roundtable

South Room

12:45PM Vendor Visits

1:30PM Breakout Session II

Breakout Sessions will cover the following topics.

Crop Production/Diversfying Markets:
“Marketing Diversified Crops”
Patrick Hemminger, Ancient Brands
Richie Breeggemann, Grain Millers

Crop Production/Specialty Crops:
“Flowers, Food and Forage: Growing and Marketing Your Specialty Crops”
Shaffer Ridgeway, PFI Farmer, Southern Goods
Lincoln Fishman, Sawyer Farm, Massachusetts
Kate Solko, PFI Farmer, Root to Rise
Naomi Friend, PFI Farmer, Friend’s Flowers

Livestock Production:
“Organic Dairy Innovations”
Nathan Nedved, PFI Farmer, Nedved Farms
Francis Thicke, PFI farmer, Radiance Dairy

Policy/Social Impacts:
“Expanding Local Foods in Iowa”
Giselle Bruskewitz, Iowa Valley R, C and D
Tammy Stotts, IDALS

3:00PM Vendor Visits

3:30PM Breakout Session III

Breakout Sessions will cover the following topics.

Crop Production/Reduced Tillage
“Methods and Rewards for Preseving Soil Quality”
Aaron Heley Lehman, PFI farmer, Polk City
Lincoln Fishman, Sawyer Farm, Massachusetts

Policy/Social Impacts:
“Influencing Ag Policy to Support Sustainable and Family Farms”
Nick Rossi, National Sustainable Ag Coalition, Washington, D.C.
Carolina Mueller, National Young Farmers Coalition

Crop Production:
“Equipment Innovations”
Jason Grimm, PFI Farmer, Grimm Family Farm
Loran Steinlage, PFI Farmer, Flolo Farms

Fruit Crops:
“Growing and Processing Organic Fruit: From Apples to Blueberries and Grapes”
Kim Andersen, PFI Farmer, Blueberry Bottom Farm
Randall Vos, ISU Extension
Aude Watrelot, ISU Dept. of Food Science