Organic Farming at Great Lakes Expo
GLEXPO, the Great Lakes Fruit and Vegetable Expo, is December 10-12— just a few weeks away. This is a huge gathering of all types of growers from across the Great Lakes area, attracting over 4,000 people, with over 70 education sessions and workshops, and more than 450 exhibitors in the tradeshow area. Over three days, the program includes sessions on fruit crops, vegetable crops, other specialty crops, greenhouse crop production and marketing, farm marketing ideas and operations, farmers’ markets and organic production and marketing. There will also be sessions covering a diversity of general interest topics, including food safety and labor. There will also be a number of sessions covering organic farming at Great Lakes Expo.
Early Registration closes this Friday, November 15. If you register by the end of the day on Friday, the fee for Thursday-only registration is $50, and for the full three days, $85. After Friday, it will be $55 for Thursday-only, and $105 for all three days. Three-day admission for College Students with ID is $25, and Spouses of individuals will full registration pay only $35.
Sessions on Organic Farming at Great Lakes Expo run on Tuesday through Thursday. Wednesday sessions include Hoophouses, Large Scale Organic, and Soil Health. On Thursday sessions include Beginning Organic, Organic Opportunities, Organic Vegetables and Organic Fruit. A very large trade show with over 1000 exhibitors runs Tuesday through 1:00 pm Thursday.
Some of the sessions on organic farming at Great Lakes Expo include the following:
Wednesday – Large Scale Organic
09:00 AM – Strategies for Organic Fertility Management
Location: River Overlook E F
Doug Collins, Washington State University Food Systems Program
09:40 AM – Perspectives on Large Scale Organic from California
Location: River Overlook E F
Jeff Mitchell, University of California, Davis
10:20 AM – Lessons learned: A Decade of Growing Organic Fruits and Vegetables in the Great Lakes Region
Location: River Overlook E F
Aaron and Kari Molter, Molter Produce
Wednesday – Hoophouses
09:00 AM – Hoophouse Soil Health and Fertility
Location: Ballroom D
Rachel Cross, Spirit of Walloon Market Garden
Description: Working towards nutrient dense, biologically active plants with pest and disease resistance
09:30 AM – Biological Control in Hoophouse Production
Location: Ballroom D
Elizabeth Buck, Cornell University
Description: Various control tactics and limits of the environment
10:00 AM – Anaerobic Disinfestation
Location: Ballroom D
Sally Miller, Ohio State University
10:30 AM – Water, Weeds & Spacing
Location: Ballroom D
Jeremy Moghtader, University of Michigan
Description: Tips for proper irrigation, weed supression and spacing for hoophouse growing
Wednesday – Soil Health
02:00 PM – Optimizing Plant-microbial Processes to Promote Soil Health
Location: Grand Gallery E F
Laurie Drinkwater, Cornell University
02:30 PM – Long Term Effects of Tillage and Cover Crops on Vegetables
Location: Grand Gallery E F
Dan Brainard, Associate Professor, Michigan State University Horticulture Department
03:00 PM – Organic Reduced Tillage in the Pacific Northwest
Location: Grand Gallery E F
Doug Collins, Washington State University Food Systems Program
03:30 PM – Cover Crop Variety Testing in Michigan
Location: Grand Gallery E F
Kim Cassida, Forage and Cover Crop Specialist, Michigan State University
Description: Different cover crop species and varieties serve different purposes. Dr. Kim Cassida from Michigan State University will be presenting results from cover crop variety tests, including biomass production, ground cover scores, weed control, winter survival, and ease of termination. This information can assist growers in making cover crop choices that best fit their production system.
Thursday – Beginning Organic
09:00 AM – Evaluating Your Needs to Farm Organically
Location: Grand Gallery Overlook E
Jeff Mitchell, University of California, Davis
Description: Understand equipment needs as well as knowledge of agronomic practices and markets.
09:45 AM – Smart weed management for organic production
Location: Grand Gallery Overlook E
Dan Brainard, Associate Professor, Michigan State University Horticulture Department
Description: Managing weeds is the greatest challenge to farm organically. Learn some approaches and cautions.
10:15 AM – To Certify or Not-that is the question.
Location: Grand Gallery Overlook E
Vicki Morrone, Michigan State University CSUS
Description: Choosing to certify is a commitment; consider your market demand first.
11:00 AM – Panel of organic producing farmers
Location: Grand Gallery Overlook E
Description: Learn from their experiences and ask your questions
Thursday – Organic Opportunities
09:00 AM – Aggressively Investing in a Vision at Bear Creek Farm
Location: Grand Gallery Overlook D
Anne Bates, Bear Creek Organic Farm | Brian Bates, Bear Creek Organic Farm
Description: All season intensive farming using high tunnels, greenhouses, equipment, less than 2 acres field production and an emphasis on farmer and employee quality of life.
10:00 AM Addressing Diverse Organic Community Priorities at Nature and Nurture
Location: Grand Gallery Overlook D
Mike Levine, Organic Farmer, Nature and Nurture Seeds | Erica Kempter, Nature and Nurture Seeds
Description: Organic landscaping, seed saving and sales, variety trials and breeding, hardy perennial plant nursery, crop production and community education are diverse income streams at Nature and Nurture based on passion, experience, and local priorities.
Thursday Organic – Vegetable Production
01:00 PM – Gearing up your Production for the Next Level of Production
Location: Grand Gallery Overlook D
Jeff Mitchell, University of California, Davis
Description: Farmers often start out selling direct to markets and as they grow in volume need to address production needs and capacities. Jeff will discuss this and share some case examples.
01:45 PM – Reducing Risk to Soil Born Pests – Like Nematodes
Location: Grand Gallery Overlook D
Marisol Quintanilla-Tornel, Michigan State University
Description: Knowing good IPM practices will greatly reduce nematode problems. Learn how and research that demonstrates the effectiveness of these approaches.
02:30 PM – Using New Scientific Knowledge to Improve Soil Health on your Farm
Location: Grand Gallery Overlook D
Laurie Drinkwater, Cornell University
Description: Every farm is unique, soil type, rain fall, markets. Learn how to detect issues and use smart approaches to test possible solutions.
03:30 PM – Taste of Michigan with discussion
Location: Grand Gallery Overlook D
Vicki Morrone, Michigan State University CSUS
Description: This is your chance to ask those detailed question about your soil or pest issues on your organic farm. Three experts with over 70 years of experience (together). Local organic treats will be offer to taste during our session.
Thursday – Organic Fruit Production
01:00 PM – Biochar and Co-composted Biochar in Strawberries and Potatoes
Location: Grand Gallery Overlook E
Doug Collins, Washington State University Food Systems Program
Description: The results of a two-year trial evaluating the effects of biochar applications in strawberries and potatoes will be discussed.
02:00 PM – Panel Discussion: identifying research needs for Michigan organic tree fruit production systems.
Location: Grand Gallery Overlook E
Hope you have a chance to check out some of these sessions on organic farming at Great Lakes Expo this Year!
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- For a great list of organic seed sources go to https://www.beginningfarmers.org/organic-seed-sources/
- And find loads of other useful farming resources at https://www.beginningfarmers.org/additional-farming-resources/
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