New American Farm Conference
	Advancing the Frontier of Sustainable Agriculture March 25-27, 2008 | Kansas City, MO

Tuesday, March 25th
Pre-Conference Sessions (optional)
7:30 - 11:30 am: Growing the Organic Research Portfolio: A Look at the Integrated Organic Program (Pre-registration and additional fee required.) Join USDA-CSREES and the Organic Farming Research Foundation to share and discuss the projects, impacts and future of the organic research portfolio, with a special focus on projects funded during the first five years of the IOP program. (Includes Monday night reception starting at 5:30 pm.) For more information on this session see the attached agenda or contact Dawn Thilmany at (970) 491-7220 or thilmany@lamar.colostate.edu.

9:00 - 11:00 am: Briefing on the UN Commission on Sustainable Development’s (CSD) Upcoming Session on Sustainable Agriculture (open to all)
Dr. John Matusak with the U.S. State Department’s Office of Environmental Policy will talk about the Commission’s two-year deliberations on international sustainable agriculture and how the topic will be addressed in the upcoming UN session on sustainable agriculture on May 5-16, 2008. Matusak will discuss how stakeholder organizations can get involved in planning and participating in the UN session, and the Commission’s plans to showcase US-based programs.

10:00 - 11:00 am: Niche-Meat Processing (open to all): This National Meat Processing Assistance Network Planning session addresses the nationwide problem of a "processing gap" for niche meats. Help build a national network of experts to support meat processors and those who depend on them. For more information on this session, please contact Arion Thiboumery at (515) 294-2882 or arion@iastate.edu.

11:00 - 12:00 am: The New Farm Bill: Sustainable Agriculture Outcomes and Opportunities: As Congress adopts the new Farm Bill, what's in it for sustainable agriculture? Find out about the major changes for sustainable and organic research, new markets, local food, beginning farmers and ranchers, conservation, renewable energy, and more. Passage of a bill of course is but one step in the policy process - then comes regulations and implementation, not to mention agricultural spending decisions in the annual budget and appropriations process. Learn more about the upcoming implementation and funding process and opportunities for organizational and citizen involvement.

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Session I - 2:00 - 3:15 pm
Energy Efficiency and Conservation on the Farm
As energy prices rise, fuel-related costs claim an ever-bigger portion of farm budgets. Learn how farm energy experts, producers and NGOs can work together to manage and improve energy efficiency – the quickest, cheapest and cleanest way to lower costs and non-renewable energy use.

• Marcy Coburn, Ecological Farming Association, California (PowerPoint 11.9 MB)
• Craig Metz, EnSave, Vermont (PowerPoint 20.5 MB)

The Next Generation of Leadership
Never before has the American public cared more about how and where its food is produced. But how can we advance sustainable practices to the whole of America agriculture? Advocacy leaders share how to build effective leadership and develop innovative strategies for change.

• Margaret Krome, Michael Fields Agricultural Institute, Wisconsin
• Anim Steel, The Food Project, Massachusetts

Getting Cooperative
New, diverse product marketing cooperatives are proving to be profitable venues for farmers with a bounty to sell. Hear the successes and cautionary tales about how best to band together for better marketing of sustainably produced products.

• Ben Burkett, Farmer/Federation of Southern Cooperatives, Mississippi (PowerPoint 6.6 MB)
• Russ Kremer, Farmer/Missouri Farmers Union (PowerPoint 12.7 MB)

Organic 101: Soil Management
Feed the soil, not the plants. Although elementary, implementing this first tenet of organic ag takes creative strategies and training. Learn soil-building field techniques and training tactics from trainers, farmers and biologists.

• Mary Barbercheck, Penn State University
• Craig Cogger, Washington State University Puyallup Research and Extension Center (PowerPoint 16 MB)
• Bob Muth, Muth Family Farm, New Jersey

Cultural Weed Management Practices
What’s the latest in non-chemical weed management strategies? This session talks about cropping systems, tillage practices and other, new “eco-weed” and IPM techniques that control nuisance plants naturally.

• Chuck Mohler, Cornell University, New York (PowerPoint .3 MB)
• Mark Schonbeck, Virginia Association for Biological Farming (Handout 94k)

Agritourism: Bringing Tourists to the Farm
From dude ranching to bed and breakfasts, agritourism is one of the fastest growing tourism sectors and has helped revitalize rural communities all over the U.S. and Europe. It’s also an opportunity to educate a public increasingly interested in how and where their food is produced. Learn the do’s and don’ts from one expert who helped put her county on the tourist map, and from researchers about how best to position rural communities for tourism.

• Christine Curry, Citizens to Promote Pike, Georgia
• Dawn Thilmany, Colorado State University (PowerPoint 3.9 MB)
• Barrett Vaughan, Tuskegee University, Alabama

Prescribed/Riparian-Friendly Grazing (Range)
How do you get the most out of cattle grazing? Don’t just turn cattle loose, but manage them using practices that help protect waterways or control noxious weeds. Learn from ranchers and on-the-ground collaborative research by the California Cattle Association, U.S. Forest Service, California Farm Bureau and others.

• John Hayes Jr., University of Arizona
• Jay Davison, Nevada Cooperative Extension
• Kenneth Tate, University of California (PowerPoint 13.2MB)

Trees and Farms: Agroforestry
Forests provide many benefits for agriculture: windbreaks, wildlife, extra income from forest products, stream protection and more. Learn about different agroforestry techniques and how an experienced shitake mushroom/medicinal herb producer is farming profitably in forests and integrating trees into farmscapes.

• Fred Hays, Divergent Natural Interest, West Virginia (PowerPoint 41.7 MB)
• Joshua Idassi, 1890 Agroforestry Consortium, Tennessee State University (PowerPoint 1 MB)

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Special Session- 2:00 - 4:00 pm
Briefing on the UN Commission on Sustainable Development’s (CSD) Upcoming Session on Sustainable Agriculture (open to all)
Dr. John Matusak with the U.S. State Department’s Office of Environmental Policy will talk about the Commission’s two-year deliberations on international sustainable agriculture and how the topic will be addressed in the upcoming UN session on sustainable agriculture on May 5-16, 2008. Matusak will discuss how stakeholder organizations can get involved in planning and participating in the UN session, and the Commission’s plans to showcase US-based programs.

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Session II - 3:30 - 4:45 pm
Innovative Greenhouse Design: Extend Your Season!
Learn how to combine renewable energy and innovative greenhouse design and siting to grow new, lucrative crops and extend your growing season. Two hands-on experts share their experiences and strategies.

• Steve Moore, North Carolina State University (PowerPoint 5.9 MB)
• Steven Schwen, Earthen Path Organic Farm, Minnesota (PowerPoint 35.3 MB)

Communicating to the Wider World
Sometimes we just talk to ourselves. How do we talk to others in agriculture about sustainable practices and innovations? Compelling and creative communication is a top priority if we are to advance sustainability to all corners of the country. Cutting-edge researchers are uncovering new ways to reach out.

• Deborah Rubin and Terry Hardt, Cultural Practice, Maryland (PowerPoint .1 MB)
• Gerry Snyder, Kansas State University

Taking your CSA to the Next Generation
What are the best ways to get started with CSAs and make them work? CSA pioneer Elizabeth Henderson, author of Sharing the Harvest, will share her bounty of knowledge, experience and advice.

• Elizabeth Henderson, Peaceworks Organic Farm, New York (PowerPoint 34 MB)

Tapping Organic Markets – Local to Global
By some estimates, retail sales of organic foods are expected to exceed more than $32 billion by 2009. As this market explodes, what are local options for farmers? Navigating the world of organic sales isn’t always easy for farmers and ranchers. Learn the latest market analysis, and how to think globally while marketing locally.

• Doug Constance, Sam Houston State University, Texas (PowerPoint .7 MB)
• Jim Dyer, Southwest Marketing Network, Colorado (PowerPoint .2 MB)

Beekeeping: Controlling Pests Sustainably
We’ve heard about the decline of honey bees. Mites and other hive pests might be contributing to the problem. New research and on-the-ground strategies are controlling pests using natural, sustainable methods.

• Melanie Kirby, Zia Queenbee Co., New Mexico (PowerPoint 12.9 MB)
• Marla Spivak, University of Minnesota (PowerPoint 19.8 MB)

Civic Agriculture: Prosperous Communities Through Quality Agriculture
How do we grow communities with our natural, local assets? These experts talk about rural development that begins with community-based organizations, local entrepreneurship and farm and ranch businesses that build communities.

• Lionel (Bo) Beaulieu, Southern Rural Development Center, Mississippi (PowerPoint 3.9 MB)
• Linda Riggins, Southern Rural Black Women's Initiative for Economic and Social Justice, Georgia (PowerPoint 79 MB)

Management Intensive Grazing (Dairy)
Cows have legs. MIG lets them use them – in a way that protects the land and water and cuts feeding costs. Controlled grazing is catching on, putting the fun back in dairy farming and bringing back the next generation of dairy farmers.

• Caroline Brock, University of Wisconsin (PowerPoint 2.2 MB)
• Steve Washburn, North Carolina State University (PowerPoint 85 MB)

Systems Research in Action
In Texas, researchers used systems thinking to find ways to boost productivity, reduce fuel costs and protect declining water supplies in the arid panhandle. In California, researchers have compared the complex ecological and economic consequences of conventional and non-conventional farming systems.

• Vivien Gore Allen, Texas Tech University (PowerPoint 5.2 MB)
• Steve Temple, University of California

Special Session- 8:30 pm - 9:30 pm
Kansas Singer Songwriter Ann Zimmerman
Ann Zimmerman sings the prairie into universal language—with piano, guitar, that wonderful voice and her award-winning songwriting. In solo shows across the country, she celebrates life on the windy plains, in all its joy, sorrow, grandeur and silliness. Her sparkling performances brim with energy and humor. She brings an irresistible stage presence and turns the audience into her backup choir. She has released three independent recordings of her music.

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Wednesday, March 26th
Session III - 8:00 - 9:15 am
Success with Renewable Energy
Solar power distills orchard waste fruit into clean-burning, high-octane fuel to power farm equipment. Recycled solar panels heat a new greenhouse, extending a short growing season and cutting fossil fuel bills. Two innovative farmers share their experiences with affordable renewable energy systems.

• Don Bustos, Santa Cruz Farms, New Mexico (PowerPoint 45 MB)
• Dan West, West Orchards, Missouri (PowerPoint 6 MB)

Panel: Reaching Minority Farmers
Minorities comprise some of the fastest growing groups of farmers in America. How can we learn from each other, build bridges and share experiences and knowledge? This panel explores the increasingly diverse world of farming, highlighting the experiences of Native American, Latino and new immigrant farmers and ranchers.

• Staci Emm, University of Nevada Cooperative Extension
• Jennifer Hashley, New Entry Sustainable Farming Project, Massachusetts
• Juan Marinez, Michigan State University Cooperative Extension
• Mickie Swisher, University of Florida

Meat Marketing
A local Kansas expert shares how to beef up your beef business with her work developing and trademarking an all natural-branded meat product line called “Good Natured Family Farms” (It’s featured on the Local Chefs tour!). A researcher shares how to tap niche meat markets.

• Diana Endicott, Rainbow Organic Farms Company, Kansas (PowerPoint 41 MB)
• Dawn Thilmany, Colorado State University (PowerPoint .3 MB)

Assistance and Education: Where are we in Organic?
As more farmers and ranchers think about going organic, training the trainers and educators is a top priority. Find out what agriculture educators and technical assistance providers are doing to educate themselves and farmers about sustainable practices and innovations.

• Rex Dufour, National Center for Appropriate Technology, California
• Vern Grubinger, University of Vermont, NE SARE
• Rose Koenig, Rosie’s Organic Farm/University of Florida

Apples and Winegrapes: Integrated Farming Practices
Two experts share state-of-the-art strategies and latest research in biological controls for managing wine grape and apple pests. Hear about the “positive point system” that a group of California wine growers has adopted to measure continuous improvement.

• Dan Cooley, University of Massachusetts (PowerPoint 1.9 MB)
• Kris O’Conner, Central Coast Vineyard Team, California (PowerPoint 10.7 MB)

Helping Entrepreneurs: Tools and Techniques
Many farmers are thinking about starting a farm- or ranch-based venture, but need more entrepreneurial skills. Come hear about a range of tools that ag educators can use to help would-be entrepreneurs develop successful agriculture-based businesses.

• John Allen, Utah State University
• Marilyn Schlake, University of Nebraska (PowerPoint .9 MB)

Cover Crops and Conservation Tillage
Cover cropping and reduced tillage are core tenets of sustainable farming. Learn from one of No-Till Farmer magazine’s “No-Till” Innovator award winners – plus latest research about creative strategies for these important sustainable ag techniques.

• Seth Dabney, USDA-ARS, Mississippi (PowerPoint 36.2 MB)
• Steve Groff, Cedar Meadow Farm, Pennsylvania (PowerPoint 46.4 MB)

Grow Your State Program
Learn how two states have built support for exemplary research and extension programs, and make your voice heard in this strategizing session. Help SARE steer a course in building vibrant state research, education and extension programs across the country.

• Nancy Creamer and Paul Mueller, North Carolina State University (PowerPoint 53.3 MB)
• Chris Feise, Washington State University

eOrganic Workshop
eXtension is a new national, web-based, information source for Land Grant University (LGU) faculty and Extension agents to consolidate research findings and outreach materials. Within the framework of eXtension, eOrganic is being developed as the new organic agriculture Extension Service website to provide accurate and up-to-date information for organic farmers, conventional farmers, researchers, and agricultural professionals. Join members of the eOrganic team for a sneak peek and tour of the eOrganic workspace.

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Session IV - 10:45 - 12:00
Brew Your Own Biofuel
Curious about how to make your own fuel to cut costs and save energy? Farmer and researcher pioneers talk about best blends, production strategies, financial considerations and do’s and don’ts of producing biofuel for on- and off-farm use.

• Vern Grubinger, University of Vermont, NE SARE
• Matt Steiman, Wilson College/Dickinson College, Pennsylvania (PowerPoint 22 MB)
• John Williamson, State Line Farm/Vermont Biofuels Association (PowerPoint 39 MB)

Farmer-to-Farmer Networking and Mentoring
So often we labor alone in our fields. How do we connect with other farmers to share knowledge and experiences? How can we keep our local networks vibrant? Two local leaders share how to get networks started and keep them going by getting the word out.

• Jerry Jost, Kansas Rural Center (PowerPoint 39 MB)
• Barbara Norman, Farmer/Michigan Food and Farming Systems

Farms to Schools (and Other Institutions)
A farm-to-school expert describes how to get off on the right foot when marketing to schools, while a staff member of the New North Florida Cooperative talks about how the cooperative marketed to a larger institution, the Department of Defense’s Food Service Program.

• Glyen Holmes, Farmer/New North Florida Cooperative
• Jennifer Wilkins, Cornell University, New York (PowerPoint 2.3 MB)

No-Till and Organic
No longer are no-till and organic at odds. New research efforts are developing no-till organic vegetable and field crops systems that are saving farmers tons of soil and reducing weed control costs.

• Ron Morse, Virginia Tech (PowerPoint 28.5 MB)
• Jeff Moyer, The Rodale Institute, Pennsylvania

Fight Crop Disease: Soil Amendments and Biofumigation
Effectively control disease through soil amendments and new biofumigation techniques using natural materials such as mustard and other brassicas. Hear the latest research and firsthand experience.

• Dale Gies, Gies Farms, Washington (PowerPoint 55 MB)
• Frank Louws, North Carolina State University

Food, Culture and Communities
Many American cultures are losing their traditions of healthy foods. Hear about an initiative that connects good food with urban communities and high-risk youth, and another that bring nutritious, traditional foods, like “kneel-down bread”, back to Navajo communities.

• Teresa Showa, Ganado Family Farm, Arizona (PowerPoint 21.9 MB)
• Bryant Terry, Eco-chef, author, food justice activist, California

Farming for Pollinators
With honey bees threatened, researchers are looking for long-term solutions. Hear the latest research and learn how to encourage a diverse array of pollinators by planting native species, reducing pesticide use, arranging crops and borders, and other “farmscaping” techniques.

• Rufus Isaacs, Michigan State University (PowerPoint 4.6 MB)
• Annette Meredith, University of Maryland (PowerPoint 7.4 MB)

Looking at the Puzzle, Not the Pieces: How to Set Up a Systems Project
Research that looks at agriculture and natural ecosystems together is key to long-term improvements in agriculture. But systems research can be complex, requiring many different skills and tools. Two experts share best strategies and lay out a roadmap for effective, doable projects.

• Laurie Drinkwater, Cornell University
• Jeff Steiner, USDA–ARS, Washington DC

eOrganic Workshop
eXtension is a new national, web-based, information source for Land Grant University (LGU) faculty and Extension agents to consolidate research findings and outreach materials. Within the framework of eXtension, eOrganic is being developed as the new organic agriculture Extension Service website to provide accurate and up-to-date information for organic farmers, conventional farmers, researchers, and agricultural professionals. Join members of the eOrganic team for a sneak peek and tour of the eOrganic workspace.

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Session V - 2:00 - 3:15 pm
Roadmap to a Clean Energy Future
From wind farms to solar to simply reducing on farm fuel costs and energy use, America’s farmers and ranchers are key players in the nation’s energy future. Share your opinions during this strategizing session, and help shape SARE’s role in developing and promoting a sustainable energy future.

• Jim Kleinschmit, Institute for Trade and Agriculture Policy, Minnesota (PowerPoint 1.74 MB)
• Tom Richard, Penn State University, Pennsylvania (PowerPoint 2.6 MB)

Reaching Out to the “Mainstream”
It’s easy to preach to the choir. But what are effective ways for adopters of sustainable practices and innovations to share knowledge and experience with a wider circle? As more farmers become interested in sustainable agriculture, working with those unfamiliar with sustainable practices becomes an opportunity.

• Dale Gies, Gies Farms, Washington
• Mike Hogan, Ohio State University Extension
• Andy McGuire, Washington State University

Adding Value to What You Grow
Sheep into wool. Wheat into flour. Poop into “peat pots”! Interested in turning crops or livestock into a profitable product for sale? Farmers and ranchers across the country are transforming what they grow and raise into marketable items. But it’s not as easy as it looks. Learn from three who have first-hand experience with success and bumps in the road.

• Dan and Jeanne Carver, Imperial Stock Ranch, Oregon (PowerPoint 7.9 MB)
• Matt Freund, Freund's Farm, Connecticut
• Karl Kupers, Shepherd’s Grain Cooperative, Washington

Help Strategize: Chart SARE’s Role in Organic
Where do we go from here? Share your opinions during this strategizing session, and help SARE steer its most effective course in a growing portfolio of grant-making programs advancing organic agriculture.

• Tom Bewick, USDA-CSREES Integrated Organic Program, Washington DC (PowerPoint .1 MB)
• Jonathon Landeck, Organic Farming Research Foundation, California (PowerPoint 55.4 MB)

“Farmscaping” to Manage Insects
Thought of looking at your farm from an insect’s point of view? Find out how to control insect pests by arranging fields, forests and borders into an insect-managing “farmscape” that helps grow healthier, more productive crops.

• Gwendolyn Ellen, Oregon State University
• Doug Landis, Michigan State University (PowerPoint 6.6 MB)

Scale It Up: Growing Marketing Enterprises
How can we scale up local and regional markets so they better serve more (and larger scale) farmers and ranchers? Learn from those who’ve developed sustainable value chain models and experienced scaling up in action.

• Fred Kirschenmann, Leopold Center, Iowa
• Michael Rozyne, Red Tomato, Massachusetts

Keeping a Farm a Farm
One of the best ways to protect farmland is ensuring it stays a farm. That means bringing in new farmers, and helping pass farmland on to future generations. Three experts share their experience in training and helping new and old farmers and ranchers keep the farm in the family.

• Deborah Cavanaugh-Grant, University of Illinois Extension (PowerPoint 2.3 MB)
• Julia Freedgood, American Farmland Trust, Washington DC (PowerPoint .2 MB)
• Steve Schwartz, California Farmlink

Goats and Sheep: Keeping Ahead of the Parasites
Hear about sustainable small ruminant sustainable production techniques, such as the FAMACHA, which “scores” eyelid color for anemia and parasite control and is an important indicator of herd health. One producer shares her experience with selecting sheep for parasite resistance.

• Kathy Bielek, Misty Oaks Farm, Ohio (PowerPoint 2 MB)
• Tom Terrill, Fort Valley State University, Georgia (PowerPoint 17.3 MB)

eOrganic Workshop
eXtension is a new national, web-based, information source for Land Grant University (LGU) faculty and Extension agents to consolidate research findings and outreach materials. Within the framework of eXtension, eOrganic is being developed as the new organic agriculture Extension Service website to provide accurate and up-to-date information for organic farmers, conventional farmers, researchers, and agricultural professionals. Join members of the eOrganic team for a sneak peek and tour of the eOrganic workspace.

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