Statehouse Convention Center - Pre-conference Courses and Field Trips: Jan 23-24 General Conference and Trade Show: Jan 25-26
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Practical Tools and Solutions for Sustaining Family Farms
L I T T L E RO C K ARK ANSAS
January 23–26, 2019
Statehouse Convention Center
Pre-conference Courses and Field Trips: Jan 23–24
General Conference and Trade Show: Jan 25–26
2019
2019 Practical Tools and Solutions for Sustaining Family Farms Conference Register online at
CONFERENCE REGISTRATION FORM
www.ssawgconference.org
or mail this completed form to:
Southern SAWG Conference
January 23–26, 2019 • Statehouse Convention Center P.O. Box 1552, Fayetteville, AR 72702
Pre-registrations must be POSTMARKED no later than January 7, 2019. No faxes or emails accepted.
After January 7th, please plan to register at the conference. Questions about your registration?
Contact Chandra Hinton, registration@ssawg.org, 479-799-1235. This institution is an equal opportunity provider.
Through Through
GENERAL CONFERENCE REGISTRATION: Jan. 25th–26th Dec 22nd Jan 7th ON-SITE TOTAL
Conference Registration
(No dinner this year. See page 10 or visit www.ssawg.org/special-events to learn Fri. 8:00 a.m. – Sat. 7:00 p.m. $190 $220 $250
about our Local Rocks Little Rock food scavenger hunt.)
PRE-CONFERENCE EVENT REGISTRATION: Jan. 23rd–24th
Short Course #1 – Growing Farm Profits for Horticulture and Livestock Wed. 8:00 a.m.–Thu. 11:00 a.m. $65 $75 $85 if avail.
Short Course #2 – Start-Up Organic Vegetable Production and Marketing Wed. 8:00 a.m.–Thu. 11:00 a.m. $125 $135 $150 if avail.
Short Course #3 – Food Safety Practices for Small to Mid-Scale Producers Wed. 8:00 a.m.–Thu. 11:00 a.m. $65 $75 $85 if avail.
Short Course #4 – FSMA Facilities Rule: Preventative Controls for Human Food Wed. 8:00 a.m.–Thu. 11:00 a.m. $65 $75 $85 if avail.
Mini Course #1 – The Dual Plate: Food for Survival, Food for Comfort Thu. 1:00–5:00 p.m. $60 $65 $70 if avail.
Mini Course #2 – Cracking The Code: Dismantling the Dynamics of Oppression (Racism) Thu. 1:00–5:00 p.m. $60 $65 $70 if avail.
Mini Course #3 – Holistic Animal Healthcare Thu. 1:00–5:00 p.m. $60 $65 $70 if avail.
Mini Course #4 – Hoophouse Production of Cool Season Crops Thu. 1:00–5:00 p.m. $60 $65 $70 if avail.
Field Trip #1 – Growing Organic in a Conventional World Thu. 12:30–5:00 p.m. $65 $70 $75 if avail. SOLD OUT
Field Trip #2 – Sustainable Farming Sustains a Family of Veterans Thu. 12:30–5:00 p.m. $65 $70 $75 if avail. SOLD OUT
Field Trip #3 – Pastured Poultry, Pork and Beef—Permaculture in Practice Thu. 12:30–5:00 p.m. $65 $70 $75 if avail.
Field Trip #4 – What’s All the Buzz? Bemis Bee Farm! Thu. 12:30–5:00 p.m. $65 $70 $75 if avail.
Field Trip #5 – Work Smarter, Not Harder—Heifer Ranch Thu. 12:30–5:00 p.m. $65 $70 $75 if avail. SOLD OUT
Donate $50 (or more!) to help keep Southern SAWG working for farmers in the South.
PRINT CLEARLY AND COMPLETE A SEPARATE FORM FOR EACH REGISTRANT. Additional forms can be found at www.ssawg.org/registration. TOTAL
Name: _____________________________________________________ Enclosed is my check, made payable to Southern SAWG.
Farm or Organization: ____________________________________________ Please bill my credit card: ___ Visa ___ MasterCard
Address: ___________________________________________________ ___ Discover ___ AMEX
City: ______________________________ State: _____ Zip: ____________ Credit card # __________________________________
Phone: ____________________________________________________ Date of expiration ________ Security code (on back of card) _______
E-mail: ____________________________________________________ Name as it appears on credit card _______________________
May we list only your name and state as a conference registrant on our website? ___ Yes ___ No How did you learn about the conference? __________________
Personal or institutional checks or credit card information must accompany your registration form. There will be 10% charge for refunds before December 22, 2018. No
refunds after December 22, 2018, except fees for special events that are cancelled or sold out. Check for sold out events at www.ssawg.org/conference. General conference
registration availability is unlimited. By registering for this Southern SAWG conference, participants give Southern SAWG permission to use photos and video footage
captured in the context of the conference for educational, promotional and archival purposes.
FEE WAIVERS
Learn about these and more, at www.ssawg.org/fee-waivers
CONFERENCE LOCATION Military Veterans
Our 28th annual Practical Tools and Solutions for Sustaining The University of Arkansas and the National Center for Appropriate
Family Farms Conference will be held January 23–26, 2019, Technology (NCAT) are partnering to offer scholarships to military veterans.
at the Statehouse Convention Center in Little Rock, Arkansas. Priority will be given to those in the Southern U.S. region. The deadline to
apply for the scholarships is December 5, 2018. The application is available
Statehouse Convention Center online at www.ncat.org/atf_AR_ssawg.
101 East Markham Street Livestock and Poultry Farmers
Little Rock, AR, 72201 Food Animal Concerns Trust (FACT) is accepting applications for scholarships
www.littlerockmeetings.com of up to $400 for livestock and poultry farmers to attend this conference
Conference lodging is at the attached Marriott, providing quick to learn humane animal management practices. Find the application at:
and weather-proof access to the conference facilities just a few foodanimalconcernstrust.org/scholarships.
steps away. Complimentary wireless internet is available Growing Farm Profits Scholarships
throughout the center. We are offering a limited number of $500 travel scholarships, along with
free tuition for farmer-mentor teams, to participate in the pre-conference
Growing Farm Profits Short Course. See page 4.
Photo Courtesy of Little Rock Convention
Southern SAWG
Southern SAWG is offering a limited number of fee waivers to assist limit-
resource producers in the Southern U.S. to attend our conference. Qualified
candidates are those who:
• absolutely cannot afford the conference registration fee
• are farming commercially in the South or are planning to be farming
& Visitors Bureau.
next year in the South,
• have a sincere interest in sustainable or organic agriculture
Preference will be given to those who have never attended a Southern SAWG
conference before.
Deadline for this fee waiver application is December 1, 2018.
LODGING For applications, go to: www.ssawg.org/fee-waivers
Questions? Contact Teresa Maurer at feewaivers@ssawg.org,
Our primary conference hotel is the Little Rock Marriott. The hotel or by phone at 479-799-7985.
is located in the heart of the downtown River Market District, on the
Arkansas River. Our group rate is $114 per room, plus taxes. To receive
our discount rate you must state that you are with the Southern SAWG
conference group.
This lodging rate is only guaranteed before January 2, 2019.
Unused lodging rooms can result in Southern SAWG suffering a financial penalty.
Please book only those rooms you are confident you will use and release any
unneeded rooms immediately so that others will not be unnecessarily blocked out
of the conference hotels and Southern SAWG will not incur a penalty.
Little Rock Marriott
3 Statehouse Plaza
Little Rock, AR 72201 BECOME
If the Little Rock Marriott fills up, we have arranged special rates at the nearby A SPONSOR
Doubletree. See our website for more details: www.ssawg.org/lodging. Your sponsorship will support farmer
Immediately contact Tavia Benjamin at tavia@ssawg.org, if you have any problems scholarships and our informative and targeted
booking your hotel lodging. workshops and pre-conference courses, and
Note to organizational and institutional leaders: numerous networking opportunities.
We can provide letters of support if you are applying for scholarship funds If you are interested,
from outside funders to bring folks from your area to the conference. email amanda@ssawg.org or
Just contact us with the details: tavia@ssawg.org. call 336-500-3485.
3
RT C O U R SES .m.
4 SHO 2019 • 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p 0 a.m.
January 23, a.m. – 11:0
Wednesday, , January 24, 2019 • 8:00
rsday
through Thu
Short Course #1
Growing Farm Profits for Horticulture and Livestock
Instructors: Ellen Polishuk, Farm Consultant (MD), Jim Munsch, Deer Run Farm (WI), and John
Hendrickson, Center for Integrated Agricultural Systems (WI)
If you are serious about staying in farming you have to understand how to manage for profitability.
This course will teach practical methods for understanding and tracking profitability on your farm,
providing a variety of tools to manage the farm for profit. The Growing Farm Profits training program
has a proven track record for improving farm profitability for participants and this year, for the first
time, the needs of both horticulture and livestock producers will be addressed.
The Growing Farm Profits training team includes three experienced farmer-trainers: Ellen Polishuk,
a long-time Virginia vegetable producer and now farm consultant; John Hendrickson, an organic
vegetable farmer and researcher at the Center for Integrated Agricultural Systems at the University of This course will cover:
Wisconsin, Madison; and Jim Munsch is a cow-to-finish, grass-fed beef farmer and farm consultant.
• Managing for • Investing in Equipment
This course is supported by a generous grant from the Southern SARE Program.
Profitability • Calculating Profitability
• Evaluating Market • Controlling Labor Costs
Scholarship Opportunity Channels • Using Crop and Livestock
Do you learn better when working as a team? This year we are encouraging farmer-mentor teams • Evaluating Crops or Budgets
to participate in the training together and learn together after the course. This is certainly not Products • Discovering True Cost of
required but may prove helpful for more rapid success. Consider inviting someone to learn with you • Keeping Records that Production
and be your accountability partner in trying out some new goals for the new year. Possible mentors Matter • Pricing Products
could include your county extension agent, technical college teacher, neighboring farmer, or a
consultant. We have a limited number of $500 travel scholarships for farmer-mentor teams that
also provide free course tuition for this class. For applications, visit www.ssawg.org/fee-waivers.
If you apply for the scholarship, we recommend that you do not register for the short course until
after the announcement of scholarship awards has been made on December 7th.
Short Course #2
Start-Up Organic Vegetable
Production and Marketing
os.
Instructors: Cathy Jones, Perry-winkle Farm (NC) and Josh Hardin, Laughing Stock Farm (AR)
This comprehensive course on organic vegetable production and marketing will give you the ie Ro
Photo by Debb
critical information needed to get off to a great start and make the most of your early farming
years. Information in this course is designed for new farmers, interns and apprentices, and those
thinking about switching careers to farming. It will also be valuable for farmers with a couple
of years of experience who want to improve their operations. Cathy Jones and Josh Hardin have
different backgrounds and experiences that defined how they arrived at their respective farms.
Josh grew up on a “conventional” family farm in Arkansas and went on to start Laughing Stock Farm The course will cover:
11 years ago. Cathy and her husband started Perry-winkle Farm as “first generation farmers” (with • Organic Farming • Farm and Market
no previous experience) 28 years ago. They will use their experience running successful, small-scale, Principles Equipment
diversified farming operations to teach you what you need to know to make a success of your new • Soil Health • Harvest and Post Harvest
farming enterprise. • Crop Rotation and • Marketing Strategies
Take-home materials will include a DVD from Southern SAWG’s Natural Farming Systems in the South Cover Crops • Record Keeping and Crop
series that provides a virtual farm tour of a successful organic vegetable farm, and Southern SAWG’s • Transplant Production Planning
comprehensive Organic Vegetable Production and Marketing in the South CD ROM featuring Alex Hitt • Irrigation • Emerging Technologies
and hundreds of useful articles, photos and resources. • Pest, Disease and for Small-Scale
Weed Control Production
4
These 1½ days of intensive instruction are high-value learning experiences that provide you comprehensive, and in-depth
information on the topic most important to you right now. Instructors are some of the best experts in our field, and based on their
own practical experience over the years from studying and collaborating with others around the region. In addition to excellent
classroom instruction, participants will get a collection of useful take-home materials that they can use for continued learning and
to share. You must register to participate in the short courses. Pre-registration is strongly recommended, as space is limited.
Short Course #3
Food Safety Practices for Small to Mid-Scale Producers
Instructors: Billy Mitchell, National Farmers Union (GA) and Susie Marshall, Texas Organic Farmers and
Gardeners Association (TX)
Do you want to ensure that your farm products are safe for consumers, and stay in compliance of
new regulations? Small to mid-scale fruit and vegetable growers interested in learning about the
Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) Produce Safety Rule, Good Agricultural Practices (GAPs), and
co-management of natural resources and food safety will benefit from this comprehensive course.
Upon completing, it will give you the requisite certification as regulated by the Food and Drug
Administration’s Food Safety Modernization Act Produce Safety Rule § 112.22(c).
The course will cover the following:
Course instructors Billy Mitchell and Susie Marshall are both trained by the Produce Safety Alliance
and qualified to instruct the FDA-recognized training. More information about their professional • Introduction to Produce • Agricultural Water
backgrounds can be found on www.ssawg.org. Safety (Production and
• Worker Health, Hygiene, Postharvest Water)
Thursday morning will include a visit to the processing facility at Heifer Ranch for more applied
and Training • Postharvest Handling
learning. Participants completing the entire course and documentation will receive a certificate from
• Soil Amendments and Sanitation
the Association of Food and Drug Officials.
• Wildlife, Domesticated • How to Develop a Farm
This course is partially supported by a grant from the NIFA Food Safety Outreach Competitive Grants Animals, and Land Use Food Safety Plan
Program in association with the Texas Organic Farmers and Gardeners Association (TOFGA).
Short Course #4
FSMA Facilities Rule—
Preventative Controls for Human Food
Presenter: Dr. Ravi Jadeja, Oklahoma State University (OK)
The new FSMA regulation requires every processing facility that meets certain requirements to
have a trained resource person or Preventive Controls Qualified Individual (PCQI) who will oversee
the implementation of the facility’s food safety plan and other key tasks. This short course is the
specialized training course developed by the Food Safety Preventive Controls Alliance (FSPCA) and
approved by the FDA for PCQI persons. Dr. Ravi Jadeja brings 11 years of food safety training and
consulting and is trained by the Food Safety Preventive Controls Alliance and qualified to instruct the
FDA-recognized training.
The training offered here is a blended course with a portion of the required study being The online and in-class courses will cover the following:
completed online and the other portion as a one-day, instructor-led workshop to finish the
• Food Safety Plan • Process Preventive
completion certificate. This involves a two-part registration.
Development for Controls
Part 1: The online portion consists of roughly 10 hours of coursework and must be completed Facilities • Food Allergen,
before attendance at this short course. Register for the online coursework at: • Good Manufacturing Sanitation, and Supply
https://apps.dasnr.okstate.edu/fapc.okstate.edu/preventive-controls-blended-course-online. Practices Chain Preventive Controls
When the online portion is complete, you will receive an email that will be your final entry pass • Biological Food Safety • Validation and Record‐
into the Part 2. Hazards keeping Procedures
Part 2: Registration for the in-person training is through SSAWG: www.ssawgconference.org. • Chemical, Physical and • Recall Plan Development
Thursday morning will include a visit to a processing facility for more applied learning. Participants Economically Motivated • Regulation Overview:
completing the entire course and documentation will receive a certificate from the Association of Food Safety cGMP, Hazard Analysis,
Food and Drug Officials. • Hazard Analysis and and Risk‐Based
Preventive Controls Preventive
This course is partially supported by a grant from the NIFA Food Safety Outreach Competitive Grants Determination
Program in association with the Texas Organic Farmers and Gardeners Association (TOFGA).
5
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Field Trip #1
Growing Organic in a Conventional
World—Rattle’s Garden Barnhill Orch
ards
Host: Tara Stainton
Rattle’s Garden is a small certified organic vegetable, blueberry and cut flower FIELD TRIP #2
farm owned by Tara and Robert Stainton, located outside of Vilonia, Arkansas.
They have been selling vegetables and pastured eggs in the Little Rock area since Sustainable Farming Sustains a Family of
2008. In 2017, the Staintons were chosen as the Faulkner County Farm Family Veterans—Barnhill Orchards
of the Year. Tara began the farm as a kitchen garden that quickly turned into Host: Ekko Barnhill
a passion for organic farming and ultimately meaningful employment while
Barnhill Orchards is a family-run operation established in 1980 by retired Air
allowing Tara to stay home and raise the couple’s two young boys. Over the last
Force Lt. Col. Bob Barnhill and family. Starting from scratch, the Barnhill family
ten years, Tara has become an outspoken advocate for organic farmers. Through
cleared the land to plant seedling pecan and peach trees. From there, the land
her role as the president of the founding board of directors of a cooperative of
was tilled and the first vegetable plants were put into the soil. Since that time,
sustainable farmers, New South Produce Cooperative, Tara spent three years
Barnhill Orchards has expanded to become one of the area’s top producing
helping build a business attempting to eliminate obstacles faced by new farmers
quality vegetable suppliers to local friends, community neighbors, area restau-
wishing to grow organic produce. Having recently stepped down from this role
rants, and folks from surrounding towns. Barnhill Orchards is now cultivating
to gain balance between work and family life, Tara is now focused on increasing
15 acres using sustainable farming techniques. The farm is run and managed by
the farm’s flower production, continuing to build community through food in
Col. Bob Barnhill, his wife, Carlotta, and his children Ekko and Rex, both veterans
the farm’s Farmshare (100-family CSA) program and being a resource for new
as well.
organic farmers in Central Arkansas.
Barnhill Orchards practices sustainable farming techniques, utilizing nature and
This tour of Rattle’s Garden will offer an overview of the farm’s history
best practices to raise their produce. The fertile soil in the sandy hills of Lonoke
including challenges faced from the perspective of a self-taught woman farmer
County is perfect for growing farm-fresh vegetables, fruits, and nuts. All the
attempting to grow organically in an area dominated by conventional farming
produce is hand-picked and hand-sorted to ensure only the very best quality
with two small children at her side. The tour will include a look at the production
produce goes to Barnhill customers.
under way inside four high tunnels and all the activity going on in the propaga-
tion greenhouse. The tour will also include the on-site packing shed and the The tour will focus on fruit and nut production, succession planting, the use
tractors and implements used to cultivate the produce. of high tunnels, and farm-to-market and farm-to-restaurant marketing and
distribution.
6
Bemis Bee
Farm
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Photo courtesy Heifer Inte
ts
Farm Girl Mea
Heifer Ranch
FIELD TRIP #3 When getting started in beekeeping with his wife, Emily, Jeremy quickly realized
Pastured Poultry, Pork, and Beef— that there were no beekeeping suppliers in his area and very little sources for
information. Not wanting other new beekeepers to have the same difficult expe-
Permaculture in Practice with rience in getting started, Jeremy and his wife began selling beekeeping supplies
Farm Girl Meats and offering beginner beekeeping classes.
Host: Travis Short As Bemis Honey Bee Farm’s number of colonies began to grow, so did their busi-
“We believe the best-tasting, most nutritious foods are farmed with a light hand. ness and the demand for more education. Bemis Honey Bee Farm offers a wide
Our animals are bred and raised in the most natural of settings, on wholesome variety of beekeeping supplies, as well as informative classes year ’round that
diets, and in tune with their given instincts. We are proud to share our free-range range from beginner to queen rearing. The classes are hands-on and taught by
pork, beef, and chicken with discerning eaters of Central Arkansas.” qualified and experienced instructors.
Farm Girl Meats has been in operation since 2005. Travis Short and his girls have Tour attendees will learn the history of Bemis Family Farms, visit the tasting room
been nurturing both flora and fauna on the current 130-acre property known as to receive a hands-on experience with extracting honey with a centrifuge, learn
Farm Girl Meats since 2015. Farm Girl produces high-quality pork, poultry, beef, the basics of bees and how honey is made. They will also learn about beekeeping
and eggs for discerning customers all over Central Arkansas. Short has carefully equipment and tour the grounds to visit the hives. Attendees will be able to ask
chosen breeds that thrive in the river valley environment on which the farm is the experts questions about how bees can help their own farms. Bemis can help all
situated. Travis will show tour attendees around the farm and discuss the breeds levels of beekeepers from beginners to well-seasoned honey producers.
he’s chosen and the research that went into making those decisions. He will
discuss labor-saving methods for caring for livestock, animal husbandry, selecting
FIELD TRIP #5
and working with meat processors, and detail farrowing sows on pasture.
Attendees will tour the property and see first-hand how the animals are thriving Work Smarter, Not Harder—Heifer Ranch
in their river valley home. Host: Sean Pessarra
Heifer USA has long been a leader in education for small sustainable farming
FIELD TRIP #4 operations. The Heifer Ranch is a 1,200-acre beacon of transformational
education and sustainable agriculture nestled in the foothills of the Ouachita
What’s All the Buzz? Mountains. When you visit Heifer Ranch, you walk onto a Heifer USA project site.
Bemis Honey Bee Farm! The animals in the pastures, and produce from their Certified Organic gardens
Host: Emily Bemis support farmer-owner cooperatives and feed ranch guests in the dining hall.
Bemis Honey Bee Farm (BHBF) started with five hives and the passion to pollinate This tour will travel to Heifer Ranch in Perryville, Arkansas, to learn about new
their family’s existing commercial tree farm—Bemis Tree Farm. Family-owned tools for small fruit and vegetable producers. Topics covered will include hand
and operated since 1992, Tracey and Donna Bemis started Bemis Tree Farm with tools in the garden, season extension infrastructure, and best practices for
their two sons, Nathan, and Jeremy Bemis (owner of BHBF). Along with operating managing labor on the farm. There will be time for hands-on demonstrations
the tree farm with his family, Jeremy has expanded the business into stump with garden tools and equipment. The workshop will cover physical hand tools,
removal, screen printing and embroidery, and honey bee supplies. All three both powered and unpowered, season extension tools, post-harvest and storage
companies are run with the help of friendly and invaluable employees, family tools and labor management tools.
members, and friends. 7
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Mini Course #1
The Dual Plate: Food for Survival, Food for Comfort
Instructors: April Hampton, The Telling: A Gathering of Remembrance (AL), Devon Hamilton, Grilling for the People (CA), Qiana Mickie, Just Food New York (NY) and
Chefarmer Matthew Raiford, Strong Roots Provisions (GA)
Learn how foods that were once considered simply fit for survival have paved the way for the rich culinary experience of resilience known as Soul Food. “The
Telling: A Gathering of Remembrance” serves to tell the story of African-American emancipation in the United States and provides a guide for an event that
commemorates a journey from Africa to North America through picture, song, poetry, scripture and a ceremonial meal consisting of familiar foods that have
historical significance. The culinary journey will be prepared in collaboration with local farmers by Chefarmer Matthew Raiford, a 2018 James Beard Semi-
finalist, and Devon Hamilton of Trade Roots Culinary Collective. After taking part in the readings of the ceremony and sharing in a special meal, participants will
engage in group discussion that addresses the present day issues we face around food and race including topics like seed saving, land access, the movement of
food and people and how we can work together to transform our current food system.
Mini Course #2
Cracking The Code:
Dismantling the Dynamics of Oppression
(Racism)
Instructor: Wekesa Madzimoyo, AYA Educational Institute (GA)
Learn about the Process Communication Approach (PCA), a tool-set used to highlight and
dismantle personal, interpersonal, and institutional-cultural aspects of systemic oppression
as it relates to the food system. This course will teach participants how to “Crack-The-Code”
to become emotionally authentic for honest dialogue and ready to heal injuries born of
oppression. Skilled instructor Wekesa Madzimoyo will expose how oppression warps how
we recognize ourselves and the “other,” and offer a tool called the River of Touches which can
Southern SAWG 2019 Conference Team:
Steve Muntz Zachari Curtis Jessa Turner
Southern SAWG Executive Director Educational Program Coordinator Trade Show and Ads Coordinator
Natilee McGruder Chandra Hinton
Julia Sampson
Educational Program Coordinator Registration Coordinator
Executive Assistant
Keith Richards Gabraelle Lane
Amanda Hodges Conference Program Advisor Policy Collaborative Action Network
Outreach and Development Director Shari Hawley Eric Wagoner
and Sponsorship Coordinator Conference Publicity Coordinator Registration Systems Developer
Tavia Benjamin Teresa Maurer Sylvia Blain
Conference Coordinator Fee Waiver and Poster Display Coordinator Field Trip/Food Event Coordinator
8
correct this distortion and smooth the way to create authentic personal, interpersonal, institutional, and cultural change to combat racism and oppression.
Throughout the process, we will create a safe place to be authentic in this quest to dismantle the dynamics of oppression. This course is not just for “them;” It’s
also for “us” regardless of which side of the fabled superior/inferior social dynamic society has placed you. It will prepare you to Challenge, Heal, and Create
(CHC), leading to victory over the oppression of racism.
Mini Course #3
Holistic Animal Healthcare:
Healthy Livestock Are Happy Livestock
Instructor: Ann Wells, Springpond Holistic Animal Health (AR)
Good health is the mind and body together in harmony with the environment. This
course will help all livestock producers learn how to observe their animals and use
management strategies that will achieve the harmony that results in good health.
Learning what a healthy animal looks like as well as a healthy environment will be
explained. Husbandry and management practices, including vaccinations, birthing,
breeding, body condition scoring, common stresses and how to reduce them will
be covered. There will also be a discussion of mineral supplementation and which
ones to feed. Dr. Ann Wells graduated from Oklahoma State University School of Veterinary Medicine and has more than 25 years of experience in livestock
production, including producing and selling natural lamb and grass-finished beef.
Mini Course #4
Hoophouse Production of Cool Season Crops
Instructor: Pam Dawling, Twin Oaks Community (VA)
Want to know how to keep your hoophouse filled with productive food crops in the cool
season? This course is loaded with practical information. In this course you’ll learn: 1) how to
choose which crops to grow, including winter greens, turnips, radishes and scallions; 2) how to
plan for continuous harvests with maps, schedules, and month by month planting lists; 3) how
to maximize use of the valuable space, with transplants, succession planting, interplanting
and follow-on cropping. The course also includes tips to help minimize unhealthy levels of
nitrates in cold weather with short days. Instructor Pam Dawling is the author of Sustainable
Market Farming and is a CSA farmer at Twin Oaks Community in central Virginia.
Sold Out Policy
Space is limited for field trips, mini courses and event that has sold out, we will immediately notify Though we have never had to cancel a field trip,
short courses. Seats are sold first come, first you and offer you the choice of an alternative field trips may be cancelled if minimum registra-
served. If a pre-conference event is sold out, we event, or a refund will be provided. tion is not reached. You will be immediately
will immediately indicate that it is sold out on our We do not create waiting lists for field trips. If notified and a refund will be provided if we cancel
registration and program web pages. Our online the field trip of your choice is sold out before you due to low registration.
pre-registration system will not allow you to secure a ticket, you may stand by at departure time We do not provide refunds due to inclement
register for a sold out event. But if we receive your to purchase seats that may become available at weather. But we highly recommend you wear
mailed-in registration for a pre-conference the last minute. clothing and footwear suitable for walking on
farms in January.
9
SUPPORT THE LOCAL
FOOD ECONOMY
Chance to Win $500
Wouldn’t it be amazing if 1,200 people all came together and decided to patronize the local restaurants
and grocers in Little Rock who go out of their way to support local farmers? Just think what a shot in
the arm it would be for those restaurants and those farmers. It would really rock Little Rock! Well we are
MIX IT UP IN THE going to do just that at the 2019 Southern SAWG conference and give you the chance to win a few great
prizes as well. We’ve partnered with local farm-supporting restaurants and grocers in Little Rock to set
TRADE SHOW up a Local Foods Scavenger Hunt with special “Local Rocks Little Rock” scorecards. Patronize at least two
This year our opening mixer is going to be held in of the featured establishments while at the conference and you could win either $500, a CoolBot, or a
the Trade Show. Come mix it up with old and new free registration to the 2020 conference! All of these restaurants work intentionally to source food from
friends alike and get a sneak peak of all the great local farmers and many of the restaurants will be offering discounts to SSAWG participants.
vendors at our trade show. We will have a cash bar What a great way to tell Little Rock that we value local foods and want to support the businesses truly
set up for you with local brews. working to source locally. This will be our featured initiative to support local farmers instead of hosting
a local foods banquet dinner. It is always a struggle to provide a high quality local meal for 1,000
BOOK SIGNING people for a reasonable price so we are keeping our registration prices lower and putting that money
back in your pocket to find local meals of your choice. So let’s all rock Little Rock’s local food scene and
A variety of conference presenters will be on hand to be sure to turn in your completed scorecard at our closing mixer to be eligible to win $500, a CoolBot
sell and autograph their books for you on Thursday ($349 value), or a free ticket to the 2020 conference.
evening during the pre-conference mixer.
Fresh Stop Markets Meet and Greet Session
Thursday Morning, 9:00 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.
BROCC-N-ROLL! New Roots Fresh Stop Markets — University of Kentucky and University of Tennessee, Knoxville welcome the SSAWG community to a
meet and greet. Come explore how farmers and neighborhood leaders are uniting communities to spread food justice throughout Kentucky. Meet researcher
partners from University of Kentucky and University of Tennessee. Let’s converse about how to build on the momentum and successes of this local movement
and spread the model to more communities in the southern region and beyond.
Hosted by: Farmers of Rootbound Farm, Crestwood, KY, and Valley Spirit Farm, Campbellsburg, Kentucky; Community organizers from New Roots, Inc. and Fresh Stop
Market Leaders, Louisville, Kentucky; Universities of Kentucky and Tennessee; Southern SARE USDA Grant Recipients (2018-2021), Extending Roots of Fresh Stop
Markets Across the Southern Region, Lexington, KY and Knoxville, TN.
SEED SWAP
Thursday, 5:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.
We are delighted to continue our tradition of the
SSAWG Conference Seed Swap, hosted by seed saving
extraordinaire, Ira Wallace of Southern Exposure Seed
Exchange. Bring your seeds and your stories, and we’ll
provide the space and envelopes for swapping. This will be
a good opportunity to meet seed savers and learn about
varieties dear to their hearts. Don’t forget to bring your
seeds! Samples and photos are welcome as well.
CAN’T COME TO THE CONFERENCE? SEND SOMEONE IN YOUR PLACE!
(They can gather information for you both.)
102019 Southern SAWG Conference Schedule
W E D N E S DAY, J A N 2 3 A N D T H U R S DAY, J A N 24
Our conference is, as always, loaded with practical information tailored for those in the South producing organic and sustainable
food on a commercial scale and for those in our region working to improve local food systems. All conference sessions,
pre-conference courses and field trips will be led by successful producers and well-respected educators and organizers from around
the region with extensive knowledge and, more importantly, practical experience.
Intensive Short Courses Fresh Stop Markets Meet and Greet
Wednesday, 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. Thursday, 9:00 a.m. –11:30 a.m.
through (see page 10 for description)
Thursday, 8:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.
SC #1 Growing Farm Profits for Horticulture and Livestock Seed Swap
SC #2 Start-Up Organic Vegetable Production and Marketing Thursday, 5:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.
SC #3 Food Safety Practices for Small to Mid-Scale Producers We’ll provide space and envelopes for those who wish to swap seeds. This will be
SC #4 FSMA Facilities Rule: Preventative Controls for Human Food a good opportunity to meet seed savers and learn about varieties dear to their
hearts. Don’t forget to bring your seeds! Bring photos and samples too if you can.
(see pages 4–5 for complete descriptions)
Field Trips Thursday Evening Mixer
Thursday, 12:30 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. Thursday, 5:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.
FT #1 Growing Organic in a Conventional World Thursday evening’s opening mixer is going to be in the trade show. Come catch
FT #2 Sustainable Farming Sustains a Family of Veterans up with old friends and meet new ones. This is a great opportunity to talk with
some of the people doing great work around the region. We will have a cash bar.
FT #3 Pastured Poultry, Pork and Beef—Permaculture in Practice
FT #4 What’s All the Buzz? Bemis Bee Farm!
FT #5 Work Smarter, Not Harder—Heifer Ranch Book Signing
(see pages 6–7 for complete descriptions) Thursday, 5:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.
A variety of conference presenters will be on hand to sell and autograph their
Mini Courses books for you on Thursday evening during the pre-conference mixer.
Thursday, 1:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.
MC #1 The Dual Plate: Food for Survival, Food for Comfort
MC #2 Cracking The Code: Dismantling the Dynamics of Oppression
(Racism)
MC #3 Holistic Animal Healthcare s, not only
to be around so many caring folk
MC #4 Hoophouse Production of Cool Season Crops “It was good out our planet.”
ing, but caring ab
(see pages 8–9 for complete descriptions) caring about farm ce Attendee
—2018 Conferen
“I was able to attend becau
se
I was awarded a scholarsh
ip because I am a military vet
.”
—2018 Conference Attend
ee
112019 SOUTHERN SAWG CO
PRE-CONFERENCE n WEDNESDAY AND THURSDAY n JANUARY 23–24, 2019
Wed 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. SHORT COURSES Growing Farm Profits for Horticulture and Livestock Start-Up Organic Vegetable Production and Marketing
through Ellen Polishuk (MD), Jim Munsch (WI), and John Hendrickson (WI) Cathy Jones (NC) and Josh Hardin (AR)
Thurs 8:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m.
Thurs 12:30 p.m. - 5:00 p.m. FIELD TRIPS Growing Organic in a Conventional World — Rattles Garden Sustainable Farming Sustains a Family of Veterans —
Barnhill Orchards
Thurs 1:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m. MINI COURSES The Dual Plate: Food for Survival, Food for Comfort Cracking the Code: Dismantling the Dynamics of Oppression (Racism)
April Hampton (AL), Devon Hamilton (CA), Wekesa Madzimoyo (GA)
Qiana Mickie (NY) and Matthew Raiford (GA)
Thurs 5:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m. SPECIAL ACTIVITIES Opening Mixer • Tradeshow • Seed Swap • Book Signing • Poster Display • Cash Bar
FRIDAY n JANUARY 25, 2019
Fri 7:30 a.m. - 6:00 p.m. SPECIAL ACTIVITIES Trade Show • Poster Display
Fri 8:00 a.m. - 9:15 a.m. CONCURRENT SESSIONS Demystifying the Haney Test: Diversify Your Vegetable Crops Understanding the Production, Self Care Practices for Farmers
Inside the Life of Living Soils Pam Dawling (VA) Business and Marketing of Felicia Bell (MS),
Buz Kloot (SC) Niche Pork Marlena Nip (LA) and
Rhyne Cureton (NC) and Mark Cain (AR)
Jonathan Jackson (GA)
Fri 9:45 a.m. - 11:00 a.m. CONCURRENT SESSIONS Organic Soil Management for Add Cut Flowers to Increase Seed Saving: Preserving Genetic Using Social Media to Grow
High Tunnels Your Farm’s Diversity… Diversity, Community Culture Your Farm Business
Krista Jaconsen (KY) and Your Income! and Adding to Your Bottom Line Lauren Manning (AR) and
Cathy Jones (NC) Ira Wallace (VA) Luke Freeman (AR)
Fri 11:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. WELCOME and PLENARY Transformation through Cooperative Innovation — Cornelius Blanding (GA)
Fri 12:30 p.m. - 2:00 p.m. LUNCH ON YOUR OWN Local Rocks Little Rock (see pg 10) • Trade Show • Poster Display
Fri 2:00 p.m. - 3:15 p.m. CONCURRENT SESSIONS Organic Weed Management on a Growing Fruit That Is Whole Farm Planning for Do I Need a Lawyer for That?
Diversified Vegetalbe Farm Suited to the South Livestock Farms Addressing Small Farm Legal Issues
Daniel Parson (GA) Guy Ames (AR) Linda Coffey (AR) Lauren Manning (AR) and
Andrew Branan (NC)
Fri 3:45 p.m. - 5:00 p.m. CONCURRENT SESSIONS Improving Soil Health by Edible and Medicinal Alternative Dewormers for Trouble’s Coming:
Using Cover Crops Mushroom Cultivation Sheep and Goat Producers How Did Their Farm Survive?
Troyce Barnett (AR) William Padilla-Brown (PA) David Fernandez (AR) Jim Worstell (AR),
Jamie and Kenny Mauthe (MS),
Randy and Josh Hardin (AR)
Fri 5:30 p.m. - 7:00 p.m. STATE NETWORKING Alabama • Arkansas • Florida • Georgia • Kentucky • Louisiana • Mississippi • North Carolina • Oklahoma • South Carolina • Tennesse
SATURDAY n JANUARY 26, 2019
Sat 7:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. SPECIAL ACTIVITIES Trade Show • Poster Display
Sat 8:00 a.m. - 9:30 a.m. CONCURRENT SESSIONS Integrated Pest Management for How to Scientifically Select the Sustainable Commercial Hemp Mobile Processing Units:
Vegetable Crops in High Tunnels Best Varieties for Your Farm Production in the South An Overview for Farmers
Ayanava Majumdar (AL) and David Pitre (TX) Josh Hardin (AR), Victor Ford (AR), Steve Skelton (KY)
Lynn Pugh (GA) Garrett Stanley (OK),
Daniel Sanders (AR)
Sat 10:00 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. INFORMATION EXCHANGE Farmers of Color in Sustainable Agriculture • Grazing Management • Growing and Marketing Industrial Hemp • Vegetable Crops
Community Impact of Nonprofit Teaching Farms • Military Veterans • Queerness in Agriculture • Food and Farming Policy
Sat 11:30 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. LUNCH ON YOUR OWN Local Rocks Little Rock (see pg 10) • Trade Show • Poster Display
Sat 1:30 p.m. - 3:00 p.m. CONCURRENT SESSIONS Creating a Closed System of Cut Flower Crop Plans: How to Let Getting Started in Lean Farming Ideas:
Soil Fertility Inputs Martha Stewart, Social Media, and Pasture-Raised Beef What’s All the Buzz About?
Linley Dixon (CO) Bloggers Do All the Work For You Ann Wells (AR) Ellen Polishuk (VA)
Laura Mewborn (SC)
Sat 3:30 p.m. - 5:00 p.m. CONCURRENT SESSIONS The Role of Fungi in Soil Health New Tools for Managing Cover Livestock Guardian Dogs Post-Harvest Handling
William Padilla-Brown (PA) Crops and Organic Fertilizer Renard Turner (VA) Techniques for
Julia Gaskin (GA), Kate Cassidy Maintaining Quality
(GA) and Daniel Parson (GA) Michelle Akindiya (TX)
Sat 5:30 p.m. - 7:00 p.m. CLOSING MIXER Closing Mixer • Live Music • Cash Bar • Drawing for Free 2020 Conference Registration
12ONFERENCE — AT A GLANCE
Food Safety Practices for Small to Mid-Scale Producers FSMA Facilities Rule — Preventative Controls for Human Food
Billy Mitchell (GA) and Susie Marshall (TX) Ravi Jadeja (OK)
Pastured Poultry, Pork, and Beef — What’s All the Buzz? — Bemis Bee Farm Work Smarter, Not Harder — Heifer Ranch
Permaculture in Practice with Farm Girl Meats
Holistic Animal Healthcare: Healthy Livestock Are Happy Livestock Hoophouse Production of Cool Season Crops
Ann Wells (AR) Pam Dawling (VA)
Beyond “Organic Labeling” If You Don’t Carrot (Care It) Won’t Happen Building Farmer Networks Solving the Riddle: Dismantling Racism
The Next Generation of Food System Transparency Karyn Moskowitz, New Roots, Inc. (KY), Cameron Farlow (NC) and Farmer TBA Wekesa Madzimoyo (GA)
Linley Dixon (CO) and Marty Mesh (FL) Ben Abel and Bree Pearsall, Rootbound Farm (KY),
Joseph Monroe, Ashbourne Farm (KY), and
Jeremy Porter, Lexington Fresh Stop Markets (KY)
Planning to Buy Farmland Developing Realistic and Profitable Product Farmers Markets: What is the Future? Using a Racial Equity Lens on
Michael Parker (NY), Cara Fraver (NY) Pricing for Your Livestock Products Emily English (AR), Katie Kraemer (TX) Food and Farm Policy
and Julia Asherman (GA) Jerica Cadman (TX) and Josh Hardin (AR) Qiana Mickie (NY) and Marla Karina Larrave (DC)
Why Do You Farm? Accessing School Markets: Black Land, Liberation and Power Finding Your Voice in Policy
Set Your Goals and Figure Out Your Finances Selling, Marketing and Relationship Building Dara Cooper (GA) and Savi Horne (NC) Ash Bruxvoort (IA), Marla Karina Larrave (DC),
Scott Marlow (NC) Rachel Spencer (SW) and Margo Hale (AR) and Judith McGeary (TX)
Tracking and Using Labor Data Growing for Restaurants Racial and Economic Activism in Rural Arkansas: Protecting Farms and Farmworkers
to Improve Profitability Michelle Akindiya (TX) The 1919 Elaine Massacre Iris Figueroa (DC)
John Hendrickson (WI) Cherisse Jones Branch (AR)
and Brian K. Mitchell (AR)
ee • Texas • Virginia
Standing on a LOT of Love: Is a School Market Right For You? How Resilient Is Your Farm and Community? Funding Your Mission
Preserving Family Land Hear from the Buyers0 Jim Worstell (AR) and Annie Cafer (MS) Elisa Muñoz-Miller (LA) and Nikki Seibert (NC)
Mavis Gragg (NC) Emily English (AR), Jenna Rhodes (AR),
Sarah Martin (AR) and Dolores Sutterfield (AR)
• Pest and Disease Management • Lean Farming • Resilience: How to Survive • Community Supported Agriculture • Farm to School
Upping Your Record-Keeping Game Are You Ready to Work With a Major Grocery Chain? Veterans Succeeding in Ag Developing: What Your Organization
Susie Marshall (TX) Tara Treffry (TX), Don Bennett (AR) and Farmer TBA Margo Hale (AR), Althea Raiford (GA), Damon Should Be Doing
Helton and Jonathan Jackson (GA) Calvin R. King, Sr. (AR)
Understanding Crop Insurance Options for Cooperative Development in the South: Sisters of the Soil: Cultivating the Next Generation Plate to Politics:
Organic and Sustainable Farms Past, Present and Future of Food Movers and Shakers Moving People to Action Through Stories
Michael Stein (DC) and others TBA Eric Simpson (GA) and Terence Courtney (GA) Charles Greenlea, HABESHA, Inc (GA), Andrea Ash Bruxvoort (IA)
Irvin, Spelman College (GA) and Spelman College
Sisters of the Soil Students (GA)
132019 Southern SAWG Conference Schedule
F R I DAY, J A N UA RY 2 5 , 2 019
The general conference, with over 90 expert presenters, offers a wide variety of sessions—for those with years of experience and for
those who are new to the field. The line-up includes 56 educational sessions, state networking sessions for each of the 13 states in
our region, along with 13 information exchange/crowdsourcing sessions where you get to exchange ideas with those who share your
interests. Also built into the general conference schedule are a trade show and research posters.
Trade Show and Poster Display Self Care Practices for Farmers — The truth is, being a farmer
Friday, 7:30 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. means you are constantly giving your energy with little time to recharge and
recenter. It’s hard to find time for yourself, which can lead to a downward spiral
Concurrent General Conference Sessions of burnout, depression and even death. The more responsibilities you have,
the more essential it is that you take care of yourself. Learn how three farmers
Friday, 8:00 a.m. – 9:15 a.m. implement self-care in their work, how to identify your emotional needs and
Demystifying the Haney Test: Inside the Life of Living communication style, and walk away with a few key tools that you can imple-
Soils — We often hear “The Haney Test” bandied about as single number that ment into your daily farm routine in just 10 minutes a day. Marlena Nip, Edible
is either great or meaningless, depending on who is talking. In reality, the Haney Schoolyard New Orleans (LA), Felicia Bell, RD & S Farm (MS), and Mark Cain,
Test (not one, but a series of tests) provides unique insight into your farm’s soil Dripping Springs Garden (AR)
biology and gives you valuable information on how to reduce inputs, especially Beyond “Organic Labeling”: The Next Generation of
nitrogen. Dr. Buz Kloot will take the hood off both the Haney Test and the Food System Transparency — While much about the National
traditional soil test and make a few comparisons to show where these tests differ Organic Program has been a success, many organic farmers feel that the USDA
and how they are similar. Then he will provide a framework for using soil tests label no longer adequately reflects how they farm. Come learn about, discuss,
to educate yourself on your farm’s soil, rather than just to provide a number. Buz and question ways farmers are trying to differentiate their products in the
Kloot, University of South Carolina (SC) marketplace. Marty Mesh will discuss the “Food Justice Certified” standard,
Diversify Your Vegetable Crops — Learn how to make your which has been widely recognized as the gold standard for social justice. Linley
selection of vegetables the most interesting one around. Offer a broader range Dixon will cover the why, current state, and future of a farmer-led effort to
of vegetables and keep your customers’ coming back for something new and protect and improve upon organic standards. Marty Mesh, Agricultural Justice
different, while still supplying their old favorites. Attract restaurant chefs by Project (FL), and Linley Dixon, The Real Organic Project (CO)
offering crops and varieties they don’t easily find elsewhere. Introduce your CSA If You Don’t Carrot (Care It) Won’t Happen — Learn how New
members or your school and other institutional clients to crops they haven’t Roots leaders and farmers are igniting community power to bring farm-fresh
tried before. This session will help you distinguish between the crops likely to produce to families living in our nation’s most under-invested neighborhoods.
succeed and the siren call of too many weird eggplants. Pam Dawling, Twin Oaks The New Roots Fresh Stop Market model leverages the tradition of cooperative
Community (VA) economics and the utilization of community leaders and spaces to access fresh
Bring Home The Bacon: Understanding the Production, and local food. Join this session to explore how these markets are changing our
Business and Marketing of Niche Pork — Raising pigs for local food system so farmers get a fair price and the community gets to eat. Karyn
markets can be hard, but selling, marketing and sustaining the enterprise can be Moskowitz, New Roots, Inc. (KY), Ben Abel and Bree Pearsall, Rootbound Farm (KY),
even harder! In this session we’ll discuss the importance of taking the “emotions” Joseph Monroe, Ashbourne Farm (KY), and Jeremy Porter, Lexington Fresh Stop
out of business decisions, adequate record keeping, proper land management, Markets (KY)
and using social media effectively. You’ll also learn how to market your farming Building Farmer Networks — Are you interested in connecting with
practices, sell the whole animal, find your niche, create value-added products for other farmers in your region? Do you want to find a way to create more farmer-
clients, and turn your farm into an event space. Jon Jackson, Comfort Farms (GA) to-farmer learning opportunities? Learn about successful models for building
and “Pork” Rhyne Cureton, Pig Farming Consultant and Advocate (NC) relationships, networks, and learning between farmers from two organiza-
tions with established farmer-to-farmer networks, including the Collaborative
14Regional Alliance for Farmer Training (CRAFT). We’ll discuss how to lay the Planning to Buy Farmland: A Demonstration of the
groundwork for, and maintain, a successful beginning farmer-to-farmer network Finding Farmland Calculator — The choices you make when
whether you are a small group of farmers or an agricultural support program. buying farmland are some of the most complex and important you will make as
Cameron Farlow, Organic Growers School (NC) and TBA, CRAFT Network Leaders a farmer. The National Young Farmers Coalition designed the Finding Farmland
Solving the Riddle: Dismantling Racism — This workshop Calculator to help beginning farmers navigate the real estate financing process
teaches us to “Solve The Riddle”of racism by creating more emotionally authentic with confidence. In this workshop we’ll use real farmers’ land access stories to
and honest dialogue devoid of unconscious personal attacks to ourselves or each demonstrate how you can use the calculator to learn about the financing options
other. Such honest dialogue — within and between groups — facilitates real available to farmers, compare properties, understand affordability, and prepare
personal, interpersonal, institutional, and cultural change to combat racism and to work with a lender. Michael Parker and Cara Farver, National Young Farmers
oppression. This session is appropriate for all conference participants regardless Coalition (DC) and Julia Asherman, Rag & Frass Farm (GA)
of which side of the fabled superior/inferior social dynamic society has placed The Price Is Right… Or Is It? Developing Realistic
you. Wekesa Madzimoyo, AYA Educational Institute (GA) and Profitable Product Pricing for Your Livestock
Products — Do you have an intentional strategy for developing your meat
Concurrent General Conference Sessions prices that ensures you’re making a profit? Do you ever wonder how to connect
Friday, 9:45 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. your actual sales price to all those intangible expenses that aren’t directly
related to production — like insurance, electricity, property tax, repairs, and
Organic Soil Management for High Tunnels — High tunnels
equipment and tools? Can you be sure you’re earning the salary you need to
are high-value real estate, so how do you sustain your soil in these intensive
thrive? Learn how to account for all your day-to-day expenses and capital
systems? This session will cover strategies for managing soil fertility, soil-borne
expenditures in your product pricing. Then learn how to connect with customers
diseases, and soil conservation practices for high tunnels, emphasizing organic
who are willing to pay the prices you need to stay in business and grow. Jerica
and biological practices that can be used by any grower. Krista Jacobsen will
Cadman, Shady Grove Ranch (TX)
discuss strategies to sustainably manage nutrients, salt and organic matter
in tunnels, as well as soil testing for high tunnels. She’ll also present what Farmers Markets: What Is the Future? — One of the most
researchers in Kentucky, Tennessee and Georgia are learning about managing traditional outlets for sales, farmers markets have evolved over the years with
cover crops for high tunnels in the Southern region. Krista Jacobsen, University of some markets going online, others focused on incentives and accessibility, many
Kentucky (KY) staying the same but losing new and beginning farmers. Join us to explore
farmers markets today and to discuss the benefits and challenges, how we can
Add Cut Flowers to Increase Your Farm’s Diversity… and
improve coordination and collaboration to maintain supply and demand, and
Your Income! — Are you already producing vegetables for local markets?
how farmers markets can continue to serve our farmers of today and tomorrow.
Do what many market farmers have done — add cut flowers to the mix. Learn
Emily English, Arkansas Farm to School (AR), Katie Kraemer, Tecolote Farm (TX) and
about “must grow” varieties, seed sources, succession planting, crop rotation,
Josh Hardin, Laughing Stock Farm (AR)
harvest and basic post-harvest handling from an experienced organic grower.
She’ll also help you decide if cut flowers are right for you by discussing the ways Digging in the Farm Bill: Using a Racial Equity Lens on
they fit with vegetable production and the complexities they create. Cathy Jones, Food and Farm Policy — This session will encourage participants to
Perry-winkle Farm (NC) explore the racial inequities built into the food and farming policy of the United
States. Participants will apply a racial equity lens to the Farm Bill — the over-
Seed Saving: Preserving Genetic Diversity, Community
arching federal agriculture and food policy. Utilizing this lens, we will examine
Culture and Adding to Your Bottom Line — Preservation of
the challenges and opportunities for the sustainable agriculture movement and
seeds is one of the foundations of sustainable food production. Hear how GMO
advocates — both people of color and white — to advance racial equity in the
agriculture, consolidation in the seed industry, loss of genetic diversity, and rapid
Farm Bill. Participants will also discover how to connect advocacy efforts across
decline in the number of active seed savers among black farmers affects our
the South to federal policy. Qiana Mickie, Just Food New York (NY), Marla Karina
farms and our communities. Then learn about the basics of seed saving and seed
Larrave, National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition (DC)
production for your own farm and issues to consider when deciding whether to
sell seeds directly to gardeners or contract for sales to independent seed compa-
nies. Ira Wallace, Southern Exposure Seed Exchange (VA)
Using Social Media to Grow Your Farm Business — Learn
how you can leverage social media for your farm business to grow your customer Southern Sustainable Agriculture
base and market your products. We will provide an overview of Facebook and Working Group (SAWG) thanks
Instagram, show how to set up a business profile, and discuss strategies for
creating content and how to engage with customers. This session will provide
an introduction for those who are wondering how to get started or are looking
for ways to improve their social media skills. Participants will also get access to and
a downloadable workbook on how to make the most of social media marketing
for your farm business. Lauren Manning, University of Arkansas School of Law (AR)
and Luke Freeman, NCAT (AR) for their Steward Level
sponsorship of our conference.
15You can also read
