ConferenceMOSESHighlightsPage10 forTransitionSpringGrazingPage13
Fernholz cautioned that farmers need to change their mindset when they go into organics. “We have to be prepared for downward pressure on prices if farmers approach organic production and marketing with a conventional production and marketing mindset,” he added. The number of acres of organic corn harvested per operation was down last year, as Mercaris forecast in the December Organic Broadcaster. However, 13% more certified organic operations harvested organic corn in 2019, which offset those per-operation production losses. The states with the highest number of organic field crop acres harvested are California, Montana, Texas, and New York. Wisconsin ranked fifth with 207,271 harvested acres or 6.3% of the country’s organic field cropOneharvest.ofthe factors contributing to the rise in organic field crop acres harvested was organic wheat produc tion, which was 16% higher than in 2018. That increase was fueled by growth in the High Plains region, the reportThesaid.report also showed 1.1 million acres of organic hay and alfalfa were harvested in 2019, up 8% from the previous year with 11% more certified organic opera tions harvesting hay. The full report is available for purchase online at mercaris.com/analysis-acreage.
costs. Variable costs are usually paid in cash during the crop year, while overhead costs, such as deprecia tion, are not. If the farm has livestock or if there are livestock operations in the area, hay can be an excellent crop to plant during transition. The first-year cash flow will likely still be negative. There are significant costs to establish hay and yield will be low in the establishment year. However, hay is a great soil-building crop. There is usually a decent local market for it—hay is expen sive to haul long distances. After the first year, three or even four cuttings can be sold. Some growers in areas where hay is not a viable option will grow non-GMO soybeans during one of the transition years. The non-GMO premium for soybeans can be as much as $1 per bushel or more, and the cost of non-GMO seed is significantly less than GMO varieties. Also, planting a row crop like non-GMO soybeans gives growers an opportunity to practice using tools, such as a cultivator, that they may never have tried before. Mistakes made during the transition are less costly than they will be with a highvalue organic crop. It’s generally a good idea not to transition too many acres at once from conventional to organic production. Even if conventional crops have not been profitable in recent years, they still might provide better cash flow to the farm than would transitional crops. Organic transi tion is an investment that pays off in future cash flow, much like a wage earner puts money into a retirement fund expecting a payoff years down the road. And, just like most wage earners can’t afford to put 100% of every paycheck into their retirement accounts, most conven tional farmers probably can’t afford to invest 100% of their land in organic transition in one year.
The final Mercaris 2019 Acreage Report shows that the number of growers converting land to organic production escalated significantly in 2019, with 908 newly certified organic field crop operations for a total of 18,556 across the country—that’s a 14% increase over 2018, which had only a 3% increase over the prior year.
By
March | April 2020Midwest Organic & Sustainable Education Service ChangemakerAwardRecipientsPages5,7,9
Audrey Alwell is the Communications Director for MOSES Efforts to educate farmers and support their transition to organic crop production are paying off. A new report from Mercaris, the data service and online trading platform for organic and non-GMO markets, shows a 13% rise in certified organic field crop acreage in the U.S. in 2019, and a 14% jump in the number of certified organic field crop operations.Nationwide last year, farmers harvested nearly 3.3 million acres of certified organic field crops, which includes corn, soybeans, wheat, oats, hay, and rye. That number is 13% higher than Mercaris reported for the 2018 harvest, which was only 2% higher than the prior year. “Despite what can be fairly described as the most difficult growing season in more than a decade, 2019 was a remarkable year for organic production,” said Ryan Koory, Director of Economics at Mercaris. “Overall acreage expansion did prove to be limited by weather throughout the growing season. That said, the addition of new organic growers suggests that 2020 could see organic production reach new record highs.”
By Audrey Alwell
2019
Organic grain production might be an appeal ing option to conventional grain growers who have been contending with corn prices around $3.50 and soybeans in the neighborhood of $8.25. However, just as it takes agronomic expertise to successfully grow organic crops, it takes economic expertise to manage the farm’s cash flow and working capital during the transition years. Cash flow is a measure of all the cash coming into the farm and leaving the farm in a given month or year. Cash may come in from the sale of farm prod ucts, sale of surplus machinery, off-farm income, or proceeds from loans. Cash leaves the farm through operating expenses, loan payments, new equipment or building upgrade, and to cover family living costs. If a farm doesn’t have enough cash coming in dur ing the month to cover all the cash going out, a farmer will probably have to tap the farm’s operating loan or dip into its working capital. Working capital is the amount of current assets that remain after subtracting all the farm’s current liabilities. Current assets include cash and anything that will either convert to cash or be used on the farm within the next year. Managing cash flow and working capital are chal lenging for any grain operation, whether it is conven tional or organic. Cash doesn’t come in until the crops are harvested and sold. And, long before crops go to market, a lot of cash goes out to pay for seed, land rent, soil amendments, loan payments, family living costs, and many other items. Cash flow difficulties can be particularly acute during the first two years of organic transition. Farmers may spend a significant amount of money on soil amendments during the first year of transition to give the soil time to respond before organic certifica tion. They may need to buy some new equipment, like a rotary hoe or a cultivator. They might devote extra time to learn how to manage crops in an organic system. Crop yields will likely be low. All these things can have a negative effect on cash flow and can deplete working capital. Tips to Lesson Economic Impact of Transition Keeping variable costs as low as possible during the transition years is very important. Variable costs are the costs that wouldn’t exist if the farm wasn’t produc ing anything. Items like seed, fuel, custom field work, and soil amendments are all examples of variable sees rise in organic field crop acres harvested, new certifications
Volume 28 | Number 2 54767WIValley,Spring339,BoxPO TM Organic Grain Transition continues on 6
New tools, bridge loan can help farmers transition to organic grain production Paul Dietmann
“While growth in the organic industry was antici pated, the 14% year/year expansion in certified organic field crop operations well exceeded expectations,” KooryMOSESadded.Organic Specialist and OGRAIN Crop Specialist Carmen Fernholz viewed the report’s find ings with cautious optimism. “Organic field crop production is moving quickly into mainstream agriculture,” Fernholz said. “That could mean that a lot of conventional growers are jumping into organic for the price point since conven tional prices have been so depressed. But organic is really about so much more than a premium price— it’s a whole system of working with the land, creating diverse rotations, and building the soil.”
Chuck Anderas, Broadfoot, Cleveland, Kivirist,
Director | lauren@mosesorganic.org
Land Access Navigator | jennifer@mosesorganic.org
Jennifer Nelson,
Cathy Olyphant, Board of Directors: David Abazs Round River Farm, Minn.
In Her Boots Coordinator | lisa@mosesorganic.org Tom Manley, Partnership Director | thomas@mosesorganic.org
Organic Specialist | chuck@mosesorganic.org Sarah
|
|
Volume 28, #2 March | April 2020 Editor Audrey Alwell Advertising Coordinator Tom Manley Digital Content Producer Stephanie Coffman The Organic BroadcasterTM is a bimonthly newspaper published by the Midwest Organic & Sustainable Education Service (MOSES), a nonprofit that provides education, resources and practical advice to farmers. Opinions expressed by the authors do not necessarily reflect those of the publisher. Inclusion of an advertisement does not imply endorsement of a product. We reserve the right to refuse inappropriate advertising. © 2020 MOSES Content may be reprinted with permission. Contact Audrey@mosesorganic.org Display & Classified Advertising: Thomas@mosesorganic.org or 888-90-MOSES Content Submissions or Inquiries: Audrey@mosesorganic.org Free Subscription: mosesorganic.org/sign-up or 888-90-MOSES MOSES is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit qualified to receive tax-deductible donations. Support resilient organic, sustainable, and regenerative farms by donating: MOSES, P.O. Box 339, Spring Valley, WI 54767 Online: mosesorganic.org/donate MOSES educates, inspires, and empowers farmers to thrive in a sustainable, organic system of agriculture.
|
Audrey Alwell,
|
Project Manager | sarahb@mosesorganic.org Sophia
Lauren Langworthy is the Executive Director of MOSES.
Lauren Langworthy, Executive
Clare Hintz Elsewhere Farm, Wis. Charlie Johnson Johnson Farms, SD David Perkins Vermont Valley Farm, Wis.
past few years like many conferences, but 2020 had a “buzz”—a strong feeling of being surrounded by electric ideas and connections—like I haven’t felt in years! I had so many wonderful interactions with both first-time attendees and long-time friends who expressed the same sense: regardless of the number of people in the room, the charge between those gathered was palpable. Together, we explored means of production, farm business models, and questions about the agricultural and food system structures that encour age or prevent participation in the agriculture we want to see propagating over our landscapes and communities.Ourtwokeynotes spoke to the same systemic issues from two very different perspectives. I know that these messages were challenging and that you may have resonated more with one speaker than another. That’s OK. It’s worth noticing and consider ing what resonated with you and what challenged you. Just as with any other training or workshop, we are able to grow as we experience new perspectives and information. I encourage you to watch both of the keynote presentations either for the first time or simply through a different lens. You’ll find them on the MOSES YouTube channel (www.youtube.com/ user/MOSESorganic).
I always walk away from the
Administrative Coor. | sophia@mosesorganic.org Stephanie Coffman, Presentation Coor. | stephanie@mosesorganic.org Lisa
Office Assistant | cathy@mosesorganic.org On-Farm Organic Specialist Team | specialist@mosesorganic.org
|
Molly Rockamann | EarthDance Farm School, Mo. Sara Tedeschi | Dog Hollow Farm, Wis. Darin Von Ruden | Von Ruden Family Farm, Wis.
decliningattendanceadvocates.erscommunityconnectionaConferenceMOSESfeelingsenseofprideandwithmyoffarmandfoodsystemTheevent’shasbeenoverthe
Communications Director | audrey@mosesorganic.org
At the intersection of those two presentations, I was able to vividly see an important truth. The industrial model of agriculture does not take into account the wellbeing of our farmers, our natural ecosystems, and vulnerable community members. Our community has strong values that include car ing for farmers, eaters, and ecosystems. We need to link arms with movements that share these values if we want to see systemic change. The time has come to work together on the economic and social cycles that can improve our food system for the future. As I write this, headlines are full of news of COVID-19 and dire concerns about the economic and social impacts of the growing pandemic. There is a lot of uncertainty and fear. The recommenda tions for positively impacting community health revolve around isolation. The stark contrast between the vibrant buzzing of the MOSES Conference and the rising tide of fear and isolation have me doing a lot of thinking—and I hope you’ll join me in trying to puzzle out solutions. How do we continue to grow and nourish community amidst this crisis and what ever else may come? Where are opportunities for solidarity and partnership that can create strength? What unique perspective, skills, or relationships can you contribute to create the food system we want to see?To those of you who came to the conference and engaged in conversations about these difficult sub jects—thank you. MOSES will continue to provide opportunities to expand on these discussions and work with all of our community to turn the tide away from industrial food and farming models toward those that reflect the values of the organic, sustainable, and regenerative farming community.
|
Ideas, connections create buzz at MOSES Conference MOSES Team: ORGANIC FARM SEED FOR THE WHOLE FARM Request your Organic Farm Seed Catalog! (800) 352-5247 • Corn & Soybeans • Cover Crops • Forage / Pasture • Small Grainswww.alseed.com
|
Mike Bollinger River Root Farm, Iowa Sylvia Burgos Toftness Bull Brook Keep, Wis. Dela Ends Scotch Hill Farm, Wis.
• LandPKS – aka Land Potential Knowledge System, supports producers in determining land potential to identify the best land-use (landpotential.org/land-potential)practices
Viewpoints from members of the organic community
OpenTEAM is an open-source platform designed to be usable by farms and ranches of any type or scale, anywhere in the world. Recordkeeping tools like USDA’s LandPKS will likely be a good entry point for very small farms that have little information about their soils, while more robust recordkeeping tools like FarmOS are capable of tracking all of the recordkeep ing needs of an operation of any size. Farmers can access these recordkeeping tools from a mobile device as well as on a computer. Wolfe’s Neck Center (WNC), a nonprofit research and demonstration farm and organic dairy located on 600 acres of preserved coastal landscape in Freeport, Maine, is the headquarters for OpenTEAM. WNC uses its setting to connect people of all ages to the food they eat and where it comes from, using regenerative agriculture, innovative soil health research, and visitor education. Stonyfield first began working with Wolfe’s Neck when we teamed up in 2014 to launch their organic dairy training program.
• COMET- Farm – a whole farm and ranch carbon and greenhouse gas accounting system (comet-farm.com)
• Cool Farm Tool – an online greenhouse gas, water, and biodiversity calculator for (coolfarmtool.org/coolfarmtool)farmers
www.headsupST.com
• DNDC - process-based model that simulates the soil biogeochemical processes occurring in agricultural (www.globaldndc.net/index.php)systems
• OpTIS – an automated system to map tillage, resi due cover, winter cover, and soil health practices using remote sensing (www.ctic.org/OpTIS_Information)data
• Quick Carbon – low-cost reflectometry to generate reliable soil carbon data for ecological understand ing, decision making, and markets (www.quickcarbon.org)
EPA Registered for soybean white mold, SDS and rhizoctonia root rot/damping off Consistent yield benefit Broad spectrum, systemic plant defense activator Can be applied commercially or on farm Available pre-treated on all dry bean seed - sourced from the Pacific Northwest ORGANIC SEED TREATMENT FOR SOYBEANS AND DRY BEANS | (866) 368-9306
Inside Organics continues on 6 recommendations about how farms can improve soil health, increase soil carbon sequestration, and reduce other sources of GHG emissions from the farm. Some of the tools in the OpenTEAM platform include:
INSIDE ORGANICS
| 3mosesorganic.org | 888-90-MOSESTM By Britt Lundgren, Stonyfield Stonyfield works with partners on open-source platform for soil health At Stonyfield, we have a long-held commitment to reducing our impact on climate change. We were pioneers in conducting lifecycle analysis to understand where all of our emissions come from, so we figured out pretty early on that over half of our emissions come from agriculture. This means that if we’re seri ous about reducing our impact on climate change, we need to work with the farms we source from to help them reduce their emissions, too. This is why we have teamed up with Wolfe’s Neck Center for Agriculture and the Environment, the Foundation for Food and Agriculture Research, and LandPKS to launch OpenTEAM (openteam.com munity). OpenTEAM is an innovative new software platform that offers farmers fast, easy access to more accurate recommendations on the specific things they can do to improve soil health on their farm. The platform offers field-level carbon measurement, digital recordkeeping, remote sensing, predictive analytics, and input and economic management decision sup port. The list of OpenTEAM partners is on the website; it continues to grow. We know that organic is a fundamental starting point when it comes to ensuring that farms are using practices that build soil health and store carbon in the soil long term.1 But even with organic certification, we know that most farms have the opportunity to further improve soil health and reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, and this is where it can get tricky. Every farm has a unique combination of soil types, weather, and production practices, so there’s no one-size-fits-all solution to reducing emissions and improving soil health. The good news, though, is that we know there is tremendous potential for farms to pull CO2 out of the atmosphere and store it in the soil by improving soilFarmershealth. currently have access to a range of tools that assist with improving soil health, but it can be time-consuming and cumbersome for farmers and companies like Stonyfield to move between multiple measurement tools and models to access the infor mation they need. OpenTEAM solves these chal lenges by creating interoperability between many of these existing tools, making what was once a complicated process more accessible and user-friendly.WithOpenTEAM, farmers enter data once into one of several recordkeeping tools that are part of the platform. OpenTEAM also enables farmers or researchers to pull in data from soil tests, satellite imagery, weather data sets, and other farm manage ment software. All of this data can then be easily moved through models that can assess total farm GHG emissions and carbon sequestration, and into decision support tools that can provide site-specific
• FarmOS – a web-based application for farm man agement, planning and recordkeeping (farmos.org)
In 2020, OpenTEAM is building a network of 10-15 hubs, which are farms or farming organiza tions selected as the primary locations for field testing OpenTEAM. Once the platform is ready for wider release, the hubs will serve as ambassadors to help build the on-farm user network. Farms that are interested in participating in OpenTEAM but don’t have the research capacity to sign on as a hub can instead sign up as an OpenTEAM network farm. More information about how to participate in OpenTEAM is available on the website (openteam.community). Launched in the summer of 2019, the first year of OpenTEAM’s work has been focused primarily on cre ating interoperability between the tools that are a part of the OpenTEAM platform. A small number of hubs associated with researchers involved in OpenTEAM are beginning to trial the platform, and the group plans an open application period to create more hubs in the fall of 2020. Over time, OpenTEAM’s goal is to build a wide and diverse network of farms that are using the platform to track soil health and emissions from their farm, iden tify adaptive management strategies to improve soil health and reduce emissions, and build soil carbon. Stonyfield has started working with a small group of organic dairies in the Northeast to trial OpenTEAM and use the platform to drive improvements in soil health and soil carbon sequestration in pastures. The farms are start ing out using FarmOS to track all grazing activities, soil testing results, and other data relevant to assessing farm GHG emissions. Stonyfield hopes to use the OpenTEAM plat form to engage all of the dairies that provide milk to them in improving soil health and tracking the benefits for climate. If every dairy that sends milk to Stonyfield were to achieve an1. Ghabbour, Elham A, et al. Chapter one: National comparison of the total and sequestered organic matter contents of organic and conventional farm soils. Advances in Agronomy, vol. 146, 2017 pg. 1-35 Source: Stonyfield
FERTILIZER 28%
DOWNLOAD: Fact Sheets at organic-fact-sheets.mosesorganic.org/ taken to prevent contact of the organically produced products or ingredients with the substance used.”
.
ORGANIC
FOR HIGH
in
After you’ve shown that your previous steps weren’t effective, your plan and the specific product must be approved by your certifier. No matter what, you have to keep the pest control product away from your stored organic crops, organic land, and organic animals.
READ: Browse answers to questions at mosesorganic.org/ask
Contact your regional organic fertilizer distributor/manufacturer for details about Falcon Isle Phos-Agri
www.falconisleresources.com 801.337.1644info@falconisleresources.com
People focus a lot on inputs when talking about organic. While that’s only one of many factors, you will need to look closely at what you use for manag ing pests and disease as well as fertility. If you’ve been using Integrated Pest Management, or IPM, you may find that some control methods you’re cur rently using will still be allowed while others will not. Having an early conversation with a certification agency call help bring clarity to the changes you’ll need to make. It’s also a good idea to ask some ques tions from the places you buy your inputs. Good vendors have a very thorough knowledge of OMRIlisted products and will have some suggestions for replacements.Ifyou’rethinking about making changes to a perennial planting, inputs are only a small piece of the puzzle. Other questions come into play, and many seem more difficult to understand.
4 | March | April 2020 TM “Should I hire a pest management service for my on-farm crop storage?”
Answer by Organic Specialist Chuck Anderas You would have to crunch the numbers to determine the financial impact of the pests and how much it will cost to pay for a company to take care of them for you. If you have had major pest issues that you haven’t been able to control on your own, then going with a pest control company might be the best bet—but you will still be responsible for the organic integrity of your operation. It will be important to clearly communicate to the company what the organic regulations are and how they will work in yourWhethercontext.you decide to go with a company or do the work yourself, you’ll need to have your certifier approve your pest management plan before you implement it. The plan has to start with the “least toxic, most effective” means of controlling the pest. The first practical step, as it says in the facility pest manage ment practice standard (§205.271), is to remove pest habitat, food sources, and breeding areas, try your best to prevent pests from entering the facility, and manage environmental factors. Pests can also be controlled using mechanical/physical means, like snapping mouse traps for example. When I worked in certification, I often saw cats and dogs listed in the facility pest management section of Organic System Plans.Ifnone of that works, you can use natural lures or repellents (or synthetic ones that are on the National List of approved synthetics). Vitamin D3 baits are one example of products that fit into that category. The OMRI certificates of vitamin D3 products include this restriction: “For use as a pesticide only in con junction with the facility pest management practices provided for in paragraphs 205.271(a) and (b) and only if those practices are not effective to prevent or control pests alone.” So basically, if you can’t keep pests out and mechanical means of taking care of them are ineffective, you can use this product with approval from your certifier. If restricted products like that don’t work, then you can go to synthetic products that are not on the National List as long as your plan is approved by your certifier. A synthetic substance may be used provided that “the handler and certifying agent agree on the substance, method of application, and measures to be
SUBMIT: Click “Ask a Specialist” button at mosesorganic.org/ask
The National Organic Program (NOP) requires growers to use organic seeds and planting stock. This confuses a lot of people when it comes to perenni als. Perennial planting stock can be certified after a minimum of one year in organic management. Newly planted trees would be subject to the organic requirement. Growers who have purchased perennial plants are likely aware that there are very few certi fied organic nurseries. Many organic orchardists are unable to find the selection, quantity, and quality that meets their needs from certified nurseries. Just as with planting annuals from non-organic stock, you will need to provide evidence during your organic inspection that you searched for organic stock and couldn’t find it. Your existing orchard will need to be managed organically through a three-year transition when you can’t use any prohibited materials. After that, crops from those trees/bushes can be certified organic. You will be asked to provide information about the origin of the trees, including the source nursery and dates planted in addition to yearly treatment. As you certify an existing orchard, another area of concern is groundcover. For conventional growers, herbicides are often the easiest way to deal with weed and grass competition. The quest for effective and inexpensive organic herbicides is unending, but at this point, there are not very good options for this. Many organic growers use some kind of mulch under trees. Organic mulch sources are more com mon than organic herbicides, with woodchips being preferred by many growers. There is often confusion about woodchips, and some growers have spent a lot of time and money attempting to source certified organic woodchips. This is not necessary. Woodchips must be free of treated or painted lumber, and you’ll need to have a verification form from the source. This means that woodchips from, for example, your local dump won’t be allowed. But tree trimmers, utility companies, or wood processors are generally able to provide that verification. You can use landscape fabric in perennial plant ings, but you will need to source higher quality— more expensive—fabric than you would for annual plantings. It should be rated to 20 years or more. You’ll be asked to look for signs of deterioration and replace it before it starts to fall apart (likely way If you commonly seed groundcover or cover crops in your orchard, you will need to make sure that your seed is allowed. If you have a standing groundcover that’s managed organically through your transition, obviously you don’t need to worry about the source of that seed. But as you replace trees or find areas of groundcover that need rehabilitating, make sure that you are purchasing seed that’s allowed, whether it’s grass, clover, or another understory species. Generally, that means certified organic seed, but if organic seed is unavailable, you will need to get veri fication that the seed is untreated.
Answer by Organic Specialist Rachel Henderson For people considering organic certification, it’s commonly understood that you’ll have to change some of your management practices. When the crops you grow are annuals, it seems fairly straightforward that once you begin your three-year transition, you will grow those crops under organic management. But if you are thinking about certifying crops from perennials—tree fruit, small fruits or berries, or nuts—it can be more complicated.
MEETING
MOSES Organic Specialists answer your questions about organic production and certification.
CALL: Organic Answer Line 888-90-MOSES (906-6737)
“How can I transition my existing orchard to organic?”
To learn more about organic fruit production, MOSES has several relevant fact sheets on our website. The Organic Fruit Growers Association also maintains a website (organicfruitgrowers.org) with great resources as well as a free network listserv that is helpful for answering specific questions. THE DEMAND QUALITY PHOSPHATE Total P2O5 14% Available P2O5 A Stable, Organic Phosphate Resource Grade Organic Rock Phosphate the US and Canada
Highest
Steve Acheson did not see himself as a change maker until he realized that the changes throughout his life not only made him who he is today, but also catalyzed his positive impacts and successes. Still a young man, Steve has already navigated a range of personal and professional challenges that have required him to make tough life decisions. Invariably, Steve has chosen life and a commitment to others, to community and to the planet. Steve grew up on a dairy farm in Cambellsport, Wisconsin. He loved the farm as a child and was active in 4-H. When he was 12, his family left the farm, but the farm never left Steve. After 9/11, like many young men, he enlisted in the Army and deployed to Iraq in 2005. After completing over 400 missions, he was honorably discharged in 2008. Also badly injured and suffering from PTSD, Steve joined Iraq Veterans Against the War (even before leaving active duty service) and dedicated significant time to anti-war activism.Afterhis military service, Steve graduated from college in engineering at the University of WisconsinPlatteville, but was suffering mentally and felt socially disconnected. At this crucial turning point, Stephanie Krueger, who’s now his wife, got him re-connected to agriculture, farming and importantly, the CSA model of bridging local food production and community. Steve was inspired and immediately began looking for a job on a local organic farm instead of pursuing a career in engineering. At this juncture, Steve felt that any farm would do, and didn’t care if he was the lowest worker on the totem pole. As fate had it, Steve saw a help-wanted ad from a farm near Middleton, Wisconsin, that hap pened to be owned by a disabled Veteran. With no personal experience in vegetable farming, Steve found himself hired as a full-time manager of a 70-member CSA. Armed with nothing more than his smartphone and a few basic hand tools, he did the only thing he could think of and called on four or five other local Veterans he had met over the past few years in the anti-war community, all of whom were in pretty simi lar situations as his own. At the end of the 2013 season, Steve and Stephanie took over the land lease and formed Peacefully Organic Produce. Keeping Veterans at the forefront of the farm was their number one priority. From that first season’s efforts, Steve was aware of the healing effect for the Veterans who were participating on the farm. The sense of camaraderie, of belonging to the community and to the earth was undeniable. At the end of the day, the team could literally see the fruits of their labor and were beginning to replace the destructive memories of war with productivity and healthy food. They had no tractor, no equipment, no walk-in cooler, no truck, not even crates for the shares, but they had the dream and the desire to farm.
BUYSPECIAL Gempler’s is a Proud MOSES Patron Sponsor • Thanks for visiting us at #MOSEScon2020 Wisconsin-Based Independent Online Farm and Home Store JUST ADDED: Shop gemplers.com/organic • Commercial-grade products for your Organic Farm. shop gemplers.com call 800-382-8473 — Introducing —Stomp through spring - or any darn thing! Edgewater Classic Hi Vis Boots Farmers, growers - anyone who works in mud and slop swears by the waterproof protection and comfort of Muck Boots. The Edgewater Classic Hi Vis style has weatherproof rubber and neoprene uppers, with airmesh linings for comfort. Provides visibility and safety in the murkiest weather. Qua druple heels, triple toes, double rubber instep for extra toughness. Item # 231232 Was: $140.00 NOW ONLY! $99.00 Save $41 Wear cuffs up or down Steve Acheson holds up his daily prescriptions and urges Wisconsin legisla tors to legalize medical cannabis. Photo submitted
| 5mosesorganic.org | 888-90-MOSESTM
The farm started an annual concert fundraiser called “Veggies for Vets” that took place in their equipment shed, raising money to support over 20 CSA weekly shares offered free to at-risk Veterans in the Madison community and helped to start farmers markets at the Veterans Affairs (VA), University of Wisconsin, and St. Mary’s hospitals in Madison.
Changemaker Farmer-Veteran continues on 8
By Sara Tedeschi
Editor’s Note: The stories on pages 5, 7, and 9 pro file the recipients of the 2020 Changemaker awards, presented earlier this month at the MOSES Organic Farming Conference. This new award recognizes people in the organic farming and food movement who are creatively overcoming systemic challenges to nurture a thriving agricultural future for all. To recommend someone for the 2021 award, go to mosesorganic.org/changemaker-award.
Veteran finds life path in farming, advocacy work for other Veterans, farmers
The farm was awarded a USDA grant to employ and train Veterans, allowing them to incorporate 15 Veterans into the farm as worker-shares, many of Steve Acheson and his wife, Stephanie Krueger, hosted “Veggies for Vets” concerts on their farm to raise money for free CSA shares for at-risk Veterans. Photo submitted
Ron Arm, a Vietnam Veteran who worked every year on Steve’s farm explained that working on the farm “instilled and nurtured our feelings of self-worth and of contributing to society. In part, it was the clear juxtaposition of growing, building, and bettering lives as opposed to the inherent destruction, pain, and negativism of war. In practicality, what Steve did was set out to help both himself and others through farm ing organically and in a shared way.”
Your Choice for Soil and Plant Nutrition 616-566-0307 naturesafe.com WE
New decision-making tools and loans, such as Compeer’s Organic Bridge Loan, can make it easier for farmers to transition to organic grain production. Photo by Charlie Johnson annual increase in soil carbon of about 1 ton per acre, this would reduce Stonyfield’s net GHG emissions by 90,000 tons annually—the equivalent of about 1/3 of the company’s entire annual GHG footprint. Beyond supporting farmers in assessing soil health and measuring GHG emissions, OpenTEAM has the potential to be a powerful tool for streamlining farm recordkeeping, enabling farmers to track a piece of information once and use it across multiple applica tions. One area that we are particularly interested in exploring at Stonyfield is the ability to use FarmOS and the OpenTEAM platform to support the record keeping needed for organic certification. Some farms already use FarmOS to track their records for organic certification, and we’re exploring ways to create easier pathways for more farmers to do this and streamline their recordkeeping needs. Agriculture is the source of about 20% of global greenhouse gas emissions, but we have the opportu nity to flip that around and turn agriculture into a potent tool for fighting climate change through storing more carbon in the soil. OpenTEAM will give farmers access to the tools they need to become a part of this solution. We’re excited to start using these tools with the farms we work with at Stonyfield, and hope you will join us in the growing OpenTEAM network. About Stonyfield As a leading organic yogurt maker, Stonyfield takes care with everything it puts into its products and everything it keeps out. By saying no to toxic persistent pesticides, artificial hormones, antibiotics and GMOs, Stonyfield has been saying yes to healthy food, healthy people, and a healthy planet for 35 years. Stonyfield, a Certified B-Corp, is also helping to pro tect and preserve the next generation of farmers and families through programs like its Direct Milk Supply and Wolfe’s Neck Organic Training Program as well as StonyFIELDS, a nationwide, multi-year initiative to help keep families free from pesticides in parks and playing fields across the country. Learn more about the company at www.stonyfield.com.
inventories, prepaid expenses, and market livestock are all con sidered to be current assets and can help maintain an adequate working capital position. If working capital is likely to drop below the 15% of gross revenue threshold, consider establishing an operating loan before starting the transition process. All principal and interest accrued with a traditional farm operating loan should be paid down to zero each year from operating income. However, this doesn’t fit the cash flow of a transitional grain operation in which cash flow is likely to be negative during the transition years. To help transitioning farmers, Compeer Financial recently created an Organic Bridge Loan Program that allows a grower to obtain an operating loan that requires interest-only payments during the transition years, leaving more cash available to the farm. Once the land is certified organic and cash flow improves, the principal balance on the loan converts to a term loan with amortized principal and interest payments. For more information about this bridge loan, visit compeer.com. A transitioning grower should take advantage of state and federal assistance programs. Many states have funding available through their departments of agriculture to help pay the costs of organic certification. The USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) offers organic transition payments through its Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP). Every dollar garnered through one of these programs is one less dollar coming out of the farm’s cash flow. Organic transition is an investment for the farm’s future cash flow. Like any investment, it should be made cautiously and incrementally. Maintaining adequate cash flow and working capital is crucial during the transi tion years. Spend some time using the OGRAIN Compass to forecast the farm’s financial situation in the years before and after certifica tion, and set up an operating loan if it appears working capital will be short. In both the public and private sectors, the resources available to help transitioning growers have never been better than they are today. It’s a great time to consider organic grain production.
6 | March | April 2020 TM Organic Grain Transition — from page 1
Tips to Manage Finances During Transition Develop multiyear financial projections that include various crop rotations, machinery purchases and sales, and other economic factors. This sounds difficult, but there is a great new tool available from the University of Wisconsin-Madison called the OGRAIN Compass that will walk growers through the steps. There is also a companion publica tion, Turning Grain into Dough, that helps explain the concepts used in the Compass. Download these free resources at
Inside Organics — from page 3
YOU
Britt Lundgren is Stonyfield’s Director of Organic and Sustainable Agriculture.
Manufactured from animal proteins like feather meal, meat meal and bone meal, Nature Safe offers dry pelleted and wettable powder solutions for your crops. Use Nature Safe as a starter fertilizer or a top-dress for any crop you are growing. Nature Safe offers high organic nitrogen and phosphorous formulations that can meet your agronomic or economic fertility challenges. Available in bulk, totes and bags. Plants in Kentucky, Nebraska and California now serving you.
Paul Dietmann is a senior lending officer at Compeer Financial, a member-owned Farm Credit System insti tution serving Illinois, Minnesota, and Wisconsin. He is co-author of the book Fearless Farm Finances: Farm Financial Management Demystified (mosesorganic. org/fearless-farm-finances). FEED YOUR CROPS... FEED THE WORLD ORGANIC FERTILIZERS FOR ALL YOUR CROP’S FERTILITY NEEDS
doesn’tbelowcapitalgrosswords,grossleastoutaresources/ograin-compass.ograin.cals.wisc.edu/Agrowershouldtrytomaintainworkingcapitalpositionthroughthetransitionprocessthatisat15%oftheexpectedannualincomeofthefarm.Inotherifthefarmisexpectedto$300,000peryear,theworkingpositionshouldnotdrop$45,000.Workingcapitalhavetobeheldonlyincash.Crop
By Clare Hintz Program creates access to healthy foods, rebuilds traditional foodways Loretta Livingston and Joy Schelble represent the Bad River Food Sovereignty Project and were honored as 2020 Changemakers at the recent MOSES Conference. These emerging practitio ners have demonstrated significant leadership to empower others in their community. Their work serves as a reminder of the social fabric needed for vibrant local food systems. Their efforts also embody the adage that food is medicine. Loretta and Joy work hard to demonstrate the power of food as a commons rather than a commodity. The Anishinaabe have been cultivating vegeta ble gardens for hundreds of years along the shores of Lake Superior (and thousands of years before that in what is now the eastern U.S.). These gar dens, along with many other gifts of the northern temperate forests provided an abundance of food. Through displacement, land loss to settlers, and cultural attack, the knowledge of these life-ways wasCurrently,diminished.the Bad River tribe faces a dis proportionate prevalence of diabetes and other diet-related illness. Food insecurity, loss of wildcrafting and gardening skills, and the availability of cheap calories over healthy food have been major issues on the reservation. Low incomes that require multiple jobs to get by have limited tribal members’ ability to grow their own foods. But not all wisdom has been lost, and the Bad River Food Sovereignty Project has been working to reverse these trends. Before joining the project, Loretta Livingston was a Tribal Council Chair and an attorney. Joy Schelble has a degree in botany and is the 4-H Youth Development Coordinator with the University of Wisconsin Extension, one of only a small number of extension educators working with a tribe in the“IU.S.have gained many insights,” Joy said about her work with the project. She explained she has “a better understanding of history and present challenges faced by Indigenous people, a deeper personal relationship with the land and plants, an abundance of knowledge and insights into Ojibwe traditional medicine and food harvest, preparation, and storage, and a greater sense of community and connection.”
COMPEER.COM/EMERGINGMARKETS | (844) 426-6733
When asked about early keys to implementation, Joy said, “The tribe prioritizing this program with a paid director position and committing a facility and grounds to the program has made it possible to build on our learning and engage more people in the pro gram over time. Loretta’s leadership of the Bad River Food Sovereignty program is exceptional and that has everything to do with our success.”
Joy involves youth in traditional plant har vests, spring spearfishing followed by a “Dine & Learn” on filleting and cooking the fish they catch, and wild ricing followed by a session on processing. She supports the weekly lacrosse games at the schools. Joy and Loretta have suc cessfully encouraged the youth to grow, process, and enjoy a sugar-free tea that they have grown themselves.“Wealso have a ‘kid’ high tunnel that teaches youth about preparing seeds and growing beds, planting, and weeding, watering, harvesting, and processing crops,” Loretta said. The project includes seasonal events around traditional harvests, such as making maple syrup, processing honey and beeswax, smoking fish, smoking venison, annual pruning at the orchard, and “Processingmore.includes not only the drying pro cess itself but the processing into useable forms of teas, peppers, medicinal tinctures, salves/creams, and so on,” Loretta explained. The project also teaches members how to care for chickens and bees, and butcher farm animals for food to dis tribute to needy community members. All this activity centers around two small hoophouses, an outdoor garden and small orchard, a medicine garden, and a learning cen ter with a kitchen. The small setting belies their outsized transformative influence. Loretta identified high tunnels early on as a way to help deal with erratic weather in northern Wisconsin. “High tunnels provide needed respite for plants from the weather extremes,” she explained. Joy agreed. “High tunnel food systems build resil ience into food production so we are able to navigate irregular weather patterns, torrential rains, deep cold, and other abnorms of climate change. Also, the personal relationship we are restoring with the plants and re-understanding the gifts the plants are willing to share with us brings us hope.” Kids from the Mashkiiziibii Boys and Girls Club and other community youth programs join the Bad River Food Sovereignty staff every season. Recently, the Bad River Food Sovereignty youth program
Changemaker Bad River Food continues on 12
rights reserved.
Sai Thao Lending Officer (612) 597-4086 Sai.Thao@compeer.com Paul Dietmann Sr. Lending Officer (608) 963-7763 Paul.Dietmann@compeer.com Financial, ACA is an Equal Credit Opportunity Lender and Equal Opportunity Provider. ©2018 All
Compeer
Loretta Livingston and Joy Schelble show off the award they received at the MOSES Conference for the work they’ve been doing with the Bad River Food Sovereignty Program. Photo by Laurie Schneider
| 7mosesorganic.org | 888-90-MOSESTM Your Supply Chain Solutions Partner • Buying organic and non-GMO grains • Selling high-quality organic & non-GMO food and feed ingredients • Providing organic transition solutions Contact us today! pipelinefoods.com | 763-999-7667 Wherever your path leads,WE’RE WITH YOU. Finding a lender or crop insurance agent who really understands organic farming can be challenging. We’re equipped with the financial expertise, resources and solutions to meet the unique needs of organic producers. Let’s get started today.
The project has many initiatives. “We provide opportunities for community members to engage in gardening activities by volunteering at program high tunnels or actually growing their own food and car ing for their own plot in a community garden with assistance by program staff,” Loretta explained. “Our ‘Dine & Learn’ sessions reintroduce traditional skills, revitalize traditional harvesting methods, re-teach community members that food grown by them is more nutritious and delicious, and re-embrace the concept of sharing and the interdependence between members, animals, plants, and the environment,” she added.
8 | March | April 2020 TM
Steve Acheson teaches his CSA members how to plant starter plants. When he owned Peacefully Organic Produce, he offered many educational events to build appreciation for how food is grown. 920.684.4499 800.258.0848 WI • U.S.A.
Join our family of growers who share our passion for cultivating goodness. We’d like you to grow with us.
Changemaker Steve Acheson— from page 5 whom remain Steve’s lifelong friends today, through the bonding experience of farming together. With farm infrastructure and local support growing, the farm thrived and things were going well. Steve was living his dream of organic farming, building commu nity and helping Veterans to heal and find purpose. Then, in the spring of 2016, Steve’s old serviceconnected spinal injury re-aggravated while he was working on the farm. Suddenly Steve was in excruciat ing pain, with both legs going numb. Steve was headed for the VA hospital for a third emergency back surgery. Stephanie again stepped in to support the farm through Steve’s absence, organizing a crew of volun teers to help with harvesting, planting, and deliveries while Steve slowly recovered from the operation. A permanent nerve condition ensued, and Steve realized there was no way he’d be able to handle the physical rigors of an organic produce farm. He and Stephanie made the extremely difficult decision to shut down the farmSteve’soperation.farming heart was broken. “I had been termed 100% disabled,” he said. “This comes with financial support I never anticipated as a farmer. I immediately knew it meant I had to use the opportu nity to create good or I’d go crazy.” Steve faced his own pressing question on how to go about this, when one of his farm supporters asked, “So, Steve, now that you’re not farming 80-plus hours a week anymore, what are you going to do with yourself?”
This takes Steve’s story back to 2008 when he was first discharged from the Army, and the VA had prescribed a host of pharmaceuticals, about 7 pills every day, from muscle relaxers to opiates. “I was a complete zombie, still dealing with Post-Traumatic Stress, trying to get through my first semester of an engineering degree,” Steve recalled. “I was about to call it quits and throw in the towel when a classmate of mine introduced to me something that would forever change my life–medical cannabis.”
Veterans for Compassionate Care met with legisla tors from both sides of the aisle, law enforcement, medical professionals, and hosted a roundtable discus sion at the capital where Vice News filmed an episode for national coverage of the medical cannabis move ment. In just two short years, Steve went from organic farmer to “Wisconsin’s Number One Medical Cannabis Advocate,” according to High Times magazine.
In 2018, when the production of hemp was once again legalized in Wisconsin, Steve teamed up with his dear friend and co-conspirator FL Morris (farmer-owner of Grassroots Farm near Monticello, Wisconsin), Stephanie and other members of Steve’s local Farmer’s Union chapter to organize and protect hemp farmers from the pitfalls of ignorance, greed and regulatory bureaucracy plaguing this new cash crop industry in their state.
DRAMMwww.FishFertilizer.com® PRODUCEROW CROPSPASTURE Extremely high levels of PhosphorusCalciumavailable& for Organic & Sustainable Crop Production Natural Fish Fertilizers See us at MOSES 2020 in booth 202/203 Feb. 27-29th
Now a father of two young sons, Steve has all the reason he needs to welcome the next challenge with open“Youarms.learn a lot when you have to start over,” Steve said. “The key is to stay focused on the goals because there is always another way to get there.”
The organization received so much attention that when Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers announced he would be including funding in his budget to legalize medical cannabis, Steve was invited to the Capitol to give a speech with him. While medical cannabis is still illegal in Wisconsin, Steve is proud and encour aged that the state now has two bills circulating the legislature that have been authored by Republicans, something which Steve thought might be impossible just a few short years ago.
Manitowoc,
Slowly but surely Steve replaced every medication the VA prescribed with one all-natural alternative. He went from almost dropping out of school in February of 2009, to becoming an upper-level math tutor, founding the first student-Veteran organization on campus, working as a student ambassador and in student government, and eventually in 2011 being named the Co-Student of the Year. Stephanie was coincidentally the other Co-Student of the year that same year, which began their journey together. Steve recalls how cannabis allowed him to be a better student, a better person, and to live his life on his terms, without addiction and the fog of prescrip tion pills. So, when asked at the end of the 2016 season what he would do with himself after closing Peacefully Organic Produce, he answered, “I think I’m going to try to get medical cannabis legalized in our state.” Steve threw himself into this task, founding Wisconsin Veterans for Compassionate Care, a nonpartisan coalition of Veterans from around the state who have all found medical cannabis to be an effective alter native to pills to treat their service-connected injuries.
Pulses | Soybeans | Flax | Cereal Grains | Corn
Sara Tedeschi owns Dog Hollow Farm in Ferryville, Wis consin. She serves on the MOSES Board of Directors.
© 2020 Healthy Food Ingredients.
Let’s cultivate goodness, together. Call 844-275-3443 or visit HFIfamily.com
Photo submitted 920.684.0227 Fax:
ORDER
“I want to help farmers even if I can’t be a farmer,” Steve said, a clarity that solidified for him during this period of advocacy. The group’s lengthy and circuitous effort finally led to the founding of the South Central Wisconsin Hemp Cooperative, or “South Central Hemp,” in February of 2019, the first certified organic hemp cooperative in the state. Currently, Steve is still farming on a small scale and continues his advocacy work through the Cooperative, the Wisconsin Farmers Union, Veterans for Compassionate Care, the Farmer Veteran Coalition, and many more groups where he seeks to make the positive changes he has seen manifest in his own life.
From this grounded experience growing up, Regi began working with Indigenous communities in Guatemalan and consulted with the United Nations after moving to the Minneapolis area. He created the Peace Coffee Company, co-founded the Fair-Trade Federation, brought the Transfair labeling scheme to the U.S., and took part in a long list of other initia tives. Along with all his work developing and creating these noteworthy businesses and institutions, what Reginaldo brings to us all is a new way of thinking and solving perennial problems. In his award address at the MOSES Conference, Reginaldo said, “Regenerative Agriculture is a way of seeing and working with the interconnectedness and Changemaker Regi-Haslett-Marroquin continues on 14
At Great Harvest Organics, we have access to a broad source of genetics from di erent suppliers. This allows us to test, select, and o er a unique combination of products that work for all your organic needs. Visit GreatHarvestOrganics.com or call 800.937.2325 for our full list of products, subject to availability.
“After I finished elementary and middle school, I received a scholarship to Guatemala’s Escuela Nacional Central de Agricultura followed by years of universitylevel scientific and business management training in Guatemala and Minnesota. Little did I know that all of this higher education would pale in comparison to the mind-blowing knowledge, ancient wisdom and By David Abazs practical experience I gained during my early years in the Guatemalan rainforest.”
| 9mosesorganic.org | 888-90-MOSESTM
I’ve yet to encounter anyone who understands chicken behavior the way my mother and other women in our village did. As a child, I was eager to learn everything my mother knew. Over time, I learned that the thick canopy provided by orange and banana trees was criti cal to ensuring that we did not lose the birds to aerial predators, and it also protected the chickens from the intense, direct sun. I learned how to find the nests in the thick grass and bushes, and how to manage the thick layers of leaves dropped on the ground where the chickens roamed. Chickens are good teachers—we observed that they thrived in our jungle-like foodproducing canopy, a habitat more in line with their geoevolutionary genetic blueprint.
Photo by Laurie Schneider interdependence of everything, a way of working with nature’s design to transform energy from non-edible into edible forms to sustain our bodies, mind, and spirit, individually and collectively… All of us sit ting here are sophisticated expressions of energy that nature created.” His regenerative notions, personal passion, and strategic social actions led Reginaldo to work with other Spanish-speaking community members to cre ate pathways out of poverty and food systems access for the growing numbers of rural Latino immigrants relegated to working in low-wage farm and food industry jobs. In this work, Reginaldo developed an innovative regenerative poultry model known for its energy-dense, diversified, multi-strata plant
When Reginaldo Haslett-Marroquin accepted his Changemaker award at the MOSES Conference, he came on stage with three Mayan spiritual leaders to show that the award honors not just Reginaldo as an individual, but also his ancestors and his community that shares in the mission of building a regenerative food system. Regi is a friend, fellow farmer, and an inspiration to me and many others in the regenerative movement.Hecomes from a resilient people, from a family of 13 children raised in the northern rainforest of Guatemala. His family carved out areas of the forest, planted beans, corn, and squash. The land gave and then took back, as the cycle of soil nutrients ebbed and flowed.“Every few years, the land would stop producing, and we would leave some of it fallow,” Reginald shared in his book, In the Shadow of Green Man. “In a couple of years, we would clear it again, burn the debris and plant our crops again. This way of treating nature left us permanently hungry as well as overworked, bare foot, dirt-poor and frustrated. “Chickens and eggs, however, were like gold. They were our only regular source of protein and were a critical way women participated in food production.
THIS IS YOUR CHANCE FOR GREATONLYGENETICS,ELITEFROMHARVESTORGANICS.
Members of the Mayan community in the U.S. join Reginaldo Haslett-Marroquin (third from left) at the MOSES Organic Farming Conference to celebrate the Changemaker award in recognition of the regenerative farming work they are doing
Regenerative farming leader draws from Indigenous roots to create change
The keynote presentations focused on rebuilding rural America from a foundation of social and economic justice. Leah Penniman of Soul Fire Farm examined the history of African-Americans in farming and talked about the work she and others are doing to reconnect Black, Brown, and Indigenous people to the land. John Ikerd, Professor Emeritus of Agricultural Economics, explained why we’re trapped in an industrial system of agriculture and why we need “public outrage” to transform farm policy to support family farms and rural communities. You can watch these powerful presentations on the MOSES YouTube channel at Organicwww.youtube.com/mosesorganic.integrityinthesupplychainwas the focus of a meeting with conference participants and David Glasgow, the Associate Deputy Administrator of the National Organic Program (NOP). Glasgow said the conversation was “robust and engaging” with more than 80 farmers and organic certifiers participating. The NOP has stepped up compliance and enforcement efforts and has been hiring additional Accreditation Auditors and Investigative Specialists. A workshop on finding common ground for the future of the organic label featured representa tives of the Real Organic Project, the Organic Trade Association, the National Organic Coalition, and Regenerative Organic Certification. Lauren Langworthy, Executive Director of MOSES, moder ated the conversation. The audio recording of that workshop is available at mosesorganic.net—the MOSES online store—along with the rest of the conference workshops. The MP3 downloads are $5 each. The complete set of workshop recordings on a USB drive is $75. Many presenters also shared their PowerPoints, making the audio recordings even more informative. The PowerPoints are posted online at mosesorganic.org/conference/ workshops.TheMOSES Board of Directors recognized Jane Hawley Stevens and David Stevens as the Organic Farmers of the Year. Jane and David own Four Elements Organic Herbals, a Wisconsin farm and business that has been a vendor in the conference exhibit hall for 30 years. The farm has been certified organic since 1989. You can read more about the Farmers of the Year in the January issue of the Organic Broadcaster or online at organic-farmer-of-the-year.mosesorganic.org/projects/TheirpresentationattheconferenceispostedontheMOSESYouTubechannel(www.youtube.com/mosesorganic).Theboardalsopresentedanewawardtohonorpeoplewhoarebreakingdownbarriersandempoweringotherstofarminwaysthatareenvironmentallyresponsible,sociallyjust,andeconomicallyviable.SteveAcheson,ReginaldoHaslett-Marroquin,andLorettaLivingstonandJoySchelblereceived2020Changemakerawards.Theirworkisfeaturedinthisissue.TheirpresentationsfromtheconferencealsoareontheMOSESYouTubechannel.
10 | March | April 2020 TM
Community addresses big issues at country’s largest organic farming event By Audrey Alwell
Audrey Alwell is the MOSES Communications Director
A conference sponsor, Patagonia had a sale on hemp workwear for farmers. Photo by Laurie Schneider
A total of 80 businesses and organizations spon sored this year’s conference, providing the financial support so necessary to an event of this size and scope. “I am thankful for the truly special sponsor and exhibitor support this conference receives,” said Tom Manley, MOSES Partnership Director. “Many of these businesses and organizations have been long-standing sponsors and are the backbone of a strong organic community. The products and services they provide keep us all farming. I hope you’ll join me in choosing their products and services so the cycle can continue.” Links to sponsors are online at mosesorganic.org/ conference/sponsors.TheMOSESOrganic Farming Conference will return to La Crosse Feb. 25-27, 2021. If you have sug gestions for workshops or presenters, submit those online at mosesorganic.org/conference.
Social and economic justice, organic integ rity, and the future of the organic label took center stage at the 31st Annual MOSES Organic Farming Conference in La Crosse, Wis., at the end of February. Farmers, ag professionals, ser vice providers, researchers, and students—2,593 in all—gathered to discuss important issues and build community to further the organic, sus tainable, and regenerative farming movements. “We always come out of the MOSES Conference inspired and energized, and this year was no different,” said Marisa Maggio of Starry Nights Farm in Burling- ton, Wisconsin. “We are proud and excited to be part of this movement towards better land, improving soil, capturing carbon, better food, and rebuilding rural America.”
Women farmers got to know one another through the In Her Boots program’s meetings at the conference. Photo by Laurie Schneider
The Organic Research Forum at the MOSES Conference included a juried poster session. Naomy Candelaria from the University of Minnesota took first place with her research, “New Summer Cover Crop Options for Organic Vegetable Farmers: Exploring Ecosystem Service Trade-Offs.” Alyssa Tarrant, Michigan State University, took second place, and Chris Massman from the University of Wisconsin-Madison took third place. More than 100 farmers received scholar ships to attend the conference. The Chris Blanchard Memorial Scholarship covered admission for eight farmers, the Dave Engel Memorial Fund provided scholarships to two farmers, and the general MOSES Scholarship Fund covered the rest. To donate to a confer ence scholarship fund, go to conference/scholarships/#support.mosesorganic.org/
The Stevens family from Four Elements Organic Herbals were named the Organic Farmers of the Year. Photo by Laurie Schneider
Step 1: Educate yourself. Who is most at risk from COVID-19? People ages 70 and older and anyone with asthma, diabetes, COPD, smoking history, high blood pres sure, heart disease. In these demographics, anyone who is infected with coronavirus has a higher risk of mortality. One in seven infected people ages 80+ will die. One in 13 infected people ages 70+ will die. One in 10 infected people with heart disease will die. (Source: Chinese CDC article published in Journal of American Medicine JAMA on Feb 24, 2020. Practice social distancing. The Centers for Disease (CDC) controls expects 40-70% of the U.S. population to be infected with the coronavirus, and 2.4 million to 21 million people to require hospitalization. There are only 925,000 staffed hospital beds in the country, including less than 90,000 ICUIfbeds.weall continue with regular life and go out shop ping, working, and learning, the virus will spread too quickly and we run out of ICU beds and ventilators quickly. If we all stay home, the virus will spread more slowly and we might have the resources to save more lives. (Source: U.S. CDC’s epidemiology models as reported by the NYTimes Reporting on CDC Death Estimates) The outbreak could be long-term. The CDC website is officially recommending orga nizers cancel or postpone all in-person mass gather ings of 50 people or more for 8 weeks (through May 9). Beyond that, our government agencies have not committed to a timeline. As a healthcare provider, I can say history tells us the outbreak will end when 1) a vaccine becomes widely available, or 2) a majority of the population has been infected and herd immunity has developed. More than 20 companies are racing to create a safe vaccine, but no one knows how quickly it will be available.
irriga tion, hoophouse plastic, fencing, ground cover, harvest crates, wash tubs, buckets, packaging, compost, fertil izers, gloves, boots, rain gear, sun protection. Financial Resources Do you have a cash flow projection? I like the free template at wayssupporttions.opportunityfarmoutcrowdfunding,temporarytomunitypayroll?kets,yourplan-farming.www.thinkbusiness.ie/articles/cash-flow-Youcanpersonalizethecategoriestofarm.Ifyourfarmrevenueisreducedduetoclosedmarwhenwillyourunoutofmoneytooperate/makeWhatresourcesareavailableinyourcomtobridgetherevenuegapuntilmarketsreturn“normal?”Optionstoconsiderincludetakingaoff-farmjob,grants,bankloans,Kivaloans,andpossiblegovernmentaidcomingofCOVID-19emergencylegislation.Doyouhavepersonalsavingsintheeventthatyourisnotprofitablethisyear?Ifnot,thisisagoodtocreatestrongercommunityconnecLetyourcustomersknowthatyouneedtheirthisyearandthatyouarecreatingnew,safetogetthemyourfarm’sproducts. Step 3: Assess market streams. Everyone eats every day. Your local community still needs food, and some people will feel better knowing their food is coming from their trusted, local farmer. Farmer’s markets: Public markets may be closed this spring, summer, and even fall. On our farm, this represents 40% of our projected annual income, so we’ll need to create alternate streams for the produce/ flowers we usually sell there. Flower cooperative: Flower sales may decline due to cancelling of events/weddings,
Editor’s note: In addition to running a CSA market farm, Kristen works as a registered nurse with older adults and cardiac patients at a regional teaching hospital and trauma center. She has been following the coronavirus outbreak closely since her patients are in the demographic of highest mortality risk. She submit ted this article to help other farmers prepare for the impact of the virus on small farms. One of the greatest joys of farming is that we pro duce something people truly need every single day. Everyone needs to eat! Small farms and small busi nesses may experience extreme disruption this season due to closings and cancellations to stop the spread of the coronavirus. Here are four steps you can take now to build resilience on your farm during what may prove to be a tough year.
• Rubbing alcohol, antibiotic ointment, or soap and clean water (cleansing wounds)
• Tylenol & ibuprofen (pain, fever)
Annual supplies Do you have enough of the supplies critical to your operation to last through this year if supply chains are
Tips for Market Farms continues on page 17
Farmer-nurse
• Benadryl (stings and allergic reactions) Hand Soap, Sanitizers, and Cleansers
Step 2: Assess farm resources. Make a list of your farm resources. Which ones are secure, and which resources could come up short due to the outbreak and its disruption of daily life? Is there any action you can take now to be prepared? Here’s a list to get you started. Labor Do you have enough people, family, friends, or young/low-risk volunteers that the farm could run critical planting and harvesting operations even if you, your spouse, or your staff is out for two weeks sick or in quarantine? Do you and your farm workers have health insurance or Medicaid?
• Restock your farm first-aid kit to include:
• Bandaids, bandages, tape (cuts, scrapes)
If you are distributing your food directly to con sumers this season, you may need more sanitizing wipes, cleansers, rags, etc., to regularly clean (wipe off germs to reduce the number) and sanitize (chemically kill the germs) people will touch—doorknobs, light switches, bathrooms, shelves, countertops, etc. If you distribute your food wholesale or through CSA boxes, you may need a larger supply of distribu tion boxes. You may need to clean and sanitizes boxes moreThefrequently.CDC’smost up-to-date recommendations on how to clean (we are still learning about the virus) can be found here: prepare/cleaning-disinfection.html.www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/
By Kristen Muehlhauser, RN, BSN, & Farmer (Various new sources estimate 12 months.) No one can predict how long it will take for the U.S. popula tion to develop herd immunity because it depends on people’s habits. If we keep mixing in society, the virus will spread quickly (and more people will die due to full hospitals). If people actually stay home, it will take longer for the outbreak to end.
| 11mosesorganic.org | 888-90-MOSESTM
disrupted?Here’sthe list from my vegetable & flower opera tion: seeds, potting mix, greenhouse supplies, and/or the economic downturn. Wholesale: Wholesale to restaurants may decline if restaurants are not open to the public. Wholesale to retail stores may increase as people are currently stocking up for an uncertain future. Farm Stands & CSA Distributions: Good public health practices will be key for farm stands. Can pick-up times be staggered? Can surfaces be sanitized more frequently? Can you create an online ordering system and allow customers to customize their orders for curbside pickup or delivery? Can you collaborate with other area farms and create a temporary food hub to gather products from many farms, box them for pickup, and allow for online ordering? Education (camps, workshops, field trips): Cancelled for foreseeable future. Could you sell work shop/camp gift cards to your loyal customer base now as a way to ease cash flow now? (But you’ll have to deliver that product in the future.) shares plan to manage impact of coronavirus on market farms
First Aid Kit If/when your local health system is swamped by coronavirus critical patients, normal healthcare ser vices may not be available. This means you want to be extra careful on your farm this season. If you fall off the barn roof, break your arm, get stung by bees, etc., normal ambulance, urgent care, and emergency care may be overwhelmed and unable to help depending on the timing of peak COVID-19 outbreak in your area.
Joy and Loretta have a clear vision for the pro gram’s“Forfuture.theimmediate future—say at least the next three years—I want an annual increase in the number of community members who consistently work their own gardens or garden plots in community gardens, attend gardening and processing events at the pro gram site and process their own produce for home consumption,” Loretta said. “For the longer-term River tomatoes one of future—say four to five years from now—the devel opment of a plan to utilize Ursula’s Farm site (a farm donated back to the tribe) to raise livestock including pigs, maybe beef or buffalo, and chickens; an evalua tion of the viability of the current orchard and exist ing fruit trees; and, the development of a business plan to implement an active farm.” Joy’s vision includes ideas for getting all that the program produces into the hands of more community members. “We will distribute our food via programs in the community such as the elder dining program, build on our farmers market, and explore other distribution options such as the community grocery store and restaurant.” “If the systems we rely on to feed and heal ourselves become compromised, we have what we need to take care of ourselves,” Joy added. “Ojibwe have always had this under standing and part of our job is to help people nourish and revive this part of themselves.” Despite the impact of climate change on the Lake Superior region, traditional plants continue to grow in woodlands. “I see hope in that,” Loretta explained. “Hope that medicines that do not poison modern water systems or feed the industrial, finan cial complex, will continue to be available. Nevertheless, as the pressure on traditional plants increases, more people need to be more mindful of their impact on their environment. Growing our own plants and herbs is one way to address the added pressure.”
Clare Hintz runs Elsewhere Farm, a production peren nial polyculture supporting winter and summer CSAs and other markets in northern Wisconsin. She serves on the MOSES Board of Directors and is editor-in-chief of the Journal of Sustainability Education.
community members harvest
in
Community members of all ages join in a class to learn how to use traditional foods.
Photo submitted
the program’s high tunnels. Photo submitted
12 | March | April 2020 TM grainmillers.com | 952.983.1269 PURCHASING CONTRACTS FOR ORGANIC: • CORN • OATS • WHEAT • BARLEY • RYE Built on Farmer Relationships
Changemaker Bad River — from page 7 partnered with the Ashland County “SPARK” pro gram on a popsicle project to learn how to create a small-scale local food business—and healthier treats. Loretta has witnessed powerful changes through the program. “I’ve seen spiritual growth on the part of at least 50 community youth who have consis tently participated in the weekly lacrosse games at the school. Spiritual growth leads to development or enhancement of self-image, self-confidence, and self-esteem.”Theproject also maintains a site at the Elder Center in the community. Elders who regularly attend the Elderly Feeding Program have become increasingly interested in gardening, eating food grown in com munity gardens or on the program site, Loretta said. “They are using teas made from plants grown at the program site to address illnesses such as winter colds, coughs, heart disease, and promote liver and kidney health,” she added.
In Nature there is abundance, with Nature there is success 608-637-7080 www.naturesinternational.com OrganicWithCertificationPeopleYou Trust Crops, Livestock, Processing/Handling, Wild Crops Bad
Patience during spring grazing transition pays off throughout pasture season
By Kevin Mahalko We are all motivated to have a successful transition to the grazing season after seeing the great grazing presentations at the 2020 MOSES Organic Farming Conference. Witnessing the green pasture images in February in venues like MOSES always inspires graz ing advocates to prepare for spring renewal. A lot of management is required to make a successful spring grazing transition, which is the foundation of good pasture management throughout the year—good management now can make or break the entire season.Inthe early part of March, we were mostly doing winter management: feeding livestock stored feed while there’s still plenty of snow on the ground that’s gradually thawing. For the winter months, we had set up feeding areas based on several factors important for livestock health, and the need to fertilize fields. Feeding of hay in several forms is the most common method of feeding in outwintering systems. Dry hay bales are often preplaced in the fall or throughout winter to prevent the need to run feeding equipment in harsh weather. Fence is set up in various patterns and livestock is moved to new bales by moving fence and advancing feeders. Wetter forage like baleage can be fed in hay rings or wagons in the field. Bales can be made in various ways by different styles of balers. We farmers have endless arguments on the merits of each style or equipment, but usually the goal is to pack as much hay in a bale as equip ment can easily carry and still maintain feed-out so livestock can get their dry-matter intake needs, while preserving hay from waste and providing some bal ance of bedding in the process. I personally feed mostly large, square-bale baleage of good RFV (relative feed value) at 30-40% moisture, which provides a lot of dry-matter intake and little waste while offering easy-to-handle bales from the harvestWrappingforward.hay to conserve plastic per ton of feed is also a good idea. I now feed mostly in feeder wagons that can be pulled from paddock to paddock to target feeding areas where pasture might be stockpiled, fertility is needed, and it’s convenient to feed based on weather, etc. The fences are in place to access this outwintered area and laneways are used to move livestock in the winter. Mud season in spring is our biggest challenge. When the thaw starts, we typically have planned to freeze down emergency paddocks to give them extra time to thaw. We preplace bales and move cattle to various sacrifice paddocks as needed depending on how much livestock pressure is being put on paddocks.Itiscritical to move equipment and bales at times when things have frozen to limit damage and com paction. A general rule is to limit hoof and equipment impact to plow depth at maximum or it will take a serious effort to repair soils. We usually pump water to reserve tanks using maple sap line hose to keep cattle from churning up lanes to get to water. If dam age is limited, light tillage can easily prep a seedbed and provide a great opportunity to plant new pasture forageSomestands.periods get very muddy and force graziers to use various emergency housing or feeding pads. These can range from raised earthen mounds to freestall barns. Brad Heins with the University of Minnesota’s Making a gradual transition to green pastures in spring gives plants the chance to build root and energy reserves, and provides soils the time to come fully alive to function properly throughout the season.
COG Pro is great for any farm that has to keep regular records for Organic ownimprovingGAP,certification,oreventheirefficiencies.
COG Pro | Organic Certification… Simplified withNowGAPrecords! COG Pro Try it for FREE www.cog-pro.comat
Photo by MOSES staff West Central Research & Outreach Center in Morris has extensive research on outwintering dairy herds in cold northern Minnesota and can provide some good research data on outwintering. (See wcroc.cfans.umn. edu/research-programs/dairy.)Nowthatwearegettinginto the potential first green grass of the year, I strongly urge graziers to be patient and wait to turn out cattle on pasture until conditions are “right.” It is better to utilize sacrifice paddocks than to turn livestock out on wet paddocks with very light forage. This common practice of eating the first green is what dooms a lot of farms to poor pasture production. We must balance the needs of livestock, plants, and soil. If the soil is too wet, com paction or structural damage will occur to both soil and plants. If plants are grazed too aggressively too early, they will never grow proper leaf mass or root mass.Livestock need to transition properly to pasture so their systems can adapt to the typically high forage quality of early growth. For many years, I have observed that holding the cows back and Grazing continues on 14
—Jon Cohen Deep Meadow Windsor-Ascutney,FarmVT “ ”
At MOSES 2020, there were many sessions that highlighted managed grazing in a multitude of landscapes from grasslands to forests. Livestock topics ranged from browsing with goats for ecological restoration to grazing grass-fed dairy cows for milk. The list of grazing experts and organizations that support grazing was long and talent-rich. Find workshop audio recordings at mosesorganic.net. Choose Livestock and sort by “latest” to see 2020 content. As a grazing specialist with MOSES, I was happy to be a presenter at an Organic University titled “Conservation Programs to Support Organic Farms.” I talked about the multitude of conservation benefits offered by managed grazing, which include soil health, water quality, diverse plant and wildlife ecosystems, air quality, livestock health, healthy human food, and overall health and economy of ruralSeveralcommunities.otherpresenters mentioned managed grazing and pasture production in their presentations. MOSES Organic Specialist Chuck Anderas highlighted the dual role grazing plays for both conservation and good organic practice. Karin Jokela, a Pollinator Conservation Planner for the Xerces Society, explained the important role pollinators and the insect community play in supporting the health of organic farm landscapes and the pasture settings where these vital insects can prosper. Brian Pillsbury, State Grazing Lands Specialist with Wisconsin NRCS, talked about program opportunities for a broad range of conservation and grazing benefits. We also heard from Mark Doudlah, an experienced organic crop farmer from Evansville, Wisconsin, who utilizes the latest technology and conservation programs on his diverse crop operation. Mark was one of several crop farmers who talked to me at the conference about how they could integrate managed grazing into their systems—another potential win-win for organic farming. MOSES 2020 packed in grazing content
| 13mosesorganic.org | 888-90-MOSESTM
Grazing
— Hy View Feed & Seed, LLC | Mabel, MN Blue River Dealer since 2009 CORN SILAGE ALFALFA SOYBEAN 1-800-370-7979 | blueriverorgseed.com not less than 20 billion colony forming units per gram total bacteria Dry Blends Delivering over 90 billion colony forming units per poud of total bacteriaWith a custom blend of live beneficial bacteria Nutri-Sil will control and direct the fermentation of ensiled feeds. Proud to announce our blend now contains!
discount for any orders placed
. Restrictions apply.
FORAGES
transitioning gradually with feed gives the cows time to adapt, allows plants the opportunity to build root and energy reserves, and provides soils the time to come fully alive and function properly throughout the season. A week’s worth of patience in the spring can usually net rewards throughout the entire rest of the season and keep pastures growing until the snow flies onceThemore.University of Missouri’s Grazing Wedge is a useful tool in planning pasture production in spring. (See grazingwedge.missouri.edu.)
*10% off through March 31st 2020
Changemaker Regi Haslett-Marroquin — from page 9 and animal symbiotic union, a truly regenerative system. He tapped into the Indigenous nature of things, using the “jungle”-based chicken to build a system around this magnificent bird with perennial trees, and annual crops, developing a circular stream of energy between the plants, weeds, pests and bug-eating chickens, turning “waste” into a “resource,” realizing the sum of the whole provided the regeneration of theAsparts.we hear from his peers, his ideas have spread and the system has been implemented around North, Central, and South America. I have been moved and blessed to have known Regi over the years. I have had the privilege of stand ing around a fire, joking and digging deeply into these issues with him. One of Reginaldo’s colleagues and supporters, Ronnie Cummins, Organic Consumers Association, shared, “Reggie’s ‘tree-range’ regenerative poultry systems, combined with organic and regenerative grain production, are the alternatives that we need to move away from disaster and restore the health of our soils, our animals, our food, our eco-systems, and rural America. On the organic research farm of Regeneration International in San Miguel de Allende, Mexico, regenerative poultry and livestock management and production of organic and regenera tive grains, forage, and fodder—inspired by Regi’s vision—lie at the heart of our system.” Randel Hanson, Co-Director of the EcoEntrepreneurship Program at Lake Superior College, said, “Regi is the rarest of strategists when it comes to building a more just and sustainable food system. He’s both practical and visionary, and he thinks both Chickens graze under a canopy of perennial trees and shrubs in the regenerative poultry model developed by Reginaldo Haslett-Marroquin and his colleagues. Photo submitted big and small. He insists on building systems that are economically viable for small-scale farmers, but which also compete with industrial-scale realities. I see him as a key 21st-century innovator that sees outside of the box to rebuild it.” I echo the praise of Reginaldo with my gratitude for his work. I am also certain that he is not dwelling in the past, but planning and moving towards a future—a future of small regenerative family farms and the hope for a (r)evolution that puts justice as an equal partner of our food system. As Regi says, “At the end of the day, regen erative agriculture is about people, it’s about nature, it is about the economy, it is about a grassroots revolution, and I hope you are with us!”
The tool visually represents the quantity of forage dry matter available per acre or hectare at a single point in time. When used over time, it calculates pasture growth rates and cumulative forage production in the grazing system. Measuring and observation are very important. If grass gets ahead, it can be mowed and brought back in rotation.There are several ways to improve existing pastures in the spring. Various seeding strategies, such as frost seeding, hand seeding, drill and no-till drill seeding, as well as placement of bales, can all affect develop ment of pasture and diversity. Sacrifice paddocks may need to be fully reseeded. There are many exciting new forage options to plant for grazing, ranging from cover crops to diverse permanent pasture varieties. Brian Pillsbury recommended accessing the NRCS soils data links and the Forage Suitability databases to find sugges tions for forage plants that will grow well in specific areas. These guidelines are accessible by linking to NRCS and partners. Local farmers and grazing networks also can help you learn what works in your area. Kevin Mahalko is a member of the Organic Valley CROPP Cooperative. He’s the president of Grassworks and vice president of the River Country Resource Conservation and Development Council. As a MOSES Organic Specialist, he answers farmers’ questions through the Organic Answer Line: 888-90-MOSES and by email at KevinMahalko@mosesorganic.org. — from page 13 When you purchase Blue River organic seed, you receive a promise of high quality and performance in the field. At Blue River, we take the organic label seriously and are dedicated to the integrity of the organic label and management practices it represents FOR THE BEST ORGANIC SEED, CHOOSE BLUE RIVER. Varieties our growers can count on. “The Blue River Organic Seed name is recognized. There is research behind the seed. There are long-standing varieties that growers can rely on. That’s why we sell Blue River.”
David Abasz is the Executive Director of the University of Minnesota-Extension’s Northeast Regional Sustain able Development Partnerships. He serves on the MOSES Board of Directors. He also farms at Round River Farm in Finland, Minnesota.
BUCHNERI BACTERIA! Request more information & our NEW catalog by calling 800-347-1566, emailing info@fertrell.com or writing to PO Box 265 Bainbridge, PA 17502 10 % by March 31st 2020
NUTRI-SIL Forage Inoculant -Making Forages Go Further Available in: Water Soluble Delivering
14 | March | April 2020 TM
what item can or cannot qualify for sales out of one’s home kitchen. It is vital that a recipe be non-hazardous and safe so it won’t develop mold and other hazardous pathogens.Developing recipes that meet this .85 water activity criteria proved to be a challenge and took our farmer team into our local community college chemistry lab to understand the world of food science. We found that if we shredded a vegetable or fruit and squeezed out the water, we could achieve the safe water activity level. Of course, the end product still needs to taste moist and delicious, which is where the multiple recipe testing came in to adjust other ingredients to create a quality end product. Several of the recipes also include add-in items like raisins or chocolate chips that will absorb water and again keep the end product non-hazardous.
New, free toolkit helps farmers launch value-added baking business from home
By Lisa Kivirist A diversified farm business mix makes strategic sense, rooting back to that advice from Grandma: Don’t put all your eggs in one basket. But what if you have extra eggs along with more zucchini than you can sell at market? Think muffins, cookies or other bakery items made in your home kitchen that add diversity, increase sales, and improve your farm’s bottomThanksline.to expanding cottage food laws nation wide, we farmers have an easy on-ramp for income diversification: selling baked goods made in our home kitchens. Be sure to check your state’s laws and regula tions on specifics, but this generally refers to “nonhazardous” baked goods that do not need refrigeration and meet a specific water activity level and food safety criteria. In Wisconsin, we can legally sell home-baked goods thanks to a judge’s ruling in 2017 that lifted the existing ban on these sales. Bake on! New Toolkit for Farm Baking Using up extra produce in baked goods or finding a use for imperfect produce, in theory, makes ultimate value-added sense—we’re taking something we have in excess and adding that to baked items that sell at a higher price point. However, two barriers exist here for farmers. First, many recipes that use items like zuc chini are often too high in water content and do not qualify as non-hazardous. Second, taking small-batch baked goods to market can be challenging when it comes to packaging and display as too often our items resemble a bake sale filled with plastic bags and wrap versus looking like the high-quality, artisanal products they are. These challenges inspired me and a team of south ern Wisconsin area women farmers to find solutions that will help us all. We received a North Central SARE Farmer Rancher Grant to develop a toolkit with tested recipes plus ideas on packaging and displays to help farmers succeed when adding a value-added baking component to their farm businesses: Increasing Value-added Product Sales through Cottage Food Bakery Products Produced in Home Kitchens (FNC18-1130). Our farmer team (Dela Ends, LindaDee Derrickson, Ashley Wegmueller, Kalena Riemer, Danielle Matson, and I) spent over a year researching and testing these concepts. The result is a growing database of recipes and resources at www.cottagefoodhomebakery.com, pro viding inspiration and ideas for both farmers and any home-baking entrepreneur to prioritize local ingredi ents, ideally those from your own field and gardens. We also created an online webinar that provides a detailed overview and our learnings from this project.
Ends of Scotch Hill Farm and Innisfree Farmstay in Brodhead, Wisconsin. Ends was also a plaintiff in the successful lawsuit that lifted the ban on the sale of home-baked goods in Wisconsin (along with Kriss Marion and me). “I also run a bed-and-breakfast on my farm and can now add sales of my seasonal scones and hearty breads and other farm-fresh breakfast baked goods to my guests. This local deliciousness introduces the opportunity to talk about where our food comes from with guests.” Depending on your state’s law, you could also offer a baked goods add-on share through your CSA (Community Supported Agriculture).Whilewe aimed to use high quality, local or sustainably produced ingredients, we realized we needed to keep costs in check as no one will buy a $20 muffin. Therefore, we tested and figured out cost-
| 15mosesorganic.org | 888-90-MOSESTM
The Wisconsin farmer-bakers involved in this project are (from left to right): Kalena Riemer (Riemer Family Farm), Dela Ends (Scotch Hill Farm and Innisfree Farmstay), Anastasia Wolf-Flasch (Riemer Family Farm), LindaDee Derrickson (Bluffwood Landing Wool Farm), Ashley Wegmueller (Wegmueller Dairy Farm & “The Dairy” Farm Stay), Danielle Matson (Pastry Chef), Lisa Kivirist (Inn Serendipity Farm and B&B), and, Jen Riemer (Riemer Family Farm).
Photo by John D. Ivanko Photography
• Bake at 350 degrees for 17-20 minutes until a toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Remove from pan to cool.
Notes: To remove water from zucchini, place shredded zucchini in a bowl and sprinkle with salt. Let sit 30 minutes and place in fine-mesh strainer to drain any remaining water. You can also place in a lint-free dish towel and ring the towel to remove water from zucchini. Doing a small amount at a time will yield a better result. Any dried fruit will work in this recipe. Try different spices, such as allspice, ginger, etc.
“An important element of selling your baked goods is presentation, from the packaging to how it is dis played on your market table,” said Ashley Wegmueller of Wegmueller Dairy Farm & “The Dairy” Farm Stay in Monroe, Wisconsin. Wegmueller contributed her creative design expertise to this project and devel oped a detailed resource list of suppliers that sell key packaging elements in smaller quantities so you can experiment and see what works best. Importantly, the packaging on this resource list focuses on items made with compostable and recycled content. “Attractive packaging does add a cost to your final product that needs to be factored in strategically,” Wegmueller explained. “But remember bakery items at farmers markets are often impulse purchases moti vated by appealing packaging.”
Directions: • Whisk together flour, baking soda, baking powder, salt, cinnamon, and clove in a bowl.
baked goods is you can readily experiment with small batches and different packaging styles to see what appeals to your customers. Be sure to check your state’s cottage food regula tions for specific requirements on what you must include on labels for your baked goods. This typically includes an ingredient list, date baked, your name and business name and address as the baker and some verbiage describing that this item was not made in a commercial facility subject to inspection and licens ing. In Wisconsin, where we currently do not have a cottage food baking law nor regulations (but selling home-baked goods is legal via the successful lawsuit), we follow the labeling guidelines under the existing cottage food law that covers high-acid canned items, often referred to as the “Pickle Bill.” Additionally, Wegueller developed ideas for how to effectively display baked items on a market table, including ways to use height and pops of color. On the website, she detailed four different display themes: Farmstead, Modern, Bohemian, and Whimsical.
“SARE Farmer Rancher grants provide opportuni ties for farmers to research challenging issues and find solutions that can then be helpful to other farm ers,” explained Beth Nelson, Director of Research and Education Programs for North Central SARE, which covers the 12-state Midwest region. “This project is a great example of how farmers coming together to creatively and collaboratively solve a problem and share information adds up to a stronger future for sustainable agriculture.”
Cream Cheese Frosting Water Activity: aw 0.8375 (also tested by Deibel Laboratories)
Ingredients: 8 ounces cream cheese, room temperature 1⁄2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, room temperature 4 cups powdered sugar, sifted 1 Tablespoon vanilla extract
Norfolk,NE AGlobalEquipmentCompany,Inc. www.henkebuffalo.com 800-345-5073
Resources for Value-Added Baking
16 | March | April 2020 TM Value-Added Baking — from page 15
• In another bowl, combine zucchini, sugar, vanilla, eggs and oil.
The easy thing about
Yield: 5 cups, 8 or 9-inch cake or 24 to 30 muffins
Directions: Cream together cream cheese and butter until light and fluffy, 4 minutes. Add powdered sugar on low for one minute. Increase speed to high and cream for 5 minutes, until light and fluffy. Add vanilla on low. Frost muffins.
Photo by John D. Ivanko Photography
The 2020 North Central SARE Farmer Rancher Grant Program atformichaelfields.org/grant-advising-resources.AgriculturalapplicationsToDecemberProgram)Our-Grant-Programs/Farmer-Rancher-Grant-(www.northcentralsare.org/Grants/opensinAugustwithproposalsdueearlyandfundingdecisionsmadeinFebruary.helpfarmersdevelopgrantideasandcompleteforgrantslikethis,MichaelFieldsInstituteoffersfreegrantadvising.SeeTosignupthegrant-advisinglistserv,contactMartinBailkey608-698-9478ormartinbailkey@gmail.com.
Yield:
Deibel Laboratories in
An important element of this project is that our recipes with produce and fruit are all officially tested by a certified laboratory to ensure the water activity level is below .85. We submitted samples to Diebel Labs in Madison and the exact test result paperwork for each recipe is available on the website for your own back-up. You will also find four tested frosting recipes that can be used in a variety of ways to add a decorative and sweet touch to any of the recipes. We also looked at ways to add specific baked good items to your business mix that support sales of other farm items you are offering. For example, if your state’s cottage food law allows bread sales, we included recipes for buns that are an easy add-on sale if you also sell meat products like burgers or brats. Croutons are a nice compliment if you sell salad greens.
Display Ideas
www.wisconsincottagefood.comcottagefoodhomebakery.comForrager.comHomemadeforsale.com
Zucchini Raisin Muffins This is not your average zucchini recipe, as it meets the “under 0.85 water activity level” requirement for most states to qualify as a nonhazardous baked good. Water Activity: aw 0.8343 (Water activity test
SARE Grants The core mission of SARE Farmer Rancher Grant projects like ours is the coming together of a farmer team with similar challenges to work collaboratively to compile learnings and create solutions. In our case, it was also an opportunity to cross-pollinate between farmer generations and learn together. Our farmer team ranged in age from 13 to 70. Thirteen-year-old Kalena Riemer of Riemer Family Farm in Brodhead, Wisconsin, dreams of one day running a bakery on her family farm. She contributed several recipes, including a lavender and violet shortbread. conducted by Madison, Wisconsin.)
Lisa Kivirist manages the MOSES In Her Boots project. She and her family run Inn Serendipity Farm and B&B near Monroe, Wis. She is the co-author of Homemade for Sale. 18 muffins Ingredients: 3 cups shredded zucchini, water removed (see notes) 1-2⁄3 cup sugar 2⁄3 cup vegetable oil 2 teaspoons vanilla 4 eggs 3 cups flour 2 teaspoons baking soda 1⁄2 teaspoon baking powder 1 teaspoon salt 1 teaspoon cinnamon 1⁄2 teaspoons ground cloves 3⁄4 cup raisins
• Add the dry ingredients to the wet. Mix until almost incorporated. Add raisins.
• Using a 1⁄4-cup scoop, portion into paper-lined muffin tins.
• Discourage people who are sick from attending events.
MOSES 2020 Workshop Audio Recordings Audio recordings of the workshops presented at the 2020 MOSES Organic onlineConferenceFarmingarepostedatmosesorganic.net. MP3 downloads are $5 each. The complete set of workshop recordings on a USB drive is $75. Many presenters also shared their PowerPoints, making the audio recordings even more informative. The PowerPoints are posted online at mosesorganic.org/conference/workshops.
National Organic Producer Survey
Free Workshop Recording To help farmers impacted by market closures due to COVID-19, we’re making the audio recording of the 2020 MOSES Conference workshop “Attract Local Customers Online” available without charge. The workshop, presented by Barn2Door’s CEO Janelle Maiocco, explains how to develop a loyal base of customers so your farm can thrive online. You can download the MP3 audiofile from the MOSES online store at workshops/#Saturday1.workshoplocal-customers-online.mosesorganic.net/?product=attract-FindthePDFoftheslidesatmosesorganic.org/conference/
Communicate with your customers. This is the time to let them know that you will still be growing their food this year, but that the method of delivery will change. Use your email list and social media channels. Let them know you want them to count on you to grow their food. Collaborate with other local farms (eggs, dairy, bread, veggies, fruit, microgreens, flowers) and aggre gate your products to get them out in box shares for pickup or delivery. This is an opportunity to increase your own customer base as you send marketing emails to loyal customers of all the farms involved.
Presentations from the 2020 OGRAIN Winter Conference at the University of Wisconsin-Madison are posted online at bit.ly/OGRAIN2020. OGRAIN, the Organic Grain Resource and Information Network is a project of the University of Wisconsin-Madison Organic and Sustainable Cropping Systems Lab, the UW Center for Integrated Agricultural Systems, the UW Farm and Industry Short Course, and MOSES.
Step 4: Modify your business plan. Create alternative markets that provide for social distancing. Online ordering systems may be key to having your customers minimize the time they spend standing around in a crowd to pick up their items. Here are some online ordering systems I learned about at the latest MOSES Conference. (I have no affiliation with any of these companies, and no experience using them, but list them here as resources.)Barn2Door (www.barn2door.com) CSAware (www.csaware.com) Harvie (www.harvie.farm) Local Food (home.localfoodmarketplace.com)Marketplace
Organic Grain Learning Hubs
Farming Jobs
| 17mosesorganic.org | 888-90-MOSESTM NEWS BRIEFS
Organic Grain Presentations
BU Y ING & SELL ING A LWAYS A S P ROMISE D
Coupon for Seafood CSA Share MOSES Conference sponsor Sitka Salmon Shares has created a special offer for the MOSES community: Get $25 off a share using code MOSES20 and they will donate $25 to MOSES for farmer education! Support sustainable fisheries, eat delicious seafood, and boost organic farming—wins all around! Take advantage of this offer now at sitkasalmonshares.com.
Kristen Muehlhauser raises veg etables, flowers, and children at Raindance Organic Farm in Michigan. She also works offfarm as a nurse.
e s e r v e
MOSES and OGRAIN are organizing farmer-led groups to build communities of support for organic grain farmers. We have formed groups in western Wisconsin/Twin Cities, central Illinois/western Indiana, and SE Wisconsin. To join one of these Learning Hubs, complete the short signup form online at bit.ly/OGRAINhub or call MOSES Organic Specialist Chuck Anderas at 888-90-MOSES. In Her Boots Podcast The MOSES “In Her Boots” podcast currently features interviews with the host of the PBS show “Around the Farm Table,” Inga Witscher. The podcast has more than 130 episodes with women who farm or advocate for farmers or a better food system. New episodes post every Friday. Find the In Her Boots podcast wherever you get your podcasts or listen at mosesorganic.org/in-her-boots-podcast.
Farmers Market Guidelines To ensure the wellbeing of farmers and their customers in light of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Farmers Market Coalition has issued these guide lines for market managers:
• Establish relationships with key community partners, such as local health departments, and collaborate with them on broader planning efforts.
The Organic Farming Research Foundation (OFRF) and Organic Seed Alliance (OSA) are collabo rating with the Social and Economic Sciences Research Center (SESRC) to identify the research needs of organic producers and ensure that the increased funding for organic research secured in the 2018 Farm Bill addresses those needs. The project includes two national surveys—one for certified organic producers (www.opinion.wsu.edu/organicpro duction) and the other for producers transitioning to organic certification (www.opinion.wsu.edu/transi tionproducers). Both surveys are voluntary and confi dential; they take about 30 minutes and can be completed in multiple sittings. Upon completion of the survey, you can enter to win a $100 gift card to REI. Results will be published in updates of OFRF’s National Organic Research Agenda (NORA) report and OSA’s State of Organic Seed (SOS) report. If you have questions about the surveys, contact Lauren Scott at sesrc.nora.survey@wsu.edu. If you do not have access to a computer and cannot complete the survey online, call OFRF at 831-426-6606. 4 0 2 3 4 2 3 r d
The MOSES Farm Job Postings page is bursting with opportunities to join the crews at farms across the Midwest. Find your next job at mosesorganic.org/ job-postings. Farmers: Add your farm’s job openings to this popular page—posts are free! MOSES on YouTube The MOSES YouTube Channel (www.youtube.com/user/mosesorganic) includes keynotes from the 2020 MOSES Organic Farming Conference as well as presentations by the Organic Farmers of the Year and the recipients of the new Changemaker award. Presentations from the past seven years also are posted there, along with webinars and the online Fearless Farm Finances course. Finding Land to Farm More than 40% of American farmland and ranch land—371 million acres—will change hands over the next 15 years. The Farmland Access Hub, an initiative that guides beginning farmers in Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Iowa through farmland access, is working to keep farmland in the hands of farmers. The program is run by Renewing the Countryside in part nership with MOSES and Main Street Project. To connect with a Farmland Access Navigator, go www.renewingthecountryside.org/farmlandaccess.to
• Promote the practice of everyday preventive actions.
50 0 | O r g a n i cG r a i n @ s c o u l a r c om | s c o u l a r c o m O r g a ni c , N o n G M O , I d e n t i t y P
• Provide prevention supplies at your events. Plan to have extra supplies on hand for event staff and participants, including sinks with soap, hand sanitizers, tissues.
• Identify actions to take if markets need to be post poned or canceled. See more at farmers-markets-covid19.farmersmarketcoalition.org/
Tips for Market Farms — from page 11
The Minnesota-based Land Stewardship Project has hired a new executive director. Jess Anna Glover will take over at the end of April from Mark Schultz, who is wrapping up a three-decade career with the nonprofit, membership-based farm organization. Glover is a graduate of the University of WisconsinMadison and the University of Minnesota Law School and was a Policy Fellow with the Humphrey School of Public Affairs. She started her legal career focused on numerous agricultural issues while with Farmers’ Legal Action Group (FLAG) in Saint Paul. Among other issues, she worked on corporate concentration in agriculture, equitable federal disaster assistance, fed eral farmer lending programs and immigrant farmer outreach. Women, Food and Ag Network Sherri Dugger has resigned as Executive Director of the Women, Food and Agriculture Network (WFAN). She will leave March 27 to take over as head of the Socially Responsible Agriculture Project (SRAP).
Opening on NCR-SARE Council
The U.S. District Court for the for the District of Columbia has set a 180-day time frame for the USDA to fix economic modeling errors that led to the with drawal of Organic Livestock and Poultry Practices (OLPP). Prior to this development, the OLPP final rule was withdrawn by the Trump administration based on an allegedly flawed analysis by the USDA. This elicited a lawsuit from the Organic Trade Association (OTA). The USDA voluntarily conceded the charges rather than proceed to judgement. After two and a half years of litigation, the court is refusing the open-ended time frame requested by the USDA in this development. OTA describes their membership organization as “fully prepared for the court to render a verdict” when the record is complete at the end of this 180-day period.
18 | March | April 2020 TM NEWS BRIEFS West OrganicsStar Made for Organic Growers by an Organic Grower •Balanced Nutrient Blend for Short & Long Term Growth •Beneficial Microbial Life for Maximum Nutrient Uptake •Disease & Pest Inhibitors for Healthier, Stronger Plants weststarorganics.com • 608-347-4346 Approved for Organic Production No preorder required - Available year round Centrally located near Madison, WI Compost-Based Premium Mix Excellent for Veggie, Herb, and Hemp Growing Potting Mix Starter GrowingMixMix
Congresswoman Chellie Pingree (D-Maine) has introduced the Agriculture Resilience Act (ARA), comprehensive legislation that sets a bold vision of reaching net-zero greenhouse gas emissions in U.S. agriculture by the year 2040. Currently, agricultural activities contribute 8.4% of total U.S. greenhouse gas emissions. To reach net-zero agricultural emissions within the next 20 years, the ARA focuses on six concrete policy areas and offers solutions rooted in science that are farmer-driven. These goals include increasing research, improving soil health, protecting existing farmland, supporting pasture-based livestock systems, boosting investments in on-farm energy initiatives:, and reducing food waste. See more details at bit.ly/PingreeLegislation.
National Organic Standards Board
New Leader for Land Stewardship Project
The Ahimsä Alternative, Inc. For all things Neem & Karanja INSECTICIDEBIOLOGICAL 100% Cold Pressed Neem Oil (3750 ppm azadirachtin) Controls Aphids, Army Worms, Beetles, Stink bugs, Caterpillars, Leaf hoppers, Leaf miners, Whitefly, Mealy bugs, Midges, Nematodes, Spider mites, Weevils, Scale, Thrips. www.nimbiosys.com100%ColdPressed,Wild Harvested Neem Oil, Karanja Oil,Neem & Karanja Cake TerraNeem®EC Order @www.neemresource.com or call 1-877-873-6336 Biological Insecticide, Miticide, Fungicide, Nematicide Cold Pressed Neem Oil Ready to Use For Organic & Sustainable Use 4-hour REI Zero days to harvest Flame Weeders www.kadelbachmfg.comPh:1-888-978-6210 Oren Holle, President Phone: 785-337-2442 Email: oholle@bluevalley.net Website: www.ofarm.org Empowering Organic Grain Farmers Through Cooperative Marketing Contact us to learn what OFARM can do for you! Organic Farmers Agency for Relationship Marketing MOSAORGANIC.ORG | 608-637-2526 Practical, reliable and friendly organic certi cation services Make sound financial decisions to improve your profitability ! $19.95 | 270 mosesorganic.netpages
Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) Grasslands USDA announced that farmers and ranchers may apply to enroll grasslands in the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) Grasslands signup through May 15, 2020. Through CRP Grasslands, participants retain the right to conduct common grazing practices, such as haying, mowing, or harvesting seed from the enrolled land. Participants will receive an annual rental payment and may receive up to 50% cost-share for establishing approved conservation practices. The CRP contract lasts either 10 or 15 years. The 2018 Farm Bill set aside two million acres for CRP Grassland enrollment.
Agriculture Resilience Act
The Center for Food Safety (CFS), along with a coalition of organic farms and stakeholders, has filed a lawsuit challenging the USDA’s decision to allow hydroponic operations to be certified organic. The lawsuit claims that hydroponic operations violate organic standards for failing to build heathy soils, and asks the Court to stop USDA from allowing hydro ponically-produced crops to be sold under the USDA Organic label. Learn more at bit.ly/HydroponicSuit.
Organic Grain Fraud
The National Organic Standards Board (NOSB) Spring Meeting is still set for April 29 – May 1, 2020 in Crystal City, Virginia. This is the semi-annual meeting of the board to review substances petitioned for addi tion to or deletion from the National List of Allowed and Prohibited Substances (National List), substances due to sunset from the National List in 2022, and recommendations on organic policies. Stakeholders can submit written comments or request an oral com ment speaking slot by April 3, 2020. See the agenda, proposals, and instructions for commenting at nosb-meeting-crystal-city-va.ams.usda.gov/event/national-organic-standards-board-www.
The North Central Region SARE is accepting nominations to fill a new seat on is Administrative Council for a three-year term. Candidates should have an understanding of how the three legs of sustainabil ity (social, economic, and environmental) contribute to the overall sustainability of families and communi ties involved in farming and ranching. Candidates should live and work in the 12-state North Central Region. The deadline for submissions is April 10, 2020. See details at bit.ly/NCR-SARE_Sustainability.
Federal prosecutors have charged South Dakota businessman Kent Duane Anderson of Green Leaf Resources with one count of wire fraud conspiracy, 12 counts of wire fraud, and 29 counts of money launder ing for allegedly using his network of South Dakota businesses to buy non-organic grain and seed products and re-sell them as more expensive organic products. He allegedly committed the crimes between October 2012 and March 2018. For more details, see bit.ly/ SDakotaFraud.
Organic Livestock and Poultry Practices Lawsuit
Organic Transition Podcast Erin Silva from the University of Wisconsin and the OGRAIN partnership recently recorded a podcast with Iowa farmer Tom Frantzen as part of a series on transitioning to organic production. Frantzen, who farms with his wife, Irene, (the 2009 Organic Farmers of the Year), talks about what he values in organics and the changes he’s seen over the past 30 years. Find the podcast at the-organic-systems-mindset-with-tom-frantzen.fieldlabearth.libsyn.com/
Hydroponics Lawsuit
drills on
FOR SALE: John Deere 845 8 row folding rear mount. Was 12 row, have other rows if want to make a 12 row again. $2,500obo. Eleva, WI. (715)538-3669.
FOR SALE: John Deere 725 8 Row front mount cultivator. $5,500 obo. Eleva, WI. (715)538-3669. Shaver Post Pounder for skidsteer, $1500. Howard 12’ M45 Rotovator, $5000. 4 row flame cultivator, $6000. All stored inside shed. Call Ron at 608-477-0054. 60’ Hatzenbichler Tine Weeder. 3 pt. hitch. Exceptional Condition, Always stored in the shed. $25,000. NE Illinois. Bill at 630-774-7167. Insta-Pro soybean extruder Model 600. 50hp 3-phase electric motor. Low hours on rebuild. Complete setup; electri cal panels, cooling drum, augers, two 500 bushel hopper bins. $21,000. (605) 842-3108. Einbock 2018 Aerostar-Exact Tine Weeder. 20ft wide, hydraulic fold, 7x600mm tines. Like new, used 2 seasons on 20 acres. $6900 Montrose, CO. 970-209-5319. BCS 750 tractor w/rotary plow and mulch layer. Used 2 seasons. Less than 100 hours. $5,000 OBO. Eau Claire WI. Kris 715-210-0818. Kult Kress Finger Weeder, 3 pt. 2 or 3 row. LIKE NEW $9,250. Farmall C, Rear/belly mount cultivators/track eradicators $3,250. 4row potato planter $1,250. HOBBS Irrigation Reel with Rainbird gun. 300 gpm, 1000ft. $10,500. Nissan Forklift 2013, $10,000. James at 651-343-2595 or blackbrook.farm.llc@ gmail.com IH Plow 700 7/8 btm. auto-reset $4,000. $600. Kewanee 400 Elevator-40ft. $500. Kewanee 500 -50ft. $1,000. 3 grain steel $300 each/$800 630-466-9614 320-221-2266. 3.6 near Dodgeville,
Elevator
WI with 35x80 Morton building insulated, in-floor heat (no boiler), water and septic. Could be made into living space. 6,000sq. ft. additional cemented building space for livestock or storage. Outdoor cement yard with heated cattle waterer. Asking $225,000. Owner of 85 acres surrounding organic cropland is open to offers for sale or lease. 608-574-5066. Find more land for sale or lease at mosesorganic.org/ land-link-up. FARMS/LAND LIVESTOCK GRAINSFORAGES MISCELLANEOUS Place your ad to be seen by 15,000 readers! $20 for up to 30 words; $5/additional 10 words mosesorganic.org/organic-classifieds EQUIPMENT JOBS MINNESOTACertificationOrganicCROPIMPROVEMENTASSOCIATION1900HENDONAVE,SAINTPAULMN55108855-213-4461www.mciaorganic.org•HANDLERS•PROCESSORS•PRODUCERS•WILDCROPLIVESTOCK Serving the Upper Midwest Ensuring Organic Integrity Since 2002 committedresponsivelocal to service questions888-90-MOSESANSWERORGANICLINEGetanswerstoyouraboutfarmingandorganicrules.
Place an ad at Organic Classifieds or call 715-778-5775. mosesorganic.org/organic-classifieds
Mechanical Transplanter
Many more job listings at mosesorganic.org/job-postings!
FOR SALE: 2 Lilliston 8 row cultivators. New baskets with only 400 acres. $4,000obo. Eleva, WI. (715)538-3669.
Northwood Mushrooms (aka Cherry Tree House Mush rooms) is a small farm near the Twin Cities specializing in log-grown organic mushrooms. We’re hiring for seasonal po sitions to start in May or June: mushroom worker, picker/pack er, and farmers market vendors. Benefits include free housing and mushrooms, $11 to $13 per hour. Find more details at northwoodmushrooms.com or call Jeremy at 612-205-8599.
CLASSIFIEDS
Leave message. For Sale. Buffalo Cultivators and Planters.
all.
Retired vegetable farmer selling cultivator parts from Farmalls and Allis Chalmers. Pictures available. Contact shortfatbaldandugly@wi.rr.com Farm for sale:
| 19mosesorganic.org | 888-90-MOSESTM Six organic springing heifers and 16 open animals. Ron Heebink. 715-977-0602. Organically raised Nigerian Dwarf goats. Registered bucks, does and kids. Excellent milking lines and proven dairy producers. All very sweet and raised at our farm in Barrington, IL. 224-627-3730. Organic Feeder Cattle. 80 head, Hereford Calves. NE South Dakota. Ranch raised, Certified Organic. 500 lbs. Good frames. $2.25/lb. 507-637-3581. Cinic Dr. Brown. High Producing, 100% Grass Fed Milking Cows and springing heifers. You pick. Bloodlines containing over 20 years of grass fed genetics. Contact Jim or Joy Gardiner at 315-653-0016 or organincgrassfedcows@gmail.com Organic Transition Operating Loan: Sick and tired of lend ers not understanding organic transition? Finally a loan with fair terms. Only pay when you’re net profitable, 3-year grace period, free technical assistance, and free crop marketing. www.theperennialfund.com. 508-930-0885. Onion Plants - yellow and red storage, candy, chippillini, leeks. Email us at gitsfresh@gmail.com. Check our web site gitsfresh.com for order form or call us at 563-379-3951. MSU Organic Farmer Training Program: Make your farm dreams a reality! 50/50 mix of field and classroom activities, including hands-on activities on the 15-acre MSU Student Organic Farm in Michigan. Visit 20+ farms and write your own Farm Business Plan. Mondays 9am to 5pm March to Novem ber. $3,900 for 33 weeks, scholarships available! Apply now! Info at program.www.msuorganicfarm.org/organic-farmer-training-Emailmsufarm@msu.edu. ORGANIC FISH FERTILIZER 15-1-1, 100% dry water soluble, 5-7 times more nutritious than liquid fish. Will not clog drip irrigation. One lb., 5 lb. or 55 lb. packaging. Humates OMRIcertified, liquid and dry. Can be shipped anywhere via UPS. Frommelt Ag Service, Greeley, IA, 563-920-3674. For Sale: Tempered, insulated, double-pane glass. Large panes for sunrooms, solar homes, ag buildings, greenhouses or ??? One hundred fifty thousand sold since 1979; 32” x 74” x 1” double-pane only $69.00. We will be moving Arctic Glass to Roberts, Wis. If you need glass now would be a good time! Arctic Glass, www.kissourglass.com. Call Sandy at 507-259-6351. OMRI 15-1-1 & 7-7-7 dry soluble fertilizers. 3-3-3 clean liquid organic fertilizers. Sold by the ton, tote and tanker. Call 616-566-0307. Largest Producer of Organic Fertilizers. Nature Safe Fertilizers. Organic 2nd Crop Dry Hay: Cut/Baled WITHOUT Rain. 4X5 net-wrapped round bales, alfalfa/clover/grasses. One Lot, (75 Ton) (16.65% Protein, RFQ 147) Forage tested. Call or text Ted at 715-616-9350. Central WI. MCIA Certified Organic grassy soybean straw. 5x6 round bales. Asking $40 per bale. Near Maiden Rock, WI. Call or text 320-232-5269. Organic Triticale Straw. 21 little bales bundled into a 3x4x8 foot bale. 7$ for a little bale. Also 4x5 foot round bales, wrapped dry. $285/ton. Trucking Available. 920-680-5136. Certified Organic square bales, grass/alfalfa hay bale age and triticale & pea baleage.1st-3rd crop all ranges of qualities. Feed Value 100RFQ-160RFQ. Bale size 3x3x6 and 3x4x6 bales in-lined wrapped. Moisture from 18%-50%. Have hay sample test results. Selling by the ton and feed quality. Price ranges from $80-$150 a bale depending on quality and moisture. Eau Claire, WI area. 715-538-3669. Certified Organic Silage Bales for sale. Feed tests avail able. Various cuttings. We can deliver. North Central WI. 715-921-9079. Certified Organic Alfalfa hay for bedding. 5x6 rounds. Sisal twine. Make offer. Other organic hay available, $140/ ton for 100 RFV, and lower per test. South-central South Dakota. (605) 842-3108. OneCert Certified Organic Alfalfa, alfalfa/orchard, alfalfa/ teff grass for sale. 3x3 square. 1st-4th cutting dry hay. 135-240 RFQ. Lynch, Nebraska. Josh at 402-336-8130 or Jim at 402-336-8139. For Sale: Organic corn. Will grind. Hay, big bales wrapped Oats. Can deliver. Darlington, WI 608-574-2160.
acres
Move Some Earth Day May 9 | 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. | Free | Custer, Wis Join MREA as a volunteer to help prepare the MREA garden, as sist with office work and Energy Fair promotion, and more. Call 715-592-6595 or email info@midwestrenew.org
Webinar: Farm Tax Filing Tips April 2 | 11 a.m. | Free | Online Hosted by the University of Tennessee, beginning farmers, value-added agriculture entrepreneurs and all farm opera tors are invited to participate in this webinar series. The series covers a variety of topics related to effective farm business management, marketing and planning. Contact Iris: xcui10@utk.edu or 931-648-5725. Deep Winter Greenhouse 3.0 Design Unveiling and Open House April 5 | 1 – 5 p.m. | Free | Pillager, Minn. Learn how to grow crops in winter and more about this new DWG design at Grampa G’s Farm. 612-625-8759.
The webinar will be presented by a team of researchers who are currently conducting a study on the microbiome and mas titis in organic dairies, with funding from the USDA NIFA OREI. Register at eOrganic.org Soil Health Innovations March 30 – 31 | $ | Bozeman, Mont. NCAT, SARE, and Montana State University host this forum that will bring together leading experts and innovative farmers from around the U.S. to share the latest in soil science, best practices in soil management, and the emerging technolo gies that will drive the future of sustainable and regenerative agriculture. Contact Sandra Booth: 406-494-4572 or email sandrab@ncat.or
FSMA Produce Safety Rule Grower Training April 9 | 8:30 a.m. – 5 p.m. | $35 | Winona, Minn. Fruit and vegetable farms that are not exempt must attend FSMA training. 651-539-3648. Soil Health Economics Forum April 14 | 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. | Free | St. Paul, Minn. The Minnesota Office for Soil Health presents a Forum to examine the financial side of building soil health, identify gaps in knowledge, and plan next steps for research and building partnerships. 612-624-9282
In Her Boots: Women Caring for the Land April 24 | 11 a.m. – 1 p.m. | Prairie du Chien, Wis. This workshop connects women who own farmland-whether it’s inherited or an investment rented to a farmer-with re sources and programs for land conservation to keep the land in healthy agricultural production. Includes lunch. 715-778-5775
Webinar: Business Planning and Recordkeeping May 7 | 11 a.m. | Free | Online Hosted by the University of Tennessee, beginning farmers, value-added agriculture entrepreneurs and all farm opera tors are invited to participate in this webinar series. The series covers a variety of topics related to effective farm business management, marketing and planning. Contact Iris: xcui10@utk.edu or 931-648-5725.
Wisconsin Cheese Makers Association Student Job Fair April 14 | 3 – 5 p.m. | Free | Milwaukee, Wis. Meet with 20-25 exhibitors from both dairy suppliers and pro cessors and manufacturers. Students receive free registration to all CheeseExpo exhibits and receptions. Questions? Email Rebekah: rsweeney@wischeesemakers.org. eOrganic Webinar: Economics of Grazing Organic Replacement Dairy Heifers April 22 | 1 p.m. | Free | Online In this webinar learn what the expected net annual financial impact would be for organic replacement dairy heifer opera tion using high-energy grasses and the tannin-containing legume birdsfoot trefoil as its primary source of grazing forage. Register at eOrganic.org
During this webinar, attendees will learn how changes to fed eral crop insurance programs in the 2018 Farm Bill may impact organic and transitioning farmers. Presenters will also discuss several provisions in the 2018 Farm Bill that can help organic farmers build healthy soils and thereby reduce on-farm risks including those related to climate change. eOrganic.org Soil Health Academy School
Women Caring For the Land: Weigandt Farm June 6 | 10 a.m. – 3 p.m. | Free | Richland Center, Wis. Network with other woman and learn about timber stand improvement projects, harvests, tree and shrub plantings and invasive species control. Contact Kirsten to learn more: 608514-2031. 2020 Comprehensive Elderberry Workshops June 11 – 13 | $ | Columbia, Mo. Co-sponsored by University of Missouri Center for Agroforestry and River Hills Harvest, learn all about elderberry, its introduc tion into the modern market, early research, how to propagate, and more. Email info@riverhillsharvest.com
March 29 | 1 – 5 p.m. | $ | Minneapolis, Minn. Land Stewardship Project is offering a four-hour workshop designed to help people clarify what motivates them to farm, get their vision on paper, inventory their strengths and training needs, and get perspective from an experienced farmer. Each registration fee covers up to two people per family or farm. RSVP to Annelie Livingston-Anderson, LSP, 507-523-3366.
In Her Boots: Women Caring for the Land May 8 | 11 a.m. – 1 p.m. | Onalaska, Wis. This workshop connects women who own farmland-whether it’s inherited or an investment rented to a farmer-with re sources and programs for land conservation to keep the land in healthy agricultural production. Includes lunch. 715-778-5775.
Women Caring For the Land: Full Circle Farms June 25 | 4 – 8 p.m. | Free | Pulaski, Wis. Network with other woman and visit this multi-generational organic farm using conservation practices and rotational graz ing to raise cattle, pigs, chickens, and grow produce. Contact Kirsten to learn more: 608-514-2031. 31 Annual Energy Fair June 26 – 28 | $ | Custer, Wis. Organized by the Midwest Renewable Energy Association (MREA), The Energy Fair is the nation’s longest-running event of its kind and brings over 11,500 attendees together to learn about sustainability and clean energy, connect with others, and take action toward a sustainable future. Call 715-592-6595 or email info@midwestrenew.org
20 | March | April 2020 TM
Women Caring For the Land: Black Brook Farm June 19 | 10 a.m. – 3 p.m. | Free | Amery, Wis. Network with other woman and learn bout soil health and biodiversity through rotational grazing, cover cropping, oak savannah restoration, pollinator habitat, and reducing tillage. Contact Kirsten to learn more: 608-514-2031.
Farm Dreams
Webinar: Budgeting June 4 | 11 a.m. | Free | Online Hosted by the University of Tennessee, beginning farmers, value-added agriculture entrepreneurs and all farm opera tors are invited to participate in this webinar series. The series covers a variety of topics related to effective farm business management, marketing and planning. Contact Iris: xcui10@utk.edu or 931-648-5725.
Fruit and Vegetable Production Workshop April 7 | 8:30 – 11:30 a.m. | $10 | Little Falls, Minn. April 7 | 1:30 – 4:30 p.m. | $10 | Alexandria, Minn. April 8 | 8:30 – 11:30 a.m. | $10 | Litchfield, Minn. April 8 | 1:30 – 4:30 p.m. | $10 | Buffalo, Minn. Geared to producers who sell vegetables or fruit at local farmers markets, groceries or restaurants. Topics will include Spotted Wing Drosophila exclusion, disease prevention, and pollinator habitat. 612-624-1222.
March 31 – April 2 | $ | Belgium, Wis. Instructors Gabe Brown, Ray Archuleta, Rudy Garcia, Will Allen, and Shane New provide insights on regenerative farming prac tices. Scholarships available. Call Kathy at 256-996-3142.
eOrganic Webinar: The Microbiome – What is it and How Might it Impact Organic Dairy Production? March 30 | 1 p.m. | Free | Online
Small Farm Tools and Irrigation Workshop
eOrganic Webinar: Updates on Organic Crop Insurance Options for 2020-2021 March 31 | 1 p.m. | Free | Online
Women Caring For the Land: Amy’s Acre June 17 | 10 a.m. – 3 p.m. | Free | Caledonia, Wis. Network with other woman and learn about soil health im provement by transitioning long-time conventionally farmed land into organic veggie and poultry production. Contact Kirsten to learn more: 608-514-2031.
Fruit Tree Pruning Workshop March 28 | 9 a.m. – 1 p.m. | $35 | Mankato, Minn. This workshop will cover the basic principles of pruning your fruit trees, fruit tree anatomy, timing of pruning events, pruning for consistent fruit production and different tree shaping tech niques. You are invited to bring your own pruning tools if you have them, otherwise we will have tools available for you to try. Please be dressed appropriately for the outdoor session of this class. Send questions to info@alternativerootsfarm.com
Find details and event links online: mosesorganic.org/community Fruit Tree Grafting Workshop March 28 | 9 a.m. – 1 p.m. | $60 | Mankato, Minn. In this class you will learn how to propagate your own apple trees. The time-tested techniques of fruit tree grafting includ ing grafting tools, timing, proper scions and rootstocks will be discussed. Class fee includes 3 grafted apple trees, with the opportunity to purchase additional rootstock. Please bring a large trash bag and bucket to take your grafts home in, and lunch or snack for yourself. Send questions to info@alternative rootsfarm.com
Advancing Industrial Hemp May 18 & 19 | $215 | Greeley, Colo. ACRES hosts this event focused on advancing the education of growers who are trying for market share, a higher quality product, a higher CBD percentage and to improve their soil management program. 800-355-5313.
Urban Food System Symposium June 4-6 | $215 | Kansas City, Mo. Hosted by Kansas State University, this symposium includes knowledge on: urban agricultural production, local food systems distribution, climate change, nutrition, urban farmer education, urban ag policy, planning and development, food access and justice, and food sovereignty. Learn more at urban foodsystemssymposium.org
Women Caring For the Land: Mulroy’s Irish Acres June 28 | 2 – 8 p.m. | Free | New London, Wis. Network with other woman and learn about hosting an AirBNB and offering tours, classes and crafts on your farm. Contact Kirsten to learn more: 608-514-2031.
COMMUNITY CALENDAR
March 28 | 9 a.m. – 2 p.m. | $30 | Kansas City, Mo. Join the Growing Growers training program for a workshop at the Johnson County WIC Garden and afternoon farm tour at Pat & Rachel’s Garden in Olathe, KS. Email growers@ksu.edu to learn more.
