Hops field nights are geared towards all growers, new and experienced. Ohio State University will be hosting three Hops Field events over the next few weeks. The field nights will be held at each location with the majority of the workshop being out in the hops field. Some of the topics to be discussed are:

• Galvanized Trellis System
• Hop Mechanical Harvesting Demonstration
• Drying Demonstration
• Insect & Disease
• Pest Management
• Nutrient Management & Fertigation demonstration
• Drip Irrigation Management


Attendees will receive hands-on experience, visit the hops field, and receive multiple handouts-including the Ohio Hop Disease Management Guide.

For full information please see the attached link: https://agnr.osu.edu/events/hops-field-night-wooster.


REGISTER TODAY! Space is limited at each location. Attendees must preregister.

To register, please contact Charissa Gardner. Contact information listed below.

Location:
OARDC Horticulture Research Unit 2
5082 Oil City Rd.
Wooster, OH 44691

Contact:
Charissa Gardner / 740-289-2071 ext 132 /

https://agnr.osu.edu/events/hops-field-night-wooster

Michigan State University is hosting an organic management field day. Farmers will have an opportunity to see equipment demonstrations, hear results from current organic research, and learn about organic weed, pest, disease, and fertility management.

Lunch is included in registration.

Please see the attached link to register for the event:
https://events.anr.msu.edu/event.cfm?eventID=D3989960411F3A3F 

Location:
MSU Kellogg Biological Station
9701 N 40th St
Hickory Corners, MI 49060

Contact:
Marisa Benzle / 919-222-7219 /

https://events.anr.msu.edu/event.cfm?eventID=D3989960411F3A3F

IOIA and OEFFA will cosponsor advanced training at Deer Creek State Park Conference Center, Mt. Sterling, Ohio. The goal of the training is give participants confidence that they need not be experts in plants, insects, animals, or hydrology to effectively inspect and assess to the NOP rule and related guidance concerning natural resources and biodiversity. The training will focus on the basic visual cues and best practices to use, especially in the Midwest region.

Three field trips to certified organic vegetable, livestock, and grain farms are scheduled to provide hands-on learning. Trainers are conservation and biodiversity educators Tony Fleming of Indiana (geologist and former inspector) and Jo Ann Baumgartner (Wild Farm Alliance). The course is designed primarily for inspectors and certification staff, but others are also welcome to register. Closest airport is Columbus. Deadline to apply is August 17. Group discounts are available.

Participants in IOIA's 300 Level Advanced Inspector Training courses must meet course acceptance criteria to receive an Advanced Training Certificate of Completion. Requirements include prior completion of two inspector training courses and 2 years inspection experience with at least 20 inspections or one year of inspection experience with at least 30 inspections. Participants must complete pre-course readings, participate in all training sessions and satisfactorily complete a post training writing assignment. Participants that do not meet the advanced criteria or who do not complete all assignments are welcome and will receive a Workshop Certificate.

Register Here: https://register.gotowebinar.com/register/7486977486297803779

Location:
Deer Creek State Park Conference Center
22300 State Park Road 20
Mt. Sterling, OH 43143

Contact:
OEFFA / (614) 421-2022 /

https://register.gotowebinar.com/register/7486977486297803779

Heartland Farm Beginnings® is a year-long, farmer-led training and support program designed to help early career farmers committed to creating a sustainable farm business achieve their goals. This intensive, eight-part workshop series will enable farmers with at least one year of production experience to develop a whole farm plan that encompasses realistic goal setting, financial management, and assessment of resources, skills, and markets. Early career farmers will also receive the business planning tools necessary to successfully implement their plan. In addition to the course work, the program includes 2019 conference registration and a mentorship for March through November upon successful completion of the course.

Cost and Registration: $1,000 by August 17, $1,200 by September 21. Pre-registration is required for the entire series.

This OEFFA event is part of the 2018 Sustainable Farm Tour and Workshop Series, featuring farm tours, workshops, and other events. For a complete schedule, go to www.oeffa.org/q/2018farmtours.

Location:
OEFFA
41 Croswell Rd.
Columbus, OH 43214

Contact:
Kelly Henderson / (614) 421-2022 /

http://www.oeffa.org/q/farmbeginnings

Early career farmers interested in advancing their farm's earning potential will benefit from this two-day intensive workshop focused on enhancing the management plans of established operations to maximize soil fertility and yield. Session topics for larger scale sustainable farms will include: growing transplants efficiently; planting from transplants and direct seeding; weed control; meeting demands of distributors, institutions, stores, restaurants, and cooperatives; and picking, washing, packing, cooling, storing, and delivering your products to maximize efficiency and freshness.

Scaling up your farm business also requires moving beyond paper fliers, random Facebook ads, and coupon codes. You need a marketing strategy, and you need to know the why behind it. In this workshop, you'll learn the principles behind building an online marketing system that continuously attracts qualified leads, grows your customers, and increases sales. You'll also leave feeling confident in how to design creative marketing collateral that will build your farm's brand and grow your profits.

About the Speakers: Linda Halley has been an organic farmer since 1989. As a pioneer of the community supported agriculture (CSA) movement, she developed one of Wisconsin's premier CSAs, Harmony Valley Farm. She left Wisconsin to manage Fairview Gardens, a nonprofit, educational farm in California, and later, Gardens of Eagan, a 126 acre greenhouse and produce operation in Minnesota. Currently, Linda is general manager of Gwenyn Hill Organic Farm and Garden in Wisconsin, a diverse, peri-urban, 400 acre farm transitioning to certified organic production. In addition to farming, Linda is an organic farm inspector and has served in leadership positions at the Minnesota Food Association and Midwest Organic and Sustainable Education Service. Corinna Bench is the co-founder of Shared Legacy Farms, a 400 member certified organic CSA in northwest Ohio. Her farm grew its retention rate from 66 percent to 78 percent in one year after implementing an online branding content strategy. She is the founder of www.mydigitalfarmer.com and the CSA Marketing private Facebook group, offering free digital marketing training for CSA farmers.

Cost and Registration: $110 for OEFFA members, $130 for non-members. Price includes breakfast and lunch both days. Pre-registration is required by November 16 and space is limited to 35 participants. To register, go to www.oeffa.org/q/scalingup2018 or send a check made out to OEFFA, along with the names of all attendees, addresses, phone numbers, and emails to OEFFA, Scaling Up Production and Marketing, 41 Croswell Rd., Columbus, OH 43214.

This OEFFA event is part of the 2018 Sustainable Farm Tour and Workshop Series, featuring farm tours, workshops, and other events. All events are free and open to the public unless otherwise specified. For a complete schedule, go to www.oeffa.org/q/2018farmtours

Location:
Mustard Seed Market & Café at Highland Square
867 W. Market St.
Akron, OH 44303

Contact:
Kelly Henderson / (614) 421-2022 /

http://www.oeffa.org/q/scalingup2018