Join the Northern Organic Vegetable Improvement Collaborative (NOVIC) for a two-day classroom and field-based course on plant breeding from September 13 – 14, 2016.
NOVIC is a multi-state partnership between farmers and researchers to address the plant breeding needs of organic agriculture in the Northern U.S. The collaborative includes more than 30 organic farmers and nine researchers.
These nationally renowned organic plant breeders from the University of Wisconsin, Cornell University, Oregon State University, and Organic Seed Alliance will lead this course at Salish Kootenai College in Pablo, Montana, and on five participating farms in Western Montana’s Mission Valley: Fresh Roots Farm, Polson; Good Egg Farm, Moiese; Foothill Farm, St. Ignatius; Wild Plum Farm, Dixon; and Deluge Farm, Camas Prairie. A full schedule will be published soon.
Participants will learn basic principles to evaluate, develop, improve, and maintain plant varieties for their farm. Topics of instruction include: conducting variety trials, setting breeding goals, developing breeding plans, choosing parents, and breeding cross-pollinating and self-pollinating crops.
The course is intended for farmers, researchers, and agricultural students. Prior experience in basic seed growing is recommended. Participants are encouraged to review Organic Seed Alliance’s online tutorials on seed saving and production before the course.
Registration is required and will open in July. Contact OSA’s Kiki Hubbard with questions.
