If you can’t make it to the Organic Seed Growers Conference this week, don’t fret! Our event co-host eOrganic is offering a selection of workshops as live webinars. And they’re free! Just one advance registration is required. See the schedule below. (Please note that because these are live broadcasts, the exact program might be subject to change.)
Wednesday, February 14
Seed Economics Intensive
9:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. Pacific time (There will be 15-minute breaks at 10:15 a.m. and 3:00 p.m., and a lunch break from 12:30 p.m. – 1:15 p.m. Pacific Time.
Navigating the finances of growing seed commercially can be challenging and managing risks are essential to success. Beginning and experienced seed growers are invited to join us for this one-day intensive to gain tools for managing financial risk in commercial seed production. Get skilled at using budgeting tools to evaluate capital investments, expand enterprises, and assess market opportunities. We’ll examine real-world examples from seed growers with different marketing strategies to build knowledge of wholesale, retail, contract growing, as well as breeding and variety maintenance. Participants will have the opportunity to provide their own production examples and work with an agricultural economist to develop enterprise budgets. We’ll also hear from organic seed industry representatives about gaps in the supply, best practices for quality control, and projections for the future of the organic seed market.
Presenters: Sebastian Aguilar, Chickadee Farm; Travis Greenwalt, Highland Economics; Sam McCullough, Nash’s Organic Produce; Tanya Murray, Oregon Tilth; Sarah Kleeger, Adaptive Seed; Tom Stearns, High Mowing Organic Seed; Ira Wallace, Southern Exposure Seed Exchange; Pete Zuck, Johnny’s Selected Seeds
Friday, February 16
Crop Planning for Organic Seed Growers | 9:00 – 10:30 a.m. Pacific Time
Speakers: Daniel Brisebois, Tourne-Sol Cooperative Farm; Sebastian Aguilar, Chickadee Farm, Jared Zystro, Organic Seed Alliance
Growing Strong Seed The Biodynamic Way | 2:00 – 3:30 p.m. Pacific Time
Speakers: Thea Maria Carlson, Biodynamic Farmer and Co-Director of the Biodynamic Association; Beth Corymb, Meadowlark Hearth; Jim Fullmer, Biodynamic Farmer and Co-Director of Demeter USA; Marjory House, Biodynamic Farmer and consultant with Sero Biodynamic Seed.
Seed Production in Cages – Challenging, Fun, and Rewarding | 4:00 – 5:30 p.m. Pacific Time
Speakers: Shaina Bronstein, Vitalis Organic Seeds; Jen Jody, Growing Opportunities Farm Community Coop, Laurie McKenzie,Organic Seed Alliance; Chris Thoreau, Farmfolk Cityfolk
Saturday, February 17
Leveraging Variety Trials to Advance Organic Seed Systems | 9:00 – 10:30 a.m. Pacific Time
Speakers: Julie Dawson, University of Wisconsin-Madison; Alex Lyon, University of British Columbia; Jared Zystro, Organic Seed Alliance and University of Wisconsin-Madison Microbial
Hitchhikers on Seed: Friend or Foe? | 1:30 – 3:00 p.m. Pacific Time
Speakers: Dan Egel, Purdue University; Jim Myers, Oregon State University
Organic Hybrid Seed Production in the US: Methods and Case Studies | 3:30 – 5:00 p.m. Pacific Time
Speakers: Jeffrey Block, Gro Alliance; Jason Cavatorta, Earthwork Seeds; Tom Stearns, High Mowing Organic Seeds; Bill Waycott, Nipomo Native Seeds
The Organic Seed Growers Conference is the largest organic seed event in the US and takes place in Corvallis, Oregon, from February 14-17, 2018.
