Organic Seed Alliance

Advancing ethical seed solutions to meet food and farming needs in a changing world

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Upcoming Events

Events

Organic Breeding and Seed Intensive

August 10, 2017
9:00 A.M. TO 5:00 P.M. | University of California-Davis, Bowley Science Center, Plant Sciences Lecture Hall 101 | 1200 Ext Center Dr | Davis, CA 95616

Join Jared Zystro of Organic Seed Alliance, and Julie Dawson and Bill Tracy of University of Wisconsin-Madison, to learn how to develop new varieties and produce commercial quality seed. Learn basic principles to evaluate, develop, improve, and maintain both cross-pollinated and self-pollinated plant varieties for your farm. The training will also include a brief overview of seed biology, how to manage population size and isolation distances and seed production, harvesting, cleaning, and storage best practices. Learn more and register here.

National Association of Plant Breeders 2017 Annual Meeting

August 7, 2017 - August 10, 2017
University of California-Davis Conference Center | 550 Alumni Ln. | Davis, California 95616

Join OSA’s Micaela Colley for the National Association of Plant Breeders 2017 Annual Meeting where she’ll be speaking on the topic of organic plant breeding. The National Association of Plant Breeders works to strengthen plant breeding to promote food security, quality of life, and a sustainable future. The meeting will include awards, field tours, a poster session, student workshops, and several sessions on applicable topics. Learn more and register here.

Organic Seed Production Webinar Series: Seed Quality, Harvesting and Equipment

August 15, 2017
2:00 P.M. EASTERN, 1:00 P.M. CENTRAL, 12:00 P.M. MOUNTAIN AND 11:00 A.M. PACIFIC | EORGANIC WEBINAR

Join OSA for the fourth of our six-part Organic Seed Production webinar series that provides training for seed growers and seed production interns throughout the 2017 growing season (June – November). This month’s webinar will cover basic principles for determining the optimum timing of harvest and guidance on how to harvest either by hand or with equipment. Presenters will also cover tips and tools for preliminary threshing and drying post harvest and addressing inclement weather during the harvest process. Learn more and register here.

Organic Vegetable Seed Production & Varietal Selection Workshop

August 22, 2017
9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. | West Lafayette, IN 47907

Join OSA’s Micaela Colley and our partners from the Carrot Improvement for Organic Agriculture (CIOA) and Tomato Organic Management and Improvement (TOMI) projects for a one-day classroom and field based workshop on organic seed production and varietal development. Nationally renowned researchers from Purdue University, University of Wisconsin, and OSA will lead this course. Learn more and register here.

The National Heirloom Expo

September 5, 2017 - September 7, 2017
Sonoma County Fair Grounds | 1350 Bennett Valley Rd | Santa Rosa, CA | 95404

Join OSA for this year’s National Heirloom Expo in Santa Rosa, California. We’ll be at the expo with seed producers from throughout the state showing off the fruits of their seed production and breeding efforts. Be sure to stop by and say “hi”! Learn more here.

Field Day with Rio Del Rey Heirloom Beans

September 13, 2017
9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. | Rio Del Rey Beans | 30966 Cole Grande Road | Valley Center, CA 92080

Join OSA and Mike Reeske from Rio Del Rey Heirloom Beans for this half-day field day. We’ll tour heirloom bean trials on the farm, learn about organic seed production, and have thresher and seed cleaning demos. Afterwards, participants are invited for lunch and a social at The Yellow Deli located at 32011 Lilac Road in Valley Center. This event is free and open to the public. Contact Amber Keeney for more information.

2017 Jefferson County Farm Tour

September 16, 2017 - September 17, 2017
10:00a.m. - 4:00p.m. | OSA'S RESEARCH FARM | 124 CENTER ROAD | CHIMACUM, WA 98325

Swing by OSA’s research farm on the 2017 Jefferson County Farm Tour. In addition to what’s in the field, we’ll have fun seed activities, educational materials, and seeds for folks to take home. Learn more about the farm tour here.

Organic Seed Production Webinar Series: Seed Cleaning and Recordkeeping

September 19, 2017
2:00 P.M. EASTERN, 1:00 P.M. CENTRAL, 12:00 P.M. MOUNTAIN AND 11:00 A.M. PACIFIC | EORGANIC WEBINAR

Join OSA for the fifth of our six-part Organic Seed Production webinar series that provides training for seed growers and seed production interns throughout the 2017 growing season (June – November). This month’s webinar will cover basics of cleaning wet and dry seed by hand or with small to large-scale equipment. Farmer participants will share their seed cleaning tricks, tools and facilities and engage in trouble shooting questions with participants. Tips and resources for record keeping will help ensure seed lots are in order at the end of the season and you can recall cleaning methods in future years. Learn more and register here.

Organic Seed Production Workshop and Field Day

September 24, 2017
10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. | Red Gate Ranch | 19020 Highway 36 West | Red Bluff, CA 96080

Join the Northeastern California Seed Hub and Elliott Proffit of Red Gate Ranch for this farm field day and seed production workshop! Learn seed production basics, including harvesting and cleaning practices with hands-on equipment demonstrations. We’ll also have the opportunity to tour seed crops in the field and see how they fit into a diversified produce and animal operation. Learn more and register here.

Community Field Day and Tasting at OSA’s Research Farm

September 25, 2017
OSA'S RESEARCH FARM | 124 CENTER ROAD | CHIMACUM, WA 98325

Save the date to join OSA for a community field day and variety tasting at our research farm in Chimacum, Washington. The event celebrates the 3rd annual harvest at our Washington research farm, which serves as the hub of OSA’s Pacific Northwest organic plant breeding, seed education, and variety trial program. We’ll take a close look at OSA’s research projects on a field tour and taste varieties from current trials. Additional details will be announced soon.

Organic Seed Event Hosted by Tilth Alliance

October 2, 2017
12:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. | OSA's Research Farm | 124 CENTER ROAD | CHIMACUM, WA 98325

Join OSA and Essential Blooms for this two-part farm walk hosted by Tilth Alliance. Participants will tour the OSA research farm and learn how we’re contributing to the organic seed supply. Experts from Washington State University and High Mowing Organic Seeds will also be on hand to provide more information about trials, breeding, and the organic seed market. Learn more and register today.

Organic Seed Production Webinar Series: Seed Contracting, Economics and Policy

October 17, 2017
2:00 P.M. EASTERN, 1:00 P.M. CENTRAL, 12:00 P.M. MOUNTAIN AND 11:00 A.M. PACIFIC | EORGANIC WEBINAR

Join OSA for the last of our six-part Organic Seed Production webinar series that provides training for seed growers and seed production interns throughout the 2017 growing season (June – November). In this month’s webinar, we’ll hear from seed company representatives and a seed grower about when and how to plan for contract production and how to assess profitability. Presenters will also share perspectives on the details to consider in a contract including terms for pricing, over-production, field roguing, and seed cleaning. Learn more and register today.

Two Trainings in Montana to Focus on Seed Quality and Seed Processing

November 11, 2017 - November 12, 2017
Missoula and Ronan, Montana

Save the date to join OSA on November 11, 2017, for a half-day workshop in Missoula, Montana, focused on seed quality. The workshop is geared toward organic specialty crop growers who already produce seed or are interested in integrating seed into their diversified operation. This workshop will be followed by a training on November 12, 2017, in Ronan, Montana, focused on higher level seed cleaning and processing skills. More details will be announced this summer.

9th Organic Seed Growers Conference

February 14, 2018 - February 17, 2018
Oregon State University | Corvallis, Oregon

Save the date to join OSA and co-hosts Oregon State University, Washington State University, and eOrganic for the 9th Organic Seed Growers Conference. The biennial gathering is the largest organic seed event in the U.S. You’ll hear the latest in cutting-edge research and policy advocacy, and trade knowledge, techniques, and ideas with other seedheads from around the world. Learn more about the conference here.

4th Annual California Organic Seed Summit

March 2, 2018 - March 4, 2018
EarthRise Institute of Noetic Sciences (IONS) | 101 San Antonio Road | Petaluma, CA 94952

Save the date to join OSA for the 4th annual California Organic Seed Summit. This retreat is a unique opportunity to network, exchange knowledge, and develop collective actions to build sustainable, profitable, and resilient seed systems in California. Each year’s summit is molded by the participants and produces an important springboard for the upcoming year. Learn more here.

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