Ecological Farming Association Conference Nears
January 19, 2015 
The Ecological Farming Association (EcoFarm) is gearing up to present the quickly approaching 35th annual EcoFarm Conference the Asilomar Conference Grounds in Pacific Grove, CA, Jan. 21-24.
EcoFarm’s goal is to support the success of triple bottom line agricultural businesses to fill the boots of the estimated 70% of farmers expected to retire over the next 15 years, and to promote ecological agriculture through education, alliance building, celebration and advocacy.
EcoFarm is pleased to be offering an array of conference workshops this year that will be useful to farms and agricultural companies both small and large. A few examples of such workshops include:
- Anticipating the Final FDA Food Safety Rules – All farm operations will be affected by FDA rules and the need for a food safety plan when the final rules are released in the summer of 2015. Learn what resources are available, explore farm practices, and complete a food safety plan
- Demonstrating How to Embody Triple Bottom Line Values – Explore how different parts of a supply chain: a farmer, a distributor, and a retailer, differentiate and maintain the health of their businesses. This will be a panel dealing with business practices and relationships that will be useful for any size and/or type of farm/operation.
- Forgotten Practices that Save Water on the Farm – Everyone is affected by the drought, and it is sometimes overlooked that there are ways on the farm to conserve water besides alterations to irrigation practices. Explore dozens of management, vegetative and structural practices that save water and provide other conservation and economic benefits.
- Climate Change and Agriculture: Good News Stories – The impacts of climate change on agriculture are great, but there are ways that farms and ranches can play a constructive role in reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Hear a few good news stories on the topic from a researcher, an organic farmer, and an advocate.
- Cultivating a Relationship with Your Weeds – Every farmer has a different approach to dealing with weeds on their farm. Some farmers have worked to integrate weeds into their ecosystem management, learn about their systems and practices and how this is helping their crops.
- Make Your Farm Energy Self-Sufficient – Alternative forms of energy (solar, wind, veggie oil, etc.) are becoming more common and accessible, with many farmers and ranchers already converting at least some of their energy inputs. Learn from the actions and decisions of pioneers in transitioning to alternative energy sources to get the greatest economic and ecological benefit out of your switch.
Another highlight of this year’s conference that will give farmers the opportunity to gain focused technical information in many different areas is that several workshops have been approved for Continuing Education Units (CEUs) both for Certified Crop Advisors and Pest Control Advisors. Workshops that are eligible for CEUs can be found in each workshop description on the website.
EcoFarm will be also be holding a few pre-conference events on Wednesday, Jan. 21 that will offer specialized knowledge in areas of seed stewardship, livestock processing, and permaculture design.
Cultivating Organic Seed Stewardship – An all-day interactive session that will provide a deeper understanding of the history, culture, biology, and economics of seed to help attendees take positive actions towards ensuring a sustainable seed future.
Applied On-Farm Permaculture Design – A workshop that will engage attendees in permaculture design methodology and principles that will help them produce design plans for their own farms and gardens over the course of the day.
With more than 1,800 participants, EcoFarm hosts artisanal food tastings, live entertainment, an Exhibitor Marketplace showcasing over 50 organic and ecologically-based businesses and organizations, mixers, roundtable discussions, opportunities for farmers and ranchers to discuss their challenges one-on-one with industry experts, and an annual awards banquet honoring leaders in the sustainable food and farming movement.
Source: Ecological Farming Association
Subscribe Today For
