By Blake Jackson
Join the New York Certified Organic (NYCO) for two insightful meetings focused on maximizing your organic dairy and field crop operations. Whether you're a seasoned veteran or just starting out, these sessions offer valuable knowledge and practical tips to navigate the challenges and opportunities of organic agriculture.
Dairy Focus: Tight Margins, Smart Strategies (January 9)
- Expert insights: Mary Kate MacKenzie from Cornell PRO-DAIRY delves into optimizing feed conversion and income for different organic systems.
- Farmer wisdom: Hear real-world strategies from successful dairy farmers like Nathan Weaver, Eric Ziehm, Tim Christiansen, and Melanie & Patrick Harrison. They'll share their approaches to managing tight margins and thriving in the organic landscape.
- Open discussion: Network with fellow farmers and share your own experiences during the afternoon session.
Field Crop Focus: Tillage, Cover Crops & More (February 13)
- Tillage reduction strategies: Learn about cutting back on tillage in your organic rotations through research updates and on-farm experiences from Oechsner Farms and Martens Farms.
- Cover crop interseeding: Discover the benefits and challenges of interseeding cover crops with Chris Pelzer as your guide and a panel of experienced farmers sharing their insights.
- Potluck and discussion: Enjoy a delicious potluck lunch and engage in open dialogue with your peers about the latest advancements in organic field crop production.
- Both meetings are free to attend and open to all farmers.
Meet the Featured Dairy Farmers:
- Nathan Weaver: A pioneer in rotational grazing and soil health management, Nathan shares his innovative approach to organic dairy success.
- Melanie & Patrick Harrison: From conventional dairy to thriving organic enterprise, learn their secrets for managing a large organic dairy with efficiency and creativity.
- Tim Christiansen: This fourth-generation farmer balances technology and tradition to improve his dairy's efficiency and genetic progress.
- Eric Ziehm: Discover his journey from conventional dairy to establishing a successful organic farm focused on pasture quality and soil health.
These events are free to attend and open to all farmers. Optional pre-registration to receive updates on possible weather-related changes can be made at https://tinyurl.com/NYCO2024 or by leaving a message at 315-787-2432. Subscribe to the NYCO listserv by emailing NYCO-group-L-request@cornell.edu with “join” as the subject and no text in the body of the email. Co-sponsored by the Sustainable Cropping Systems Lab, NY State IPM, and PRO-DAIRY.
Photo Credit: istock-fotosipsak
Categories: New York, Business, Education