Iowa Organic Conference

November 29, 2001
8:30 to 4:00 p.m.
Des Moines Area Community College Conference Center
Ankeny, Iowa

Information for established, new, and potential organic producers and marketers. Topics include: projections for the organic industry; production methods for grains, fruits, vegetables, and livestock; product marketing strategies; marketing avenues; and meeting chef, direct market, wholesale, and retail needs. The conference is co-sponsored by Iowa State University (ISU) Extension, Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship (IDALS), Des Moines Area Community College (DMACC), Iowa office of the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), and COOP Development Services. Registrations received by November 20 are $50.00, which includes breaks and an organic lunch using Iowa grown products. Registrations after November 20 are $60. To register, call DMACC at 1-800-342-0033 or locally at 515-964-6800. For more information and to arrange commercial exhibits, contact Margaret Smith, Extension Sustainable Agriculture Program at ISU by either email: mrgsmith@iastate.edu or telephone: 515-295-0887. Download a pdf version of the recruitment brochure.

7:45 – 8:30	Registration
8:30 – 8:45	Welcome Patty Judge, Iowa Secretary of Agriculture
	Jerry Miller, Associate Dean, Iowa State University
8:45 – 9:30	‘Organic Agriculture at a Crossroads: The Midwestern Connection’ Todd Thompson, Coop Development Services, Minneapolis, MN
9:30 – 10:00	Break
10:00-11:30	Breakout session #1 (Workshops # 1,2,3,4,5))
11:30-12:30	Lunch
	‘The Role of Organics in Local Food Systems’ Neil Hamilton, Drake University
12:30- 2:00	Breakout session #2 (Workshops # 6,7,8,9,10,11)
2:00- 2:30	Break---Networking
2:30- 4:00	Breakout session #3 (Workshops # 4,10,12,13,14,15)
4:00	Adjourn

Workshop Topic	Presenters
1. GMOs and Organics---update	Kendall Lamkey, research geneticist, USDA-ARS, Ames IA David Vetter, Grain Place Foods, Marquette, NE
2. The Chef /Producer Connection	Larry Cleverly, Cleverly Farms, Mingo, IA Jeremy Morrow, chef, 43 Restaurant, Hotel Ft. Des Moines, Des Moines, IA Doug Smith, chef/co-owner, Cosi Cucina restaurant, Des Moines, IA Wende Elliot, Wholesome Harvest, Colo, IA
3. Getting Certified---National Rule, Iowa and Private Programs	Maury Wills, Organic Program Coordinator, Iowa Department of Agriculture Fred Kirschenmann Chairman, Farm Verified Organic (FVO) Jacklyn Smith, organic inspector, Brighton, IA
4. Marketing Organic Grains	Bob Turnbull, Heartland Organic COOP, Stuart, IA Kevin Brussell, OFARM, Casey, IL Dave Springer, Clarkson Grain, Cerro Gordo, IL Dave Vetter, Grain Place Foods, Marquette, NE
5. Organic Vegetable Production	Janette Ryan Busch, Fae Ridge Farm, Iowa City, IA Angela Tedesco, Turtle Farm, Granger, IA Joe Keenan, farmer, Ogden, IA
6. Organic Dairy Production	Todd Blanton, farmer, Leon, IA Francis Thicke, Radiance Dairy, Fairfield, IA Susan Zacharakis-Jutz, ZJ Farm, Solon, IA
7. Organic Grain Research Update	Kathleen Delate, Organic Specialist, Horticulture and Agronomy, Iowa State University, Ames, IA Elizabeth Dyck, Assistant Professor, University of Minnesota, Lamberton, MN Cynthia Cambardella, Soil Scientist, National Soil Tilth Laboratory, Ames IA
8. What Do I Need? What do I Want in Organics?---Processer, Wholesaler, and Retailer Perspective	LaBrent Lawler, Mrs. Clark's Foods, Ankeny, IA Sue Futrell, Blooming Prairie Coop, Iowa City , IA Jim Raife, New City Market, Des Moines, IA Ron Coles, Asst. VP, Produce Purchasing, Hy-Vee, Des Moines, IA
9. Alternative Organic Crops	John Aselage, research specialist, Gerber Products Company, Ft. Smith, AR (invited) Eric Franzenburg, farmer, Vinton, IA Janette Ryan-Busch, Fae Ridge Farm, Iowa City, IA
10. Marketing Approaches for Organic Fruits, Vegetables, or Livestock	Joe Keenan, Diamond K Enterprises, Ogden, IA Linda Nash, Sunflower Fields Family Farm and GROWN Locally, Postville, IA Wende Elliot, Wholesome Harvest (poultry), Colo, IA
11. Soy in the Iowa Kitchen (cooking demonstration)	Francine Coons, and Alesia Lacina, The ‘Soy Sisters’, Midwest Harvest, Grinnell, IA
12. Organic Fruit Production	Maury Wills, Rainbow Ridge Orchard, Adel, IA Heather Freidrich, Research Associate, Iowa State University Organic Research/Extension Program, Ames, IA Denise O'Brien, farmer, Atlantic, IA
13. Making the Transition to Organic	Paul Mugge, farmer, Sutherland, IA Carmen Fernholz, farmer, Madison, MN Curtis Bennett, Clarkson Grain, Cerro Gordo, IL
14. Organic Meat Production	Tom Olsen, Farm Management Specialist, Iowa State University Extension, Storm Lake, IA Ron Rosmann, beef producer, Rosmann Family Farms, Harlan, IA Tom Franzten, pork producer, Alta Vista, IA
15. Cooking with Organic Produce for Better Health (cooking demonstration)	L.T. and Ahilia Bramdaht, nutritional advisors and CSA growers, Waukee, IA