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1-7-07
LEOPOLD CENTER CO-SPONSORS TWO WORKSHOPS JANUARY 12
DES MOINES, Iowa --
Unpredictable weather and climate changes can wreak havoc
for livestock producers who rely on rotational grazing and outdoor year-round
systems.
Leopold Center Director Jerry DeWitt will moderate a January 12 panel discussion
about risk management for graziers, including how to manage pastures under
drought conditions. "Growing High Quality Forage: Risk Management for Volatile
Weather" will feature Terry Gompert, a holistic management trainer and Nebraska
Extension educator; and four Iowa graziers: Tom German of Holstein, Steve
Reinart of Glidden, Torray Wilson of Paullina and Leo Benjamin of Whiting.
The workshop, which will be 12:30 to 4:30 p.m., is part of Practical Farmers of
Iowa's annual conference
January 12-13 at the Airport Holiday Inn in Des
Moines. The Iowa Forage and Grassland Council is a co-sponsor of the grazing
workshop with the Leopold Center.
A second workshop is for farmers interested in joining direct market food
distribution systems. Rich Pirog, who directs the Leopold Center's Marketing and
Food Systems Initiative, and PFI's Gary Huber will lead "Creating New Iowa Food
Distribution Systems." The program will focus on developing distribution systems
to link farmers directly to families, restaurants, institutions and grocery
stores. They will review models from Iowa and other states and discuss
strategies to address challenges associated with attracting customers,
developing inventory and ordering systems, and transporting products.
In addition to these two sessions, two other workshops will be offered on
January 12. PFI will offer "Adding an Enterprise: Barriers and Opportunities for
Growing Beyond Commodity Markets" and "High-Tunnels for Lower Costs and Higher
Profits."
The annual conference will convene on Saturday, January 13 with 15 shorter
sessions on a variety of topics, some related to Leopold Center research from
eating locally to transitioning to organic production. Check out all
sessions as well as registration fees at the PFI web site,
www.practicalfarmers.org/. Walk-in registrations will be accepted both days.
For more information,
contact:
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