Leopold Center - Other Sustainable Agriculture Events

Other sustainable ag events

Events on this page are provided as a service to groups doing work in sustainable agriculture and is not an endorsement by the Leopold Center. To list your event here send information to lwmiller@iastate.edu. Other calendars are maintained by the ISU Extension sustainable ag program, Practical Farmers of Iowa, Iowa environmental educators, and the Sustainable Agriculture Network of the USDA.

See a list of events sponsored or co-sponsored by the Leopold Center.

Announcements

Poultry processing seminars Gaylen Bontrager, who farms near Iowa City and is a graduate of Polyface Farm in Virginia, is offering classes on the basics of on-farm poultry processing from start to finish. Each seminar is limited to five people and there is a registration fee. Contact: Galen Bontrager, (319) 683-3199, galenjb@yahoo.com. Posted 1-27-10

Holistic Management Training Series Training will be offered at the Quality Inn & Suites in Ames on three dates: January 25–26, February 22–23 and March 29–30. The series includes the basics of holistic management, financial planning and its application to grazing operations. For details, contact Erin Wilson, (563) 419-3142, curlywilly@gmail.com, or view the flyer [PDF]. Posted 1-25-10

Mississippi River Basin Initiative Land in the Upper Cedar, Maquoketa, North Raccoon and Boone watersheds in Iowa are part of a new USDA program to improve water quality in the Mississippi River basin. Financial assistance will be available over the next four years to help producers implement conservation and management practices that prevent, control and trap nutrient runoff from agricultural land. For more information, contact your local Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) field office. See a map of targeted watersheds. Posted 12-15-09

January 13 – Feb. 17	Annie's Project: Women in Agriculture, 6–9 p.m., Business & Technology Center, Iowa Valley Continuing Education, Marshalltown. Annie a farm wife who spent her lifetime learning to be an involved business partner with her husband. Annie's project takes her experiences and shares them with farm women. Topics include money, business plans, crop share leases, retirement and estate planning, risk management, insurance, financial records, and more. Co-sponsored by ISU Extension. View the event web site.
January 27 – March 3	Beekeeping workshop, Iowa Valley Continuing Education, Marshalltown. Instructor Phil Ebert is a professional beekeeper who walk through the steps of how to get started as a beekeeper. Topics include disease control and pests, year-round seasonal management, beekeeping history, and more. The seventh week includes a field trip to a local bee yard. View the event web site.
February 9–11	Northern Plains Sustainable Ag Society Annual Winter Conference, Watertown Event Center, Watertown, South Dakota. This conference will feature keynote speakers Tom Stearns, founder of High Mowing Organic Seeds, Wolcott, Vermont, and Dr. Paul Dettloff, DVM, Arcadia, Wisconsin, staff veterinarian for Organic Valley. Contact: Chris Williamson, (573) 248-2530, chris.williamson@mdc.mo.gov. View the event on the NPSAS web site for more information.
February 20	2010 Iowa Farmers' Market Workshop, 9 a.m.–4 p.m., First Christian Church, 2500 University Avenue, Des Moines. This workshop provides training and information for farmers' market managers and vendors. Topics include food safety practices for growers and marketing advice for vendors. Advance registration recommended, but walk-ins welcome. Contact: Ginny Gieseke, (515) 277-6951, vrgieseke@q.com.
February 22	"Women Caring for the Land" workshop, 2–4 p.m., Village Cup and Cakes, 202 Main St., Keosauqua. Women who own or manage farmland are invited to participate in this free conservation education program. Participants will learn about sustainable soil conservation and water quality, hear from tenants about conservation concerns, practice ways to discuss conservation concerns, and share ideas with other women landowners. Contact: Leigh Adcock, (515) 460-2477, leigh@wfan.org.
February 23	"Women Caring for the Land" workshop, 9:30–11:30 a.m., Fairfield Public Library, 104 W Adams Ave., Fairfield. Women who own or manage farmland are invited to participate in this free conservation education program. Participants will learn about sustainable soil conservation and water quality, hear from tenants about conservation concerns, practice ways to discuss conservation concerns, and share ideas with other women landowners. Contact: Leigh Adcock, (515) 460-2477, leigh@wfan.org.
February 23	"Women Caring for the Land" workshop, 2–4 p.m., Sigourney Public Library, 720 E Jackson St., Sigourney. Women who own or manage farmland are invited to participate in this free conservation education program. Participants will learn about sustainable soil conservation and water quality, hear from tenants about conservation concerns, practice ways to discuss conservation concerns, and share ideas with other women landowners. Contact: Leigh Adcock, (515) 460-2477, leigh@wfan.org.
February 23	"In Defense of Food: An Eater's Manifesto," 7 p.m., Main Hall, Center for Faith and Life, Luther College, Decorah. Best-selling author and journalist Michael Pollan will present the 2010 Farwell Distinguished Lecture in conjunction with the sustainability initiative of the college, recently named as one of the nation's top 26 sustainable colleges and universities. The doors will open at 6 p.m. and seating is on a first-come, first-served basis. Contact: Public Information Office, (563) 387-1865, luthernews@luther.edu.
February 23	On-Farm Network Conference, 8 a.m.–5 p.m., Scheman Building, ISU campus, Ames. Speakers will present data from strip trials and stalk sampling. Other topics include fungicide use, manure, and the use of aerial imagery to fine-tune nutrient use. Open to the public, but pre-registration required. Contact: Christine Borton, (800) 383-1423 ex. 1033, cborton@iasoybeans.com. View the event web site.
February 24–25	ISU Symposium on Sustainability, ISU campus, Ames. The event will begin with an evening lecture and poster session on February 23 and continue through February 24. The symposium offers students, staff and faculty the opportunity to learn about ISU’s sustainability accomplishments and activities of the past year, hear from those who have taken part in ISU’s Live Green Initiative, and gain awareness from sustainability keynote speakers. Symposium events are offered at no charge. Contact: Mary Rankin, (515) 294-5052, mrankin@iastate.edu. Visit the web site for more information.
March 9	"A Watershed Year: Lessons Learned – Preparing for the Future," 6:30–8 p.m., State Historical Building, 600 E. Locust, Des Moines. “A Watershed Year: Anatomy of the Iowa Floods of 2008” is a new book that contains Iowans' perspectives on flood prediction, effects, recovery and future preparedness. For release of the book, the UI Center for Global and Regional Environmental Research (CGRER) is organizing this event to teach the public about on the book, trends in Iowa precipitation and water run-off, how is Iowa preparing for more floods, and much more. Contact: Jeff Morgan, (515) 281-3858, jeff.morgan@iowa.gov. For details see the web site.
March 13–14	Cut Flower Growers Workshop, University of Wisconsin – Madison campus, Madison, Wisconsin. This workshop is designed to help new and beginning growers learn how to start a cut flower business, grow flowers using organic and sustainable practices, and market cut flowers. Registration fee required. Contact: John Hendrickson, (608) 265-3704, jhendric@wisc.edu. For details, view the web site or the flyer.
March 27	Climate Change and Grasslands lecture, 8 p.m., Great Hall, Memorial Union Great Hall, ISU campus, Ames. Alan Knapp's research on plants focuses on understanding ecological patterns and processes from the leaf to the landscape. It reflects his training as a plant physiological ecologist and a 20-year association with the NSF Long-Term Ecological Research (LTER) Program. Midwest Ecology and Evolution Conference Keynote Address. Contact: ISU Lectures Program, (515) 294-9934, lectures@iastate.edu. View the web page for more details.
May 1	Central Iowa Organic Expo, 11 a.m.–6 p.m., Career Education Building, Iowa Central Community College, Fort Dodge. Consumers, producers, vendors and educators are invited to this event, which will include breakout sessions, cooking demonstrations and an outdoor organic cookout. Contact: Patricia Rohan, theorganiclight@yahoo.com.
May 17–19	National Farm to Cafeteria Conference, Detroit, Michigan. Hosted by the National Community Food Security Coalition based in Portland, Oregon. Contact: Aleta Dunne, (503) 954-2970, aleta@foodsecurity.org. View the event web site.