Farmers Will Glean Animal Health, Market Tips at Montgomery FarmStarts Workshop

(MONTGOMERY) – To equip beginning farmers with the latest production, business, and marketing knowledge for organic grain and dairy operations, National Farmers, on July 16, will host its free FarmStarts seminar at the Gasthof Amish Village Restaurant near Montgomery.

The seminar will begin at 9 a.m. and lunch is provided.

Organic agriculture and animal health and nutrition pique the interest of producers today, and those are among the FarmStarts educational topics.

These are the FarmStarts ag learning presentations:

  • Organic Land Certification, Angie Tunink, director of research and education, Organic Crop Improvement Association<http://www.ocia.org/>.
  • Dairy Animal Health and Nutrition, Dr. Silvia Abel-Caines, Organic Valley/CROPP<http://www.farmers.coop/>.
  • Organic Crop Insurance, Mike Kleaving, crop insurance agent, National Farmers Crop Insurance.
  • Financial Planning and Management for Organic Grain Production, Curtis Mahnken, Extension economist,  Center for Farm Financial Management<https://www.cffm.umn.edu/>, University of Minnesota.
  • How to Market Organic Grains, Mike Schulist, organic grain marketer, NForganics<https://www.nfo.org/Grain/NForganics.aspx>.
  • Introduction to Organic Farmers Agency for Relationship Marketing, John Bobbe, executive director, OFARM<https://www.ofarm.org/>.

Producers can register online at nationalfarmers.com/farmstarts<http://www.nfo.org/FarmStarts/>.

The FarmStarts seminar is part of a 36-meeting series in 11 states spearheaded by National Farmers and partially funded by USDA’s National Institute for Food and Agriculture.

“National Farmers has always focused on helping farmers, and with FarmStarts seminars, we give newer producers key information they need as they launch into or continue in farming,” said FarmStarts Project Director Dave Reed. “Organic agriculture can offer beginning producers a way to cash flow without a large number of acres.”

The educational day is designed for newer producers, who’ve been farming less than 10 years or more precisely have filed fewer than 10 Schedule F tax forms. They can receive a $200 stipend to cover travel costs, and expenses incurred while being off the farm for the day. 

Farmers of any experience level are welcome and beginning farmers may want to attend with those who they partner within agriculture.

Additionally, FarmStarts is relevant for farmers who are interested in learning more about transitioning from conventional to organic production. Producers with questions about the FarmStarts event may also call 515-598-4670.