Crops track

soil health for Crop Producers: Friday 9:00-12:00
Speakers: diana jerkins, justin Duncan, Tommy Garcia-Prats, Scott Snodgrass

The Soil Health panel will provide soil health information from Organic Farming Research Foundation research and educational projects. Panel speakers will also include small and larger scale farmers to tell of their practical solutions to improving soil health. Results will be discussed for practical applications, lessons learned , and building soil techniques from UTRGV cover crop research.

Farm Food Safety Plans: Good Agricultural Practices and Good Handling Practices: Friday 2:00-5:00
Speakers: Pedro Shambon and Kara Kroeger

Farm food safety plans are here to stay, even for small farmers. Traceability and transparency are the currency of the new era of business for perishable produce. This workshop will present the basics of what farmers need to pay attention to as they grow, pack and sell their produce. A new software product that integrates food safety, organic certification, and farm planning will also be demonstrated.

all things irrigation: Saturday 9:30-12:00
speaker: david pitre

We will be looking at crop irrigation from various angles. From water source and quality, to the mechanics of water delivery, to plant uptake. We will examine irrigation systems and variables that can influence crop health and productivity. We will discuss both planning new irrigation systems, as well as improving existing systems.

Smart Tools for the Market Gardener: Saturday 2:00-3:15
speaker: derek emadi

Appropriate technology for farms is improving and advancing to help with efficiency, productivity, and profitability. Some of the tools available currently can be costly, have some unexpected quirks, and be difficult to assess whether it's right for your operation. Come learn about the actual daily use of some of the most popular tools that have helped revolutionize the small farm movement. Hear a real and frank discussion about numbers, effectiveness, and thoughts on the Paperpot Transplanter, The Quickcut Greens Harvester, the Jang 5 row seeder, and the Berry Vacuum seeder.

crop protection through soil remineralization: Saturday 3:45-5:00
speaker: justin duncan

This class will discuss how mineral nutrition affects plant growth, development and resistance to both biotic (pests and disease) and abiotic (drought, etc) stresses. It will give insights on how to remineralize the soil to boost crop health and productivity. We will discuss in a participatory manner how to gauge the health of crops. This class will also relate both scientific research and practical insights from the field in a farmer friendly fashion.

livestock track

animal health and first aid: Friday 9:00-12:00
Speakers: dr. Alphina Ho, ashley pellerin, Scott Horner

This presentation will be part lecture and part hands-on. You will learn tips and tools that will help you better manage your livestock herd. The 3 presenters will cover animal care, land management, and natural options for health management.

water and fencing infrastructure: Friday 2:00-5:00
Speakers: Julie Morrison, Samuel Winkler, Charles Kneuper

Learn what it takes to plan and implement water and fencing infrastructure for different types of livestock and what resources are available from the Natural Resources Conservation Service. The second half of the session will be spent outside practicing different fencing setups and looking at materials.

grazing management: Saturday 9:30-10:45
speakers: Christine Senter and Lauri Celella

Hear from other grazers about how to avoid the most common pitfalls of grazing management. Presenters will review a planned grazing worksheet (paper and electronic), as well as provide time to discuss and answer questions about multi-species grazing. Learn how to have healthy livestock and healthy land.

pastured poultry panel: Saturday 11:00-12:00
speaker: aubrey noelke, cameron molberg, and travis krause

Hear from three Texas pastured poultry producers about how they have found success in their operations. Topics will include species and breed selections, housing and infrastructure preferences, feed selections, marketing and sales channels, processing, organic certification, and reflections of what they have learned and would do differently if starting over.

fecal egg count workshop: Saturday 2:00-5:00
speaker: Dr. Elizabeth Benavides

The Fecal Egg Count (FEC) workshop is a hands-on lesson for sheep and goat producers interested in learning how to conduct and interpret a FEC in small ruminants. Attendees will learn how to conduct a FEC at home, with tools and equipment readily available to them.

business and marketing track

Big Profits from Small Spaces: Friday 9:00-10:30
Speaker: shawn fagan

Ever dream of growing vegetables for a living? Don't have a ton of land? In this class, we will go over the infrastructure, marketing, and decision-making skills needed to make it happen.

transitioning farmland: Friday 10:45-12:00
Speakers: carolina mueller, katherine tanner, and michelle akindiya

As experienced farmers prepare for retirement from farming, some may be considering handing the reins to someone else. This panel will feature conversations about the logistics and experiences of transitioning farmland as well as resources. This panel is for you if you are interested in having someone else take over operations of your farm, or if you are taking over from someone else.

Growing a Strong Farm Business: Friday 2:00-5:00
speakers: annelies lottmann 

Even the most creative, resilient, skilled farmers need a solid plan to turn their dream into a thriving business that can sustain them. In this session, we will review the key elements of farm business planning and work through best practices to create your farm's draft business plan. This is a great session for individual farms, food businesses or groups working towards a cooperative. You'll walk away from this session with a solid draft plan and clear next steps.

utilizing farm service agency loans: Saturday 9:30-12:00
speaker: susie marshall, Katie Jolander, kasey mire, ty burk

Learn how or if an FSA loan might benefit you and your farm business. Hear from an FSA representative as well as a panel of farmers who have utilized FSA's loan program. This session will cover the considerations you need to make before taking out a loan, the process involved in applying, as well as providing firsthand experience from small-scale farmers who have been through the process. 

labor management: Saturday 2:00-5:00
speaker: hernan colmenaro, tracy whitehead, and Pedro Shambon

Hiring and retaining high quality staff is perhaps the most important factor for a successful enterprise. This session will cover best practices for hiring, onboarding, and retaining the best employees from a panel of farmers with a variety of different scales and enterprises.

potpourri track

introduction to korean natural farming: Friday 9:00-10:30
Speaker: austin moline

Korean Natural Farming (KNF) is an agricultural system that emphasizes utilization of local resources to create amendments on-farm that support soil and crop health. The basic inputs will be covered as well as the KNF system for timing plant nutrition. We will get some hands-on practice making one of the foundational recipes as well.

fsma exemptions: Friday 10:45-12:00
Speaker: susie marshall

The Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) is in effect for farms growing fruits and vegetables. This session will help you understand what is covered by this law, what exemptions might be available to your farm, and how to be in compliance. Information covered will be focused on small farms selling at least some products directly to consumers.

farmers' first-aid: Friday 2:00-3:15
speaker: shawn fagan 

Ever wonder what you're gonna do if something bad happens on your farm? What if an employee gets stung by a bee, or slices into their hand while harvesting lettuce? Or, you step on a rattlesnake and get bitten in the field? How will you react? Will you be prepared? This class will help you successfully navigate medical opportunities encountered in the agricultural workplace.

Beyond the Farmers’ Market: Reaching Your Community Through Alternative Markets: Friday 3:45-5:00
speakers: andrea abel, Krissy voutas, heather helman

Across the country, farmers’ market sales are flat. With growing alternatives for accessing locally grown produce, the farmers’ market is now more of a destination than the only place to purchase locally grown food. But, farmers want to grow for their own communities and desire to get local food into the mainstream to reach a wider demographic. This panel discussion will illustrate successful projects that maximize local produce sales beyond the traditional farmers’ market with elements that can be replicated for growers throughout Texas.

tractor safety and maintenance: Saturday 9:30-10:45
speakers: james fairchild

Set an intention for safety. In this session participants will learn about regular, on-farm equipment maintenance to extend the lifespan of one’s tractor and safety information to extend the lifespan of the operator. We will discuss inspections, how to do fluid, filter, & battery changes, scheduled maintenance, safe operation, roll over protection, hitch safety and more.

Growing Community and Income with Farm-Based Education: Saturday 11:00-12:00
speakers: Erin Flynn and Skip Connett

Farmers often overlook their own expertise when evaluating income-producing enterprises. This session will help farmers identify opportunities to generate additional income and community support through on-farm education, including: camps, workshops, and agritourism.

Agroforestry Methods for Texas: Saturday 2:00-3:15
speaker: Colin Mitchell

Agroforestry is a form of agriculture that includes the cultivation and conservation of trees. It is often cited as one of the regenerative agriculture methods that can mitigate climate change, improve farm resilience, and diversify income. Join NCAT Sustainable Agriculture Specialist Colin Mitchell for a discussion of the advantages and challenges of implementing agroforestry systems and pragmatic Texas-specific recommendations for silvopasture grazing systems, alley cropping, and windbreaks.

Understanding Almanacs for growing crops: saturday 3:45-5:00
speaker: Tim Miller

Learn and take home valuable information that has enabled Tim's farm to exist despite not having a tractor, drip irrigation, or truck despite the harsh Central Texas weather. Moon phases and zodiac signs really do make the difference. Learn how Tim uses a variety of sources to predict weather as well as a high diversity of crops and sales outlets to build longevity and resilience into his farm.    

collaborative special interest meetings 

The Urban Rural Divide: How Regional Food Systems Can Help: Friday 9:00-10:30

Rural and urban communities seem to be more polarized than ever. This session provides a place to talk positively about how local and regional food systems need the collaboration of urban eaters and rural producers. Joining us for the conversation will be Lillian Salerno, native Texans and former USDA Deputy Under Secretary in Rural Development.

farmers market managers collaborative: Friday 10:45-12:00

There are 87 Certified Farmers’ Markets in the state of Texas from Brownsville to Lubbock and everywhere in between. These markets provide fresh food to communities and steady income to farmers thanks to the tireless work of managers, board members, and community volunteers who organize these events, yet Texas has no central organization to support these workers. This session is a place for folks who run markets, market vendors, and people interested in the farmers market model to discuss the needs and opportunities for a state farmers’ market association with the goals of strengthening farmers’ market infrastructure, providing regional marketing assistance, shaping public policy, and providing training and educational resources for farmers’ market staff.

organic farming research foundation listening session: Friday 2:00-3:15

Organic Farming Research Foundation works to foster the improvement and widespread adoption of organic farming systems. OFRF cultivates organic research, education, and federal policies that bring more farmers and acreage into organic production. This Listening Session will provide an opportunity for farmers to discuss their information and research gaps. Participants will have an opportunity to identify production concerns and tell of their successes. Identification of major topics will lead to breakout sessions to discuss in-depth research and on-farm solutions. Sources of research information will be provided for further review and identification of future research and educational needs. This session will be particularly
of interest for beginning and transitioning organic farmers.

Local Food Policy Work in Texas: friday 3:45-5:00

This is an open discussion forum for anyone who works to (or wishes to) improve their local food system. It is not limited to food policy council members. If you're working to improve the policy climate where you are, or if you want to know how to get started, this is for you.

Grant Opportunities in Urban and Rural Conservation: Saturday 9:30-10:45

Learn about the grant opportunities offered through the USDA-NRCS Texas Urban and Rural Conservation Project for gardens, pollinator habitat, high tunnels and rainwater harvesting systems.

Healthy Soils Listening Session: saturday 2:00-3:15

Elected officials and conventional agriculture are both showing an unprecedented level of interest in "healthy soils" to sequester carbon, increase drought resilience, reduce flooding, and improve water quality. The Farm and Ranch Freedom Alliance is coordinating a working group to develop proposed legislation to provide support for farmers doing regenerative agriculture to improve soil health. Come to this session to hear about what's happening in other states and to share your perspective on what we should try to do in Texas.