2020 Conference

March 13-14, 2019
Dubuque, Iowa

AGENDA

Please note: The conference will now conclude on Saturday at 1:30 pm. 

Friday, March 13, 2020

7:00 am     Exhibit Hall Set-Up

8:00 am     Registration Opens
Exhibit Hall Opens

9:00 am     Workshops   
Workshop #1 - Profitable Production Flow for the Organic and Pastured-Based Pork Producer 
Sponsored by Practical Farmers of Iowa

Jude Becker, Becker Lane Organic 
Dayna Burtness, Nettle Valley Farms
Ethan Book, Crooked Gap Farm
For experienced producers and newcomers alike, scaling up a swine enterprise to include farrowing can be challenging. In this workshop, we will hear how Jude manages his organic farrow-to-finish operation. He will highlight sow scheduling, controlling herd size, establishing a steady production flow, and tips on farrowing. Ethan Book and Dayna Burtness are both thinking of integrating farrowing into their pasture-based pig operations, but have concerns around the challenges breeding and farrowing sows entail. Together, we will discuss the steps necessary to establish a profitable production flow. 

Workshop #2 - Organic Processing
For those interested in setting up an Organic Processing Operation and/or how to discuss organic processing with your conventional processor.)

Ty Gustafson, Story City Locker
Katie Hyde, IDALS
The need for organic processing is growing in Iowa and in many other states. This workshop will discuss the steps to become certified as an organic processor. Ty Gustafson of Story City Locker will share why he decided to become certified, the certification process and how he will manage organic processing along with his current processing.  Katie Hyde, Organic Handler Specialist with the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship will also share more information on certification.  Farmers are also encouraged to attend this workshop to learn best practices for working with their local locker on organic processing. 

11:00 am     Break 

11:30 pm     Lunch & Keynote:  Past, Present and Future of Agriculture:  Covering the dawn of agriculture to present day! - Dr. Paul Dettloff

1:00 pm       Break in Exhibit Hall 

1:30 pm      General Sessions
Herd Health - Bio Security Best Practices, Dr. Andrew Hennenfent, IDALS
Marketing - Breed Selection to Meet Consumer Demands, Steve Kerns 
Transitioning - Organic Certification, Emily Fowell, NICS

3:00 pm      Break in Exhibit Hall Presented by Blue River Organic Seeds

3:30 pm      Breakout Sessions

Herd Health - The 10 Alternative Veterinary Tools and Their Uses - Dr. Paul Dettloff
Economics - Economics 101 for the New and Transitioning Producer - Dave Stender, ISU Extension
Feed & Nutrition -  Feedstuffs On-Farm Research: Final report of three-year research study by PFI and Tom Frantzen, The Frantzen Farm

5:00 pm      Break

5:30 pm      Reception presented By Riverside Feeds

7:00 pm      Dinner on Your Own

Saturday, March 14, 2020

8:00 am     Breakfast and Keynote Presentation - Planning Carcass Use for Direct Marketing - Jude Becker, Becker Lane Organic

10:00 am    Break in Exhibit Hall presented by Iowa Pork Producers

10:15 am   General Sessions

Pasture Management - Parasites in Pasture-Raised Pigs: Lessons Learned So Far - Rodale Institute/University of Minnesota Research, Diane DeWitte
Feed & Nutrition: Feeding Hazelnuts Research Project - Dr. Pete Lammers, University of Wisconsin-Platteville
Housing - Best Practices for Winter Farrowing, Mike Robertson

11:30 am   Break in Exhibit Hall 

12:00 pm   Lunch and Keynote - Setting Up a Meat Co-Op: Lessons Learned from SLO Farmers Co-op

1:30 pm    Conference Concludes