Organic Farming Conferences and Events

Network with Farmers and Learn About Sustainable Agriculture

Nov 9, 2009

Both new and seasoned organic farmers benefit from workshops and networking opportunities at farm tradeshows and conventions.

If a career in organic farming can seem lonely or isolating at times, attending farming tradeshows and conferences is the remedy. In addition to the value of networking at these farming events, organic farmers can use tradeshows and conventions to learn about the efficacy of new tools and products on the market, as well as attend educational seminars. Farmers can find out about regional agricultural conferences from their local extension agency, but some national farming events are worth the travel expense.

Oregon Tilth Annual Organic Conference

Oregon Tilth is a nonprofit organization with over 30 years of experience in promoting sustainable agriculture, from planting to processing and marketing. Each year, farmers, researchers, and organic experts gather for a two-day conference to participate in workshops on topics ranging from permaculture to genetically engineered foods.

Organic Trade Association’s All Things Organic Conference and Tradeshow

Farmers who attend the All Things Organic Conference and Tradeshow take part in a comprehensive expo of organic products and innovations happening in the North American marketplace. Organic farmers who register to attend this event will have access to hundreds of retailers, manufacturers, foodservice operators, and distributors with an interest in organic products.

Acres USA Annual Conference

Acres USA presents a valuable annual educational event for new and seasoned farmers interested in organic and sustainable practices. The conference features authors, consultants, and other leaders in the farming industry who speak on topics ranging from soil management to weed and insect control. Suppliers are also on hand to demonstrate the latest agricultural products.

Midwest Organic and Sustainable Education Service (MOSES)

Each February since 1990, the MOSES Organic Farming Conference has combined keynote speakers, exhibitors, workshops, and live entertainment to attract more than 2000 organic farmers to its conference in LaCrosse, Wisconsin. The newest event at this conference is a seed swap, which allows organic farmers to exchange heirloom seeds and subvert the seed monopoly of some large suppliers.

EcoFarm Organic Conference

Four days almost isn’t enough to participate in the annual EcoFarm conference, one of the largest farming events in the United States. Each year the conference has a different theme, offering information from substantial to sublime in several dozen workshops that may educate them about nanotechnology in food, or teach farmers how to have a beautiful farm. The conference conducts many workshops in Spanish.

Guelph Organic Conference

For approximately three decades, the Annual Guelph Organic Conference & Expo offers workshops with a Canadian focus, such as local funding opportunities, or farming and the Canadian food policy. Attendees can savor organic entrées in the Guelph University Centre’s cafeteria between sessions.

BioCycle West Coast Conference on Composting and Organic Recycling

BioCycle presents keynote speakers that discuss innovations in compost science. Past workshops included how to start community composting efforts to benefit school gardens, composting and climate change, grinding systems for food waste collection, and other advanced composting topics.

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