Marbleseed Conference 2025 - Session

Facilitated by Halee Wepking of Meadowlark Farm and the Artisan Grain Collaborative, this dynamic panel will explore the pivotal role of legumes and alternative grains in building resilient and sustainable agricultural systems. Mark Doudlah of Doudlah Organics and John Wepking of Meadowlark Farm will speak to how they have incorporated legumes and alternative grains into their crop rotation, developed markets and their lesson learned. Matt Leavitt from UMN Forever Green will discuss production and marketing basics of new & emerging perennial & winter annual continuous living cover crops being bred at UMN.

Many are drawn to agroforestry by the opportunity to diversify their farm by growing a fruit or nut crop integrated with other farming practices. But how do you decide on which ones are the right fit? There are lots of considerations: adaptability to your site, labor requirements, marketing channels, harvest options, and compatibility with your existing farm activities are all important.

This session will be in two parts, the first hour will provide a snapshot of some of the most promising tree crops for the Midwest, including the pros and cons for each one, along with resources for the next steps if you decide to incorporate these trees into your operation. The second hour will be an interactive session, where you will have the opportunity to learn from Savanna Institute staff and peers by tackling some common issues that might arise when selecting species and cultivars for your operation.

Farmers of all experience levels and farm sizes will benefit from this chance to learn from others like them who are doing the work to bring agroforestry practices onto their farms.

In this presentation we will look at 3 different pack shed designs - all of which incorporate principles of food safety and efficiency. We will look at a simple under $1000 design great for farmers on rented land, an under $10,000 design with more permanent infrastructure and a more complex design for advanced operations.

The challenges to optimum organic grain marketing continue to be a moving target including weather, international trade and import impacts. For a minimal investment of your time, you can have at your fingertips some of the most current and reliable information needed to make the best decisions in today's high stakes organic grain industry.

There is an unprecedented amount of support from the USDA for organic and transitioning farms, and much of that support is being delivered through the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS). Conservation professionals from the Organic Farming Research Foundation (OFRF), the Organic Farmers Association (OFA) and NRCS will describe in detail how to access financial assistance and what to expect from the process. Learn about the Organic Transition Initiative and the support it provides for transitioning producers, as well as all of the opportunities for organic farms to benefit from conservation planning on their farms. We will do a deep dive on the new practice standard for Organic Management (ICPS 823) and explore how it can significantly improve your operation. Bring all your organic conservation questions!