Marbleseed Conference 2026 - Session

The most powerful tools for navigating stress, challenges, and uncertainty on our farms come from what we put in our heads, not what we put in our sheds. Organic farming isn't for the faint of heart. Add the growing uncertainties in weather, markets, and so many other emerging issues and the challenges multiply. While change and uncertainty are hard, this webinar introduces concepts from nature and neuroscience that help us reduce our stress, navigate challenges with more creativity, and become more successful organic farmers.

Come learn a different set of tools for successfully navigating change, and uncertainty through the challenges and transitions in organic farming and life.

Grazing skill development focuses heavily on optimizing growing season forage use. Often we overlook the other four to six months of the year when our perennial forage has slowed down or stopped production. Yet the key to raising profitable ruminants often lies in the ability to reduce winter feed costs.

This session will explore the available research on cover crops and winter grazing while sharing practical insights. Bring your grazing experiences to the table and join the discussion as we seek to fine tune our cold season forage and ruminant management.

Selling to schools, early care sites, food banks, and other institutions can open doors to steady, high-volume markets—but the unique culinary needs and purchasing contexts of institutions present real and perceived barriers to this opportunity. Pull up a chair and join fellow producers and supply chain partners for a conversation about what these markets look like lately. Share your successes and challenges or simply listen in to learn what opportunities might fit your farm or food business—this is a chance to connect, ask questions, and hear from others’ about Farm to Institution markets.

Diversification can strengthen farm resilience, stabilize cash flow, and open new opportunities. In this panel, farmers and industry professionals will share real-world experiences adding and managing diversified income streams. From value-added products and direct marketing to agritourism, custom work, and off-farm partnerships. Panelists will discuss what motivated their decisions, startup considerations, labor, and time tradeoffs

This session introduces the core components of the Poultry-Centered Regenerative Agroforestry (PCRA) system—including flocks, perennial design, processing infrastructure, farmer cohorts, and community markets. Participants will learn how farmers, processors, service providers, and partners are working together to build a regenerative poultry ecosystem across the Midwest.