NODPA Events Calendar

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June 2008

June 4, 10:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
Small Ruminant Management
Crystal Brook Farm, 192 Tuttle Road, Sterling, MA
Part of the 2008 Grazing Workshop/Pasture Walk Series
NOFA/Mass, USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) and the University of Massachusetts Extension have organized a series of Grazing Workshops as a continuing education resource for Massachusetts farmers. Topics at each event will vary, but will include pasture management, organic transition and herd health, forage species, soil fertility, fencing and water systems, and summer and winter grazing. Please bring your own lunch. For more information on any of the sessions, contact Winton Pitcoff, NOFA/Mass, at winton@nofamass.org or 413-634-5728; Steve Herbert, UMass Extension, at 413-545-2250 or sherbert@pssci.umass.edu; or Tom Akin, NRCS, at 413-253-4365 or thomas.akin@ma.usda.gov.
 
More details about each grazing workshop, including directions to the farms, can be found at www.nofamass.org/programs/organicdairy/index.php or www.massgrass.org.

Sunday, June 8, 10 am
Meat Cutting Workshop
Croydon, NH

Join us for a fun-filled time at a Meat Cutting Workshop at Swenson Meats, 408 Route 10, Croydon, New Hampshire, at 10:00 on June 8th, rain or shine. This informative day is brought to you by the New Hampshire Pork Producers Council in cooperation with the University of New Hampshire Cooperative Extension. The cost is $10 per person/non-NHPPC member and FREE to NHPPC members. View the actual cutting process of a hog, as well as learn first-hand the various cuts of meat available from the hog. If you have any questions, please call Tina Savage, UNH Cooperative Extension (603) 447-3834. To register, mail a check made payable to NHPPC for $10 per person/non-NHPPC member, with your name, mailing address and daytime telephone number, to UNH Cooperative Extension, P.O. Box 1480, Conway, NH 03818.

Monday June 9th 10am-12pm
Organic Dairy Grazing
Windtop Farm, Faifax
Part of the 2008 NOFA-VT Organic Pasture & Livestock Management Workshop Series. Runs through October. Check other months in Calendar for other events.

Pasture walk lead by Sarah Flack with discussion of organic livestock management, healthcare, fly control, record keeping, grazing, forage quality and more. Co-hosted with the VT Pasture Network at the Center for Sustainable Agriculture.

From Fairfax take Rt. 104 north. Farm is on left about 5 miles north of intersection with Rt. 104A. There is a brick house, red barn and Organic Valley sign. Walter and Diane Berthiaume 849-6426

FREE for all organic and transitioning dairy & livestock farmers. $10 NOFA-VT members, $15 non-members. Resource materials and books from the NOFA-VT bookstore will be available for sale. Drinks and snacks provided. BYO lunch.

To register, or for more information about any workshop including directions:
Contact NOFA-VT: 434-4122; info@nofavt.org

Tuesday June 10th 10am-12pm
Organic Dairy Grazing
Sumner Farm, W. Halifax, VT
Part of the 2008 NOFA-VT Organic Pasture & Livestock Management Workshop Series. Runs through October. Check other months in Calendar for other events.

Pasture walk lead by Willie Gibson with discussion of organic livestock management, healthcare, fly control, record keeping, grazing, forage quality and more.

From Brattleboro- Take Rt 9 west toward Wilmington. Turn South on Rt 100 to Jacksonville. Continue South on Rt 112 roughly 5 miles and turn left on to Hubbard Hill Rd. (which is dirt). Follow until you come to Branch Rd, continue for 1/2 mile. Farm is on the left. Malcolm and Monica Sumner 368-2484

FREE for all organic and transitioning dairy & livestock farmers. $10 NOFA-VT members, $15 non-members. Resource materials and books from the NOFA-VT bookstore will be available for sale. Drinks and snacks provided. BYO lunch.

To register, or for more information about any workshop including directions:
Contact NOFA-VT: 434-4122; info@nofavt.org

June 10-11, 2008
Wisconsin Grazing School
River Falls, Wisconsin
This school is offered several times around Wisconsin during the summer (also in July & August). The school includes sessions on economic considerations in grazing, agronomics, soil fertility, pasture monitoring and grazing systems layout and design. Registration fee: $75 per person ($35 for second person from same farm). Includes meals. Contact: Dennis Cosgrove, UW-River Falls, 410 S. 3rd Street, River Falls, WI 54022, 715-425-3345, dennis.r.cosgrove@uwrf.edu.

June 11, 11AM
Raising Calves with a Foster Group:
Organic Dairy raises 40 calves with 10 foster mothers
Jim and Ann Phillips, 87 McLean Rd, Cortland NY

At this field day on the Phillips farm, Dr. Darrel Emmick will talk about the importance of learned behavior in mother-calf systems and how this can increase the grazing ability of the next generation.  Karen Hoffman will talk about nutrition.

The Phillips’ are in their second year of certified organic production with a spring seasonal herd, with all calves, both heifers and bulls, feeding themselves with a herd of 10 foster mothers. Another topic to be highlighted is the Philips’s pasture ration for their dairy herd.  They feed only 1 lb of grain and 1-2 lbs of molasses/cow.  Karen Hoffman, animal scientist with NRCS and Larry Chase of Cornell’s Animal Science Dept are conducting research on how this ration compares to the Cornell Net Carbohydrate and Protein System Model.

There is a $5 fee for lunch.  To pre-register to ensure an accurate count for lunch, contact Sharon VanDeuson, Cortland County CCE at 607/753-5078.  For more information contact Fay Benson at 604/753-5213 or afb3@cornell.edu.

June 14, 2008
On-farm Creamery at Cedar Summit Farm, New Prague, MN
A Farm Beginnings Educational Event of the Land Stewardship Project

Cedar Summit Farm, in New Prague, MN, has been a family dairy farm for three generations. In an effort to sustain their farm for future generations, Dave and Florence Minar have adopted a grazing system where all animals are pastured on the land most of the year. Cedar Summit Farm strives to provide their community with a variety of meat products and has diversified their dairy operation to include steers, hogs and turkeys. The Minars are licensed retail food handlers and have an on-farm creamery that enables them to sell value-added dairy products directly to customers both on the farm and at farmers’ markets. The fee is $5 for non-Farm Beginnings particiants.

To register and for more information, email LSP’s Amy Bacigalupo at amyb@landstewardshipproject.org or call 320-269-2105.

June 17th, 10:00 am to 3:00 pm
Jefferson County New York Pasture Walk:
Brian and Amy Zumbach's Farm, 8358 County Route 154, Henderson, NY and
Clinton and Rebecca Horst Farm, 1891 Fone Road, Mannsville, NY. 

A 2 for 1 demonstration day of rotational grazing focusing on forage fencing, feeding and philosophy.  At Zumbach's, Brian and Amy will talk about their interest using different forages to supplement their grazing patterns.  They will discuss their trial plot of strip grazing BMR sorghum-sudangrass with oats, teff and rye, and how the cows performed.  Mike Hunter and Ron Kuck of Cornell University Cooperative Extension will discuss pasture tillage practices and feeding strategies, respectively.  At noon the group will arrive at the Horst Farm for lunch provided with support from ANCA, and at 1:00 Bill Paddock from Oneida County SWCD will discuss renovating pastures.  Clinton Horst will also discuss his grazing strategy, and his nutritionist will discuss some further ideas on supplemental feeding. 

There is no charge but pre-registration is appreciated by calling Ron Kuck at 315-788-8450 or email rak76@cornell.edu.  Sponsored by Cornell Cooperative Extension of Jefferson County, Graze New York, Oneida County SWCD, and Adirondack North Country Association (ANCA).

June 17, 2008
Grazing Walk in Montgomery County, PA
Time: 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.
Place: Sid Palmer Beef Farm, Green Lane, PA
Part of Penn State's 2008 Grazing Walks in SE and South Central PA Series

About the Farm: Sid Palmer has established a grazing system for his farm. He runs a 25-head Angus cow/calf operation with five replacement heifers. He calves in the spring and grazes the pair throughout the grazing season. He has approximately 60 acres currently in pasture and has plans to establish an additional 15-20 acres. The pastures consist of orchardgrass, tall fescue, and red clover.

Highlights:

* Utilizes above-ground pipelines to provide water to the grazing paddocks.
* Moves cattle on a three-day rotation.
* Will have approximately 20 paddocks in full grazing system.

Directions: From Boyertown, follow PA-73 East for approximately 7.5 miles. Turn left onto Perkiomenville Road. Go approximately 1 mile and turn left onto Little Road. Farm is approximately ½ mile on the right.

These grazing walks, monthly through September, are designed for anyone interested in grazing. At the walks, we'll learn from the practices used on the farm and from each other in discussions. No reservations are needed. All walks will be held rain or shine.

For more information or questions, call Dan Ludwig, NRCS, at 717-274-2597, Ext. 119; Mena Hautau, Penn State Cooperative Extension-Berks County, at 610-378-1327, or your county extension educator. The walks are co-sponsored by Southeast Project Grass, Natural Resources Conservation Service, and Penn State Cooperative Extension.

June 19th, 11:00 am to 1:30 pm
Multi-County Pasture Walk in New York:
Pastureland Dairy, Peter Mapstone, 8062 #2 West Road, Manlius (Onondaga County)

The Mapstone's have been grazing since 1987 and have renovated and improved their pastures so they are now rotationally grazing 250 acres.  Pete will talk about how grazing has saved him time and money, allowed him to increase herd size, and how grazing has helped make his herd healthier.  He will also talk about what he feels are the important tools of the trade, what mixture of grasses he prefers, and what kind of cow works best for his operation.  Sponsored by the Oneida and Onondaga County SWCD's - please register by June 17th by calling either Bill Paddock at 315-736-3316 (william-paddock@oneidaswcd.org) or Jean Burr at 315-677-3851 (jburr@OCSWCD.org).  Additional sponsors include Graze-NY and NYS GLCI.

June 20th - 10:00 am to 3:00 pm
Sheep and Goat Farmer Education Day in New York
Promisedland Farm (Catharina Kessler) and Stone & Thistle Farm (Tom and Denise Warren and family), East Meredith (Delaware County)

Tatiana Stanton of Cornell University will be the featured speaker for the day, and the program will begin at Promisedland Farm.  The farm produces grass-finished beef, lamb, and wool products.  Topics to be covered include grazing with multiple species, raising grass-fed meat and the health benefits of eating it.  At noon, the group will move to Stone & Thistle farm where lunch will be served from Fable, the on-farm restaurant, and products from the farm will be served.  The Warrens will give an overview of the farm history and marketing strategies, and Tatiana Stanton will lead a hands-on marketing activity, give a pasture management overview for small ruminants, share production tips on animal health and speak about parasite management for goats. 

The cost is $10 - to register call Leslie Deysenroth at 607-865-7090 or email ldeysenroth@nycwatershed.org.  Program offered with the support of the Watershed Agricultural Council and Cornell Cooperative Extension of Delaware County. For more information visit www.purecatskills.com.

June 21st - 9:00 am to 5:00 pm
2008 Small Ruminant Seminar in New York
Cornell Cooperative Extension Orange County, 18 Seward Ave., 3rd floor, Middletown

Open to all regional sheep, goat and camelid owners and producers, this full day seminar will offer a range of speakers who will address a variety of subjects for new farmers as well as producers who have been around the flock and pasture for many years.  Speakers include Dr. Mary Smith of Cornell discussing on-farm veterinary care, Dr. Mike Thonney of Cornell on feeding sheep and goats, and other on processing, marketing, and llama care and selection.  Registration is due by June 13th and cost is $30 for current CCE enrollees and $35 for non-enrollees.  Sponsored by Cornell Cooperative Extension of Orange and Ulster County and Heritage Feed & Supply.  For more information call 845-344-1234 or email cah94@cornell.edu.

June 21, 2008, 8:30 am - 4:30 pm
Intro to Grazing Workshop and Pasture Assessment
A Farm Stewardship Project Farm Beginnings Educational Event in Western Minnesota

Part 1: Howard Moechnig, Midwest Grasslands, will discuss issues important in preparing a grazing plan. Topics include paddock location/size, watering options, lanes, as well as general concepts
and indicators for developing and monitoring a grazing operation. He will also cover forage management. Bring aerial photos, soil maps and topographical maps of your farm to begin planning.

Part 2: In the afternoon, we will be visiting the Lyle Kruse Farm. Lyle and his family have a 200 acre farm in Western MN near Canby. We will join Howard and Lyle for a pasture assessment of his
rotational grazing system. We’ll evaluate the pasture conditions, view the paddock and lane set up, identify forage species, and gain valuable assessment knowledge that can be applied on your farm.
Bring your own lunch, snacks and beverages. Wear comfortable walking shoes appropriate for pasture walk and dress for the weather.

The fee is $20 for non-Farm Beginnings particiants. To register and for more information, email LSP’s Susan Hurst at fbwest@landstewardshipproject.org or call 320-269-2105.

June 21, 11:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.
Transitioning to Organic Dairy / NRCS Resources
Robinson Farm, 42 Jackson Road, Hardwick, MA
Part of the 2008 Grazing Workshop/Pasture Walk Series
NOFA/Mass, USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) and the University of Massachusetts Extension have organized a series of Grazing Workshops as a continuing education resource for Massachusetts farmers. Topics at each event will vary, but will include pasture management, organic transition and herd health, forage species, soil fertility, fencing and water systems, and summer and winter grazing. Please bring your own lunch. For more information on any of the sessions, contact Winton Pitcoff, NOFA/Mass, at winton@nofamass.org or 413-634-5728; Steve Herbert, UMass Extension, at 413-545-2250 or sherbert@pssci.umass.edu; or Tom Akin, NRCS, at 413-253-4365 or thomas.akin@ma.usda.gov.
 
More details about each grazing workshop, including directions to the farms, can be found at www.nofamass.org/programs/organicdairy/index.php or www.massgrass.org.

June 21: 11am-2pm
Picnic on the Farm in New York!
Cobblestone Valley Farm, 2023 Preble Rd, Preble, NY (Cortland Co.)  

Bring the whole family and learn about a diversified organic dairy first-hand. Tour the barn and learn about cows and the importance of pasture.  Spend some time with chickens and pigs and visit the petting zoo.  Watch the composting demonstration to see how compost is made and learn how it improves soil health - the foundation of an organic farm.  Farm walks will run at 11am, 12noon, and 1pm.  There will be special activities for kids! The farm’s U-Pick organic strawberry fields will be open for business too!  Bring your own picnic lunch, blanket, walking shoes, and a craving for delicious strawberries!  http://www.CobblestoneValley.com
$5/ Family NOFA members, $10/Family non-members.
Directions from Syracuse: I-81 South to exit 13. Bear right off the exit onto Rt. 281. Go to blinking yellow light (1/2 mile), turn left at the 4 corners onto Preble Road. The farm work-road is a long driveway that can be found on the right at the farm sign where Preble Road bends to the left, about a quarter mile past the Railroad tracks. Alternatively, you can take Preble Road until the end. Turn Right onto Rt. 11. We are the first farm on the right--about 1/4 mile. Look for the farm sign at the driveway. For more information and the full 2008 NOFA-NY Field Day Series schedule see http://www.nofany.org

June 22, 2 - 4 PM
Pasture Walk at Tir na nOg Farm, Pownal, Maine - Holly Morrison
Sponsored by the Maine Grass Farmers' Network
This walk will focus on installing High-Tensile Fencing & Pasture Planning. Tir na nOg Farm is a small family farm with Scottish Highland cattle, free-range poultry and pastured pigs—all managed with minimal start-up resources and no barn. Learn from the farmers and master fence-builder Bob McGann as he plans pasture expansions on varied terrain. Site preparation, pasture configuration, and fencing types and materials will be discussed. Participants may also examine a frost-free field-hydrant system and explore creative solutions for low-budget beginning farmers. Location: the farm is located on Leighton Road in Pownal, approx. fifteen minutes from Freeport and five minutes from New Gloucester’s Pineland Farms. To register and get directions, call Holly at 688-4483 or email MaineCelt@maine.rr.com.

June 24-25, 2008
Wisconsin Grazing School
Gleason, Wisconsin
This school is offered several times around Wisconsin during the summer (also in July & August). The school includes sessions on economic considerations in grazing, agronomics, soil fertility, pasture monitoring and grazing systems layout and design. Registration fee: $75 per person ($35 for second person from same farm). Includes meals. Contact: Dennis Cosgrove, UW-River Falls, 410 S. 3rd Street, River Falls, WI 54022, 715-425-3345, dennis.r.cosgrove@uwrf.edu.

Wednesday June 25th 10am-3pm
Grazing School: *Pre-registration Required*
Jericho Settlers’ Farm, Jericho, VT
Part of the 2008 NOFA-VT Organic Pasture & Livestock Management Workshop Series. Runs through October. Check other months in Calendar for other events.

Sarah Flack will present the fundamentals of pasture management. Discussion will cover grazing methods, fencing, water systems, plant species, pasture design and layout.

From I-89 Richmond Exit 11, Take Rt. 17, 2.5 miles. Go right Barber Farm Rd. 2.3 miles. Farm on left at sign. Or from Jericho Center, Take Brown’s Trace Rd south 1 mile. At Y, continue straight ahead (branching right) Farm is the first on right with sign.
Mark and Christa 899-400

FREE for all organic and transitioning dairy & livestock farmers. $10 NOFA-VT members, $15 non-members. Resource materials and books from the NOFA-VT bookstore will be available for sale. Drinks and snacks provided. BYO lunch.

To register, or for more information about any workshop including directions:
Contact NOFA-VT: 434-4122; info@nofavt.org

Wednesday, June 25, 2008 @ 11 a.m.
Grass based dairy pasture walk with Jerry Grabarek
Preston Farm, 92 Route 2, Preston, CT
Directions: At the intersection of Route 2 and Route 2A, follow Route 2 west for 1 mile. Farm's gravel drive is located on left side (if heading toward Norwich, CT). Drive down and park near milking parlor (low red building).
Contact numbers: Jerry Grabarek: 860.998.2418  and Rebecca Elwood: 203.269.7509 x.200 or 203.710.4385 cell.
 
June 28, 2008
MODPA pasture walk in Wilton, Wisconsin

Jim and Justa Small, in conjunction with the Midwest Organic Dairy Producers Alliance (MODPA), will be hosting a pasture walk at their farm in Monroe County, on Saturday, June 28th, 2008 from 10:00 am till 3:00 pm. Their address is 26549 Locust Avenue, Wilton, Wisconsin 54670 and phone number is 608-435-6700.

Topics will include:

• Rotational Grazing
• Pasture Restoration
• Watershed Projects
• Alternative Energy Options
• Foliage Feeding Hay and pasture
• Reading Bovine Hair Coats

Jim and Justa will share their experiences with grazing and foliage feeding of liquid fish and calcium. Attendees will also see a power point presentation created by Dr Paul Dettloff on reading bovine hair coats. You can tell a great many things about the bovine just by reading the animal hair. The hair coat can give you indications of health, production, components, reproduction and behavioral traits. NRCS specialists will also be making a presentation of some of their local projects and will be available to answer any questions about their programs after the passage of the Farm Bill.

To get to the Small’s farm from Highway 131 in Tomah, go south 10 miles, turn east on Highway 71 for π mile, turn north on Locust Avenue and its π mile to the farm. It’s the first farm on the west side of Locust Avenue.

MODPA represents organic dairy producers in WI, MN, ND, SD, IA, NE, KS, MO, IL, IN, OH and MI with a mission “to promote communication and networking for the betterment of all Midwest organic dairy producers and enhance a sustainable farm-gate price.” For more information contact Darlene Coehoorn, MODPA President, 920-921-5541.