TRACK 1:

Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday, February 5, 6, & 7

A good farmer knows that whole-farm health is absolutely dependent on balanced and nutrient rich soils. In this intensive course, you will learn strategies for effectively treating soils suffering from normal to extreme nutrient deficiencies, how to work with soil tests and liming, build soil fertility, and account for micronutrients and special circumstances. Following the Albrecht Methods for soil testing and soil nutrient use, this advanced course is appropriate for those who have completed Mr. Kinsey’s introductory soil fertility course or have a strong working knowledge of the terminology and principles set forth in Hands-On Agronomy. Mr. Kinsey, a certified agronomist, studied privately under Dr. Albrecht’s direction. As a soil fertility management specialist, he has served as the principle consultant to numerous agriculture and commercial enterprises around the world.

NOTE: This course runs Tuesday through Thursday. No one-day registrations.
 

TRACK 2:

TRACK 3:

TRACK 4:

TRACK 5: (Track Full)

Spend the day on the farm with pastured poultry professionals! Participants will construct two 9’ x 9’ cattle-panel hoop houses from start to finish, complete with the hooded entrance developed by Happy Farm. After lunch, the Reiffs of Poultry Man Processing will conduct an afternoon of poultry processing providing the opportunity for participation and/or observation. Registration is limited to 30. Participants will be transported by bus to and from the farm site in Mifflinburg, Union County. This course is offered with support from our friends at the American Pastured Poultry Producers Association (APPPA).

•  Instructors: Tom Colbaugh & Jean Nick, Happy Farm
                      Eli & Kathleen Reiff, Poultry Man Processing

TRACK 6:

Have you ever wondered if making cheese on your farm is feasible? Curious about turning your milk into something of value? If you’re already making cheese, learn tips and ideas to help sell your cheeses better. This workshop features sessions to appeal to those who are interested in getting started in farmstead and artisan cheesemaking and to those who are already making cheeses and want ideas for improvement. This course is offered with support from our friends at the PA Farmstead and Artisan Cheese Alliance.

•  Costs and Considerations & Packaging and Aging Artisan Cheeses
    with Peter Dixon, Dairy Farm Consulting

•  Assessing and Balancing Production, Resources, and Marketing Goals
    with Krista Dittman & Charuth Van Beuzekom, Farmstead First

•  Obtaining a Provisional Raw Milk Cheese Permit
    with Holly Foster, Chapels Creamery

•  Artisan Cheese Plate
    with Ann Saxelby, Saxelby Cheesemongers

•  Cooking with Farmstead Cheeses
    with Jason Turner, Alibis Eatery and Spirits

•  Regulations for On-Farm Processing in PA
    with a Pennsylvania Dept. of Agriculture Representative
 

TRACK 7:

This popular track covers it all. Whether you’re still gathering information for starting a diverse farm operation or have been farming for a few years, you will learn the nuts and bolts of developing and maintaining a successful farm business. This track fills up fast, so register early!

•  Creative Cultivation and Business Planning for Success
    with Evangeline Sarat & Paul Martin, Sweet Land Farm

•  Pasture Layout & Fine-tuning
    with Sarah Flack, Consultant and author of “Organic Dairy Production”

•  Hog and Poultry Production & Natural Healthcare for Animals
    with Karma Glos, Kingbird Farm

•  Profitable Fruit Production
    with Thom & Judy Marti, Broad Valley Orchard

•  Alternative Farming Arrangements
    with Ali Moussalli, Wheatland Vegetable Farms

•  Integrating Livestock & Poultry into the Vegetable Farm
    with David Ober, Cedarbrook Farm

•  Farm Flow, Efficiency, & Managing Labor
    with Jim Crawford, New Morning Farm

•  Marketing Panel
   with experts from the day
 

TRACK 8:

How can you make the best decisions when it comes to health and nutrition for yourself and your family? These expert presenters will demonstrate how agricultural growing methods, politics, labeling, and consumption practices all have a direct effect on the nutritional quality of food and human health.

•  Taking Control from Field to Fork: Politics of the Plate
    with Dr. Michael W. Fox, DSc, PhD, BVet Med, MRCVS, Fox’s Pen Inc.

•  Minerals for Tumor Suppressing Genes
    with Dr. Richard Olree, D.C., Olree Chiropractic Centre

•  Lactic Vegetable Fermentation: Health Benefits and How To
    with Sarah Flack, Consultant and author of “Organic Dairy Production”

•  Top Ten Ways to Transform Your Health
    with Dr. Gregory Pais, ND, DHANP

TRACK 9:

This line-up of expertise and experience will knock your socks off! Learn from the pros of grass-based beef production how to optimize the length of your grazing season, stockpile feed, encourage the proper diversity of grasses, manage your rotation, develop your stock genetics, and take your product to the butcher with confidence.

•  Introductory & Closing Remarks
    with Ridge Shinn, Bakewell Reproductive Center

•  Getting the Most from Your Pastures
    with Jim Gerrish, American GrazingLands Services

•  Energy for Cattle: Reaching Genetic Potential
    with Gearld Fry, Bakewell Reproductive Center

•  Ask the Butcher
    with Mike Debach, Leona Meat Plant

•  Grass-fed, Grass-finished Beef: Experience Knows Best
    with Tim & Linda Blakeley, Mountain Spring Farm; Bill Elkins, Buck Run   
    Cattle Company; Don & Heather Minto, Watson Farm; Steve Reichard,
    5R Cattle Company
 

TRACK 10:

If you raise small ruminants, you don’t want to miss this in-depth track. Whether milking goats or making fleece, novice to advanced producers will gain the knowledge needed to minimize parasites, balance nutrition, manage their animals and pastures efficiently and holistically. Register early, this track will fill fast!

•  Goat Nutrition from A to Z and Managing Parasites
    with Steve Hart, Ph.D., Langston University

•  Managing Goats on Pasture and Browse
    with Tatiana Stanton, Ph.D., Cornell University

•  Sustainable Sheep: Farm Products and Ecological Services 
    with Karl North, Northland Sheep Dairy

•  Managing Goats for Prescribed Grazing
    with Kathy Voth, Livestock for Landscapes

•  From Grass to Garment: Fiber Farm Production
    with Linda Singley, Bearlin Acres Farm & Phylleri Ball,
    Steam Valley Fiber Farm