To the editor,
A unique opportunity to learn about organic pork production is coming up on March 8 and 9 in Waterloo. Sponsored by the Iowa Organic Association and supported by a USDA Organic Agriculture Research and Extension Initiative grant, the Midwest Organic Pork Production Conference will bring together farmers and researchers in the organic and niche pork production fields.
I encourage farmers – and young women and men wanting to farm — who are interested in beginning, transitioning, or expanding to organic or niche pork to attend this exciting and valuable conference.
Mike Robertson, the agriculture program coordinator and animal science teacher at Iowa Central Community College, and who along with his wife has a certified organic farrow to finish swine operation, will be on a panel “Starting an Organic Pork Operation” on the afternoon of March 8. Dave Stender, swine specialist from Iowa State University Extension and Outreach and a niche pork producer, will also be on the panel.
Organic farmers will share their expertise and experiences, including Ron Rosmann from Harlan and Tom Frantzen from New Hampton, as well as a keynote speaker from Denmark, Bertel Hestbjerg. Herd health, farm economics, and marketing to the consumer are just a few of the topics on the agenda.
For more information, go to www.midwestorganicporkconference.org or IowaOrganic.org, or visit the corresponding Facebook pages. Registration ends on March 1.
Patti Naylor, Churdan
Iowa Organic Association board member
