To the editor,
As my husband and I have transitioned our farm to organic, the experience has been very rewarding, as well as quite challenging. Even though my husband has been farming for over 40 years, connecting to other farmers, to researchers, and to professionals has been an important aspect of this organic learning curve.
To assist more Iowa farmers in making the transition to organic, the Iowa Organic Association is hosting a series of virtual “Growing Organic Expertise in Iowa” workshops. Each three-hour workshop will provide information from organic experts about the National Organic Program, organic certification and transition, organic standards and production practices and insight into current organic market trends. These workshops are being offered at no cost to participants thanks to support from Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE).
While the main focus of these workshops is to provide the information, tools, and resources needed for agriculture service providers and consultants to support farmers interested in organic production, I encourage farmers, landowners, and anyone interested in learning more about organics in Iowa to attend.
Upcoming workshops will be presented on Feb. 9 and Feb. 16, both from noon until 3 pm. Each of these sessions will feature an organic certifier from IDALS; an economist from Mercaris, an online platform for bringing buyers and sellers together; and a panel of organic farmers. Participants will be able to ask questions.
There is no cost to attend these workshops, but RSVPs are required. To register, visit the Iowa Organic Association website at https://www.iowaorganic.org/.
Patti Naylor, Churdan
Board member, Iowa Organic Association
