The Midwest Organic and Sustainable Education Service (MOSES) offers a dozen field days in 2019 to show farmers how organic production works. These events are free unless noted. See details and register at mosesorganic.org/organic-field-days or call the Organic Answer Line at 888-90-MOSES.Begin a Farmstead Micro-Creamery May 23, 10:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. | Cosmic Wheel Creamery | Clear Lake, Wis.Learn how and why these successful CSA farmers established a micro-creamery and carved out a niche by making a sought-after product—artisanal cheeses. See how they manage their 20-cow herd to keep costs under control and create the most benefit for their farming system. The event includes lunch from Farm Table Restaurant, featuring Cosmic Wheel Cheese and other locally grown, seasonal food.Organic Weed Management June 12, 5 – 8 p.m. | Big River Farms | Marine on St. Croix, Minn.Learn strategies to control weeds—even invaders such as thistle and quackgrass—to grow high-quality organic vegetables. This field day is organized by Big River Farms with support from MOSES. Cost is $20.Promote Soil Health with Small Grain/Legume Rotations June 12, 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. | Mapleton Community Center | Oconomowoc, Wis.Explore how crop rotations with legumes, manure, and other organic-approved fertility inputs improve soil health and crop yields. Presenters include Sandy Syburg of Purple Cow Organics, and Gary Zimmer, founder of Midwestern BioAg. This is an OGRAIN event put on by the University of Wisconsin in partnership with MOSES. Cost is $10 and includes lunch.Grow & Mill Small Grains for Artisan Breadmakers June 25, 12:30 to 3:30 p.m. | Janie’s Farm | Danforth, Ill.Harold and Ross Wilken farm more than 2,400 acres of certified organic grains. They will share how they successfully grow food-grade small grains and showcase The Mill at Janie’s Farm, their certified organic milling operation. This is an OGRAIN event put on by the University of Wisconsin in partnership with MOSES.From Grain to Plate – Small Grains Field Day June 30, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. | Meadowlark Organic Farm | Ridgeway, Wis.Learn how to build rotations with small grains and how to access the food-grade grain market. This event, organized by Michael Fields Agricultural Institute, includes lunch and information for consumers about how they can help clean up the environment by supporting good farming practices.Grow Row Crops for Distilling July 10, 1 to 4:30 p.m. | McHugh Farms | Onalaska, Wis.Learn about organic growing techniques, crop rotation, and fertility management to grow the grains needed by artisan distillers. This is an OGRAIN event put on by the University of Wisconsin in partnership with MOSES.Organic Row Crops in South Dakota August 1, , 10:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. | Johnson Farms | Madison, S.D.Tour by bus a 2,800-acre organic farm, showcasing organic methods for growing corn and soybeans. Learn about weed management and soil-building strategies. MOSES sponsors this event, which is organized by Northern Plains Sustainable Agriculture Society and includes lunch.In Her Boots: Success Strategies from the Soil Sisters August 2, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. | Riemer Family Farm | Brodhead, Wis.This workshop features several farmers from the “Soil Sisters” group that hosts the annual farm tour weekend in southeast Wisconsin. (See the next listing for details.) The workshop will focus on how to raise a variety of livestock for meat as well as offer insights to help women get started in farming. This MOSES In Her Boots workshop costs $25 and includes lunch.Soil Sisters Weekend August 2 – 4 | Southern WisconsinTake classes, savor farm-fresh goodies, and tour women-owned farms during this jam-packed, award-winning culinary event celebrating rural life in and around the farming communities of Monroe, New Glarus, Blanchardville, and Brodhead, Wisconsin.In Her Boots: Diversifying with Flowers, Pizza, and Summer Camps August 13, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. | Ladyfern Farm & Two Pony Garden | Long Lake, Minn.Glean insights and inspiration from a trio of women farmers who run several businesses out of the same farm. This broad-based workshop includes tips on growing, harvesting, and arranging flowers, a look at on-farm conservation practices, plus great tips on ways to diversify farm income. This MOSES In Her Boots workshop costs $25 and includes lunch.Cultivating Farm Resilience for a Changing Climate August 16, 1 to 4:30 p.m. | Rosmann Family Farm | Harlan, IowaThe Rosmanns, the 2018 MOSES Organic Farmers of the Year, will highlight how they work small grains into their field crop rotations, use cover crops for rotational grazing, and discuss their farrow-to-finish swine operation. MOSES co-sponsors this Practical Farmers of Iowa field day.Add Unusual Fruits to Your Farm August 21, 10:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. | Blue Fruit Farm | Winona, Minn.MOSES Organic Farmers of the Year, Jim Riddle and Joyce Ford, showcase how they grow all things blue. Focus is on unusual fruits, overhead netting, native plants, and mechanical weed control for orchards. Lunch will be provided.Midwest Mechanical Weed Control Field Day September 18 | Gwenyn Hill Organic Farm | Waukesha, Wis.Learn about soil health and low-impact cultivation and see a variety of tools for precise mechanical weed control in both crop and vegetable fields. See in-field demonstrations of specific weed management equipment. This event is organized by The Land Connection.MOSES is a nonprofit organization that provides training, resources, and practical advice to help farmers succeed. The MOSES Organic Farming Conference, the country’s largest educational event on organic agriculture, will be Feb. 27-29, 2020 in La Crosse, Wis. To learn more about the conference or the services and resources MOSES offers farmers, see mosesorganic.org or call the Organic Answer Line at 888-90-MOSES.
About Pam Jahnke
Getting up at 2 in the morning might shock some of her listeners, but for Pam Jahnke, it’s part of the business. Born in Northeastern Wisconsin, Pam Jahnke grew up in agriculture. Raised on her family’s 200-acre dairy farm, she learned the “farm work ethic” first hand.
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