The 2013 Session Schedule can be seen here, and is as follows:
Friday, February 8
9:30 am -12:45 pm Conference Registration Open
10:00 -11:45am Pre-Conference Options:
1. Organic Production of Rabbiteye and Southern Highbush Blueberries: Dr. Gerard Krewer, Extension Fruit Specialist – Retired, University of Georgia
2. Finding Grazing’s True Profit by Using your Noggin: Troy Bishopp, Regional Grazing Specialist, Upper Susquehanna Coalition, Madison County, New York
3. Farm Planning for a Full Market Season: Planning Crop Successions for Better Farmers Market Sales: Tom Peterson, Appalachian Sustainable Develmnt, Abingdon, VA
11:00 am Conference Trade Show Begins
11:45 am Organic Foods Festival: Please bring a generous dish to share at our annual pot-luck.
1:00 pm Welcome and Announcements
Janet Aardema – Executive Director, Virginia Association for Biological Farming
Dr. Franklin Jackson – Associate Dean, Cooperative Extension, Virginia State University
1:00 pm Youth Program begins
1:15 pm Plenary Presentation: Using Mycorrhizae to Improve Soil Fertility and Plant Health: Tradd Cotter, Mushroom Mountain, Liberty, South Carolina
2:30 – 3:00 pm Break and Trade Show
3:00 – 4:30 pm Breakout Sessions
1. Crop and Soil Management at Essex Farm: Mark and Kristin Kimball, Essex Farm, Essex, New York
2. Teaming with Microbes: The Organic Gardeners Guide to the Soil Food Web: Jeff Lowenfels, Plant a Row for the Hungry, Anchorage, Alaska
3. Pastured Pork: John Kiser, Meadow Green Farm, Sperryville, VA
4. Pruning and Cultural Care of Perennial Berry Crops: Charles O’Dell, Crow’s Nest Farm, Blacksburg, VA
4:30 – 5:00 pm Break and Trade Show
5:00 pm Youth Program concludes for the day. Please pick up your child!
5:30 pm Dinner – Our evening meal will feature a delicious Virginia Food Feast
7:00 pm Tribute to Andy Hankins
7:30 pm Plenary Presentation:
An Integrated System for Production of Poultry Enhanced Compost and Eggs without Purchased Feeds: Karl Hammer, Vermont Compost Company, Montpelier, Vermont
9:00 pm Virginia Spirits: Wine and Beer Tasting (as well as non-alcoholic Virginia cider)
9:30 pm Film Presentations: American Meat, Queen of the Sun,Truck Farm, Farmageddon
Saturday – February 9
7:00 am Breakfast on your own
8:30 am Youth program continues
8:30-10:00 am Breakout Sessions
1. Mushroom Cultivation for Everyone, Beginner to Advanced Techniques: Tradd Cotter, Mushroom Mountain, Liberty, South Carolina
2. Organic Management of Pests in Summer Squash: Charlie Maloney, Dayspring Farm, Cologne, VA; Mark Schonbeck, Sustainable Agriculture Consultant, Floyd, VA
3. Low-Input (No Input) Production of Beef Cattle: Part 1: Kit Pharo, Pharo Cattle Company, Cheyenne Wells, CO
4. Organic Farm Management, Business and Record Keeping: Mark Cain, Dripping Springs Gardens, Huntsville, Arkansas
10:00- 10:30 am Break and Trade Show
10:30-12:00 pm Breakout Sessions
1. Developing Sustainable Urban Agricultural Systems: Dr. Marcus Comer, Extension Specialist- Natural Resource Management, Virginia State University and Linda Marshall, Garden Manager, 31st Street Baptist Church, Richmond, VA
2. Low-Input (No Input) Production of Beef Cattle: Part 2: Kit Pharo, Pharo Cattle Company, Cheyenne Wells, CO
3. Improved Varieties of Pawpaws for Virginia: Neal Peterson, Peterson’s Pawpaws, Harper’s Ferry, West Virginia
4. Crop Rotations for Vegetables and Cover Crops: Pam Dawling, Twin Oaks Community, Louisa, VA
12:00 Lunch
12:30 – 1:00 pm Business Meeting – Virginia Association for Biological Farming
(during lunch)
1:30 – 3:00 pm Breakout Sessions
1. Biological Control of Insects in Vegetable Crops: Chris Phillips for Dr. Tom Kuhar, Vegetable Entomology Specialist, Eastern Shore Agricultural Research and Extension Center, Painter, Virginia
2. Biodynamic Beekeeping: Gunther Hauk, Spikenard Farm and Bee Sanctuary, Floyd, Virginia
3. Are Nuts in Your Future?: Dr. William Reid, Extension Nut Crop Specialist, Kansas State University
4. Soil Fertility and Organic Amendments: A Balancing Act: Todd Shearin, Director, Municipal Environmental Services, Terra Renewal, Chester, Virginia
3:00 – 3:30 Trade Show remains open
3:30 pm Conference concludes.
Youth Program concludes. Please pick up your child!
The Virginia Biological Farming Conference is brought to you by:
