Events :: March 2007

20th Convening of the California Farm Conference

Date: March 4-6, 2007

Location: Monterey, CA

Cost:

Scholarships available

Contact:(888) 712-4188

P.O. Box 73614
Davis, CA  95617

www.californiafarmconference.com

Description:

The 20th Anniversary of the Farm Conference will be held at Monterey Beach Resort. Be sure to join us!

Speakers:

* Michael Dimock of Roots of Change Fund
* Michael Olson, radio personality
* Marita Cantwell, UC Small Farm Center

Farm Tours:

Mediterranean Tour

Agricultural History Project in Watsonville

Carmel Valley Wine Tour

Short Courses:

Blueberry Production

Strawberries and Caneberries

Organic Transition, Production and Marketing

Biofuel Opportunities for California Farmers

2007 Niche Meat Marketing Conference

Date: March 20-21, 2007

Location: Chico State Farm - Chico, CA

Cost:

Pre-Registration Fee - $70

After March 12th - $80

Contact:

Registration forms available online at http://ceplacer.ucdavis.edu/.

For more information call Glenn Nader at (530) 822-7515 or

Roger Ingram at (530) 889-7390

Description:

This year's conference features presentations and group activities on processing, organic production, meat goats, sheep, and pet food.  A marketing panel will be featured with Chico Natural Foods and Dan Neuerberg, Meat Coordinator for Whole Foods' Northern California and Pacific North West Regions.  A panel on 3rd party certification will help you learn more about these programs.

Informative sessions on liability insurance and the use of ultrasound will be held.  In addition, a success stories panel will be held to identify common themes of success and how challenges will be met.  Finally, Chico State will share their experiences in getting a label approved through USDA.  The registration fee includes two lunches, one dinner, and proceedings.

Keynote Speaker:

* Paul Willis, Manager, Niman Ranch Pork

Monterey Vintners Wine Tasting

Date: March 29, 2007

Consumer wine-tasting event: 6 - 9 PM

Restaurant & media event: 2 - 5 PM

Location

Hyatt Regency Sacramento
At Capitol Park
1209 L. Street
Sacramento, CA 95814

Cost:

Tickets for the food & wine event are $45.

Purchase tickets:

Call 831.375.9400
Or purchase tickets online

Description:

Famous scenery, golf and cuisine are just part of the picture postcard! Join us as we present a sampling of the world-class wine of Monterey's vintners and growers. It promises to be an exceptional food and wine event. A portion of the proceeds will benefit CAFF.

US Farm Bill Forum for Ventura County

Date: Thursday, March 29, 2007

Time: 1 - 4 PM

Location

Ventura Unified School District

255 W. Stanley Ave

Ventura

Contact:

dulanie@sbcglobal.net or (310) 822-5410

Best Management Alternatives for Water Quality: Session 4
Organic Almond Farming Workshop and/or Alternative Weed Control Field Day

Date: Thursday, March 29, 2007

Time: 8:30 am till 1:00 pm at Pioneer Hall

1:00 pm till 4:00 pm at Nakashima Farm

Cost

Free, but please REGISTER FOR (FREE) LUNCH

Locations

Pioneer Hall (United Methodist Church) 11695 Olive Ave., Livingston
N or S bound Hwy 99, Exit Hammatt Ave., Travel east 1 mile, Right on Olive Ave., ½ mile on right

Nakashima Farm, 10397 W. Walnut Ave., Livingston
From Pioneer Hall turn right on Olive, drive ½ mile, right on Sultana for ½ mile, left on Walnut ½ mile

Description

8:30 – Coffee & Social
9:00 – Harmonization of Almond Board of California GAPs and Good Organic System Plan (GOSP)
9:30 – Weeds in Organic and Unsprayed Almonds (Gary Gliddon – Treevine Consulting)
10:00 – Grower Panel on Weed Control
11:00 – Cover Crops as Smother Crops and Pest Management Aids (Cindy Lashbrook – Four Seasons Ag. Consulting, Inc.)
11:30 – Plasticulture systems for perennial crops: pest management, water relations, and more (Jim Stapleton, IPM Plant Pathologist – UC Kearney)
12:10 – Weed Fabric and Mulching Materials – Indoor Demo Stations

12:30 – LUNCH (free with pre-registration)

1:00 to 4:00
Organically-approved Herbicides: Test Plots

Mechanical Methods: In-Field Demos of In-Row Mowers and Tillers

Flaming: In Field Demos

Cross Mowing Techniques

Biological Control Release Techniques for Worms, Mites and Weeds: Hands-on

Credits

5 ½ DPR Continue Education hours applied for

Contact

Cindy Lashbrook, East Merced Resource Conservation District

(209) 761-0081 emrcd@clearwire.net

Wendy Larson, Big Tree Organic Farms (209) 669-3678, ext 6 wlarson@bigtreeorganic.com