Each year at Maine's Agricultural Trades Show, MOFGA offers a series of presentations and discussion groups covering a wide range of sustainable agriculture subjects. All presentations are free and open to the public.
MOFGA has an information exhibit during all three days of the Trades Show. Staff and Committee members are available to answer questions about MOFGA's ongoing programs. There is no pre-registration for the day's events.
MOFGA members are encouraged to attend the Association's Annual Meeting, which will be held at 1:30pm in the Piscataquis/Sagadahoc Rooms.
9:10 AM A Systems Approach to Organic Crop Production
Stellos Tavantzis, Robert Larken, and Andrei Alyokhin are part of a team of researchers and graduate students at the University of Maine and the USDA-ARS Lab in Orono studying how organic management including a rapeseed cover crop,
compost, and biocontrol organisms affect the soil, crop, and pest complex of farm systems. Two different potato rotations are being studied, but the results are expected to be relevant to all organic crop production. They will present the results from their second year of the study, which are promising, and look for comments as they prepare for next year’s field trials.
9:10 AM Let's Talk About Late Blight
In this special 2-hour session, Eric Sideman will present a brief synopsis of the disease and then facilitate a discussion of how we all faired, which materials helped, which varieties did best and which did worst, the politics of it all and what should we do next year.
10:00 AM Resources for New & Beginning Farmers
This 2-hour session will feature representatives from organizations that provide services to help and support new and beginning farmers. Topics to be covered are: Land Access and Leasing arrangements; MOFGA’s Journeyperson Farm Training Program, MOFGA’s Organic Farmer Loan Fund, and USDA NRCS and FSA programs for new & beginning farmers.
11:00 AM Reducing Worker & Environmental Risk through Improved Compliance with Pesticide Law
Gary Fish will prepare growers to do the training of Agricultural Workers that is required by the Federal Worker Protection Standard. He will also cover the Maine regulations that all Commercial Agricultural Producers must follow when they use any pesticide to grow a crop.
1:30 PM MOFGA Annual Meeting
Hear from Executive Director, Russell Libby and from committee chairs about MOFGA’s activities and accomplishments in 2008 and our plans for the future. Participate in elections for MOFGA’s Board of Directors, vote on bylaw changes, and network with MOFGA staff, members, and certified growers.
3:00 PM Organic Certification Information Session
Interested in becoming certified? Get an overview of the federal regulations. Learn how to apply for organic certification. Bring your questions and we’ll try to provide answers. MOFGA Certification Services staff will be on hand; Director, Mary Yurlina and Certification Assistant, Jaco schravesande-Gardei.
3:00 PM Food Safety Session
New Federal legislation, FDA produce standards, and more—what’s it mean for diversified family farms? Russell Libby and Cheryl Wixson of MOFGA will provide an overview of the various policy issues.
4:00 PM Marketing Your Food through the Web
John Harker & Tessa Burpee will summarize their farmers & buying club project, followed by Will Sugg of Planet Maine showing how you can be part of the new MOFGA.net.
4:00 PM Backyard Chickens
Diane Schivera, MOFGA’s Organic Livestock Specialist Backyard chickens can be lots of laughs and help feed you. Come and learn about the basics of raising your own eggs.