Session Titles in this color have presentation materials available.
Plenaries
Keynote: Joel Brown, USDA NRC
Climate Change and Agriculture: Challenges and Responses
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Roundtable
Climate Change, Agriculture and Sustainability
Panel: Karl Brooks Region VII Director, EPA
Joel Brown Rangeland Ecologist, USDA NRCS
Jeff Schahczenski Policy Analyst, NCAT
What do farmers, ranchers, and consumers need to be doing now to adapt to climate change, restricted or tighter resources, and a changing regulatory environment?
Cows & Crops
Ecological Approaches to Farming: Models and Practices for a Sustainable System
Mary Fund & Ed Reznicek, KRCExplore how more diversity in farming–extended crop rotations, cover crops, grazing systems, organic practices, and more–provides our best insurance for meeting social, environmental economic, and economic goals.
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Trends in the Production and Marketing of Grassfed Beef
Jason Schmidt, KRCWhether you’re a producer or consumer, you’ll learn something from this overview of the history, science, production and marketing of grassfed beef.
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Hoop Houses 101
Dan Nagengast, KRCSeasonal high tunnels will be an important part of future food production, promising longer growing seasons, protection from weather and pest problems, and ensuring quality products. Learn about construction and management.
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Production and Marketing of Grass-fed Beef in Kansas
moderator: Jason Schmidt, KRCPanelist: Torrey Ball, Grassroots Cattle Company; Barry Barber, Turkey Foot Ranch; Judy Decker, Renaissance Farms; Al & Roxanne Mettenburg, Mettenburg Farm; Norm Oeding, Janzen Family Farm; Mel & Joyce Williams, MJ Ranch
Listen to a discussion among current Kansas grass-fed beef producers of their production and marketing strategies.
Carbon
Carol Blocksome, KSU
Prairie rangelands benefit from fire at intervals, but smoke at concentrated times produces air quality problems. Learn how the Kansas Smoke Management Plan hopes to address both rancher and urban concerns.
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Cover Crops: The Next Frontier in Farming
Gayle Fuller, farmer; Ed Reznicek, KRC
Cover crops are the new darlings of no-till and conservation agriculture, and the foundation of organic systems. Learn about the use of cover crops in no-till and in organic systems.
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Patch-Burn Grazing the Prairies of Kansas
Cade Rensink, KSREPatch-burning is a relatively new concept in rangeland management, but mimicks the thousands years old patterns of lightening and bison; learn how livestock perform under a PBG system, how rangeland health is impacted, and its value in treating Sericea lespedeza.
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Bio Char
Jeff Schanzinski, NCATBiochar has the potential to produce farm-based renewable energy in a climate-friendly manner and provide a valuable soil amendment to enhance crop productivity.
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Carrots
Opportunities for Local and Regional Food in Kansas
Scott Allegrucci, KRC Board; Rhonda Janke, KSU; Dan Nagengast, KRC Consumer demand for local food continues to increase and many players in the food industry are seeking suppliers. Learn more about the opportunities and challenges of working with grocers, restaurants and institutions.
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Growing Healthy: School and Community Gardens
Kirk Cusick, WCFEC; Candice Shoemaker, KSU; Jennifer Smith, KSRE Interest in school and community gardens is soaring. Practitioners from across the state will share their experiences in developing, managing and evaluating these gardening programs.
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Download Shoemaker Presentation PDF
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Specialty Crop Insurance
Jeff Schanzinski, NCATCrop insurance is a new concept for many specialty crop producers. Learn how you can use this new program to reduce risk for your operations.
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GAPs–Good Agricultural Practices for Food Safety
Pete Garfinkel & Mercedes Taylor-Puckett, KRCPending federal food safety regulations coupled with frequent news coverage of food recalls are motivating many farmers and buyers to seek information on GAPs. We’ll cover the basics and explore how developing a Farm Food Safety Plan could benefit your farm.
Link to Cornell GAPs Presentation PDF
Download Self-Assessment Overview Presentation PDF
Marketing Organic Grain: Trends and Challenges
Harry Bennett & Rodger Schneider, KOP
Organic markets are as volatile as conventional; learn how to weather the ups and downs.
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Scaling-Up and Diversifying: A Tale of Two Farmers
Tom Buller and Jill Elmers, Common Harvest FarmsTom and Jill meet the USDA definition of beginning farmers and are decades younger than the average US farmer. Learn about their efforts to supply the Kaw River Valley with diverse specialty crops.
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Connections
Food Policy Councils
Eileen Horn, Douglas County Food Policy Council; Barb LaClair, Kansas Food Security Task ForceFood Policy Councils bring together stakeholders from diverse food-related sectors to examine how the food system is operating and to develop recommendations on how to improve it. Learn how councils can educate officials and the public, shape public policy, improve coordination between existing programs, and develop new programs.
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Financial and Resource Assistance for Sustainable Ag Farms
Karissa Berks, USDA Rural Development; Kerri Ebert, Kansas-SARE; Mari Tucker, Kansas Department of Commerce-Rural DevelopmentFederal and state programs can offer financial help–cost-share, grants, or loans–for some conservation or production related enterprises. Learn what’s what!
Download USDA RD Presentation PDF
Download KDOC RD Presentation PDF
Intergenerational Farm Transitions: Planning for Success
Charlie Griffin, KSU
As the average age of farmers rises, we face the critical question of who will become the next generation of farmers. Learn strategies and tools for successful farm transitions that prepare our next generation farmers with both family legacies and profitable businesses.
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Farm Bill 2012: What Does the Future Hold?
Paul Johnson, KRC Board; Troy Schroeder, Kansas Wildlife Foundation; Donn Teske, Kansas Farmers Union
The 2008 Farm Bill included some positive programs for sustainable agriculture and food security. Join our panel to discuss the next Farm Bill–what to protect, what to change, and how to make it work for our food future.
Download Johnson Handout PDF
Download Schroeder Presentation PDF
