The second annual Organic Growers Conference is a unique opportunity to learn more about the fundamentals of organic farming and to educate yourself on what is required to become a certified organic grower while learning from industry experts how to connect products to markets. Along with the informative presentations from specialists, there will be a tour of a certified organic operation as well as networking and hors d’oeuvres in the Demonstration Gardens adjacent to the conference facility. The event is being held at the EMS Training Facility located at 3189 SE Inner Loop in Georgetown, Texas, the cost is $50, to include hors d’oeuvres Tuesday evening, lunch on Wednesday and 2 CEUs (1 IPM, 1CEU). Please contact our office at 512-943-3300 or visit https://williamson.agrilife.org/ for more information.
Tuesday, October 17
1:00 – 1:30pm: Organic Program in Texas – Bob Whitney, Extension Organic Specialist, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension
1:30 – 2:30pm: Soil Health – Jake Mower
2:30 – 3:00pm: Soil & Fertility – Fred Schrank, State Agronomist, Natural Resource Conservation Service
Break
3:00 – 4:00pm: Organic Sources – Bob Whitney
4:00 – 5:00pm: Organic Integrated Pest Management – Holly Davis, Field Development Manager, Certis Bio
5:00 – 7:00pm: Heavy hors d’oeuvres in the Demonstration Garden (Hecho en Queso catering)
Wednesday, October 18
8:00 – 9:00am: Process for Certified Organic – Brandi Chandler, Coordinator for Organic Certification, Texas Department of Agriculture
9:00 – 9:45am: Texas TOPP – Timber Darnell, TOPP Program Coordinator, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension
10:00am – 12:30pm: Tour of Lone Star Lettuce – Certified Organic Operation
12:30pm – 1:30pm: Lunch
1:30- 2:30pm: Getting in Organic Markets – Rob Morton, Business Unit Director – Healthy Living, HEB & Austin Moore, Business Development Manager, HEB
2:30 – 3:30pm: Organic Handling – Coyote Creek Farm
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