The 2025 OGRAIN Organic Grain Conference will be held Jan. 24-25 at the Monona Terrace in Madison. There’s an optional pre-conference event focused on regenerative organic agriculture practices on the evening of Jan. 23.
OGRAIN offers resources and support for new, transitioning, and experienced organic grain farmers in the Upper Midwest.
“The resources to support the transition to organic grain have never been greater than they are now,” says Erin Silva, professor and extension specialist in the UW–Madison Department of Plant Pathology, director of the university’s Center for Integrated Agricultural Systems, and holder of the Clif Bar Endowed Chair in Organic Agriculture and Outreach. “Even if a farm only transitions some of their acres to organic, the benefits can still be seen – like boosting soil health and reducing inputs.”
Attendees can choose from over a dozen sessions. Presenters will share the latest technology, production approaches, and science related to organic grain production.
Sessions are dedicated to food-grade grains, market access, and common challenges for transitioning farmers. This includes weed and pest management, funding sources, and profitability planning. New this year, session presentations will be paired with panel discussions to share real-world experiences.
Look forward to networking through farmer and industry roundtables, a buyer-seller mixer, exhibitor visits, and social hours. More than 25 organic grain industry businesses and institutions, including buyers and seed dealers, will be there. They’ll share information about the services, equipment, and resources they offer to organic grain producers.
Registration for this pre-event is limited, so interested individuals are encouraged to sign up soon. The Thursday evening event will focus on interactive, farmer-to-farmer sharing of experiences and ideas to continue to build organic grain systems that reduce tillage and promote soil health.
Learn more: https://ograin.cals.wisc.edu/ograin-events/2534-2/