Events

August 19, 2023: Midwest Regional Seed and Plant Breeding Field Day

RSVP today to join the Organic Seed Alliance and University of Wisconsin-Madison’s Seed to Kitchen Collaborative for the Midwest Regional Seed and Plant Breeding Field Day on Saturday, August 19, 2023. We’ll learn about organic seed production and plant breeding methods from our hosts Nature and Nurture Seeds, along with presenters from OSA and the Seed to Kitchen Collaborative. Come on out and explore the farm fields and seed cleaning equipment, discuss current plant breeding projects, share tips on producing and selling high-quality seeds, and taste and evaluate soon-to-be-released crop varieties. If you are an aspiring seed saver or plant breeder, or if you are ready to take the next step in growing from hobby to enterprise scale, bring your questions and be ready to learn together with the group! Refreshments will be provided.

If you plan to go, please RSVP at the link below. The day before, the Organic Seed Alliance is also holding a Farm Bill Town Hall with Senator Stabenow’s Team also at Nature and Nurture Seeds Farm. Questions? Contact Michael Lordon at michael@seedalliance.org. RSVP Today

January and February 2023: Webinar Series on Practical Training for On-Farm and Collaborative Plant Breeding

We held a series of six webinars in January and February 2023. on organic plant breeding for independent plant breeders, farmers interested in selection, regional seed companies and plant breeding students. The webinars were led by the Organic Seed Alliance and collaborators on a NIFA OREI funded project on collaborative plant breeding project in the Upper Midwest. Although the content was targeted to the Upper Midwest, much of the material will be relevant to other regions as well. Participants will benefit from the experience of independent breeders, seed company breeders and farmer breeders from around the U.S. Find all the recordings and additional resources https://eorganic.org/node/35654

August 24, 2022 Collaborative Plant Breeding Field Day at UW Madison

peppers Are you interested in variety trialing and selection, seed saving, and getting involved in collaborative breeding projects in the Midwest? Us, too! You’re invited to join OSA’s Michael Lordon for the Midwest Collaborative Plant Breeding Field Day in Madison, WI on August 24th. The field day will include a farm tour of University of Wisconsin-Madison’s West Madison Agricultural Research Station featuring Seed to Kitchen Collaborative projects involving tomatoes, peppers, and other crops. The event will also include educational presentations and discussions for farmers, gardeners, and students interested in regional seed adaptation and plant breeding for organic systems.
Read an article about highlights of the event here!

August 21, 2022: Organic Plant Breeding on Display at Farm to Flavor

Join the Culinary Breeding Network, the Seed to Kitchen Collaborative and the Artisan Grain Collaborative for an engaging evening of conversation, learning, and tasting. This public event will bring together plant breeders, farmers, chefs, bakers, and beverage manufacturers to discuss and demonstrate the benefits of participatory plant breeding. The evening will provide the opportunity for researchers, growers, and end-users to play an essential role in guiding the development of new crop varieties. This year's "Farm to Flavor" will have a special emphasis on culinary grains including wheat, rye, oats, barley, and corn. Several NIFA OREI projects will be showcasing their breeding work, including Value-added Grains for Local and Regional Food Systems II, led by Mark Sorrells of Cornell University; Developing Multi-use Naked Barley for Organic Systems, led by Patrick Hayes and Brigid Meints at Oregon State University; and Collaborative Plant Breeding Network Development for Organic Systems in the Upper Midwest, led by Julie Dawson of the University of Wisconsin-Madison.
Read an article about the event here!

September 1, 2021: Midwest Regional Seeds Field Day: Selecting, saving, and selling regionally adapted varieties on your farm.

Join us for the Midwest Regional Seeds Field Day on September 1, 2021! Learn how seed saving farmers make selections to improve or maintain crop varieties, and how working with seed companies and universities can strengthen your farm operation. Topics and demonstrations will include regionally specific seed saving techniques, useful tools for both small-scale and wholesale seed growers, and more to be determined. See how regionally adapted seed varieties are bred by and for organic farmers. Hosted by Organic Seed Alliance and Greg Reynolds of Riverbend Farm, in collaboration with Koby Jeshkeit-Hagen of Seed Sages, and Dr. Julie Dawson of the University of Wisconsin-Madison. This field day is being offered free of charge, though pre-registration is required.
Click here to register
Questions? Contact Michael Lordon.

The Collaborative Plant Breeding Network Attended these Events in early 2021:

1/16/21-1/23/21	NOFA-NY Seed track	https://nofany.org/2021-winter-conference/seed-conference/
1/21/21-1/23/21	Practical Farmers of Iowa	https://practicalfarmers.org/events/annual-conference
1/25/2021	Wisconsin Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Growers	https://freshfruitvegetable.wildapricot.org/
2/12/21-2/13/21	Great Plains Growers Conference	https://www.greatplainsgrowersconference.org/
2/13/21-2/15/21	OEFFA	https://www.oeffa.org/conference2020.php
2/17/21-2/21/21	Northern Michigan Small Farm Conference	http://www.smallfarmconference.com/about-1
2/22/21-2/27/21	MOSES Conference	https://mosesorganic.org/conference/ Join us for one or more of our seed round tables on February 23, 24, 25, and 26 from 3:00 - 4:00 PM CST!
3/4/21-3/6/21	Indiana Small Farms Conference	https://www.purdue.edu/dffs/smallfarms/small-farm-conference-2021/
Thursdays 1/7/21 through 1/28/21	Minnesota Organic Conference	https://www.mda.state.mn.us/environment-sustainability/minnesota-organic-conference

Collaborative Plant Breeding Network Development for Organic Systems in the Upper Midwest