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Welcome to the 37th annual California Small Farm Conference, a week-long event featuring over 40 online workshops as well as a dozen in-person gatherings around the state. Whether you’re a beginning farmer or a seasoned grower, a local food advocate or a farmers market manager, you’ll find something here for you. This year’s theme, "Rooted in Place", honors the vital relationship between farmers, communities and the land they steward.

Check out the schedule below for event times and locations. Click "Reserve Tickets" to register. Admission is on a sliding-scale, to ensure everyone can attend. Please select the amount you’re comfortable paying. Enjoy the conference!

The majority of our conference workshops are recorded for later viewing at any time on CAFF’s YouTube channel, with the exception of certain small group and facilitated sessions for privacy reasons. 
Interested in sponsoring this event? Learn more here
Audience: Farm Advisors & Technical Assistance Providers clear filter
Sunday, February 23
 

8:00am PST

Boosting Beneficial Birds and Insects: Nest Boxes, Hedgerows and Other Natural Enemy Habitat
Sunday February 23, 2025 8:00am - 9:15am PST
Online
Beneficial birds and insects target a range of insect and rodent pests in agriculture. Farmland can offer diverse habitats to meet their reproductive and overwintering needs, which helps support these natural predators and creates a comprehensive defense system. In this workshop, we will explore the advantages of incorporating natural enemy birds and insects into agroecosystems and discuss ways to attract and support them using nest boxes, perches, flower patches, shrubs, trees, hedgerows, and riparian zones. We’ll also address their preferences for various native and nonnative plants. By inviting these beneficial species to your farm, you enhance sustainability and promote local biodiversity.
Speakers
JA

Jo Ann Baumgartner

Executive Director, Wild Farm Alliance
BM

Breanna Martinico

UC Cooperative Extension

Sunday February 23, 2025 8:00am - 9:15am PST
Online
  Farm Production / Practices

8:00am PST

A New Model for Farmland Access and Transition: The Farmland Commons
Sunday February 23, 2025 8:00am - 9:15am PST
Online
The Farmers Land Trust is a national organization working to support farmland protection, transition, and secure access for farmers through the innovative Farmland Commons model, which decommodifies land by placing it in the ownership of local communities. This dynamic and engaging presentation will share how the Farmland Commons model works, and participants will leave with the knowledge and resources that will enable them to carry forward creative land transition and access opportunities to their own communities.
Speakers
IM

Ian McSweeney

The Farmers Land Trust
KV

Kristina Villa

The Farmers Land Trust

Sunday February 23, 2025 8:00am - 9:15am PST
Online
  Issues in Food & Ag / Other

9:45am PST

Practical Entrepreneurship Guide for Raising Poultry on Pasture or Integrated with Crops
Sunday February 23, 2025 9:45am - 11:00am PST
Online
To successfully raise poultry on pasture, or in rotation with crops, farmers need practical plans to launch, scale and manage a successful business. In this workshop, seasoned farmers will discuss practices and innovations that work well. According to the interest of those participating in the workshop, we will discuss production systems design, enterprise budgets and profitability calculators, breed selection, brooder management, sturdy mobile coops, preventive health, predator management, managing pasture for poultry, and navigating regulations on meat processing and egg marketing. NCAT/ATTRA will share highlights of the poultry entrepreneurs toolbox and take-home messages from experiments in three states on broiler production in rotation with vegetable crops. Aspiring and beginning poultry farmers will learn about how to access to sources of practical information and ongoing support.
Speakers
CB

Caleb Barron

Fogline Farm
AB

Ann Baier

Sustainable Agriculture Specialist, National Center for Appropriate Technology
NCAT/ATTRA information service for farmers, ranchers and other food systems peopleBeginning Farmer workshops Pastured poultry integration with crop productionOrganic certificationCulture and agriculture Soil for Water, healthy soils, conservation planningLife, meaning and cycles... Read More →

Sunday February 23, 2025 9:45am - 11:00am PST
Online
  Farm Production / Practices

9:45am PST

Strawberry Production in Hotter Climates
Sunday February 23, 2025 9:45am - 11:00am PST
Online
Strawberries thrive in the cooler, sunny climates of California’s Central Coast which is why the region is home to the majority of the state’s commercial strawberry production. However, there are many small-scale operations throughout the state growing strawberries in hotter, drier regions. What does it take to successfully grow strawberries on a smaller scale—especially in less climatically ideal regions? How do coastal practices need to be adapted to hotter growing conditions? How does the heat affect disease and pest prevalence?

Join UC Cooperative Extension Small & Organic Farms Advisor, Margaret Lloyd, and Community Education Specialist, Lindsey Klein, as we dive into these questions plus topics like cultivar selection, irrigation needs, planting and harvesting schedules, post-harvest handling, and more!
Speakers
ML

Margaret Lloyd

Small and Organic Farms Advisor, UC Cooperative Extension
avatar for Lindsey Klein

Lindsey Klein

Small Farms Program Community Education Specialist, UC Cooperative Extension

toshare Strawberry Production in Hotter Climates pdf
Sunday February 23, 2025 9:45am - 11:00am PST
Online
  Farm Production / Practices

4:45pm PST

Wildlife Safe Ranching
Sunday February 23, 2025 4:45pm - 6:00pm PST
Online
We will cover the practical and legal knowledge required to run a successful operation in California alongside wildlife. We will cover deterrence, exclusion, guardian animals, and the dynamics of "Barnyard CSI" and kill site forensics. We will also touch on conflict with domestic animals (especially loose dogs) with livestock, and how wildfires, drought, and a changing legal landscape impact farmers, ranchers and wildlife. Our perspective is pro-farmer, pro-rancher, pro-homesteader, and pro-wildlife. Attendees will come away informed and empowered, including with information on how to access free resources to solve conflicts with wildlife legally and safely.
Speakers
GB

Gowan Batist

The Mountain Lion Foundation

Sunday February 23, 2025 4:45pm - 6:00pm PST
Online
  Farm Production / Practices
 
Monday, February 24
 

8:00am PST

Rethinking "Small Farm": What Does It Mean, What Should It Mean?
Monday February 24, 2025 8:00am - 9:15am PST
Online
In this workshop, we will unpack the meaning of “small farm,” a term that often guides discourse around social justice and ecological stewardship in agrifood systems, even as it is poorly defined.

The USDA rigidly defines “small farms” as those with less than $350,000 in gross annual income yet provides no justification for this cutoff. Additionally, “small” farms must be “family” farms, itself a thorny term that includes both sole proprietors and farms owned by family members who may not even work on the farm (in Brazil, by contrast, “family” is defined by who labors, not by ownership). More broadly, the term is used in practice and scholarship to refer to farms of wildly varied size and scale characteristics while often implying that certain social, ecological, or economic goals are prioritized, presumably distinguishing the “small” farm from large-scale agribusiness.

Being “small,” however, in no way guarantees that, by definition, a farmer operates outside agribusiness or pursues/achieves these goals. Similarly, being “large” does not by definition make a farm incapable of achieving progressive socioecological or economic goals. Who, then, do we mean by "small farmers"? What should we mean? What are the goals/values driving the term’s usage? Do we need a new definition, or different terminology altogether? Is it "smallness" we want, or is it social justice, economic prosperity, and environmental sustainability? And do these goals require “smallness,” whatever that is?

Together, we will thoughtfully consider what “small farms” we’re fighting for and why, engaging the tensions or agreements that arise.
Speakers
avatar for Krista Marshall

Krista Marshall

UC Organic Agriculture Institute
EH

Evan Hazelett

PhD Student in Human Geography, University of Toronto
NB

Nathaniel Brown

Ujamaa Farmer Collective
avatar for Rachel Soper

Rachel Soper

Associate Professor, Sociology, CSU Channel Islands

Monday February 24, 2025 8:00am - 9:15am PST
Online
  Issues in Food & Ag / Other

8:00am PST

Let’s Talk About Nitrogen on Your Organic Farm
Monday February 24, 2025 8:00am - 9:15am PST
Online
Nitrogen is an essential nutrient for plant production. It's particularly difficult to manage on organic farms because the availability dynamics are complex. This workshop will present a holistic way of thinking about nitrogen cycling and management so that growers can have a nitrogen plan in place. From compost and cover crops to soil organic matter and amendments, we'll talk about it all. By the end, you'll be empowered to understand how these different sources of nitrogen create a whole system plan and where you have room to improve.
Speakers
PL

Patricia Lazicki

UC Cooperative Extension
ML

Margaret Lloyd

Small and Organic Farms Advisor, UC Cooperative Extension

Monday February 24, 2025 8:00am - 9:15am PST
Online
  Organics

9:00am PST

Farmers' Market Manager Training Level 1: Elevating Market Management Standards
Monday February 24, 2025 9:00am - 1:00pm PST
Online
This half-day training, developed by the California Alliance of Farmers' Markets, offers farmers' market workers, managers, volunteers or enthusiasts insight into the rules and regulations and best practices for running a CA certified Farmers market. The program is designed to equip market managers, staff, volunteers, enthusiasts, with the essential skills needed to enhance the integrity, management, and sustainability of Certified Farmers’ Markets across California.

During this interactive session, participants will dive into the foundational elements of the Farmers' Market Manual, which promotes direct farmer-to-consumer relationships and supports small independent farmers. Upon completion of the training, participants will receive a free farmers' market management manual.

The training will be led by farmers' market longtime professionals and industry leaders Loren Norman and April Lancaster.

Speakers
avatar for Putri Kusdarman
LN

Loren Norman

Ecology Center
avatar for April Treona

April Treona

Downtown Visalia Certified Farmers' Market
Medical Herbalist, Urban Agriculturalist, Farmers Market Advocate, and Certified Market Manager Trainer April Lancaster is a passionate medical herbalist, small business owner, and certified producer who has been operating her organic herbal apothecary, Lancaster Creations, since... Read More →

Certified Farmers Market Managers Manual 2021 pdf
Prework 2. Value of Direct Marketing pdf
Prework 3. The Role of the Farmers' Market Manager pdf
The Anti Racist Farmers Market Toolkit Digital Download compressed pdf
2025 CSFC Market Manager Condensed 4 hr Deck ECown pdf
Monday February 24, 2025 9:00am - 1:00pm PST
Online
  Farmers Market Professionals

9:45am PST

Small-Scale Composting: Getting Started, Growing, and Building a Network
Monday February 24, 2025 9:45am - 11:00am PST
Online
Composting and compost use is an effective and scalable climate change solution that has a multitude of environmental and societal benefits, especially when implemented at community gardens and small farms. Despite state mandates for organic waste diversion from landfills to meet climate goals, adoption of composting in the state at community scale remains low and expansion of industrial composting can exacerbate air quality problems and greenhouse gas emissions. We formed a partnership among community organizations and researchers to meet this need. Our mission is to establish affordable, accessible, and scalable community-level composting knowledge and practices to transform farm and food waste into compost to grow nutritious food, mitigate climate change, and advance social justice in the San Joaquin Valley. In this workshop, we share knowledge gained and lessons learned through our partnership. We hope to equip participants of this workshop with fundamental knowledge of the benefits of composting at this scale, different models of small-scale composting, the human and natural resources needed to compost, and the tools to start community-scale composting projects and partnerships.

Spanish interpretation will be provided/included in this workshop presentation.
Organizer
avatar for Yaynicut Franco

Yaynicut Franco

Director of Culture and Land Stewardship, Wukchumni Tribe
Speakers
EW

Eric Wellington

compost specialist, Foodlink for Tulare County
MR

Michael Rodriguez

University of California, Merced
avatar for Rocio Perez

Rocio Perez

Asistente Agricola, Central California Environmental Justice Network
Cuidando a nuestro medio ambiente.
RR

Monday February 24, 2025 9:45am - 11:00am PST
Online
  Organics

11:30am PST

On-Farm Recordkeeping Technologies and Strategies
Monday February 24, 2025 11:30am - 12:45pm PST
Online
Join us for a panel-style discussion on the essentials of recordkeeping for farmers. This workshop is designed to provide a comprehensive overview of the various resources available to streamline and enhance your farm's recordkeeping processes. Whether you’re focused on improving your business operations, ensuring food safety compliance, or preparing for audits and certifications, this session has you covered.

The workshop will outline the critical aspects of recordkeeping, including profit/loss statements, crop plans, and the importance of accurate documentation for food safety and marketing, FSMA, organic certifications, and third-party audits, emphasizing how proper records play a pivotal role in meeting these standards.

After this workshop you won’t go at it alone! CAFF’s Farmer Services Office Hours are held every Monday to get in-depth advice on what records you need and how to maintain them efficiently. This workshop is your starting point to mastering farm recordkeeping—don’t miss it!
Speakers
avatar for Maria Ridoutt-Orozco

Maria Ridoutt-Orozco

Small Farm Technology Advisor, CAFF
Maria supports the Small Farm Tech Hub by leading technical assistance efforts to improve the productivity and competitiveness of small farmers. Maria is originally from Peru and fell in love with farming when she attended the Agrarian National University in Lima. After receiving... Read More →
avatar for Paulina S. Hernandez
AS

Arabelle Schoenberg

Bay Area Regional Lead, Farmer Services, CAFF

SHAREABLE CAFF On Farm Recordkeeping and Strategies pdf
Monday February 24, 2025 11:30am - 12:45pm PST
Online
  Tools & Tech

1:15pm PST

Organic IPM for Vegetables
Monday February 24, 2025 1:15pm - 2:30pm PST
Online
This workshop will provide a foundational introduction to Integrated Pest Management (IPM) and how the IPM framework can be applied on small-scale organic vegetable farms. We will start with a basic overview of key IPM concepts and strategies. Then we will explore how IPM can be used to manage two common and economically-damaging pests as examples, symphylans and cucumber beetles. This will include real-world examples of IPM for these pests from North Bay vegetable growers, shared with permission. We will use last 30 minutes of this workshop to walk through how to write your own IPM plan for a pest of your choice using a simple outline. This will start with accurate pest identification, understanding its life cycle, and prevention strategies. Then we will cover how to set action thresholds appropriate for your farm as well as strategies for monitoring and record keeping. We'll cover how to combine management strategies such as biological, cultural, mechanical, and organic chemical options. Attendees will leave this workshop with a draft of an IPM plan they can continue refining over time.
Speakers
EA

Ellie Andrews

Specialty Crops Advisor for Sonoma, Marin, and Napa Counties, UC Cooperative Extension

Monday February 24, 2025 1:15pm - 2:30pm PST
Online
  Organics

1:15pm PST

Path to Organic: How to Prepare for Organic Certification
Monday February 24, 2025 1:15pm - 2:30pm PST
Online
Join us for a workshop on organic certification and inspection, featuring an experienced organic inspector and successful organic farmer. This session will provide insights into the certification process, compliance requirements, and practices for preparing for an inspection.
Speakers
avatar for Megan Robertson

Megan Robertson

Consultant, Alluvial Organics
Megan is a regarded expert in organic certification. She is immersed in the trade as a triple-scope inspector, business consultant, and CCOF-certified organic broker. Her various roles keep her well-informed on ever-changing certification rules. She regularly attends industry events... Read More →
KD

Kristen Draz

FogDog Farm
avatar for Grace Jackson

Grace Jackson

Farmer Services Regional Lead - Central Valley, CAFF

Monday February 24, 2025 1:15pm - 2:30pm PST
Online
  Organics

3:00pm PST

Let's Have a Talk: Asian Specialty Crop in Our Markets
Monday February 24, 2025 3:00pm - 4:15pm PST
Online
This interactive workshop brings together a diverse panel of speakers from farming organizations, food industry leaders, and advocacy groups to discuss pressing challenges and opportunities in the food system. With a focus on Asian specialty crops and small-scale farmers, the workshop will explore topics such as market access, the impact of technology, and the evolution of farming practices. Attendees will have the opportunity to engage with speakers through a Q&A session, fostering a collaborative dialogue on building a more sustainable and equitable food system.
Speakers
avatar for Yimmuaj Yang

Yimmuaj Yang

Community Director, Groundswell Conservancy
Yimmuaj is the Community Director at Groundswell Conservancy in Madison, WI, where she champions equitable access to farmland for emerging and BIPOC farmers. With a passion for sustainable agriculture, Yimmuaj is developing an innovative Buy-Protect-Sell pipeline to make farmland... Read More →
KV

Keng Vang

Owner, Fresno BIPOC Produce INC
JM
avatar for Addison Vang

Addison Vang

Hmong Community Food Systems Outreach Specialist, University of Wisconsin-Madison
Addison Vang holds an undergraduate degree from the University of Wisconsin-Stout Polytechnic and a Master's in Public Policy and Graduate Minor in Urban and Regional Planning from the Humphrey School of Public Affairs at the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities. He has over six years... Read More →
avatar for Chiang Rai Lor

Chiang Rai Lor

Aggregation Coordinator, FairShare CSA Coalition
The son of HMoob (Hmong) immigrants, Chiang Rai grew up around small-scale farming and selling his family’s produce at farmers’ markets around Northeast Wisconsin. Having experienced the challenges of being a grower from an underserved population, he is excited and proud to be... Read More →

Monday February 24, 2025 3:00pm - 4:15pm PST
Online
  Sales & Marketing

4:45pm PST

Regulatory and Advocacy Tools for Small Food Producers
Monday February 24, 2025 4:45pm - 6:00pm PST
Online
Farmers, homesteaders, artisans, and cottage food makers have the right to produce the food they want, and consumers have the right to purchase what they want to feed their families. However, laws and regulatory overreach often restrict these choices, and while consumer demand for locally grown products is rising, increased regulation can drive out small farms and businesses.

In this workshop, we will explore key federal, state and local regulations that impact small food producers. We will examine the federal rules regarding meat and poultry production, the prohibitions on interstate sales of certain products such as raw milk, cottage food regulations, and FSMA safety regulations. Since this conference in CA based, we will also touch on the state and local rules for each of the above food categories and also address typical local zoning regulations, the state Right to Farm law, and more. We will examine the legal solutions - such as meat and milk share agreements - that can farmers and small producers can employ to remain viable and grow.

Finally, we will explore the various legislative, policy, and advocacy tools that seek to expand food freedom choice for everyone, and offer guidance on how producers can build partnerships with legislators and mobilize supporters to change the rules to their benefit.
Speakers
avatar for Christine Dzujna

Christine Dzujna

Legal and Policy Manager, Farm to Consumer Legal Defense Fund
I am a paralegal with a long career at law firms and in corporate offices until I went back to school to obtain a Food Studies degree. Since then, I've been working on behalf of farmers and food producers across the country to advance food freedom. I love doing policy work and seeing... Read More →

2025 CA Small Farm Conf Virtual C Dzujna Preso pptx
Monday February 24, 2025 4:45pm - 6:00pm PST
Online
  Farm Biz & Management

4:45pm PST

Organic Practices for Citrus and Avocado Growers
Monday February 24, 2025 4:45pm - 6:00pm PST
Online
Organic production of subtropical tree crops along the coast revolves around maintaining tree health through management of irrigation, nutrients and cultural practices. Disease and pests of these trees will be discussed and practices that reduce the occurrence.
Speakers
BF
Monday February 24, 2025 4:45pm - 6:00pm PST
Online
  Organics
 
Tuesday, February 25
 

8:00am PST

What is Carbon Farming?
Tuesday February 25, 2025 8:00am - 9:15am PST
Online
What is “carbon farming”? As government agencies, retail corporations, and the general public have become more interested in sustainable farming, terms like “organic,” “climate-smart,” “regenerative,” and others have become the buzz words of our time – but often lose some of the meaning and power behind the original intent. Carbon farming is an emerging term to join this list, with growing interest from funding agencies and produce buyers. But what exactly is “carbon farming?”

Join a panel discussion hosted by the new Resource Conservation District (RCD) Regional Ag & Climate Hubs to explore the important role of carbon on working lands and discuss how RCDs are collaborating with farmers. Panel topics will include the basic science behind on-farm benefits of carbon, how RCDs can help growers plan and implement carbon farming, and successes and lessons learned in carbon farming in California. This presentation is aimed at helping farmers understand what carbon farming really is, improving their ability to talk about the environmental benefits their farms provide, and giving them familiarity with Carbon Farm Plans and the agencies that can fund the creation and implementation of these plans. Service providers and the general public are encouraged to join as well to deepen their understanding of these issues.
Speakers
MF

Margot Flynn

Sacramento Valley Regional Soil Hub Coordinator, Sacramento Valley Soil Hub
JK

Joshua Kouri

Central Coast Soil Hub
JP

Joe Pozzi

Pozzi Ranch

Tuesday February 25, 2025 8:00am - 9:15am PST
Online
  Farm Production / Practices

9:45am PST

Grants: Preparing for the Proposal
Tuesday February 25, 2025 9:45am - 11:00am PST
Online
This workshop is designed to help producers and processors who are new to grant applications. There are many steps to take prior to beginning the application process: registering with the System for Award Management, creating a mission statement, defining your goals and needs, finding programs that are the right fit, and more! This workshop will, 1) provide an overview of everything the small producer should do before beginning their proposal in order to maximize success; 2) outline the differences between private, state, and federal grants; 3) provide resources for applicants searching for the right grant for their business; and 4) provide a few basic tips and tricks for writing a proposal.
Organizer
LT
Speakers
LD
avatar for Lauren McCawley

Lauren McCawley

RFSI Program Manager, California Department of Food and Agriculture
Lauren McCawley is the Resilient Food Systems Infrastructure (RFSI) Program Manager for the California Department of Food and Agriculture.The purpose of the Resilient Food Systems Infrastructure (RFSI) program is to build resilience in the middle of the food supply chain; to provide... Read More →

Tuesday February 25, 2025 9:45am - 11:00am PST
Online
  Farm Biz & Management

11:30am PST

CNIP Nutrition Incentive Program, Advocacy and Funding Updates: A review of the CA State Budget funding for food and agriculture programs
Tuesday February 25, 2025 11:30am - 12:45pm PST
Online
This presentation will highlight the experience and best practices of the “Save Market Match Coalition”, a diverse group of 250+ agricultural, nutrition, food security, and public health organizations that worked together to convince California budget leaders to reinstate funding for vital programs that both address food security, bring revenue to small and mid-scale farmers, and support the local food system.

Grassroots leaders will share the behind-the-scenes story of how this coalition and thousands of farmers and customers, organized to fight for the California Nutrition Incentive Program (CNIP) funding to be reinstated in the 2024-2025 CA State Budget. They will share about the connection between this program that supports both low-income California shoppers and farmers, the CA budget crises, and connection to accessing federal Gus Schumacher Nutrition Incentive Program (GusNIP) funding. Farmers’ Market industry leaders and others will share the process, best practices, and outcomes of this campaign, and what the current status of funding for nutrition incentive programs is at the state and federal level. Highlighting food and farming program funding updates, participants will learn about programs that benefit local producers, farmers’ market operators and local food systems, as well as some best practices that could be applied to future campaigns.

This panel will focus on the advocacy process industry leaders engaged with, and the decision-making process elected officials must follow to establish the state budget. Included will be a brief overview of changes and issues related to these programs and the federal Farm Bill.
Organizer
avatar for Portia Bramble

Portia Bramble

North Coast Growers' Association
Speakers
avatar for Martin Bourque

Martin Bourque

Executive Director, Ecology Center
avatar for Andy Naja-Riese

Andy Naja-Riese

CEO, Agricultural Institute of Martin
SG

Sam Greenlee

Alchemist Community Development Corporation
avatar for Tiffany Germain

Tiffany Germain

Research & Policy Advisor, NexGen Policy
Tiffany Germain specializes in high-level public policy analysis and political research. Her primary areas of emphasis include tackling food insecurity, providing more healthy school meals in California schools, and developing California’s food system networks.Before joining NextGen... Read More →

CNIP Panel CSFC 2025 pptx
Tuesday February 25, 2025 11:30am - 12:45pm PST
Online
  Farmers Market Professionals

11:30am PST

Mentorship Magic! How mentorship strengthens organic & bolsters beginning farmer success
Tuesday February 25, 2025 11:30am - 12:45pm PST
Online
Hear from farmers who are part of the West – Southwest Transition to Organic Partnership (TOPP) Program for a conversation about the importance of farmer-to-farmer mentoring and their pivotal role in expanding organic and supporting beginner farmer success. Join the conversation and find out how to become a mentor or find a mentor!
Speakers
avatar for Robert Hoze

Robert Hoze

Apple Creek Vineyard Farm & Nursery
avatar for Molly Nakahara

Molly Nakahara

Education Manager, CCOF Foundation
Advancing organic by supporting people and communities who care for the land. The CCOF Foundation unites the organic community to offer intentional education, financial support, and growth opportunities for organic professionals.
JM

Justin Miller

Twin Peaks Orchard

Tuesday February 25, 2025 11:30am - 12:45pm PST
Online
  Organics

1:15pm PST

Blending Habitat Conservation & Restoration into Ag Landscapes: From Research to Reality
Tuesday February 25, 2025 1:15pm - 2:30pm PST
Online
Western Sustainable Agriculture and Research (SARE) supports farmer and rancher driven research on the environmental, economic, and social dimensions of sustainable agriculture throughout the western U.S. and Pacific Islands. These research projects produce data-driven recommendations to assist producers and other land managers in making management decisions, such as integrating habitat conservation and restoration into agricultural landscapes.

This workshop will highlight two producers using Western SARE Farmer/Rancher grants to investigate management practices in different California landscapes to enhance sustainable agriculture.
Jesse Trace, Traceland Ranch in Cayucos, CA, will discuss his work on implementing rehydration and restoration practices, including berms, recharge basins, and plantings, to increase water infiltration and crop production as well as developing native oak cultivars for use as a food source.
Alex Palmerlee, Far View Ranch in Bangor, CA, will talk about how grazing management can aid in natural oak recruitment as a landscape-scale solution. They will share the outcomes of their own research and their experiences in conducting research through the Western SARE Farmer/Rancher grant program.
Speakers
JT

Jesse Trace

Traceland Ranch
AP

Alex Palmerlee

Far View Ranch Inc
avatar for Miranda Kersten

Miranda Kersten

Program Manager, Western SARE

Tuesday February 25, 2025 1:15pm - 2:30pm PST
Online
  Farm Production / Practices

3:00pm PST

New and Ongoing Resources for Producers: Simple Grants for Compost and up to $25k for Healthy Soil Practices
Tuesday February 25, 2025 3:00pm - 4:15pm PST
Online
It can be difficult to obtain financing for conservation practices, as many government grants are confusing with burdensome reporting. Zero Foodprint exists to make it easy for growers to access funds for conservation practices, through our Compost Connector and Restore programs. This workshop will outline how each program works including eligibility, timelines, scoring criteria, and how they can overlap. There will also be time at the end for questions and attendees will be connected to the staff members who run each program if they have further questions.
Speakers
avatar for Jami Witek

Jami Witek

Grants Manager, Zero Foodprint
avatar for Alana Williams

Alana Williams

Zero Foodprint
Tuesday February 25, 2025 3:00pm - 4:15pm PST
Online
  Farm Production / Practices

4:45pm PST

Water Rights, Rural Water Systems and Water Use Efficiency
Tuesday February 25, 2025 4:45pm - 6:00pm PST
Online
Analysis of California water rights concerning small-scale agriculture and rural water consumers. Exploration of primary rural water systems, focusing on system reliability, life spans, and expenses. Examination of water usage efficiency, including a guide on conducting a distribution uniformity test and overall assessment of water systems, along with the importance of conducting such tests.
Speakers
TH

Tom Hammond

Abundance Ag Engineeirng

Tuesday February 25, 2025 4:45pm - 6:00pm PST
Online
  Farm Biz & Management
 
Wednesday, February 26
 

8:00am PST

Practical Tools for Implementing Regenerative Agriculture Practices
Wednesday February 26, 2025 8:00am - 9:15am PST
Online
Regenerative agriculture practices can build soil health and increase the resilience of farms to climate extremes. Access to equipment and information can be a barrier to entry for farmers who wish to experiment with new practices. This workshop is led by Sarah Light, Agronomy Farm Advisor at the University of California Cooperative Extension and Nick Andrews, Organic Vegetable Specialist and former Small Farms Specialist with Oregon State University Cooperative Extension. Sarah and Nick are both members of the Western Cover Crops Council. This workshop will include comprehensive information on practical equipment considerations for managing cover crops and reducing soil disturbance in annual cropping systems including vegetable and field crop production. Equipment information for cover crop establishment, interseeding, seed size considerations, cover crop termination and incorporation, furrow management, and more will be shared. In addition, the workshop will share practical resources and tools from the Western Cover Crops Council and the University of California Cooperative Extension that farmers can use to manage cover crops and adopt other soil health practices. There is no one-size-fits all for implementing regenerative practices in a Mediterranean climate with diverse cropping systems and short crop rotations. There will be plenty of time for discussion in this workshop and participants are encouraged to bring equipment successes, challenges, concerns, and questions related to regenerative agriculture to the workshop for discussion.
Speakers
NA

Nick Andrews

Oregon State University
Nick is a Professor of Practice in the new OSU Organic Agriculture program. He focuses on ecological and organic vegetable production, cover crops, nutrient management, and pest management. He started at OSU in 2005 serving as the Portland Metro-area Small Farms agent. In 2022 he... Read More →
avatar for Sarah Light

Sarah Light

Agronomy Farm Advisor, Universty of California Cooperative Extension

Wednesday February 26, 2025 8:00am - 9:15am PST
Online
  Farm Production / Practices

9:45am PST

Soil Health In-Field Tests and Lab Analyses: What do they tell us? What are their limitations? How do they compare?
Wednesday February 26, 2025 9:45am - 11:00am PST
Online
There is no one metric that can be used to quantify soil health. Instead, we rely on measurements from an array of indicators to paint a picture of what is going on in the soil. With all of the options available, how do you know which tests to use? Are the results accurate? How do you put those results into context and build strong soil health on your farm? In this workshop, we will explore the various lab analyses and in-field measurements of soil health and talk about their benefits, drawbacks, and usage for farmers and technical assistance providers.
UC Cooperative Extension and UC Sustainable Agriculture Research & Education Program staff will share our experiences with measuring soil health and working to develop an in-field soil health assessment for farmers in Northern California.
Speakers
ML

Margaret Lloyd

Small and Organic Farms Advisor, UC Cooperative Extension
avatar for Lindsey Klein

Lindsey Klein

Small Farms Program Community Education Specialist, UC Cooperative Extension
avatar for Vivian Wauters

Vivian Wauters

UC Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education Program

toshare SoilHealth pdf
Wednesday February 26, 2025 9:45am - 11:00am PST
Online
  Farm Production / Practices

11:30am PST

Apple Orchard Health
Wednesday February 26, 2025 11:30am - 12:45pm PST
Online
This virtual workshop will provide a big-picture overview of key management strategies to promote apple orchard health. We will start with a 30-minute presentation that covers soil, nutrient, and water management and Integrated Pest Management strategies for insect pests and diseases focusing on organic/agroecological approaches. This will include examples and helpful photos of visual symptoms of different issues. At the end of the presentation, I will share a quick poll with the audience to ask them to rank which aspects of orchard health they'd like to hear most about from experienced apple growers. I'll share the results with everyone so we can all see which topics are highest priority. For the remainder of the time, we'll hear from a panel of small-scale commercial apple growers to learn which strategies they use in their orchards to promote orchard health, what works best for them in their context, and why. This will help show attendees what these strategies look like in practice and how strategies can be tailored to different orchard situations. After panelists feel they have covered the attendees' identified priority topics, we'll open it up for Q&A to help attendees explore how to effectively apply these strategies in their own orchards.
Speakers
avatar for Ted Richardson

Ted Richardson

Bella Ridge Farm
ZS

Zea Sonnabend

Fruitilicious Farm
SD

Stan Devoto

Devoto Orchards
DH

Dave Hale

Hale's Apple Farm
EA

Ellie Andrews

Specialty Crops Advisor for Sonoma, Marin, and Napa Counties, UC Cooperative Extension

Wednesday February 26, 2025 11:30am - 12:45pm PST
Online
  Farm Production / Practices

1:15pm PST

Cultivos de cobertura: mejorar la salud del suelo en cada temporada
Wednesday February 26, 2025 1:15pm - 2:30pm PST
Online
Cultivos de cobertura son integrales para la salud del suelo. Existen muchas especies y estrategias de cultivos de cobertura a lo largo de cada temporada. El objetivo de este taller es familiarizarse con las diferentes especies y estrategias de cultivos de cobertura en diferentes estaciones. Un panel de agricultores con experiencia en el uso de diferentes cultivos de cobertura liderará la discusión. El taller comenzará con una breve explicación de los diferentes roles de los cultivos de cobertura y su relación con la salud del suelo, la ecología microbiana y la formación de materia orgánica del suelo. Luego, cada uno de los tres agricultores compartirá sus experiencias con una de las siguientes estrategias de cultivos de cobertura: alforfón como cultivo a corto plazo entre rotaciones en el verano, trébol intercalado en surcos de verduras como brócoli y col rizada, y mostaza intercalada con fresas o verduras en el invierno.

Los tres agricultores panelistas son: Emilia Santos Pérez, propietaria de Alfa y Omega Organic Farm; Guillermo Lázaro, propietario de ALD & Y Organic Farm y Margarita Castro, propietaria de My Organic Farm. El taller será moderado por Daniel Hoffman, especialista en agricultura sostenible del Centro Nacional de Tecnología Apropiada (NCAT). Daniel tiene una M.Sc. en Ciencias de Cultivos y Suelos de la Universidad Estatal de Michigan.
Speakers
ES

Emilia Santos Perez

Alfa y Omega Organic Farm
GL

Guillermo Lazaro

ALD & Y Organic Farm
MC

Margarita Castro Cruz

My Organic Farm
DH

Daniel Hoffman

National Center for Appropriate Technology (NCAT)

Wednesday February 26, 2025 1:15pm - 2:30pm PST
Online
  Español, Español

1:15pm PST

Developing a Business Plan with the AgPlan Online Software
Wednesday February 26, 2025 1:15pm - 2:30pm PST
Online
Wanting to start a farm, but unsure if it’ll be successful? Full of great ideas for your farm, but struggle to implement them? Or maybe just trying to strategize your farm’s future, but don’t know where to start? Writing a business plan can dramatically increase the success of implementing your ideas and goals. The AgPlan online business planning software has multiple templates to help you organize your business into a comprehensive business plan allowing you to highlight your unique operation. Templates include value added, agritourism, commodity, and a short-term operating plan. In this workshop, we will guide you in creating a business plan to incorporate your farm vision into your operation.
Speakers
avatar for Curtis Mahnken

Curtis Mahnken

Economist, Center for Farm Financial Management, University of Minnesota
Curtis Mahnken joined the Center for Farm Financial Management in 2010 as an Extension Economist. Prior to arriving at the center, he spent four years with the University of Kentucky as an Area Extension Specialist in Farm Business Management. While at UK, he authored the 2008 Dairy... Read More →
MB

Mariah Beverly

Center for Farm Financial Management, University of Minnesota
avatar for Katie Wilts Johnson

Katie Wilts Johnson

Extension Economist, Center for Farm Financial Management, University of Minnesota

Wednesday February 26, 2025 1:15pm - 2:30pm PST
Online
  Farm Biz & Management
 
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Chico State University Farm Pavilion - 311 Nicholas C Shouten Ln, Chico, CA 9592
Feeding Crane Farms - Address to be shared with registrants closer to the event
Five Keys’ Ecological Agriculture Training Farm - 4208 California Ave Norco, 928
Green Spiral Farm - 819 Mad River Rd, Arcata, CA
Green Valley Farm + Mill - 13024 Green Valley Rd, Sebastopol, CA 95472
GrowGood Urban Farm - 5600 Rickenbacker Rd, Bell, CA 90201, United States
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United Way Monterey County Center - 232 Monterey Street, Suite 200, Salinas, CA
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