PFI Annual Conference
2024-01-19 - 2024-01-20 | Iowa Events Center, Des Moines, Iowa
Albert Lea is happy to be sponsoring the PFI Annual Conference at the B Level.
Since PFI’s founding, the annual conference has been a keystone event for sharing knowledge, building connections and celebrating agriculture in Iowa (and good food!). As their conference grows to over 1,000 attendees, they are pleased to offer 60+ sessions on a wide variety of agricultural topics, 90+ exhibitors, locally sourced meals and a spirit of curiosity and community. We hope to see you there!
***NEW 2024 LOCATION: Iowa Events Center in Des Moines***

NOFA-NY 42nd Annual Winter Conference.
2024-01-20 - 2024-01-21 | Marriott Syracuse Downtown, Syracuse, NY
Albert Lea Seed is an advertising sponsor for the NOFA-NY Annual Winter Conference.

Driftless Region Beef Conference
2024-01-25 | Grand River Center, 500 Bell Street, Dubuque, IA
Albert Lea Seed House is pleased to be a $500 Break Level Sponsor of this event.
Providing research-based beef production information to beef producers in the Driftless Region of Illinois, Iowa, Minnesota and Wisconsin.
Extension specialists in Illinois, Iowa and Wisconsin are again cooperating to present the 12th annual Driftless Region Beef Conference at the Grand River Convention Center in Dubuque, Iowa on January 25 and 26, 2024. This conference brings together beef producers for an educational program that focuses on the needs of this production region. Select from 8 different workshop topics to develop a customized program. Visit with the many conference sponsors in the display area and learn about products and services they offer. Visit with fellow beef producers from the region. This is an informative and enjoyable event you won’t want to miss.

Northern Plains Food & Family Conference
2024-01-25 - 2024-01-27 | Best Western Plus Ramkota Hotel, 1400 8th Ave NW, Aberdeen, SD, United States
Albert Lea Seed is a Blue Ribbon sponsor for this event!
The theme of this event is, “WE RESTORE IN ’24”
The keynote speakers are:
Doug and Anna Crabtree – Owners of Vilicus Farms, a nationally recognized first generation, organic, dryland crop farm in Northern Hill County, Montana.
Nate Powell-Palm – Another first-generation farming who started his farm at the age of 12, got certified as organic in high school and grew from 40 acres to over 1500 today near Bozeman, MT.
Gary Zimmer – Is the owner of Otter Creek Organic Farm and the founder of Midwestern BioAg. He is known as the “father” of biological agriculture from Lone Rock, WI.
Registration opens October 15, 2024. Rooms can be booked at the Ramkota Inn, Aberdeen, SD under the NPSAS block of rooms.

Iowa Ag Expo
2024-01-30 - 2024-02-01 | Iowa Events Center, Des Moines, Iowa
Albert Lee Seed will be at the Iowa Ag Expo! Comes visit our booth.
BIGGER AND BETTER THAN EVER BEFORE.
The Iowa Ag Expo will inspire you with the biggest names and newest innovations in agriculture. With more than 700 exhibitors spanning 7.25 acres, the Iowa Ag Expo is the third largest indoor ag show in the country—and it’s right in your backyard!
While you’re here, check out the series of education presentations called AgTalks in the Convention Center Rooms 301 and 311 for a deep dive into specific ag topics.

GrassWorks Grazing Conference
2024-02-01 - 2024-02-03 | Chula Vista Resort, Wisconsin Dells, WI, United States
Albert Lea Seed is happy to support the GrassWorks Grazing Conference with a sponsorship.
The GrassWorks Annual Grazing Conference features knowledgeable and inspiring speakers, networking opportunities, delicious meals featuring grass-fed and regenerative foods, and more. This conference is a must for both beginning and experienced graziers.

OGRAIN Winter Conference
2024-02-02 - 2024-02-03 | Monona Terrace, 1 John Nolen Dr., Madison, Wisconsin
Albert Lea Seed is a proud Wheat Level sponsor of the OGRAIN Winter Conference!
The Annual OGRAIN Conference is an opportunity to learn from local organic grain growers, hear about the latest research, and connect with other organic, transitioning-to-organic, or inquisitive-about-organic grain growers and end-users. Register today for February 2-3, 2024 in Madison, WI!

Northern Indiana Grazing Conference
2024-02-02 - 2024-02-03 | Michiana Event Center, Shipshewana, ID
Albert Lea will has a booth at the Northern Indiana Grazing Conference. Our Dealer, Freeman Fry with Noble Natural will be in attendance!

Organic Grain Conference & Trade Show
2024-02-07 - 2024-02-08 | I Hotel & Conference Center, Champaign, IL
Albert Lea is pleased to sponsor this event at the $950 Cultivator Level!
Opportunities in Organics
Shifting markets… Changing consumer preferences… Increased input prices… Unpredictable weather… What’s next?
Every hurdle encountered offers an opportunity. Join us as we explore challenges and opportunities across the organic grain value chain.
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 7, 2024
Day 1 of the conference will feature presentation sessions, roundtable discussions, a half day trade show, and will close with a mixer at Rigg’s Beer Company.
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 8, 2024
Day 2 of the conference will feature an opening plenary, presentation sessions, roundtable discussions, a keynote address, and a full day trade show. Day 2 will include a light breakfast, full lunch, and refreshments throughout the day.

Southern Iowa Grazing Conference
2024-02-16 - 2024-02-17 | Quality Truss & Design, 17850 Hwy 2, Bloomfield, IA
Albert Lea Seed is exhibiting at the Southern Iowa Grazing Conference. Stop by our booth and say “Hi” to Scott Ausborn!
Schedule:
Friday, 2/16
6:00 pm Trade Show
6:30 pm Human Health (2 speakers)
Saturday, 2/17
8:00 am Introduction
8:15 am Building Health Soils with Planned Grazing, Greg Judy
9:30 am Break with exhibitors
10:00 am Animal Performance with Daily Moves, Greg Judy
11:30 am Lunch provided
12:45 pm Breakouts: Whether Organic, Sustainable or Regenerative, Embrace Grass, Greg Palen and Beekeeping, Wayne Scott
1:45 pm Break with exhibitors
2:00 pm Breakouts: Shedding Conventional Dairy Concepts in Grass Dairying, Greg Palen and Finding Your Field of Diamonds, Dan Dietrich
3:00 pm Multispecies Grazing Trips with Sheep and Cattle, Greg Judy
4:00 pm Concludes

MFA Symposium
2024-02-19 - 2024-02-21 | Chula Vista Resort, Wisconsin Dells, WI, United States
Albert Lea Seed is exhibiting at the MFA Symposium.

Marbleseed
2024-02-22 - 2024-02-24 | LaCrosse Center, LaCrosse, WI, United States
Albert Lea Seed is a Geranium Sponsor!
Join us in La Crosse, WI, for the annual Marbleseed (formerly MOSES) Organic Farming Conference. Whether you’ve been farming organically for years or are just considering the switch, you’ll learn the latest in regenerative and organic farming practices with a community of farmers dedicated to land stewardship. Join us for our 35th Organic Farming Conference, February 22-24, 2024.

Soil Health Winter Workshop
2024-02-22 | Torey’s Resturant, 208 N Cedar Ave., Owatonna, MN
Albert Lea Seed is a sponsor of Freeborn Soil Health Team and will be exhibiting at this event!
This year the Owatonna event is focusing on “Maximizing Profitability with Carbon, Small Grains, Manure, and More.” Speakers will include Carolyn King, Martin Larsen, and a Manure Panel. Carolyn is the director of operations for Continuum Ag, a soil health data intelligence company and will be speaking on the carbon intensity score and the benefits it can have for producers. Martin Larsen is a small grains farmer from the Byron, MN area and will be sharing his experience with implementing small grains, building carbon related to soil health. Then the manure panel will be a variety of producers that use manure applications in their soil health systems.
The event will run from 8:30 am – 2:30 pm. Lunch will be provided, and the event is FREE. Please RSVP to reserve your seat and meal for the event by emailing Lindsey.Zeitler@mn.nacdnet.net, or by calling Lindsey at 507-320-3728. If you would like more information on this event or the Hwy-14 soil health tour, reach out to your local SWCD.

Midwest Covers and Grains Conference
2024-03-04 | Mayo Clinic Health System Event Center, 1 Civic Center Plaza, Mankato, Minnesota
Albert Lea Seed is a Panicle Sponsor!
The Midwest Covers and Grains Conference is an opportunity to connect with others curious to learn more about the benefits of small grains in rotation. The schedule includes two plenary sessions, afternoon breakouts and ample time for networking with farmers, industry representatives and exhibitors. Plus, enjoy conference meals and snacks sourced from PFI members and local businesses!

PDPW Business Conference
2024-03-13 - 2024-03-14 | Kalahari Resort & Convention Center, 1305 Kalahari Drive, Wisconsin Dells, Wisconsin
Albert Lea Seed will be exhibiting at the PDPW Business Conference. Stop by our booth and talk to our agronomist!
PDPW brings together thousands of dairy farmers and agribusiness people from around the globe. This is dairy’s go-to educational event. With 70 percent of attendees representing dairy farm owners and managers, you are exposed to the movers and shakers in dairying. Who else attends? Food companies, marketers, distributors and other food system professionals that rely on the continuous improvement and viability of a strong dairy sector.

SFA Midwest Soil Health Summit
2024-03-13 - 2024-03-14 | Courtyard Marriott Mankato, 901 Raintree Road, Mankato, MN, 56001, United States
Albert Lee Seed is a SEED Sponsor!
This SFA’s biggest soil health event of the year, drawing together local and national experts in the field with attendees for discussion, networking, and education. Farmers, ag resource professionals, agency staff, hungry learners and more – all are welcome to attend and learn together.

Organic Week in Washington DC
2024-05-14 - 2024-05-16 | Park Hyatt Washington D.C., 1201 24th Street, NW, Washington, District of Columbia, 20037
Our own Brett Bell, President and CEO and Mac Ehrhardt, Owner and Board Chairman, will be in attendance at the Organic Trade Association’s Organic Week in Washington, DC.
This is a critical time for the organic sector. The Organic Trade Association’s Organic Week in Washington, D.C., May 14-16, 2024 is all about moving organic forward. Join us for 72-hours in the nation’s capital to work on solutions for the complex issues surrounding organic food and farming. We will focus on continuous improvement in organic, celebrate organic leaders, and work together to advance organic policy priorities.
Organic Week is a place of discovery, collaboration, and advocacy for farmers to retailers and everyone in between looking to help shape decisions that impact organic.

OGRAIN Meadowlark Organic Farm and Mill Field Day
2024-05-24 08:00 - 17:00 (America/Chicago) | Meadowlark Organic Farm and Mill, 3630 Ridgevue Road, Ridgeway, WI
Join OGRAIN for a look at organic food-grade grain production and all sorts of related topics at Meadowlark Organic Farm and Mill

PFI Field Day: Dairy Grazing, Silvopasture, and Compost
2024-06-07 | Paullina, IA
Albert Lea Seed is a Level B Sponsor for PFI Field Days! We will be exhibiting at this event and can’t wait to see you.
Whether you’re new to PFI field days or a yearly attendee, you’ll find a welcoming atmosphere, a spirit of curiosity, a culture of mutual respect and farmers openly sharing their knowledge and experience. PFI’s events are led by our farmer members – they know they are the experts on their specific farming systems.
All PFI field days are free for anyone to attend; membership in PFI is not required or expected. PFI will release the 2024 field day schedule to their newsletter subscribers first. Sign up for Practical News so you don’t miss the announcement!

PFI Field Day - Grazing 'round the Farm
2024-06-14 | Knoxville, IA
Albert Lea Seed is a B Level Sponsor for PFI Field Days! We will be exhibiting at this event and can’t wait to see you.
Whether you’re new to PFI field days or a yearly attendee, you’ll find a welcoming atmosphere, a spirit of curiosity, a culture of mutual respect and farmers openly sharing their knowledge and experience. PFI’s events are led by our farmer members – they know they are the experts on their specific farming systems.
All PFI field days are free for anyone to attend; membership in PFI is not required or expected. PFI will release the 2024 field day schedule to their newsletter subscribers first. Sign up for Practical News so you don’t miss the announcement!

PFI Field Day - DisCover Crops: Exploring Cover Crop Impact on Soil Health and Nutrient Load
2024-06-20 | Garnvillo, IA

PFI Field Day Farming Outside the Box: A Fresh Approach to Diversification on a Nebraska Farm
2024-06-27 | 868th Road between 550th Avenue and 551st Avenue.
Junior Pfanstiel and his family farm near McLean, Nebraska, raising corn, soybeans, small grains, grain sorghum, buckwheat, forage peas and pinto beans on 270 acres that they are transitioning to a regenerative organic system. Junior started down the regenerative path when nitrogen costs were over a dollar per pound, and he decided to grow his own nitrogen by planting legume cover crops.
As he reduced his chemical inputs, Junior decided he should be striving for the organic premium and started transitioning acres to organic. At this field day, Junior will showcase his trial testing the performance of corn hybrids after roller-crimping a legume cover crop mix. He’ll also highlight his food-grade white grain sorghum and discuss his journey transitioning to organic, reducing inputs and growing his own nitrogen.

OGRAIN Field Day: Meadowlark Organics Farm and Mill Field Day
2024-06-28 | Meadowlark Organic Farm and Mill, 3630 Ridgevue Road, Ridgeway, WI
Join us for a look at organic food-grade grain production and all sorts of related topics at Meadowlark Organics Farm and Mill.

IOA Field Day: Getting Started: Equipment used in Organic Production
2024-07-09 | A&W Farm Operations, 29630 600th Ave, Cambridge, IA
Join us at A&W Farm Operations in Cambridge for a free field day on Tuesday, July 9th at 9:30 a.m. to explore equipment needed for organic row crop production.
Noah Wendt will discuss their farm history and the various crops they produce in their organic rotation and share about (and possibly demo) the equipment used to manage tillage, planting, weeds, and more in their organic operation. You will also hear how Noah and Caleb Akin have refined and upgraded their equipment as their needs change and as they have learned what works best on their farm.
Whether you’re just starting out in the world of organic agriculture, or a seasoned organic farmer looking to upgrade your equipment, this event will be a great opportunity to learn about the tools of the trade from A&W Farm Operations and from other participants attending this field day.

Rodale Institute Midwest Organic Center Field Day
2024-07-09 09:00 - 15:00 | Midwest Organic Center, 3706 St. Peters Road, Marion, IA, 52302
Albert Lea Seed is a sponsor of the Midwest Organic Center Field Day.
Participants will have the opportunity to interact one-on-one with Rodale Institute’s Midwest Organic Center staff and team of Organic Consultants, and learn about our research and demonstration projects focused on organic agriculture and tailored for farmers in the Midwest. This event is ideal for researchers, students, educators and all farmers, whether you are interested in learning more about organic farming, have an interest in consulting services to transition to organic, or are currently a Midwest organic farmer. Attendance is free, but registration is required. Food trucks will be available to purchase lunch during the event.

Online registration for this event has been closed. Please contact Drew.Erickson@rodaleinstitute.org with any questions.

Winter Grains and Cover Crop Virtual Conference
2024-07-11 09:00 - 15:30 | WI
Join us for our Winter Grains and Cover Crop Virtual Conference on July 11 from 9:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Central.

Hear from sustainable and diversified agriculture experts like Wade Dooley and James Huenefeld. Get a closer look at the inventive strategies of driftless area farmer John Webking. Explore the potential of winter camelina for cover cropping and forage with Jose Franco. Plus discover the key to using cover crops in a corn and soybean rotation. And don’t miss the chance to dive into carbon intensity scoring and soil health with Brad McDonald.

We’re excited to bring together this collection of transformative minds. Stop by to soak up the friendly advice and practical knowledge. There is no registration fee!
AGENDA
9:00 – 9:20 a.m.
Basics of Hard Red Winter Wheat Production
Margaret Smith, Ph.D., Forage Agronomist, Albert Lea Seed
Mac Ehrhardt, Chairman, Albert Lea Seed

9:20-10:00 a.m.
How Organic Winter Wheat Fits our Organic System
James Huenefeld, 5th Generation Farmer, Aurora, Nebraska

10:00-10:40 a.m.
Growing Specialty Winter Grains: Ancient/Heritage Varieties
(Einkorn, Emmer, Turkey Red: Production and Handling)
John Wepking, Meadowlark Organics, Ridgeway, Wisconsin
5 minute break

10:45 a.m.-12:00 p.m.
Successful Cover Cropping with Winter Grains: Seeding Into or After Grain Harvest
Wade Dooley, Dooley Ag Stewardship, Albion, Iowa
Heather Darby, Ph.D., University of Vermont Ext. Professor, Agronomy
30 minute break for lunch

12:30-1:30 p.m.
Winter Camelina for Diversified Winter Cover Crop Systems
Dr. José Franco, Research Agronomist, USDA, U.S. Dairy Forage Research Center, Madison, Wisconsin

1:30-2:30 p.m.
Cover Cropping in the Eastern Cornbelt
Lou Kozma, Hirzel Farms, Luckey, Ohio
5 minute break

2:35-3:35 p.m.
Carbon Intensity Certification: Why Farmers Should Care
Brad McDonald, COO, Continuum Ag, Washington, Iowa

OEFFA Field Day: Grazing Innovations Pasture Walk
2024-07-13 | Bair-Trax Farm, 2148 S. Childrens Home Rd, Troy, OH
This third-generation dairy farm is striving to grow healthy foods through healthy soils. The pasture walk will focus on successful innovations the Bairs have developed over the years. Attendees will see these techniques up close, ask questions, and discuss as we walk the pastures. Hear relevant information for both experienced grazers and beginning farmers.

Family Farm Field Day
2024-07-19 08:00 - 2024-07-20 17:00 | Andrew Coblentz Farm, 4991 TR 419, Sugarcreek, OH, 44681
JDS is sponsoring this field day at Andrew Coblentz Farm. Be sure to stop by and chat with John Daniel!

Midwest Forage Association Southeast Minnesota Forage Field Day & Dairy Tour
2024-07-24 09:45 - 12:00 | Gar-Lin Dairy Farms, 4421 130th Ave SE, Eyota, Minnesota
Join Albert Lea’s Lacey Nelson on Wed., July 24! We are a sponsor of this field day and look forward to seeing you there.

IOA Field Day: Organic Field Equipment & Technology Demonstration
2024-07-26 | Seven W Farms, 4375 Pierce Ave, Paulina, IA
Jaron and Liz Wilson of Seven W Farm will share how they integrate technology on their multi-generational organic farm. Jaron will give an overview of the Ag Open GPS software that he uses along with a Guidance Hitch in his planting and cultivation. He will show how he uses precision ag tools to save money and influence results in the field! The Wilson family will also discuss how they work together as the each manage different aspects of the farm business.
