This webinar will focus on the integration of cover crops and roller crimper systems for no-till vegetable farming, with a special emphasis on pumpkin cultivation. Learn how these practices reduce soil erosion, enhance soil health, and suppress weeds while supporting productive yields. Featuring insights from field studies along California’s southern coast, this session will showcase practical solutions for improving sustainability in irrigated pumpkin production, offering valuable strategies for farmers, researchers, and agricultural practitioners alike.

Are wild animals eating your produce before your customers get a chance? Join us to discuss methods of wildlife exclusion and co-management in your produce fields. Each workshop will include hands-on demonstrations of fencing, decoys, and other deterrents. Learn from the experts, including Dr. Annette Wszelaki (vegetable specialist), Dr. Chris Graves (wildlife specialist), Dr. Dave Lockwood (fruit and nut specialist), and Brooke Emery (produce safety assistant). Workshops will last roughly 2 hours and include lunch! We look forward to seeing you soon on a farm near you!

This webinar series is an opportunity for small businesses working in regional grain value chains to learn successful strategies for working with local grains. You’ll get to hear from leading bakers, millers, and industry professionals about topics ranging from how grain testing can support your business, practical insights about gradually incorporating local grains and making good bread accessible to your consumers, and effective storytelling and marketing strategies from successful regional grain businesses.

We can’t predict exactly what the future will look like, nor can we prepare ourselves perfectly for it. This is true of everything and especially for our future experiences with food. As Forum for the Future notes, “we can shape the future, and the best way to start is by imagining the future we want to see.”

Join us on TSU’s certified organic farm for a demonstration on how to implement climate-smart agricultural practices for organic grain production. The demonstration will include cover crops, organic grain production and climate-smart agricultural practices. Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) will be represented alongside TSU for this half day educational event.

Join us for a webinar with NCAT Sustainable Agriculture Specialist Audrey Kolde on using integrated pest management to manage pests on organic crops in the South. These science-backed practices empower farmers to cultivate robust, thriving plants while effectively managing pest infestations.

This workshop will help growers and homeowners evaluate if orchard production is feasible as the title says, plan before you plant! Join us on June 7th, 2024, from 12:00 – 2:00 pm at Mt. Carmel 5050 Pickering Rd, Clarksville, TN 37043

The Cumberland River Compact’s latest agricultural education series, the River Friendly Farms Grazing School, sprung from a desire to help local livestock farmers improve their land– and their economic outcomes– while protecting sensitive water resources. The Compact will host one-day Grazing School workshops in the spring and fall starting in May of 2024 to teach farmers how to implement managed grazing systems on their farms.

Come join us for the Southeastern Grain Gathering, a lively event celebrating the wonderful world of grains! This in-person gathering will take place at Fasig-Tipton, located on Newtown Pike in beautiful Lexington, KY.

Join us during the third session of Seeds of Success where OFA will explore Crop Insurance for Organic Farmers: What’s Working, What’s Not, and How We Can Make it Work for Us on April 16, 2024, at 2PM ET. The Organic Farming Research Foundation (OFRF), is partnering with the Organic Farmers Association (OFA), and National Organic Coalition (NOC) to host the Seeds of Success series of virtual farmer-to-farmer networking sessions.

During this workshop, twin brothers, Obiora and Irucka Ajani, will discuss the diverse ways to improve soil health (and therefore plant health), and ultimately your health & drop knowledge on seeds. As engineers by training, they bring technical and scientific knowledge, along with Nature observations & an innate desire to help others re‐think how food is grown.

From Seed to Table: Strategies for a Healthier You

The Elevate your Farm Brand workshop will delve deep into the fundamentals of successful branding. Participants will gain valuable insights into: Developing a compelling brand narrative; Identifying and capturing your niche; Crafting a memorable brand identity; and Creating effective communication and marketing strategies

This is a great way to get your TAEP educational requirements fulfilled in one fell swoop! The PSA Grower Training satisfies part of the TAEP educational requirement for the Fruit and Vegetable Sector, as does the Pick TN Conference.

Time to celebrate 11 years of small to mid-size farming in Middle TN with this year's gathering on February 5, Monday, from 9:00-12:30. This marks the first year that the TN Local Food Summit will be the host. The TLFS is a 501c3 with a governing board and broad financial support whose goal is to Support, Educate and Connect a sustainable Mid-TN food system - matching the function the Mid-TN Growers has served.

Demystifying the National Organic Standards Board - What it is, How it Works, and How it Impacts Your Farm. We are excited to announce that we have three fantastic farmer presenters who will be leading this webinar: Steve Ela, Former NOSB Chair, NOC NOSB Specialist, Organic Producer at Ela Family Farms, Harriet Behar, Former NOSB Chair, NOC Advisor, OFA Farmer Services Consultant, and Organic Producer at Sweet Springs Farm, Amy Bruch, Current NOSB Vice Chair and Organic Producer at Cyclone Farms

The Pruning Field Day is scheduled for January 26, 2024 from 9:30 AM - 3:00 PM. We will start at the Beachaven Vineyards at 1100 Dunlop Lane, Clarksville, TN, and have lunch at Mt Carmel UMC at 5050 Pickering Rd. After lunch will go over to Head's Peach Co., on Mt Carmel Rd. This class will cover the do's and don'ts of pruning as well as why we do certain things during pruning.

Register now for this educational program to teach farmers with value-added enterprises how to develop a strong application for the USDA Value-Added Producer Grant (VAPG). Attendance at one of the three workshop sessions will fulfill a Tennessee Agricultural Enhancement Program (TAEP) special requirement in the Value-Added Producer Diversification sector.

Join Edible Nashville for a screening of a new thought-provoking movie, Feeding Tomorrow, on Monday, January 22, 6pm-9pm at The Blue Room. Drinks and music start at 6. Movie at 7. A Panel of thought leaders at 8:15.

The cohort learning exchange will intersperse learning sessions with planning and practice. At the end of the learning exchange, your team will have actionable next steps for your journey for equity and racial justice in your work, and strong relationships with several other organizations working on their own next steps.

Starting January 13, 2024, New Farmer Academy and Small Farms present a course, Implementing Risk Management and Marketing Plans. In this workshop for growers, participants will attend ALL workshops: Two In-person and Ten Virtual Webinars. Space is limited, thus Pre-registration is encouraged. There is no cost to attend. Tuition and books are free. Travel cost reimbursed at $0.655/mile, with a maximum of $60 per person, workshop attended.

Save the Date: January 12th, 2024, UT/TSU Extension Montgomery County will host a workshop for producers considering transitioning to organic production.

On January 9, 2024, We are excited to introduce a new business-intensive course under the River Friendly Farms umbrella: “Terra Firma: A Six-Session Course to Build Your Farm Business on Solid Ground.” With this new course, the Cumberland River Compact demonstrates a commitment to helping our region’s farmers succeed not only in their conservation initiatives but also in their business goals.

CETAgLaunch, the Knoxville Entrepreneur Center (KEC), and other partners throughout the region are hosting a Value Ag Virtual Bootcamp in January and February 2024. A few more spots are available before the cohort starts on January 8th. We are seeking to reach farms and value-added ag enterprises throughout the Southern Appalachian region (KY, TN, VA, NC, SC, AL, and GA). Registration closes when the class reaches capacity or by Sun., Jan. 7th, whichever comes first.

Are you interested in starting an organic farm, or transitioning to become certified organic? Join us for this webinar where we will cover the basics of organic regulations for horticulture crops. NCAT Sustainable Agriculture Specialist Ann Baier will be leading this webinar. Questions? Contact Felicia Bell at feliciab@ncat.org.

Register now for this educational program geared towards farmers and beverage producers, to be held on Monday, January 8th in Murfreesboro, TN. The goal of the third annual Tennessee Farm & Ferment is to bring brewers, distillers, winemakers, farmers, and industry partners together for a day of learning and networking.