By Scout Nelson
The Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) is excited to announce that registration is now open for the upcoming 2025 Minnesota Organic Conference. This annual event highlights the best practices in organic agriculture and will be held on January 9 and 10, 2025, at the River’s Edge Convention Center in St. Cloud.
The conference offers a fantastic opportunity for attendees to learn from expert speakers and participate in over 30 informative breakout sessions focused on various aspects of organic farming.
Key topics will include organic crop production, livestock and dairy management, marketing, and sustainable business practices. Moreover, an 80-booth trade show will showcase products and services relevant to the organic community.
Among the distinguished keynote speakers is Tom Cotter, a seasoned farmer and advocate for soil health. Cotter has significantly advanced his farming practices by planting cover crops since 1998, resulting in one-third of his farmland being transitioned to organic cash crops and grass-fed beef production. He is a recent finalist for the Minnesota Leopold Conservation Award, which honors exceptional land stewardship.
Joining Cotter are Mark Schiller and Simeon Rossi, the innovative minds behind Loon Liquor Company, an organic microdistillery in Northfield, Minnesota. Their commitment to using local, organic ingredients has earned them accolades, including the Food, Ag, and Beverage Division win at the 2024 MN Cup startup competition.
Participants can take advantage of early-bird pricing by registering before December 2. Various registration options, including two-day, one-day, and student rates, are available, with full details on pricing accessible via the Minnesota Organic Conference webpage.
For more details, visit the Minnesota Department of Agriculture’s official website.
Photo Credit: minnesota-department-of-agriculture
Categories: Minnesota, Business, Crops, Livestock, Dairy Cattle