GREEN LANDS BLUE WATERS conference: Conservation-Based Farming (Nov. 29-30, Columbia, Missouri)

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Debbie Hillman

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Nov 10, 2016, 9:58:20 AM11/10/16
to Advocates for Urban Agriculture, IllinoisL...@yahoogroups.com, IllinoisFar...@googlegroups.com, Lisa Griffith, Shannon, Alan - Fns, li...@wfan.org, go...@missouri.edu
To:
Advocates for Urban Agriculture  (Greater Chicago)
Illinois Local Food and Farms Coalition  (statewide coalition formed in 2007)
Illinois Farmers Market Association  (serving 300+ markets)
GoodGreens - USDA FNS Midwest Office - serving IL, IN, OH, MI, MN, WI  (Alan Shannon - Public Affairs Director)
Women, Food, and Agriculture Network (WFAN - based in Ames, Iowa)
Lisa Griffith - Outreach Coordinator, National Family Farm Coalition
cc:  Michael Gold, conference contact


Sometimes local people are the last ones to hear about what’s going on in our own backyard.  But maybe I missed a local posting of this Midwestern conference.  Thanks to Mary Hendrickson and Hannah Hemmelgarn for posting it on COMFOOD.

GREEN LANDS BLUE WATERS.  Here’s an interesting consortium of Mississippi River watershed partners (including Illinois partners) who are looking for market-based ways to transition to “conservation-based” farming.  I had never heard of Green Lands Blue Waters, but I think it’s a partnership worth keeping an eye on.  Here’s some basic information that I think Illinois and other Midwestern food-and-farm advocates would like to know — about the conference and about the organization.

1.  2016 CONFERENCE.  Attached is the Media release about the conference.  The conference’s title is:  “Going Green with Conservation-Based Farming: Market-Based Approaches to Promote Soil Health and Water Quality”

2.  PAST CONFERENCES:  This is not the first conference sponsored by Green Lands Blue Waters (GLBW).  Based on a quick look at the website, they have held regular conferences since 2012 and numerous other events.  The 2014 conference was held in Decatur, IL (Perennial Biomass Crops for Multiple Benefits).

3.  PARTNERS listed on GLBW’s website
a.  ILLINOIS  
University of Illinois
Agricultural Watershed Institute
Illinois Stewardship Alliance

b.  OTHER   
— Other states represented are:  Iowa, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Louisiana
— 7 national organizations are listed, such as IATP,  Audubon, etc.

4.  The MAIN OFFICE is in St. Paul at University of Minnesota.

5.  GLBW BUDGET
There is no budget listed on the GLBW website even though it appears as if they get funds from a number of land grant universities.  A good research project for someone — especially as it might compare to the $$ spent on NON-conservation farming by land grant universities?

6.  CONTINUOUS LIVING COVER (CLC) — AKA permaculture ??
The umbrella term that GLBW seems to be using for its work is “continuous living cover”.   I thought that this sounds remarkably like “permaculture” (as well as “diversified" farms or “whole" farms), so I contacted the conference coordinator (Michael Gold) about this term.  Here are the three questions I asked:
— Can you tell me when the CLC term was coined, by whom, etc., and how it differs from permaculture (if at all)?   
— Is it officially recognized by the USDA or some other granting agency?   
— Is there a certification attached to creating a CLC on a given property? 

Michael called me back immediately and we had a great chat.  CLC does not seem to be an official term of any kind.  Michael pointed out that CLC could be applied to large acreage (e.g., 1,000 acres), but we did not have time for a technical discussion on the differences between permaculture and CLC (if there are any).  I am copying Michael on this email in case anyone wants more information about the conference or GLBW.

7.  COMMUNITY-BASED AGRICULTURE (urban, suburban, rural)
Presumably, the techniques that GLBW is studying and advocating are applicable to non-profit farms, which is a growing sector (at least in urban and suburban areas and, I believe, in rural areas).   I am not sure if this conference will address the differences between non-profit and for-profit farms in terms of “market-based approaches" to conservation farming.   Many non-profit farms are certainly looking to capture good market prices and reduce inputs (in order to reduce fund-raising needs).  If anyone on these listservs is able to attend this conference, I hope you’ll report back on this issue (or any other items of interest from the conference).


To Michael:  As you can see, I am sending this announcement to the 3 major listservs serving the food-and-farm coalition in Illinois, as well as 2 other Midwest networks — WFAN and GoodGreens.   GoodGreens is a networking group facilitated by the USDA FNS (Midwest office in downtown Chicago).  If GLBW wanted to make a presentation at one of the monthly GoodGreens meetings, I am sure you would be welcome.  It is open to anyone.  

I am also copying Lisa Griffith (National Family Farm Coalition) who I believe is still based in Columbia, MO.  I don’t know whether the NFFC is working with GLBW, but there does seem to be some potential for common activities.   


— Debbie






Begin forwarded message:

From: "Hendrickson, Mary K." <Hendri...@missouri.edu>
Subject: [COMFOOD: ] Columbia Missouri to Host Green Lands Blue Waters Conference on Conservation-Based Farming
Date: November 1, 2016 at 9:22:11 AM CDT
Reply-To: "Hendrickson, Mary K." <Hendri...@missouri.edu>

FYI – Some of you might be interested in this although it is more of a farm conference than farm and food. Mary
From: Jackson, Logan B. 
Sent: Friday, October 28, 2016 10:15 AM
Subject: Media Release: Missouri to Host Green Lands Blue Waters Conference on Conservation-Based Farming
 
MEDIA RELEASE – October 28, 2016
 
Market-Based Approaches to Promote Soil Health and Water Quality: Missouri to Host Green Lands Blue Waters Conference on Conservation-Based Farming
 
Green Lands Blue Waters is a regional organization using continuous living cover farming systems, including winter cover crops, deep-rooted perennial crops, pastures and agroforestry, to secure our agricultural and ecological future with productive and verdant farms. The 2016 conference brings a market-based focus to complement innovative, science-based approaches to conservation of soil and water quality.
 
GLBW hosts an annual conference focused on bringing together landowners, extension agents, researchers and several others to share best practices and tools to increase continuous living cover on the ever-changing Midwestern agricultural landscapes.
 
The GLBW conference will head to Missouri for the first time this year and will be hosted by the University of Missouri Center for Agroforestry. The conference will take place Tuesday, Nov. 29, and Wednesday, Nov. 30.
 
The theme of this year’s conference is, “Going Green with Conservation-Based Farming: Market-Based Approaches to Promote Soil Health and Water Quality.”
 
“The reason we chose this theme is because GLBW members realize that farmers need to know not only if alternative annual and perennial crops can grow well, but also if there is a market for them,” said Michael Gold, associate director of the Center. “If landowners are going to buy into certain ideas, they want to know if it will be profitable and good for the environment.”
 
The cost for the entire conference is $180. The cost for just the first day (Nov. 29) is $130. The cost for just the second day (Nov. 30) is $70. Registration can be found online and is currently open. 
 
The conference will take place in Memorial Union on the MU campus. The main presentations will take place in Stotler Lounge, with several breakout sessions taking place across Memorial Union. Those sessions include discussions on agroforestry, perennial biomass, cover crops, perennial forage and pastures, and perennial grains. 
 
“Those sessions will be very specific to the topics and will feature some great information,” Gold said.
 
Speakers include Bill Buckner, President and CEO, Samuel Roberts Noble Foundation; John Hendrickson, UW-Madison Center for Integrated Agricultural Systems; and Lauren Cartwright, Missouri NRCS Agricultural Economist, among others. Bucker will serve as the opening keynote speaker and will talk about the importance of investing in soil health and conservation. Sean McMahon, Executive Director, Iowa Agriculture Water Alliance, will give the closing keynote on public-private partnerships to improve water quality.
 
“We have so many engaging speakers lined up,” Gold said. “It’s going to be a fantastic conference. Attendees will not be disappointed by the wide range of topics covered and depth of information, as well as the many opportunities for discussion and networking with peers.”
 
Gold added that there are sponsorship opportunities open as well. A $400 sponsorship includes free registration for one person, a booth that includes a place for a poster, and the sponsors logo or name will appear on all of the materials.
 
For more information about the conference, contact Gold at Go...@missouri.edu or Caroline Todd at Tod...@missouri.edu. Lodgingopportunities are also available.
 
Quick links:
 
Media Support: 
Logan Jackson
Agricultural Research Center News Strategist
College of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources
University of Missouri




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