para español haga clic aquí
THANKS FOR JOINING US!
This year’s conference featured over 50 different online workshops, forums and videos for the California small farm and local food community as well as ten in-person gatherings around the state. Thanks to everyone who helped make this event possible. Check out the recordings from this year’s conference on CAFF’s YouTube channel. If you’re interested in getting involved with the 2023 conference, contact us here or apply to join the Conference Steering Committee here.
SCHEDULE
Click on any workshop below for more details
VERDE (GREEN) = La Sección en Español (Spanish Language Track)
Scroll below for the Farmers Market Track & other special events
SUNDAY FEBRUARY 27 | MONDAY FEBRUARY 28 | TUESDAY MARCH 1 | WEDNESDAY MARCH 2 | |||||
9 AM | ||||||||
10:30 AM | ||||||||
NOON | ||||||||
1:30 PM | ||||||||
2:30 PM | ||||||||
4 PM | ||||||||
FARMERS MARKET TRACK
To attend the Farmers Market track, make sure you’ve registered for the conference, which will give you full access with a password. Then simply click on the workshops in the schedule below. Entry to all Farmers Market programming is included with conference registration, except for the Market Manager Day of Learning, which costs an additional $10.
MONDAY FEBRUARY 28 | TUESDAY MARCH 1 | WEDNESDAY MARCH 2 | |
9 AM | |||
10:30 AM | |||
NOON | |||
1:30 PM |
SPECIAL EVENTS
TUESDAY, MARCH 1, 5:30 PM
THE FARM BILL IS COMING!
¡EL PROYECTO DE LEY AGRÍCOLA SE ACERCA!
Organizing for Equity, Land & Climate (Bilingual)
Organizar para la equidad, la tierra y el clima (bilingüe)
para español haga clic aquí
Every five years, we have the chance to influence the Farm Bill, the nation’s largest piece of legislation that shapes everything from beginning farmer training programs to land access to support for sustainable farming practices. The Farm Bill will be updated in 2023 and will invest BILLIONS of dollars into such programs. But to make sure that this important bill prioritizes small and under-resourced farmers and ranchers, racial justice and equity, and the natural ecosystems we depend on, we must organize! In this session, get an overview of the Farm Bill with a specific focus on land access issues, climate change, and socially disadvantaged farmers and ranchers. Then, we want to hear from you – California farmers and ranchers – about your challenges, potential solutions and top priorities. Your input will help shape our Farm Bill advocacy efforts in 2022 and beyond.
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 2, 5:30 PM
AWARDS CEREMONY
2022 CALIFORNIA FARM & FOOD CHAMPIONS
From farmers to food system advocates, these everyday heroes and movement leaders from across California are forging a stronger local food economy, promoting food justice and empowering a new generation of agrarians. Join us for a virtual awards ceremony celebrating the 2022 Honorees! Recipients announced in January 2022.
THURSDAY, MARCH 3
REGIONAL IN-PERSON GATHERINGS
(various times, locations)
Join us on the final day of the conference in-person at smaller, regional gatherings taking place through the state. Each event is unique, but all will give conference-goers a chance to get out from behind a screen and connect with fellow farmers, ranchers and farm advocates in their community and surrounding region.
WORKSHOPS
Entry to this year’s conference is on a pay-what-you-can basis. Once registered, you’ll receive a password giving you access to all the virtual workshops below. To sign up for a specific workshop in advance or to jump into one in progress, click “Attend” beside any workshop below.
SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 27
PARTICIPANTS:
David Visher, F2F volunteer
Peggy Carlson, F2F Program Analyst
C. Bruce Williams PhD, Educator, Businessman and Farmer
USAID Farmer-to-Farmer
Sunday, Feb 27 at 9am
Join us on this interactive workshop and learn about the Farmer-to-Farmer program, which has sent over 19,000 volunteer experts to 116 countries since 1985. Recruiters seek all kinds of experts for two to three week assignments. They look for skills in organic vegetable farming, agribusiness, beekeepers, dairymen, branding, extension, academia, and more. You know more than you think you do and F2F may need you.
PARTICIPANTS:
Olivia Tincani, Olivia Tincani & Co / Grazing School of the West
Cole Bush, Shepherdess Land & Livestock / Shepherdess Hides
The Grazier's Toolbox: Indispensable Tools for the Contract Grazier
Sunday, Feb 27 at 9 AM
Contract grazing not only provides everything from wildfire prevention to ecological restoration, it can also be an entry point for a new generation of livestock managers. Come learn business tools and templates created to power contract grazing businesses and empower their entrepreneurs. As part of the ongoing Grazing School of the West project, and alongside multiple supporting organizations (Fibershed, Southwestern Grassfed Livestock Alliance, White Buffalo Land Trust, Quivira Coalition), the Grazier’s Toolbox is an ongoing effort to create practical and useful tools that every contract grazier can utilize in their day-to-day efforts of land and animal stewardship. Whether new to the sector or in business for years, these templates help graziers analyze the vital heartbeats of their businesses. Tools that can be covered include spreadsheets, checklists, SOPs, etc. such as a contract job cost / breakeven calculator; herd growth calculator; safety checklists; hiring guide including job descriptions and more. We will ask graziers to bring their needs to the table to help power future tool development, and include time for breakout rooms so as to encourage industry expansion and networking and peer learning.
PARTICIPANTS:
Camas Davis – Executive Director of Good Meat Project
James O’Donnell, Program Director at Good Meat Project
Good Meat Breakdown: Expanding Markets & Reaching Consumers
Sunday, Feb 27 at 10:30am
More and more producers are producing thoughtfully raised, delicious meat products and establishing direct markets for consumers to buy them. But, consumers remain confused, intimidated, and overwhelmed by the prospect of buying local meat, and tend to revert to their old habits at the grocery store. The Good Meat Breakdown serves as a marketing and education resource to help producers better reach consumers, increase sales and visibility, and increase the impact of their marketing efforts. This workshop will cover the ways that meat producers can make sure consumers can find them on the web, and will also showcase our professionally designed marketing materials that answer questions like: How much meat can fit in my freezer? How do I cook this new cut? Why is this meat more expensive? We welcome any meat producer hoping to expand these markets.
PARTICIPANTS:
Maria Sanchez (she/her/ella) – Community Garden Co-Manager & Educator at Mar Vista Gardens Community Garden & Boys and Girls Club Santa Monica Gardens
Teresa Gomez (she/her/ella)- Community Organizer, Ventura CountyCalifornians for Pesticide Reform
Patricia Miller (she/her)- Community Engagement Manager Edible Schoolyard Stockton
The strength of farmer organizing to ensure equity in California agriculture policy
Sunday, Feb 27 at 10:30am
Farmer organizing in various capacities, from local to national, can build meaningful community, facilitate political change, and shift power into the hands of farmers – particularly for beginning, small-scale, urban, and diverse BIPOC farmers to ensure government programs are serving them and to demand for structural change that supports justice for all communities. Policies at all levels of government impact all farms – they shape who has access to opportunities, resources, and markets, and which farmers are more successful than others. These policies have historically been racially motivated and the impact continues to be felt today. For these reasons, advocating for policy change that centers racial equity presents a valuable and critical opportunity to impact farmers’ lives and grow a more sustainable future for all. In this session, you will hear from farmers and organizers on the value, learnings, and challenges of grassroots organizing, policy advocacy, and their experiences meeting with elected officials. Come ready to join this discussion and share your own experiences and ideas.
This session will include simultaneous Spanish interpretation.
PARTICIPANTS:
Valentin Lopez, Amah Mutsun Tribal Band
Javier Zamora, JSM Organics
Kendra Johnson, California Agrarian Commons
Bryan Largay, Conservation Director, Land Trust of Santa Cruz County
Jamie Fanous, CAFF (moderator)
Land Conservation & Land Equity
Sunday, Feb 27 at 12pm
Join us for a discussion centered around recent efforts to push land conservation groups, such as as land trusts, to better support beginning farmers & BIPOC farmers. Hear from advocacy groups, farmers, and land trusts that are re-thinking their approach to conservation to diversify the land stewards they work with and empower a new generation of farmers.
PARTICIPANTS:
Natalie Solares, Intertribal Agriculture Council (Zapotec)
Meagen Baldy, Klamath Trinity Resource Conservation District (Hupa)
Vikki Preston, Karuk Tribe Department of Natural Resources (Karuk)
Francisca Tripp, Karuk Tribe Department of Natural Resources (Karuk)
Indigenous Foodways: Asserting Indigenous Sovereignty from Seed to Plate
Sunday, Feb 27 at 12pm
Despite the ongoing and lasting legacy of colonialism and displacement, Native/Indigenous peoples in California continue to successfully manage their traditional foods and operate food and agricultural businesses. In this panel, California Native community members and Native transplants will share examples about how they are reclaiming their food and identity, what non-Natives can learn from them, and how to provide support.
PARTICIPANTS:
Amy Wu, Farms to Incubators
Larry Hirahara, JapaneseAmerican farmer
Robina Bhatti, ALBA alum
Al Baguio, Filipino small farmer
Asian farmers in California
Sunday, Feb 27 at 1:30pm
Asians and Asian-American farmers have and continue to play a significant role in the agriculture sector in California, and yet their contributions and their voice is often non-existent or muted when it comes to food and farming. Come join us in this interactive workshop that features a panel of Asian farmers that represent a diversity of ethnicities, ages and gender in California. The farmers will share their stories on how they got into farming and how farming connects with their cultural heritage. In addition, we will offer an mini-exhibition—a collection of photos (some historical and some modern day) that show the contributions of Asians to farming in California.
PARTICIPANTS:
Steve Heckeroth, Solectrac
Saul Alba, Beneficial Insectary, Inc.
California Climate and Agriculture Network (CalCAN)
Farmer Campus
Lightning Session #1: Tools & Tech
Sunday, Feb 27 at 1:30 PM
Join us for a series of short, engaging presentations from a variety of speakers revolving around a single theme. In this session, we’ll explore tools and technology related to small farms, sustainable agriculture and local food. Presentations in this series include:
- Going Electric in the Field & Farm: How electric farm machinery reduce emissions from fossil fuel combustion while also having a significant impact on population health, workplace safety and cleaner food.
- Drones for the Small Farm
- Climate Planning Tools for Farmers
- PARTICIPANTS:
Melissa Sorongon, Piedrasassi Wine & Bread, Central Coast and Southern California Regenerative Equipment Sharing Collaborative
Emilie Winfield, North Coast Soil Hub
Tessa Salzman, CalCAN
Kyle Farmer, Rancher
Scaling Up Healthy Soils Practices in California
Sunday, Feb 27 at 2:30 PM
Join us on this open forum to discuss what farmers need to scale up healthy soils across the state. What else can we do in addition to the Healthy Soils Program? What do you need to take the leap into new practices and sustain them? This session will begin with a couple illustrative stories, like equipment sharing to offset larger capital costs, different financing options, and beyond, and then open up for group conversation and brainstorming.
PARTICIPANTS:
Ryan Power, New Family Farm
Daniel Stein, Briceland Forest Farm
David Plescia, West County Community Farm
Integrating Cannabis with Food Crop Production
Sunday, Feb 27 at 2:30 PM
In this panel, we’ll hear from three farmers who got their start as fruit and vegetable farmers, but who later integrated cannabis production into their existing operation while maintaining or even increasing their other crops. From permits to equipment to planting schedules, we’ll hear how they integrated this newer crop into their farm, what impact it’s had on their business, and what obstacles they’ve encountered along the way.
PARTICIPANTS:
TBA
Small Farm Innovation Challenge
Sunday, Feb 27 at 4 PM
And the winners are…. Join us for the 2022 awards ceremony of the Small Farm Innovation Challenge, and stick around for a conversation about tools, tech and the landscape of innovation for the small farm. The Challenge called on innovators from around California and beyond to submit their fresh ideas (inventions, apps, hacks and more) designed to give small farms a leg up. Meet the winners, hear from our panel of judges, and explore the latest tech trends as well as the challenges and opportunities facing today’s small-scale farms.
PARTICIPANTS:
Jamie Fanous, CAFF (moderator)
Fernando Fernandez Levia, La Mesa Verde
Maximilian Rosa, Del Paso Heights Growers Alliance
Fatima T. Malik-Wilson, Del Paso Heights Growers Alliance
Urban Ag
Sunday, Feb 27 at 4 PM
There is a critical need for intentional conversations among urban farmers to connect, organize, and identify goals to impact policy change. Join other urban farmers across CA for an opportunity to reflect, and identify 2022 goals for urban farmers. This session will highlight innovative urban farmers and discuss questions such as – what are the needs of urban growers and how do we address them? & How do we best stay connected going forward?
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 28
PARTICIPANTS:
Ann Main, Good Humus Farm
Ruth M Dahlquist, Small Farm Advisor, UCANR
Dave Runsten, CAFF Policy Director
Drought & SGMA
Monday, February 28 at 9 AM
In this workshop, get the latest on the impacts of the current drought and the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act, the most monumental ag water policy in our lifetime. What will the dry conditions mean for small farms and how will these policies impact their water supply and viability? How can small farms and farm advocates influence how these policies get rolled out? Hear from policy experts and farmers.
PARTICIPANTS:
Nelson Hawkins, lead grower at We Grow Urban Farm in Sacramento
Patricia Miller, lead farmer at Edible Schoolyard’s
From Community Gardener to Farmer
Monday, February 28 at 10:30am
Throughout California, and particularly in major cities and their suburbs, communities have carved out green spaces to grow food. Communities of color in particular have been at the forefront of the community gardening movement due to disinvestment in their communities, particularly with regard to fresh food access. But how does a gardener growing carrots for their neighbors transition to a carrot farmer selling carrots throughout their region? This panel discussion will feature farmers with roots in community gardens and we will delve into how they created a path towards building a sustainable business. We will also offer breakout sessions led by each of the farmers for our participants to have conversations with them about their respective journeys.
PARTICIPANTS:
Kevin Greer, Tehama RCD / Mobile Irrigation Lab
Davin Norene, Big Time Farming
Emily Buerer, CAFF (moderator)
Mobile Irrigation Lab
Monday, February 28 at 10:30am
With the drought at the forefront in California, it’s essential that farmers work to improve their on-farm water conservation and efficiency as much as possible. This workshop will feature a video of a walk through of an irrigation system evaluation with Kevin Greer from Tehama RCD and the Mobile Irrigation Lab. It will demonstrate the key aspects for evaluation an irrigation system including testing distribution uniformity, flow rates, application rates and more. We will also speak to the participating grower about the benefits of an irrigation system evaluation and the importance of maximizing energy and water efficiency at the farm. The workshop will conclude with a Q&A about improving irrigation efficiency and recommendations for farmers.
PARTICIPANTS:
Margaret Lloyd, UCCE Small Farms Advisor
Managing Nitrogen on Organic Vegetable Farms
Monday, February 28 at Noon
In this workshop, get a comprehensive package to nitrogen management in organics: amendments (compost, fertilizers, liquids), soil organic matter release, irrigation water, and cover crops. We’ll also look at crop nitrogen demand and how to pair together nitrogen inputs with nitrogen demand. In the case of organics, nitrogen management is essential for crop and environmental health but also very challenging due to the microbially-driven process of nitrogen-availability from organic sources.
PARTICIPANTS:
Frank Leeds, Frogs Leap Winery
Dry Farming in Vineyards
Monday, February 28 at Noon
With drought still fresh on our minds and a water-scarce future ahead, a few vineyards have held fast to or are even returning to an age-old practice that produces superior wine with far less water: dry-farming. In this video, followed by a panel discussion with growers, we’ll explore dry-farming wine grapes, once the norm in California and still common practice throughout Europe. With 635,000 acres of wine grapes statewide, shifting even a fraction of this growing industry could save billions of gallons water. Come tour the fields at Frogs Leap Winery, a long-established dry-farmed vineyard, as we explore topics such as root stock selection, planting, the nuances of tillage, new technology, organic production, and the real-world constraints and potential of this water-smart practice.
PARTICIPANTS:
Elizabeth and Paul Kaiser, Singing Frogs Farm
Michael Whamond, Hillview Farms
Alayna Reid, Deep Medicine Circle
Cole Rainey, UC Berkeley, Berkeley Student Farms, Gill Tract Community Farm
Sara Tiffany, CAFF
Small-scale and no-till
Monday, February 28 at 1:30pm
As an ecological land management strategy, no-till farming is gaining popularity among small-scale growers for its potential to maximize ecological efficiencies, reduce external inputs, and increase the adaptive capacity of farms. This technique is particularly promising for farmers with limited access to land and capital because of the potential to achieve high yields and withstand socioeconomic or environmental shocks without investing in expensive machinery, intensive irrigation, synthetic fertilizers or pesticides.
Join us on this workshop to learn about the principals of small-scale no-till management, and hear from a panel of growers, alongside key takeaways from recent research on the impacts the system has on soil health.
PARTICIPANTS:
Thea Rittenhouse, CDFA Office of Equity
Carmen Carrasco, Small Farm Liaison, CDFA
Kellee Matsushita-Tseng, Second Generation Seeds
Lightning Sessions #2: Diversity & Equity
Monday, February 28 at 1:30 PM
Join us for a series of short, engaging presentations from a variety of speakers revolving around a single theme. In this session, we’ll explore diversity and equity as it relates to small farms, sustainable agriculture and local food. Presentations in this series include:
- Community, Culture, and Seeds: Exploring community seed preservation through Second Generation Seeds.
- Grants / Programs CDFA Farmer Equity Program: Learn about opportunities aimed at Supporting Socially Disadvantaged Farmers, Urban Farmers, and Other Small-Scale Producers through the CA Department of Food and Agriculture’s Farmer Equity Program.
- And more!
PARTICIPANTS:
Liya Schwartzman, California FarmLink
Farm Lease Clinic
Monday, February 28 at 2:30 PM
Are you a farmer or rancher interested in learning more about farmland leases and accessing land? A sound lease is a crucial, yet often overlooked element of farm business that can have significant impacts, both positive and negative, on any farm that leases land. Join us to learn about agricultural leases, including the legal and financial risks of poorly developed lease agreements, types of lease agreements, lease development and negotiation, and alternative clauses (such as capital improvement protections and drought condition protocols).
PARTICIPANTS:
Natalia Pinzon, Farmer Campus, UC Davis
Katie Brimm, Farmer Campus
Annie Schmidt, Fire Adapted Communities Learning Network
Robert Gould, Ag Innovations
Farming though Wildfire Season: A Collective Conversation
Monday, February 28 at 2:30pm
Farmers and ranchers should feel empowered and understand how to move forward together with a future of wildfires. However, the unpredictability and sheer magnitude of fires can leave you feeling threatened, isolated and helpless. The size, longevity and intensity of wildfires is rapidly increasing in the Western region, with record breaking fire seasons every year. Together with CAFF and the Fire Adapted Community Network, Farmer Campus will bring us together for a facilitated & engaging Community Forum to share resources, support systems and discuss how to enliven networks to build community fire resilience together.
PARTICIPANTS:
Tim Bowles, UC Berkeley
Yvonne Socolar, UC Berkeley
Janina Dierks, UC Berkeley
And Margaret Lloyd, UCCE
Managing Mycorrhizal Fungi in Your Soil
Monday, February 28 at 4pm
Mycorrhizal fungi are often viewed as star players in sustainable agriculture, and for good reason. When they form intimate associations with crop roots, they can help increase nutrient uptake, help crops deal with water stress and possibly reduce soil borne disease pressure. In this workshop, experts will share research and experiences about when and to what extent these benefits are seen in California vegetable systems. Come learn multiple ways management could support (or not!) mycorrhizal fungi, from inoculation to soil health practices like cover cropping and reducing tillage.
PARTICIPANTS:
Alicia Baddorf, Contractor, Small Farm Tech Hub
Sasha Pesci, Ph.D. candidate in Geography, University of California Davis,
Elizabeth Vaughan, Tech Hub Specialist at CAFF
Alyssa and Christian, Owners of Ranchito Milkyway CSA
Jen Hoover, Owner at The Cloverleaf Farm
Online Sales 101
Monday, February 28 at 4pm
Over the past year, we’ve seen a dramatic shift in how consumers purchase food, and locally sourced food has been no exception. In response to shut downs and social distancing, Farmer’s markets, CSA’s and food hubs have had to quickly pivot to online sales platforms to accommodate the high demand for online food purchasing or risk losing customers. As restrictions ease and many markets reopen, you may be wondering how and if you should continue to incorporate online sales with your traditional offline business strategy. In this session, we’ll address market trends, diversifying your sales channels, and how to seamlessly tie them all together.
TUESDAY, MARCH 1
Talleres en español
Tuesday, March 1, 9 AM – 5 PM
Los talleres en español cubrirán una amplia variedad de temas, como historias de modelos exitosos de csa, polinizadores beneficiosos, ayuda para subvenciones y mucho más.Para los talleres virtuales de la sección en español haga click aquí.
PARTICIPANTS:
Matt Gamba, Bud’s Meats
John Fagundes, JMF Slaughter
Laetitia Benador, CCOF
Shepherding Change in Meat Processing
Tuesday, March 1 at 10:30 AM
California’s small meat processors provide essential services to the state’s small farmers and ranchers. Over the last several decades, industry consolidation and regulatory pressures have pushed small processors out of business and made it increasingly difficult for processors to expand or upgrade their facilities to meet the evolving needs of California producers. In this workshop, we will learn about the different types of meat processing services in California and a new law that expands on-farm slaughter. We will hear from two California processors who provide mobile processing and cut-and-wrap services, and participants will have a chance to ask any and all processing-related questions. Whether you raise livestock or are interested in getting started, we welcome your participation and your questions!
PARTICIPANTS:
Coastal Roots Farm
Mountain Bounty Farm
Shakefork Farm
Fortunate Farm, and more
Tractors: Does Size Really Matter?
Tuesday, March 1 at Noon
How much tractor do you actually need on a small farm? In this video, followed by a live Q&A with a tractor mechanics expert, hear from a variety of farmers from across California, each employing different size tractors. From pull-behind two-wheelers to 100+ HP earth-moving machines, and everything between, learn the pros and cons of each model to help determine the best fit for your farming operation.
PARTICIPANTS:
Colin Archipley, Archi’s Acres & AiSA
Margaret Lloyd, UCCE Small Farms Advisor
Mindful Mushrooms
Maureen Claffey, Red Hen Cannery & Foley Farms
Luxin Wang, University of California Davis
Lightning Sessions #3: Production & Processing
Tuesday, March 1 at 1:30 PM
Join us for a series of short, engaging presentations from a variety of speakers revolving around a single theme. In this session, we’ll explore farming production techniques and farm processing. Presentations in this series include:
- Hydroponic & Aquaponics Farming
- Mushroom Production
- Grafting for heirloom tomato production
- Home-dried fruits
- Jam on It
PARTICIPANTS:
Maggie Ericksen, High Mowing Organic Seeds
Making the Most of Your Seed Investment
Tuesday, March 1 at 2:30pm
How can you achieve the best possible results from your seeds? Come explore storage, successful germination and growth for vegetable crops. Special attention will be given to best practices and things to avoid for those crops that can often prove most challenging. Learn successful methods, strategies, and tricks of the trade gathered from growers throughout the country.
PARTICIPANTS:
Ellen Cavalli, Titled Shed Cider & Sonoma County Farm Trails
Samantha Ramey, Americana Restaurant & Estero Cafe
Janeen Murray, Sonoma County Go Local Cooperative
Local Food Greenwashing
Tuesday, March 1 at 4pm
Far too often farmers stumble upon their name on a restaurant menu despite not having sold to them in several years. In other cases, grocery store decorations flaunt local producers–half of whom are no longer in business. Then there are the buzzwords: local, farm-to-table, sustainable. Genuine local food partnerships make our small farms possible, but hollow greenwashing not only undermines farms, it also undermines the food businesses who walk the walk, putting in the effort to support local farms. In this workshop we’ll hear from both farmers and food businesses caught in this unregulated Wild West of sloganeering, then invite attendees to discuss strategies for protecting local food integrity, calling out greenwashers, and ensuring consumers know what they’re getting.
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 2
PARTICIPANTS:
Victor M. Hernandez, Outreach Coordinator & Sociologist – USDA NRCS
Equity in Program Delivery
Wednesday, March 2 at 9am
In this workshop farmers, ranchers and organizational partners will learn about how USDA is supporting equity and civil rights compliance in program delivery. What is a Historically Underserved Customer, What is a Local Working Group, Food Security Act of 1985, How to be intentional with data driven outreach and collaborating as a community of partners to extend the reach to Black, Latino, Asian, Women, Urban, and Veteran farmers.
PARTICIPANTS:
Interactive forum
Moderated by James Nakahara, Kitchen Table Advisors
& Evan Wiig, Community Alliance with Family Farmers
Can We Talk About Farm Viability?
Wednesday, March 2 at 10:30 AM
Some say it’s not polite to talk about money. But when it comes to the financial realities of running a small farm business, what happens when this important detail gets omitted? Whether a farmer operates their business at a loss or subsidizes it with a second job or inheritance; or they run it as a non-profit or as part of an idealistic film project, what stories get told about small farm viability to the public? What impact does it have on other farms? How does it shape the expectations of aspiring farmers, consumers and the food industry? In this interactive forum, farmers are invited to ask: for the sake of everyone involved, how should we be communicating the financial realities of small farms?
PARTICIPANTS:
Dominic Bruno, Farm Manager, River Garden Farms
Sara Tiffany, Director or Ecological Farming, CAFF
Seeding Your Cover Crop
Wednesday, March 2 at 10:30 AM
Let’s talk about cover cropping! Cover cropping is an excellent soil health practice that improves water infiltration, builds organic matter and soil structure and provides nutrients to crops. The process of implementing a cover crop, however can be less than straightforward.
Join us to learn about the best practices for planting a cover crop, and how to optimize the use of planting equipment in your particular management system to grow successful cover crops. This workshop will feature a pre-recorded video that will demonstrate and give instructions for seeding a fall cover crop in an orchard. Following the video, we will have a Q&A with the collaborating farmer and cover crop expert and wrap up with resource recommendations for taking the next step in planting a cover crop.
PARTICIPANTS:
Cheyenne Stone, Big Pine Paiute Tribe
Emma Torbert – Farmer, UC Davis Student Farm
Jamie Fanous, CAFF Policy Advocate
CAFF Policy Forum
Wednesday, March 2 at NOON
Join Community Alliance with Family Farmers for their annual Policy Forum, a chance to hear about the latest in food and agricultural policy here in California. Learn about new bills and budgets passed in 2021, and get a lay-of-the-land for 2022, as CAFF and other advocates work towards policy reform to better support family farms, promote regenerative agriculture and strengthen local food systems. Share your thoughts and find out how you can become an agent for positive change.
PARTICIPANTS:
CANCELED:
Women in Ag Tech
Wednesday, March 2 at 12pm
We apologize for the inconvenience. This workshop has been canceled.
Agtech has become essential to farm profitability and securing a sustainable food supply, as more agribusiness firms seek out technological solutions to increase productivity and profitability. In this workshop we will highlight the contributions of both women founders in agtech and how their innovations are specifically solving some of the biggest threats that growers are facing.
This workshop presents inspiring case studies of how women entrepreneurs from diverse cultural and ethnic backgrounds – and many who are connected in California — are meeting the challenge of feeding a global population projected to reach 10 billion by 2050.
PARTICIPANTS:
Kali Feiereisel, CAFF
Grace Perry, CAFF
Post-Harvest Tools
Wednesday, March 2 at 1:30PM
Post-harvest processing presents both risks and opportunities for food safety, especially on small farms who process much of their produce before market.
This workshop consists of a prerecorded video, in which we will hear from experienced farmers about their favorite post-harvest tools and CAFF’s food safety team about right-sized sanitation methods. Expect to learn about innovative tips and tricks, like repurposing equipment and worthwhile investments, and walk away with resources like where to acquire the post-harvest tools mentioned in this video.
PARTICIPANTS:
Hanna Kahl, CAFF Bios Program
Heidi Herrmann, Strong Arm Farm & Santa Rosa Junior College
Moet Takata, CAFF
Natalia Pinzón Jiménez, Farmer Campus
Lightning Sessions #4: Ecological & Climate Smart Farming
Wednesday, March 2 at 1:30 PM
Join us for a series of short, engaging presentations from a variety of speakers revolving around a single theme. In this session, we’ll explore ecologically-focused and climate smart farming techniques that help promote biodiversity, better steward our natural resources and help fight or prepare for the impacts of climate change. Presentations in this series include:
- Enhancing Beneficial Insects on your Farm
- Mapping Mating Disruption
- Perennials for economic & ecological resilience
- Preparing your Farm for Wildfire Season
PARTICIPANTS:
Jessa Kay Cruz, Senior Pollinator Conservation Specialist, The Xerces Society
Sherri Wood, Owner, Patchwork Farms
Lee Stephenson, Environmental Education Coordinator, Veggielution
Monarch & Pollinator Conservation on California Farms
Wednesday, March 2 at 2:30 PM
Come learn about an innovative new program to create high quality habitat for monarchs and other pollinators on California farms. The Habitat Kit Program incentivizes farmers to plant pollinator habitat through providing carefully selected, native and regionally appropriate plant materials and technical support directly to partners for shovel-ready projects. Launched in California in 2019, it has now expanded to other parts of the country, providing Habitat Kits for over 460 projects in five different states. During this workshop Xerces will explain the program while two participating farmers will share their experience integrating the habitat kits onto their farms. Topics covered will include how the kits are put together, how to apply for kits from Xerces, and lessons learned from participating farmers including planting and managing on-farm habitat for pollinators.
PARTICIPANTS:
Grace Perry, CAFF
Don Stoeckel, CDFA
Lianna Kelly, FDA
FSMA updates & Inspection preparedness
Wednesday, March 2 at 2:30 PM
The FDA is still releasing updates to the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA), leaving some growers wondering how the new regulations apply to them. In this workshop, CAFF’s food safety team will provide FSMA updates and breakdown what they mean for qualified exempt and fully covered farms.
The workshop will also feature a Q+A with representatives from CDFA and FDA. Attendees will hear updates on FSMA inspections in California, including data gleaned from completed inspections, and resources that growers can use to prepare for inspections.
PARTICIPANTS:
Michael Bosworth, Next Generation Foods
Abraham Garcia, Nature’s Gift Organics
Heather Fenney, Village Market Place
Maira Quintanilla, Village Market Place
Food Hub Sales, Trends, & Successes
Wednesday, March 2 at 4:00pm
PARTICIPANTS:
Travis Parker, UC Davis
Larry Kandarian, Kandarian Organic Farms
Mike Reeske, Rio Del Rey Farm
Krissy Scommegna, Booneville Barn Collective
Lisa Riznikove, Foodocracy
Breathing New Life In Heirloom Beans
Wednesday, March 2 at 4 PM
Chefs love them, but can farmers make money growing them? From advances in heirloom hybrids to reviving traditional farm practices, ancient beans have new life as a profitable, shelf stable product for small farms.
Come to learn from an amazing panel of small family farmers and Travis Parker of UC Davis to discuss the challenges and triumphs growing heirloom beans. The panel will be moderated by Lisa Riznikove, Co-founder of Foodocracy, a mission driven non-profit. The Foodocracy Heirloom Bean and Grain Project includes a subscription bean box that provides market opportunities as well as seed funding for women and minority owned farmers.
THURSDAY, MARCH 3
Regional In-Person Gatherings
Thursday March 3 (various times, locations)
Join us on the final day of the conference in-person at smaller, regional gatherings taking place through the state. Each event is unique, but all will give conference-goers a chance to get out from behind a screen and connect with fellow farmers, ranchers and farm advocates in their community and surrounding region.
Regions include: Sacramento, Yolo, North Bay, Central Coast (en español), San Luis Obispo, Ventura, Humboldt, San Diego, Nevada County
SPONSORSHIP MAKES THIS EVENT POSSIBLE
Sponsors not only make this important event possible, but they also help us make it accessible to a wider range of attendees, from beginning farmers to students. Share your company’s commitment to the future of family farms, local food and regenerative agriculture by sponsoring today.
THANK YOU TO OUR 2022 SPONSORS
