Small farms webinar series to start in January

Chronicle Media

 

 

cutline: The University of Illinois Extension services will be offering free webinars from noon to 1 p.m. on Thursdays during January through March. (Photo from U of I Extension)

cutline: The University of Illinois Extension services will be offering free webinars from noon to 1 p.m. on Thursdays during January through March. (Photo from U of I Extension)

University of Illinois Extension will present a weekly educational series for the small farm community. This series will provide practical knowledge on emerging topics that advance local food production in Illinois.

Online presentations will give small farm producers a look at how leading practices in production, management, and marketing enable operations to improve profitability and sustainability. This year’s series includes new topics such as farm pond ecology, producing Shiitake mushrooms, the emerging local grain economy in Illinois, raising meat birds on pasture, and growing great blackberries.

The free webinars will be held from noon to 1 p.m. on Thursdays during January through March.

Topics include:

  • Jan. 14 – Lean Farming: Cutting Waste and Maximizing Efficiency on Small Farms, Zack Grant, U of I Extension local food systems and small farms educator
  • Jan. 21 – Soils and Soil Fertility for Small Farms, Mike Roegge, U of I Extension local food systems and small farms educator
  • Jan. 28 – Farm Pond Ecology: Managing for Desirable Plants and Fish, David Shiley, U of I Extension local food systems and small farms educator
  • Feb. 4 – Producing Shiitake Mushrooms, Grant McCarty, U of I Extension local food systems and small farms educator
  • Feb. 11 – Managing Horse Pastures on Small Farms and Acreages, Jamie Washburn, U of I Extension local food systems and small farms educator
  • Feb. 18 – The Emerging Local Grain Economy in Illinois, Bill Davison, U of I Extension local food systems and small farms educator
  • Feb. 25 – Food Safety Modernization Act: Changes for Small Scale Producers, Laurie George, U of I Extension local food systems and small farms educator
  • Mar. 3 – Getting Your Beehives Ready for Spring, Doug Gucker, U of I Extension local food systems and small farms educator
  • Mar. 10 – Raising Meat Birds on Pasture, Andy Larson, U of I Extension local food systems and small farms educator
  • Mar. 17 – Using Cover Crops on Small Farms, Nathan Johanning, U of I Extension local food systems and small farms educator
  • Mar. 24 – Growing Great Blackberries, Bronwyn Aly, U of I Extension local food systems and small farms educator
  • Mar. 31 – Setting Up a Grazing System on a Small Farm, Jay Solomon, U of I Extension energy and environmental stewardship educator

You can register at go.illinois.edu/WinterWebinar2016. The webinars can be accessed online from any computer.

Participants can also register to view an archived, recorded version of each webinar. Information will be provided via email the Monday after airing for viewing.

The webinars can also be accessed at http://web.extension.illinois.edu/smallfarm/webinar.html.

 

 

 

 

— Small farms webinar series to start in January —