The Northern Grain Growers Association's 2024 Grain Grower's Conference will be held at The Essex Resort & Spa in Essex, Vermont on March 20, 9:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Conference highlights include our keynote speaker Amber Lambke, founder and president of Maine Grains, Inc., as well as lunch time speaker, Bill McDorman, cofounder of the Great American Seed Up & Heritage Grain Alliance. Other topics include managing soil health on grain farms, cover crop-based no-till and interseeding techniques, cleaning and drying seed, dry beans IPM, a sensory session, and baking sessions. Cost is $85 per person and $60 per NGGC member, and you can register online at https://go.uvm.edu/2024graingrowers or call UVM Non-Credit Registration office at 802-656-8407 or email [email protected].
Rediscovering Maslins for Sustainable Farming In the regions where cereal grains originate, you’d be hard-pressed to find wild wheat without barley growing alongside it. This is hardly surprising –– grain mixtures (i.e. maslins) can use resources more efficiently, better tolerate changing climates, and minimize the impact of pests or pathogens. For grain farmers wishing to transition to organic practices but unable to bear the short-term risks of doing so, maslins could offer the peace-of-mind needed to finally make the leap. In this discussion, Dr. Alex McAlvay will overview the numerous benefits of maslins for grain growers and best practices for implementing this cropping system in your fields.