Transition to Organic Farming Conference
Tuesday, December 2, 2025
8:30 am to 4:00 pm
University of Nebraska Eastern Nebraska Research, Extension and Education Center, 1071 County Rd G, Ithaca, NE
Interested in networking with fellow organic and transitioning grain farmers? Learn from organic growers and researchers about topics ranging from organic no-till row crop production to marketing. The event is free and includes lunch.
There is no fee to attend, but please preregister by 11/25 for meal planning purposes and to ensure resource materials are available.
Seating is limited.
Check out the agenda and register today!
This conference will assist growers thinking about transitioning to organic farming and those that are newly certified organic farmers. The one-day conference will focus on the certification process, crop management, and marketing for organic grain farms. Panel discussions with organic producers are included in the program.
Plan to attend on Tuesday, Dec. 2 at the University of Nebraska Eastern Nebraska Research, Extension and Education Center near Mead, Nebraska from 9 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. with registration beginning at 8:30 a.m.
University of Nebraska Statewide Soil Health Extension Educator, Katja Koehler-Cole says, “Interest in organic farming is growing. Successful implementation involves careful planning, thorough recordkeeping, and certification. Through this event, we aim to provide helpful information on the process of attaining organic farm certification. We hope that this gathering will foster connections and community among both novice and veteran farmers, alongside agricultural professionals and researchers.”
Sponsored by Nebraska Extension and the USDA Agricultural Marketing Service - National Organic Program - Transition to Organic Partnership Program.
Updated final agenda (Dec. 1, 2025)
Transition to organic farming conference Tuesday, December 2, 2025 Eastern Nebraska Research, Extension, and Education Center, 1071 County Rd G, Ithaca | |
| 8:30 – 9:00 a.m. | Registration, coffee, and vendor exhibits open |
| 9:00 – 9:10 a.m. | Welcome - Katja Koehler-Cole, Nebraska Extension |
| 9:15 – 10:00 a.m. | Organic certification - Karlin Warner, OneCert |
| 10:00 – 10:15 a.m. | Break |
| 10:15 – 11:00 a.m. | No-tilling organic corn into living alfalfa Ben Miller, Clear Frontier |
| 11:00 a.m. – noon | Organic production: Nebraska growers’ perspectives Panel featuring Nebraska farmers |
| 12:00 – 1.15 p.m. | Lunch and vendor session - Enjoy local food! |
| 1:15 – 1:55 p.m. | Group discussions – Select one Stronger together: The benefits of cooperative organic grain marketing – Steve Boyda, Ed Reznicek, Justin Raikes, Central Plains Organic Farmers No-till agronomic management – Ben Miller, Léa Vereecke, Clear Frontier Help NRCS and FSA help you! – speaker Harriet Behar, Organic Farmers Association Meet and Greet Buyers: Roundtable to market organic and transition grains – moderated by Ben Lehman, Rodale Institute |
| 2:00 – 2.40 p.m. | Group discussions – Select one Stronger together: The benefits of cooperative organic grain marketing – Steve Boyda, Ed Reznicek, Justin Raikes, Central Plains Organic Farmers No-till agronomic management – Ben Miller, Léa Vereecke, Clear Frontier Help NRCS and FSA help you! – speaker Harriet Behar, Organic Farmers Association Meet and Greet Buyers: Roundtable to market organic and transition grains – moderated by Ben Lehman, Rodale Institute |
| 2:45 – 3:00 p.m. | Evaluation and closing |
| 3:00 – 4:00 p.m. | Time for networking, vendor exhibits, coffee |
Would you like to be an exhibitor at the conference? Please click on the link below to reserve your table by November 25.
For more information on the conference or participating as an exhibitor, contact: Katja Koehler-Cole, kkoehlercole2@unl.edu, 402-504-1016
Sponsored by: Nebraska Extension and the USDA Agricultural Marketing Service - National Organic Program - Transition to Organic Partnership Program.