2026 Transition to Organic Farming Conference

Image of organic wheat field under a bright blue sky with green hills in the distance.

2026 Transition to Organic Farming Conference

November 4, 2026

8:30 am - 4:00 pm

University of Nebraska Eastern Nebraska Research and Education Center

1071 County Road 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.

 

 

Topics and Presenters

 8:30 – 9:00 a.m.

Registration, coffee, and vendor exhibit open                                                                     

9:00 – 9:10 a.m.

Welcome - Katja Koehler-Cole, Nebraska Extension

 9:10 – 10:00 a.m.    

Cropping system strategies for organic grains - Joel Gruver, Western Illinois University 

10:10 – 11:00 a.m.

Soil health’s complimentary role with soil fertility - James Schroepfer, Crop Fertility Services

11:10 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.

Organic production: Nebraska growers’ perspectives - Farmer panel 

12:00 – 12:50 p.m.

Lunch and vendor session                                                                                                                                 

12:50 – 1:40 p.m.

Group discussions – Select one

  • Keeping organic certification simple - Rodale Institute Consulting
  • Grain markets – what organic producers need to know - Brian Halweil, Rodale Institute
  • Crop budgets - Shannon Sand, Glennis McClure, Nebraska Extension
  • Growing No-till corn in living alfalfa - Ben Miller, Léa Vereecke, Clear Frontier

1:45 – 2:35 p.m.

Group discussion – Select one

  • Alfalfa in organic rotations - Ben Beckman, Nebraska Extension
  • Grain markets – what organic producers need to know - Brian Halweil, Global Organics
  • Crop budgets - Shannon Sand, Glennis McClure, Nebraska Extension
  • No-till corn in alfalfa - Ben Miller and Léa Vereecke

2:40 – 3:30 p.m.

Group discussion – Select one

  • Disease management in organic grains - Dylan Mangel, Nebraska Extension
  • Insect management - Samantha Daniel, Nebraska Extension
  • Keeping organic certification simple - Rodale Institute Consulting
  • Organic Policy - Nate Powell-Palm, Cold Springs Organic LLC

3:30 – 3:40 p.m.

Evaluation and closing - Katja Koehler-Cole, Nebraska Extension

3:40 – 4:00 p.m.

Fellowship and networking                                                                                                               

 

Speakers and Topics

  • Joel Gruver, Western Illinois University, will speak on crop rotations and holistic management. 
  • Brian Halweil, Global Organics, will speak on what organic producers need to know about organic grain markets.
  • Ben Miller and Léa Vereecke, Clear Frontier, will present their experience with growing no-till organic corn in living alfalfa.
  • Shannon Sand and Glennis McClure, Nebraska Extension, will go through crop budgeting for organic corn and soybean.
  • Dylan Mangel, Nebraska Extension, will present on disease management in organic row crops.
  • Samantha Daniel, Nebraska Extension, will speak about insect management.
  • Nate Powell-Palm, Cold Spring Organic, will speak about organic policies.
  • Ben Beckman, Nebraska Extension, will talk about best practices for growing alfalfa in organic rotations.
  • Nebraska growers will share their perspectives on organic production during a panel discussion.

Registration Link & Information

REGISTER HERE

 

For questions please contact Contact: Katja Koehler-Cole, kkoehlercole2@unl.edu, 402-504-1016

Are you interested in being an exhibitor at the conference?

We have a limited number of 8’ tables available for $200/table, 

please click here to reserve yours: https://pears.io/events/nebraskaextension/10293/