UNL Extension Organic Wheat Conference Jan. 10 (0812230)

December 23, 2008

LINCOLN, Neb. — Organic farmers can learn more about adding another valuable cash crop to their organic rotations -- organic wheat.

The noon to 4:30 p.m. University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension Organic Wheat Conference will be Jan. 10 at the Agricultural Research and Development Center near Mead.

Richard Little, UNL organic wheat research specialist, will share results from 2008 organic wheat variety trials, and Lan Xu, Wheat Quality Lab manager, will discuss organic wheat quality test results.

Participants will hear from organic farmers and learn more about weed control, varieties used, crop rotations, cover crops, storage and marketing during an organic farmer panel.

In addition, an organic grain buyers panel will discuss market opportunities, quality issues and contracts.

Grain buyer panelists include:

– Doug Lockwood of Rocky Mountain Milling, Colo., which is committed to adding economic and product value by manufacturing quality organic and conventional wheat flour products and in 1999 formed a joint venture with Bay State Milling.

– Mark Nightengale of farmer-owned Heartland Mills, Kan., which develops ethical partnerships with organic farmers to provide quality grains, commodities and foods, processed and marketed with integrity.

– Joe Roberts of Roberts Seed Inc., Neb., which has been family owned and operated since 1987 and has worked with organic farmers since 1991 processing and selling organic grains from a five-state area to organic markets.

Lunch will be sponsored by the Organic Crop Improvement Association Nebraska Chapter No. 1, featuring local artisan bread.

For more information, to reserve your lunch and register, contact Pat at (402) 584-3837. Cost is $20 per person which includes lunch.

More information also is available at Organic Working Group.

12/23/08-SK