23rd NODPA Field Days, Evangelical Lutheran Church, 200 E. Logan Street, Reedsville, PA 17084
Evangelical Lutheran Church Fellowship Hall, Reedsville, PA
The Northeast Organic Dairy Producers Alliance (NODPA) is excited to announce the upcoming 23rd Annual NODPA Field Days, taking place in Reedsville, PA on September 28 & 29, 2023. (Visit the NODPA Field Days webpage here to see the full schedule, speakers, farm tours, and more.) This year's theme is "Farming with Financial Clarity, Confidence and Optimism (without digging the hole deeper)", aimed at providing organic dairy farmers with valuable insights and strategies to increase profits and make solid business decisions by focusing on the financial side of their farms. Some organic dairy producers are thriving in today’s economy while others are dealing with extreme financial challenges. The educational program will speak to all farmers, from all regions, acknowledging the many differences. Our lineup of speakers and activities is designed to provide you with the tools and knowledge to increase profitability on your farm without digging the hole any deeper.
The education program begins on Thursday afternoon, following registration and lunch. But, for those arriving early, we have arranged a morning farm tour at Sunny Crest Farm, a 100% grass-based dairy in nearby Belleville, PA, owned and operated by David and Suzanne Peachey. You can learn more about Sunny Crest Farm, because it is the Featured Farm in this July NODPA News.
The afternoon program kicks off with Alvin Peachey who will share valuable insights on how to boost profitability on your farm. Drawing from his own experiences, Alvin will provide practical tips and strategies that can make a significant difference in your bottom line.
Alvin’s presentation will be followed by a Farmer Panel at which the panel will address what profitability looks like to them, and how they are approaching it. We are fortunate to have Ted Lebow, Managing Partner and Co-Founder of Kitchen Table Consulting facilitate this session.
The late afternoon will be devoted to the Social Hour and Trade Show, giving everyone an opportunity to catch up with old and new friends, as well as visiting our trade show vendors. We are very appreciative of their participation and support for the NODPA Field Days, and hope you all will take time to learn more about their organizations. This will be followed by the NODPA Annual Meeting and banquet, catered by the local business Kickin’ Kater.
We are honored to have Ted LeBow as our keynote speaker. As many of you know, Ted has worked with hundreds of farms and small business owners, all over the country, creating and helping them execute against their financial goals. In his presentation, he will shed light on the concept of Farming with Financial Clarity, providing valuable insights into managing finances, making informed decisions, and maximizing profitability. Ted's expertise in financial management within the agricultural sector will equip you with the necessary tools to make informed decisions and increase profitability on your farm.
Friday morning begins early, with a continental breakfast at 6:30 am for those attending the Producer-Only meeting. Breakfast will remain available until 9:00 am, when the morning educational program begins.
Our first workshop on Friday morning will feature Roman Stoltzfoos discussing where profit comes from and how to increase it every year by focusing on the six principles of Soil Health. Understanding the importance of soil health is crucial for sustainable and profitable farming, and Roman will provide valuable insights to help you optimize your soil management practices.
Next, in the Profitability: Putting the Foundations into Practice workshop, Alvin Peachey returns to discuss how he ties together all of the NODPA Field Days themes – soil and animal health, and clear financial decision making, and implements them on his highly successful farm. This will also give attendees an opportunity to hear about his farm, ahead of the afternoon farm tour.
Closing out the NODPA Field Days educational program will be Dr. Cindy Lankenau, a renowned expert in homeopathic veterinary medicine, who will focus on the importance of holistic approaches to cow health. Learn how homeopathy and herbal medicine can improve the health and well-being of your herd, and ultimately contribute to a more sustainable and profitable farm. We are so grateful that Dr. Lankenau will be coming down from New York just for this presentation. You don’t want to miss it!
We close with lunch and final announcements, and then head to Saddlers Run Farm, Allensville, PA where Alvin Peachey and his family will generously host the farm tour where you will witness how he has achieved remarkable success through his unique approach to farming.
Are you planning to come to the 23rd Annual NODPA Field Days? Would you like to save some money? You can take advantage of the Early Bird rates by registering no later than Saturday, September 16th. If it’s more convenient, you can pay when you arrive on-site but we must hear from you by the early bird rate deadline in order to get the money-saving rates. So, please register early! Details and the registration form are on webpage, plus the NODPA Field Days brochure will be in your mailbox in the next week and is attached at the end of this article.
Once again, NODPA is keeping the costs of attending Field Days as low as possible, with free registration for all farmers and their families, and a minimal registration fee for non-farmers, and only the cost of meals passed along. We are grateful for our sponsors, supporters, and trade show participants for helping us keep the costs low, and for their ongoing support for NODPA’s work. Please be sure to visit all of them at the trade show!
There are many options for lodging in or near Reedsville. It is booking up fast and the rates will rise the closer we get to Field Days, so you are encouraged to make plans now rather than waiting until September. A google search or your favorite travel site is the best place to start. These days, cancellation policies are pretty flexible, so keep that in mind if you aren’t totally sure you will be able to attend. In addition to hotels, inns, camping and RV sites, VRBO (www.vrbo.com) and Airbnb (www.airbnb.com) offer vacation rentals, ranging from single rooms to whole houses; there are even Yurts on organic farms offered!
We hope to see you at the 23rd Annual NODPA Field Days in Reedsville, PA on September 28th and 29th and we hope you will register today! Please contact Nora Owens, NODPA Field Days Coordinator, if you have questions or to register early. Call 413-772-0444, if you reach the voicemail, please leave a message, or email her at noraowens@comcast.net.
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