September 26 & 27, 2019, Theodore’s Restaurant, 3231 Seneca Turnpike, Canastota, NY
Canastota Fire Department Hall, 2019 NODPA Field Days Meeting Site
NODPA Field Days returns to the central New York region this year and our agenda is filling up with excellent educational workshops and two farm tours. Here’s a sneak peak of where it is and what is to come: 19th Annual NODPA Field Day, Canastota Volunteer Fire Department Hall, 127 East Center Street, Canastota, NY 13032.
The 19th NODPA Field Days will be centrally located in Canastota, NY, which is approximately midway between Syracuse and Utica, New York, just off I-90, the New York Thruway, and in very close proximity to the North/South Route I-81. This convenient location will allow farm families from New York, New England and Pennsylvania to attend without extensive travel. Certainly, the Field Days program will offer something for everyone, and as usual, at a very reasonable cost. NODPA strives to make these annual Field Days an event that everyone can afford to attend, with Organic Dairy farm families paying no registration, only the cost of food, so please mark your calendars and plan to attend.
FARM TOURS
Program planning is in the early stages but so far, we have two well-known local organic dairy farms hosting tours. John Troyer of John Troyer Family Dairy Farm will host the Thursday morning tour of his farm which includes touring and hearing about his successful use of a bedded pack barn and learning about how their family store. Nathan Weaver, of Grunen Aue Farm will host the Friday afternoon tour of his all grass-based farm.
EDUCATIONAL PROGRAM
We are developing an educational program that will focus on topics that are particularly relevant to the organic dairy community, including grass-fed management practices, tried and tested organic cow treatment methods that everyone can adopt, cost effective, small-scale milking parlors, and discussions on how the current organic milk pay price and some tenuous milk contracts are impacting all organic dairy farmers. And, there will be a producer-led panel facilitating an in-depth discussion of the big picture and future of the organic milk market and how all organic dairy producers will be impacted, and how they can plan for their family’s future. We will be asking: what can be done to influence the future, especially for the next generation? We are fortunate to have a number of farmers and presenters from the central New York region that will be heading up a very strong speaker list, including Nathan Weaver, Liz Bawden, Kathie Arnold, Stephen Weaver and many more. The May NODPA News will have more educational program information, and please check the NODPA website (www.nodpa.com) for regular program updates.
The 19th Annual NODPA Field Days program will be filled with information sessions, discussions and educational workshops that focus on the important and timely issues facing all organic dairy farm families. In addition, we will have a full trade show, our annual social hour and banquet featuring delicious local and organic food, and NODPA’s Annual Meeting on Thursday evening. Our Producer-Only meeting takes place bright and early Friday morning, and will follow a continental breakfast.
Meeting attendees will be able to visit the diverse trade show throughout the meeting, and will have many opportunities to meet new people and catch up with old friends. More information on the program will follow in the May NODPA News and online at www.nodpa.com, so for now SAVE THE DATE and begin planning to join us in September. Look for Sponsorship and Trade Show information and opportunities in your email and mailboxes in the next couple of weeks. For more information or if you have questions about sponsoring or exhibiting at the 19th Annual NODPA Field Days, contact NODPA Field Days coordinator Nora Owens any time at noraowens@comcast.net or 413-772-0444.
Posted: to Industry News on Mon, Apr 22, 2019
Updated: Mon, Apr 22, 2019
