[montanafood_ag] Montana Organic Association Farm Tours - South Phillips County

[tammy howard]

These look like a great group of farm tours next weekend. Please consider attending!

 

Tammy Howard (previously Hinman)

Sustainable Agriculture Specialist

National Center for Appropriate Technology

Direct line: 406-494-8683

Toll free: 1-800-275-6228

 

 

 

 Montana Organic Association Presents

Organic Farm Tour

South Phillips County

June 21, 2016 10:00am

This tour will feature four organic farming operations that are 

representative of organic agriculture in Phillips County.

Tour locations and speakers during the event will include: • Sweetgrass Cattle and Grain – Glenn Meisdalen is currently in transition to organic production. His crops include spring and winter wheat, Kamut®, Emmer, purple prairie barley, lentils, garbanzo and alfalfa hay. He also plans on using cover crops for soil building as well as fall/winter grazing for his cattle herd.

• John Meisdalen –The Meisdalen Farm has farmed organically since 2007. They are currently raising organic wheat, Emmer, Spelt, Einkorn, Kamut®, and garbanzo beans. They also plant cover crops on all of their acres, generally using sweet clover or peas.

• Glen and Terri Sims – The Sims have been organic producers since 2009. Their farm focuses on spring wheat production, but also incorporates companion crops, pulse crops and cover crops. Recent changes to their farming practices include a movement towards minimum tillage and a 1,000 cubic yard composting operation.

• 4M Farms – Clifford and Anna Merriman’s farm originally transitioned to organic in the late 1990s. They grow a variety of crops consisting of Kamut®, spring wheat, winter wheat, flax, millet, lentils, purple prairie barley and garbanzo beans. They use cover crops, companion crops, smother crops and green manure to improve yields, soil health and for weed control.

• Wes Gibbs, Integrity Ag Services, Ancient Grain Research• Jim Larson, Montana Ag Safety, Farm Safety Issues and Support

• Horse drawn hay rides

Registration will be at 10:00am, tour will start at 10:30am at Clifford and Anna Merriman’s red and white Quonset hut, 15 miles south of Malta on Content Road. Follow the signs.

Tour is free, open to the public and lunch will be provided. RSVP is Required: Contact Andrew at (406) 378-2106 <tel:%28406%29%20378-2106> 

Funding to support the 2016 MOA Farm Tours is provided by a Western Sustainable Agriculture Research & Education (SARE) grant through Montana State University, Organic Advisory & Education Council, Montana Farmers Union, Montana Milling Inc., Organic Valley, and Montana Flour and Grain. 

The Montana Organic Association is a non-profit organization advocating and promoting organic agriculture for the highest good of the people, the environment and the state’s economy.www.MontanaOrganicAssociation.org <http://www.montanaorganicassociation.org/>  / www.Facebook.com/MontanaOrganic <http://www.facebook.com/MontanaOrganic> 

Photos courtesy of Kamut International

-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://lists.ncat.org/pipermail/montanafood_ag/attachments/20160610/6cfa52de/attachment-0001.html>