Please note that pre-registration for this event has passed. If you would like to attend, please contact Tay Fatke to be added to the waitlist- [email protected] or 888-906-6737 Ext. 724.

Join us in Chippewa Falls for Organic University: Moooving Toward Organic Dairy, a full-day dairy workshop covering certification basics, organic feed strategies, and transitional production practices led by industry experts. Lunch  will be provided, and the afternoon will include plenty of time for networking with fellow farmers and agricultural professionals.

Agenda

10:00 -10:30 Registration & Refreshments
10:30 - 10:45 Welcome & Intros
10:45 - 12:00 Certification basics with Emily Fowell (Natures International Certification Services)
12:00 - 1:00 Lunch
1:00 - 2:30 Organic Feed Considerations with Melissa Weyland, Joe Klein, Kevin Mahalko, and Tom Moos 
2:30 - 2:45 Break
2:45 - 4:15 Breakout Sessions: Herd Health Management (Guy Jodarski) and Pasture Management (Jason Cavadini & Michael Geissinger)
4:15-4:30 Break
4:30 - 5:00 Organizational Support Offerings, Wrap-up, Q&A

Presenter Bios

Emily Fowell — Emily is the Certification Director at NICS – Nature’s International Certification Services, a subsidiary of Ecocert Group, and an accredited certifier for the National Organic Program (NOP). She has been with NICS for 10 years in various roles and has been involved in the organic industry for 20 years. In addition to her organic certification experience, she has a background in organic dairy production and food and animal laboratory quality systems. She currently serves as the co-chair of the Wisconsin Organic Advisory Committee. Along with her husband and daughter, she owns and manages a certified organic crop and multi-species livestock operation in southwestern Wisconsin.

Tom Moos — Tom Moos is a lifelong dairy farmer from Chippewa County, Wisconsin, and the owner of Moos Farms since 2001. His farm is certified organic (2005) and grassfed (2016), managing 300 acres of pasture and forage. Tom's leadership experience includes serving on boards and committees of organizations including National Farmers, NAFCOR, Wisconsin Farmers Union, Organic Valley, and his local town board.

Kevin Mahalko — Kevin Mahalko farms 395 certified organic acres and milks 45 Holstein dairy cows in Gilman, WI. The Mahalko family has been involved in grazing networks since the 1990s and Kevin has worked as a grazing educator since 2008.

Melissa Weyland —  We currently milk 90 cows with robots and rotationally graze/hay 126 acres. I have been in dairy my whole life, my parents transitioned to organic in 2001 and I started up my own organic dairy farm from scratch in 2022. I have been working professionally with conventional dairies who are transitioning to organic since 2009 and really enjoy it!

Joe Klein — Joe Klein is the MW Dairy Pool Mgr for Organic Valley, for the past 15 years. Prior experience includes owning/managing the family’s 240 acre organic dairy farm near Cuba City, WI, with ten years on the Organic Valley truck. Joe also worked for MOSA as a staff inspector, conducting nearly 1000 organic crop, livestock and processing inspections.

Jason Cavadini — Jason Cavadini is the Grazing Outreach Specialist with the UW-Madison Division of Extension. He conducts research, outreach, and educational programming focused on perennial forages, livestock-integrated cropping systems, and managed-grazing for farms of all scales. Jason is a Certified Professional Agronomist, serves as an advisor to GrassWorks Inc., and operates a cow-calf to finish grazing operation with his wife and five children near Stratford, WI.

Michael Geissinger —  Michael is a Grazing & Nutrient Management Outreach Specialist for UW-Madison Extension, based out of Northwest Wisconsin. He is a Certified Crop Adviser who has focused his career on outreach and on-farm research pertaining to grazing, soil conservation, and soil fertility. Always aiming to help bridge the gap between applied research and practical recommendations for producers, Michael's goal is to support graziers and farmers in their learning and management to ultimately help them steward the long-term sustainability of Wisconsin's farms.

Guy Jordarski — Guy Jodarski, DVM, is the former staff veterinarian for Organic Valley, CROPP Cooperative and is based in Neillsville, WI. He received his Bachelor of Science degree in biology from the University of Wisconsin-River Falls, and his Doctor of Veterinary Medicine from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. He has experience in helping, organic, conventional and transitioning dairies.

Tom Manley — Tom Manley, is an organic advisor, farmer and advocate at Marbleseed, and works in a contribution agreement with NRCS providing conservation planning support and training for staff and producers. Tom and his wife own a 40-acre homestead farm near Spring Valley, Wisconsin. They are working to develop a permanent, woody perennial-based system with alley cropping and grazing. He hopes to someday earn the title of “Gentleman Farmer.” He enjoys running, winemaking, and woodworking.

Space is limited and registration closes Friday, March 20th

Any additional questions or interpretation requests, please reach out to Tay Fatke, at [email protected] 

THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS!