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Lessons From the Hemp Field: Navigating Opportunities & Risks of the New Market

Wednesday, January 13, 9am - 12pm PT

$20

Due to the recent legalization of hemp, it has become one of the most widely adopted agricultural products among farmers. Particularly in California, hemp is extremely popular, with over 500 farms having been approved to grow hemp in 2020. Unfortunately, this rapid boom in production combined with a very young market and an immature hemp processing industry has led to a high-risk and volatile production and marketing environment for growers. This 3-hour Preconference Webinar is designed to inform growers about some of the major risks related to hemp production and fill knowledge gaps currently facing them by providing information on important production, processing, and marketing issues, as well as legal concerns. This webinar has invited hemp growers and regulators to discuss production and marketing methods and policies.

 

Agenda: 

9-9:10: Rex Dufour (NCAT), Welcome, logistics, Overview of program 

9:10-9:40: Dr. Gordon Jones: General overviews of hemp.   

9:45-11:15: Farmer panel, Akasha Ellis (Co-Founder and Farm and Operations Lead, Ventura Seed Company), Phil McGrath - McGrath Family Farm, and Alissa Vanderwey (NV Farms, Oregon), including Q & A, and possibly, Sandor Bogdan (Bogdan Agriculture Systems, CA). Series of short presentations about their farm and Q & A moderated by Rex 

11:15-12: CDFA representative (laws and regulations), OR Dept of Ag (tentative, registration/rules), Jeff Schaczenski (NCAT, insurance options), including Q & A.

 

Register now

Registration closes Tuesday, January 12 at 9am PT

Sponsored By: 
National Center for Appropriate Technology (NCAT)

Date and Location

Day: 
Wednesday
Date: 
10/14/20
Presenter(s): 

Akasha Ellis

Title: 
Akasha Ellis
Presenter Affiliation: 
Ventura Seed Company
Bio: 
Akasha Ellis, Co-Founder and Farm and Operations Lead, Ventura Seed Company, has dedicated his life to wellness and healing. Early on he saw the power of hemp after witnessing first-hand how CBD aided his father who was gravely ill. He quickly moved to pair his passion for farming and Mother earth with helping people. His mission at Ventura Seed Company was and is tomake hemp more accessible to people globally by growing in a way that helps heal our planet and people.

Phil McGrath

Title: 
Phil McGrath
Presenter Affiliation: 
McGrath Family Farm
Bio: 
Phil McGrath is the fifth generation of his family to farm on the Oxnard Plain in Ventura County, which is the site of Rodale Institute’s new California Organic Center. Phil regards farming in this area as “a dream” and says there is nothing better for him, especially when it comes to organic farming. Phil has served on the Ventura County Farm Bureau board. He’s also a member of the Los Angeles Food Policy Council. Phil was part of the group that started a Farm to Schoolprogram in Ventura County and is also part of a pilot program designed to develop a local food hub. His true passion is farm education. For twenty-five years he has conducted farm tours with elementary, high school and college classes. He can often be found hosting agricultural delegations from all over the world.

Dr. Gordon Jones

Title: 
Dr. Gordon Jones
Presenter Affiliation: 
OSU Southern Oregon Research and Extension Center
Bio: 
Dr. Gordon Jones is extension agriculture faculty at the OSU Southern Oregon Research and Extension Center located in the Rogue Valley. He holds a B.S. in Environmental Studies and Sustainable Agriculture from Warren Wilson College and an M.S. and Ph.D. in Crop and Soil Environmental Sciences from Virginia Tech. Gordon conducts research, teaches extension classes, and provides technical assistance around pasture, hay, and hemp management, soil fertility, cover crops, and pesticide stewardship in Jackson and Josephine counties.

Alissa Vanderwey

Title: 
Alissa Vanderwey
Bio: 
Alissa Vanderwey is a 9th generation farmer combining her innate skill of growing with her education on nutrition to create a highly beneficial crop of CBD and CBG. Alissa has taken the operation reins from her family cooperative hemp farm production managing over acres. Alissa has maintained the dedication necessary to remain organic and runs operations utilizing regenerative and sustainable practices. Alissa is an excellent example of the new generation of farmers that continue to the farm succession through family lineage and fresh opportunities.

Sandor Bogdan

Title: 
Sandor Bogdan
Presenter Affiliation: 
Bogdan Agricultural Systems
Bio: 
Sandor Bogdan has 25 years of experience in hemp, cannabis and large scale agricultural production. Prioritizing organic implementation is of utmost importance, from large scale cattle ranches to craft cannabis. He recently started Bogdan Agricultural Systems with his two sons, growing greenhouse, boutique, smokable hemp flower at a 6 acres facility in Pescadero, usingorganic practices.

Jeff Schahczenski

Title: 
Jeff Schahczenski
Presenter Affiliation: 
NCAT/ATTRA
Bio: 
Jeff Schahczenski has expertise in organic and sustainable agriculture public policy, marketing and economics, genetically modified crops, organic horticulture, and renewable energy in agriculture. He has worked on regional sustainable agriculture projects; has been an adjunct instructor for the University of Montana, Western Montana College, and Montana Technological University; and served on several non-profit boards of directors. Jeff started one of the first CSA (community supported agriculture) farms in New Jersey, served in the Peace Corps in Belize, Central America, and worked on his grandfather’s dairy farm in Wisconsin. He holds master’s degrees in agricultural economics and political science from the University of Missouri – Columbia and the University of Florida.

Thank you to our EcoFarm 2023 sponsors!

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