Cornell Organic Field Crops & Dairy Conference
Event Details
Date
March 6, 2026
Time
8am-4:30pm
Location
Lux Hotel & Conference Center
2468 State Route 414
Waterloo, NY
Host
Southwest New York Dairy, Livestock and Field Crops Program
Farmers, researchers, educators, and agricultural service providers from across the Northeast are invited to the 2026 Cornell Organic Field Crops & Dairy Conference, held Friday, March 6, 2026, from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at the Lux Hotel & Conference Center in Waterloo, N.Y.
Co-hosted by New York Soil Health and Cornell CALS, the annual conference brings together leaders in organic grain, dairy, and livestock systems to share practical tools, new research, and farmer-tested strategies to support resilient and profitable organic production.
Farmers, researchers, educators, and agricultural service providers from across the Northeast are invited to the 2026 Cornell Organic Field Crops & Dairy Conference, held Friday, March 6, 2026, from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at the Lux Hotel & Conference Center in Waterloo, N.Y.
Co-hosted by New York Soil Health and Cornell CALS, the annual conference brings together leaders in organic grain, dairy, and livestock systems to share practical tools, new research, and farmer-tested strategies to support resilient and profitable organic production.
This year's program features:
Michel Cavigelli, Lead Scientist, USDA Agricultural Research Service Farming Systems Project
Talk: Findings from the Beltsville Long-term Cropping Systems Project
Amber Lambke, Co-Founder, Maine Grains
Talk: Connecting Farms, Food, and Community with Maine Grains
David Mortensen, Emeritus Professor of Agroecology, University of New Hampshire
Talk: Organic Grain Production in the Northeast: Cultivating Our Path Forward
Chris Wilson, Business Manager, Wilson Organic Farms
Talk: Practical Systems, Real Returns: Dairy-Cropping Integration for Soil Health and Profitability
Sam Lucy, Co-Owner, Bluebird Grain Farms
Talk: Vertically Integrated Organic Grain Farming: One Farm's Journey From Seed to Package
Jessica Williamson, PhD
Talk: Optimizing Forage Quality in Harvested Forages
The full agenda includes breakout sessions, soil health and crop management workshops, farmer-led roundtables, and a networking hour featuring beers brewed with locally grown grain. Registration opens at 8:00 a.m., with the first session beginning at 8:30 a.m. The conference concludes at 4:30 p.m.
Evening Networking Event - March 5
On Thursday, March 5, attendees are invited to a Regenerative Organic Networking Event from 5-8 p.m. at Fleur de Lis Brew Works in Seneca Falls. The evening includes dinner, a drink ticket, and informal conversations focused on soil health practices and organic transition.
Registration
• Early Bird (through Feb. 5):
$65 - One-Day Conference (includes coffee, lunch, and networking and appetizers)
$30 - Evening Event (includes dinner and one drink ticket)
• Standard Rate:
$80 - Conference registration after Feb. 5
Upcoming Events
FAMACHA Training Jamestown, NY
May 23, 2026 : FAMACHA Training Jamestown, NY
Jamestown, NY
Learn what it takes to effectively manage internal parasite burdens in sheep and goats. This class is free to attend and is taught by Jess Waltemyer, Cornell's State Small Ruminant Specialist, and Amy Barkley, SWNYDLFC Livestock Specialist.
Artificial Insemination Training For Cattle Producers
June 5 - June 6, 2026
Arkport, NY
Subject Options:
- Learn AI in Your Herd - Upcoming Trainings in NY
- Hands-On AI Training for Beef & Dairy Producers
- Improve Your Herd's Genetics - Register for AI Training
2026 Multi-Species Pasture Walk at the Vanstrom Homestead
June 20, 2026 : 2026 Multi-Species Pasture Walk at the Vanstrom Homestead
Kennedy, NY
Our team is partnering with Chautauqua Co Soil and Water, WNY Crop Mangement, and the Vanstrom Homestead to bring you a pasture walk and hands-on workshop series. Topics include multi-species grazing, forage sampling/results interpretation, soil sampling/results interpretation, and a high tensile fence installment.
Announcements
No announcements at this time.






