Welcome to The Acres U.S.A. Eco-Ag Conference!

2024 49th Annual Eco-Ag Conference Tradeshow

Thanks for joining Acres U.S.A.® at our 49th Annual Eco-Ag Conference and Trade Show! Scroll down for a more detailed schedule.

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Back to the Roots: Cultivating a Future Grounded in Tradition and Innovation!

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THE BEST SPEAKER AND TRADESHOW LINEUP IN REGENERATIVE AGRICULTURE

Event Schedule

Back to the Roots: Cultivating a Future Grounded in Tradition and Innovation!

Eco-Ag U

Any Eco-Ag U Ticket includes access to the general admission sessions Dec 4 & 5

Get the most out of your experience by signing up for an Eco-Ag U workshop (or two!) – the registration fee includes your choice of pre-conference workshops plus the entire conference and trade show. Spend a full day with an instructor diving deep into a topic that’s important to you.

You will have direct, small-classroom access to the top minds in eco-agriculture, where you can learn the real details behind their success, and ask questions specific to your farm or operation.

Day 1 | Monday, December 2, 2024

Workshop Day: Attendance of all-day Eco-Ag U workshops require “1 or 2-Day Eco-Ag U + Conference” registration.

Eco-Ag U Registration Opens: 7:30am

Eco-Ag U Workshops: 8:30am - 4:00pm

Eco-Ag U Reception and Mixer: 4:30-6:00pm

Tradeshow and Bookstore Open: 4:30-6:00pm

Understanding Ag: Understanding Ag: two-day intensive program.

This workshop will focus on the Six Principles of Soil Health, the three Rules of Adaptive Stewardship and the Four Ecosystem Processes and how producers can increase their success by working with nature instead

of against her.

Who this is for:

Any farmer or rancher who wants to improve their operation while spending less.

Instructors:

Dr. Allen Williams – One of the world’s leading authorities on Adaptive Grazing and Nutrient Density of Foods.

Gabe Brown – One of the world’s leading authorities on Regenerative Agriculture

Chuck Schembre – A leader in Regenerative Orchard and Vineyard production.

Brian Dougherty- A world- renowned expert in nutrient cycling and soil function.

Luke Jones – A leader in practical farm and ranch regenerative practices.

Topics covered will be:

● How to implement the 6:3:4 on your own farm.

● How to become an observer of these natural principles.

● How to save money.

● How to use epigenetics.

● How to market your products effectively.

Monday December 2nd: 8:30am - 4:00pm

John Kempf: Unlocking the Potential of Regenerative Agriculture

This one-day workshop with John Kempf focuses on enhancing fruit and vegetable production by applying cutting-edge nutritional strategies. Learn how to unlock the genetic potential of crops to boost yields by understanding plant nutrition at different growth stages. Discover how to enhance photosynthesis by managing key factors such as carbon dioxide, water, and chlorophyll levels. Explore techniques to fortify plants against insects and diseases, reduce water requirements, and improve soil health with beneficial microbes. Gain insights into how plants and insects communicate, and learn how to manage fertilizers and monitor nutrient release for optimal growth and pest prevention. Perfect for growers looking to take their fruit and vegetable production to the next level!

Monday December 2nd: 8:30am - 4:00pm

Mark Shepard: Building Permaculture Operations

Join this intermediate-to-advanced workshop on creating a productive perennial polyculture agroforestry farm, no matter your location! Led by Mark Shepard, you'll learn to mimic your environment, manage rainwater, and select plant communities for your land. Explore innovative fertility strategies like cover crops, mulching, and livestock integration. Understand the Land Equivalent Ratio (LER) and how to harvest through all ecological phases. This workshop offers step-by-step guidance and adapts as your farm matures, perfect for establishing a resilient system in any climate!

Monday December 2nd: 8:30am - 4:00pm

Jordan Green: Pastured Pigs - Farrow to Finish Intensive Workshop

Farrow to Finish Intensive Workshop. Pastured pigs offer a wonderful opportunity for both the start up farm or mature operation to utilize marginal acres into a profitable farm enterprise. This one day workshop hits the big picture of designing, building and operating a scalable pastured pork enterprise.

Topics covered will be:

● Infrastructure and ground considerations for your farm.

● Minimal and simple infrastructure, gear and equipment.

● The pigs! Farrowing through finishing.

● Management & Movement for symbiotic effect.

● Building a profitable sales model.

Monday December 2nd: 8:30am - 4:00pm

Reception in Trade show

4:15 pm - 6:00 pm

Day 2 | Tuesday, December 3, 2024

Workshop Day & Conference Start: Attendance of all-day Eco-Ag U workshops require “1 or 2-Day Eco-Ag U + Conference” registration.

Eco-Ag U and Conference Registration Opens: 7:30am

Eco-Ag U Workshops: 8:30am - 4:00pm

Trade Show & Bookstore FREE & Open To The Public: 10:00am-6:30pm

Conference Registration Opens: 2:00pm

Opening Keynote: 4:15-5:15pm

Reception on Trade Show Floor: 5:30-7:00pm

The Trade Show will be FREE and open to the public all day Tuesday. The conference will kick off on Tuesday afternoon.

Understanding Ag: Understanding Ag: two-day intensive program.

This workshop will focus on the Six Principles of Soil Health, the three Rules of Adaptive Stewardship and the Four Ecosystem Processes and how producers can increase their success by working with nature instead

of against her.

Who this is for:

Any farmer or rancher who wants to improve their operation while spending less.

Instructors:

Dr. Allen Williams – One of the world’s leading authorities on Adaptive Grazing and Nutrient Density of Foods.

Gabe Brown – One of the world’s leading authorities on Regenerative Agriculture

Chuck Schembre – A leader in Regenerative Orchard and Vineyard production.

Brian Dougherty- A world- renowned expert in nutrient cycling and soil function.

Luke Jones – A leader in practical farm and ranch regenerative practices.

Topics covered will be:

● How to implement the 6:3:4 on your own farm.

● How to become an observer of these natural principles.

● How to save money.

● How to use epigenetics.

● How to market your products effectively.

Tuesday December 3rd: 8:30am - 4:00pm

Matt Powers: Best Practices in Regenerative Soil Science & Microscopy with Matt PowersJoin Matt Powers for a full day of deep-diving into the how & why behind regenerative soil best practices + see how to verify the work LIVE with Matt demoing with an LW Scientific epifluorescence microscope, so bring your roots and soil!! Matt will be viewing and live evaluating samples for a selection of lucky audience members - come prepared!

Tuesday December 3rd: 8:30am - 4:00pm

Nigel Palmer: In this engaging, full-day workshop, participants will dive into hands-on learning. We will review the complexities of minerals, biology and building organic matter in the soil and the role voltage and acidity play in establishing life sustaining conditions that prevent pathogen and insect damage to plants. With this information a score card for measuring regenerative and sustainable practices will be introduced and we will evaluate the effects of adding amendments directly to the soil, foliar feeding and drenching. We will make and decant a vinegar extraction and a fermented plant juice.

Tuesday December 3rd: 8:30am - 4:00pm

Austin Unruh: Taking Grazing to New Heights Using Silvopasture

Austin Unruh, the founder of Trees For Graziers, the largest silvopasture-focused company in the US, will present an in-depth course on the many lessons learned in the last five years of work establishing trees in pastures.

Topics will include:

● How to protect young trees in actively grazed pastures

● What types of trees make the most sense for various livestock operations

● The importance of tree genetics

● The economics of silvopasture establishment, both the cost and the returns

● Where to look for funding to reduce the cost of establishing trees

● How to avoid common and expensive mistakes in tree establishment

Tuesday December 3rd: 8:30am - 4:00pm

Opening Keynote - Allen Williams

4:15 pm - 5:15 pm

Regenerative Agriculture: The Genesis of Ecosystem Restoration - Superior

Reception in Trade show

5:15 pm - 7:00 pm

Social Hour - Allen Williams

6:30 pm - 7:30 pm

Mendota

Day 3 | Wednesday, December 4, 2024

Registration Opens: 7:30am
Bookstore: 8:00am-6:30pm
Trade Show: 8:00am-6:30pm
Morning Keynote: 8:30am
General Sessions: 8:30am-5:00pm
Reception on Trade Show Floor: 5:15-6:30pm

Coffee With Will Harris

7:00 am - 8:00 am

Mendota

Morning Keynote - Erin Silva

8:30 am - 10:00 am

Superior

10:00 A.M. - 10:30 A.M. Tradeshow Presentation, EnSoil Algae - Mendota

Breakout 1

10:30 - 11:45 am

Will Harris

Radically Traditional Farming, One Family, One Farm, Six Generations - Salon A

Gary Zimmer

Biological farming principles - Minerals and Soil Fertility - Salon D

Nigel Palmer

Plant voltage, sap flow, and mineral amendments for enhancing plant and soil health. - Salon E

Allen WIlliams

Salon F

Luke Jones

Finding Your Context Against the Grain - Mendota

11:45 A.M. - 1:30 P.M. Lunch

12:45 P.M. - 1:15 P.M. Tradeshow Presentation, Merge Impact - Mendota -The industry's first data-backed regenerative marketplace

Breakout 2

1:30 - 2:45 pm

Jordan Green

Low cost methods for building multi species silvopastures - Salon A

Jeff Poppen

Biodynamics Simplified - Salon D

Matt Powers

The other half of (most) plants - Salon E

Chuck Schembre

The Art, Craft, and Science for Creating Resilient Orchard Systems - Salon F

Stefanie Jaeger

Utilizing Technology to SupportResilient Local Food Systems - Mendota

Breakout 3

2:45 - 4:00 pm

John Kempf

explore how managing calcium, silicon, boron, and the rhizophagy process can enhance plant health, drought resilience, and yields through biologically driven nutrition. - Superior

Megan Neubauer

Pick-Your-Own Growing Strategies to Maximize Variety, Yield, and Profit - Salon D

Brian Dougherty

Digging Deep: Are You Mining Your Soil or Managing Sustainably? - Salon E

Lawrence Mayhew

Biological Carbon-Based Fertilizers and the vital role of ultra-trace elements - Salon F

Trade Show Presentation - Hiwassee

2:45 - 4:00pm - Mendota

How to Integrate Compost Extracts into Your Operation

PANELISTS: Adam York, Josh Riddle, Cole Neese,

Randy Booker

During this panel discussion, we will hear from four operation managers who have started the

journey of integrating compost extracts into their operations. We will hear from them why they

decided to go down this path and what tools and techniques helped them achieve their goal.

4:00 P.M. - 4:30 P.M. Tradeshow Presentation, Myconaut - Mendota -Nothing is forever, not even PFAS. Let's Talk PFAS BioSolutions

Evening Keynote - Gabe Brown

4:30pm - 6:00pm

Common ground for the common good - Superior


Reception in Trade show

6:00pm - 7:00pm

Social Hour - Gabe Brown

7:00pm - 8:00pm

Mendota

Movie Screening - Roots So Deep

7:00pm - 9:00pm

Featuring Allen Williams

Superior

Day 4 | Thursday, December 5, 2024

Registration Opens: 7:30am
Bookstore: 8:00am-3:30pm
Trade Show: 8:00am-3:30pm
Morning Keynote: 8:30am
General Sessions: 8:30am-3:00pm
Final Keynote: 3:30-5:00pm

Conference Ends: 5:00pm

Coffee With Joel Salatin

7:00am - 8:00am

Mendota

Morning Keynote - Jay Fuhrer

8:30am - 10:00am

Food and a Home - Superior

10:00 A.M. - 10:30 A.M. Tradeshow Presentation, Simple Soil Solutions Pitch - Mendota

Breakout 1

10:30 - 11:45 am

Austin Unruh

Silvopasture: Taking Grazing to New Heights - Salon E

Steve Diver

Biofertilizers--Grow Your Own Beneficial Microorganisms - Salon F

Joel Salatin

Crafting Success: Marketing Your Farm Products - Superior

Chris Jones

Organic Farming & Water Quality - Mendota

Breakout 2

10:30 - 11:45 am

Don Huber

They did everything right and killed the crop. A case of overlooking the elephant in the room! - Salon E

Jason Mauck

Farm Weird - Salon F

Andre Leu

Turning Weeds into Cover Crops - Mendota

Mark Shepard

Farm Runoff Management for Climate Survival - Superior

Laura Kavanaugh, Ph.D.

Measure-Manage-your microbes - La Crosse, Milwaukee, Greenbay

12:30 P.M. - 1:00 P.M. Tradeshow Presentation, Natural Resources Group - Mendota - Organic products that preserve nutrient availability, reduce leaching, build soil vitality, and blooming and fruiting.

Panel - Moderated By John Kempf

2:00 pm - 3:00 pm - Panel Includes: Joel Salatin, Gabe Brown & Gary Zimmer

Refreshing Thinking - What have you changed your mind about?

Evening Keynote - Joel Salatin

3:00 pm - 4:45 pm

Overcoming threats to Eco-Ag - Superior

Tradeshow

The Annual Eco-Ag Conference & Trade Show is the premier regenerative agriculture event for meeting with production-scale farmers who are dedicated to their operations with next-level organic and biological solutions. Meet the best companies in the industry on our tradeshow floor!

Complement your education with learning at our trade show, bustling with innovative products and services in every specialty that will help you launch your operation to the next level in regenerative agriculture.

Our trade show also includes innovation presentations and demonstrations and complimentary coffee.

You Need To JOIN US

Sponsors

Presenting Sponsor

Green Lightning

Booth - In the bookstore

[email protected] 614-452-5311

Diamond Sponsor

Booth - 8b

[email protected] (423) 436 0502

Platinum Sponsors

Booth - 17a

[email protected] 613-5424-1552

Booth - 54a,55a

(800) 327-6012

Booth - 5b

[email protected] 1-800-495-6603

Booth - 5a

406-590-4627

Booth - 1a

Booth - 2b

[email protected] 1-877-NFA-BIOS

Booth - 1b

(720) 443-6868

Booth - 51a

434-983-8000

Booth - 7b

[email protected] 509-747-5471

Gold Sponsors

Booth - 42a

[email protected] 514-332-1140

Booth - 11a, 12a

608-935-2345

Booth - 6a

(800) 370-4879

Silver Sponsors

Booth - 35a

[email protected] (703) 820-3333

Booth - 57a

[email protected] 888-444-6455

Tradeshow Exhibitors

Farm Power 38a

Restoration Ag 9a

[email protected]

River Hills Harvest 47a

[email protected]

MOSA Organic 58a

844-637-2526

OGrain 7a

Young Living Ind. Dist. 8a

Agri Life USA 56a

Demeter/Viroqua Biodynamic Group 2a

Contact Bio Solutions 20a

The Fertile Current 41a

Driftless Seeds 22a

Neptune's Harvest 61a

Liquid Catalyst Technology LLC 31a

Sabbath Soils 45a

Moka Coffee 24a, 25a

Tend 23a

Four Elements Herbals 36a

Rye Revival 59a

Timeless Fence/Ash Supplies 60a

Sunrise Foods International 43a

Moonwise Herbs 34a

Marbleseed 33a

Earthmedicine 32a

What Sets Us Apart

Every year, the Eco-Ag Conference & Trade Show sets a new standard for innovative and practical learning in modern agriculture. This is not your average regenerative farming conference. Eco-Ag is the premier conference for science-based sessions on regenerative agriculture. You will learn techniques and tactics you can immediately take home to the farm and put into practice. Each moment of programming is thoughtfully curated to provide useful, practical and measurable information and connections that you can apply to your operation.

Join us for the main conference and trade show on Dec. 4-5 or decide to come early for one of our incredible full-day Eco-Ag U intensive workshops Dec. 2-3… either way you can expect a fulfilling experience that will include:

  • Exceptional learning from leading farmers, agronomists, and others who are pioneering a new way to farm ecologically and economically.

  • Engagement with innovative companies building tools and services to help you surpass your regenerative farming goals.

  • Connecting with your peers who are also seeking to chart a new path forward for their regenerative operations and with experienced growers and agronomists who have valuable lessons learned and are ready to share.

Program

The Eco-Ag Conference & Trade Show is filled with engaging keynote speakers, 1- to 2-hour breakout sessions in regenerative agriculture topics ranging from soil health – including making the most of the microbiome, composting, cover cropping and more, to farm management to livestock and beyond.

Eco-Ag U

Get the most out of your experience by signing up for an Eco-Ag U workshop (or two!) – the registration fee includes your choice of pre-conference workshops plus the entire conference and trade show. Spend a full day with an instructor diving deep into a topic that’s important to you.

You will have direct, small-classroom access to the top minds in eco-agriculture, where you can learn the real details behind their success, and ask questions specific to your farm or operation.

Marriott Madison West

1312 John Q Hammons Dr, Middleton, WI 53562

1 608-831-2000

1312 John Q Hammons Dr, Middleton, WI 53562, USA

1313 John Q Hammons Drive Middleton, Wisconsin 53562

Downtown Madison, Wisconsin

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