Students, researchers, farmers, and educators are welcome to submit abstracts!

You are welcome to submit abstracts on research results, farm management practices, outreach, and community activities that aim to, through livestock, help mitigate climate change, improve soil health, restore biodiversity, enhance ecosystems, and contribute to human health and animal welfare. Abstracts should preferably be related to livestock production and its subproducts, but other topics might also be considered.  

Some topics include, but are not restricted to: 

• Grazing and pasture management, silvopastoral systems, livestock behavior/health/performance in grazing systems

• Integration of cover crops in livestock or cash crop production

• Biodiversity, native grasslands, beneficial insects, pollinators

• Manure management 

• Air pollutants

• Soil health

• Water use and quality

• Effects of livestock/manure management practices on the nutrient content of food

• Life cycle analysis and strategies to reduce GHG emissions in livestock systems

• Indigenous agricultural practices

• Socioeconomic impacts of regenerative agriculture on the rural and urban community, policy, marketing, certification, etc. 

• Human and social aspects of regenerative livestock systems, e.g., considering farmers, farm workers, community members, or other stakeholders

Accepted abstracts will be presented as a poster during the Symposium. A few graduate student abstracts will be chosen by the scientific committee to be presented orally.

Submission deadline: March 10th

Results will be communicated in March

Not sure about how to prepare an abstract? Instructions are below. If you still need help, please contact Dr. MaryGrace Erickson (eric3085@umn.edu).

Abstract Template

​Presentation Title (max. 20 words) 

Author and Co-author/s Full first and family name(s)

1Farm/Department, InstitutionFarm, City, State, Country, email

2Farm/Department, Institution, City, State, Country, email

Short Description of what will be discussed during the poster/oral presentation (max. 500 words):

​Why is it important? What was done? What is your main finding? What is your key message? Does this provide a practical solution to a problem?  How will this help the audience? What are your key recommendations?

Images/tables (optional)

______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Abstract and Poster Guidelines  

(adapted from the American Dairy Science Association)

ABSTRACT GUIDELINES

Accepted abstracts will reflect the following:

• Results of research, or

• Description and outcome of regenerative agriculture management practices or

• Format and outcome of educational/training programs on regenerative agriculture topics

General requirements:

• Maximum of 500 words.

• Title

• Author and co-authors

• Email contact of at least one author

• The objectives of the presentation are clearly and concisely stated at the beginning of the abstract.

• Clear description of methods and results.

• A clearly stated conclusion.

• Information is inside one single document

Specific requirements: Research abstracts

Must include:

• Pertinent methodological conditions (such as the population and sample, design, instrumentation, methodology used, data collection, and data analysis) are included to define the scope of the work.

• The abstract includes those details that directly influence the interpretation or enhance the understanding of the results or methodologies presented.

• The results are compiled, condensed, and presented with great care. Only information that is discussed is presented. Only data relating to the objectives are reported. Any statistical inferences shall be sufficiently detailed to authenticate the interpretation of the data. 

• One simple, illustrative table may be used if it is the most effective method to convey the results in a clear manner.

Specific requirements: Management practices, outreach, and teaching abstracts

Must include:

• The year of adoption or project execution, the extent of use/engagement (e.g.,  how many acres are farmed under the practices, what number of people were reached), and the type of agricultural system (crops/livestock species, county/state, and country).

• A brief explanation about the management practices, how they relate to regenerative agriculture (help mitigate climate change, improve soil health, restore biodiversity, enhance ecosystems, contribute to human health and animal welfare), benefits, and challenges of adopting the practice.

• The activity must be innovative and related to regenerative agriculture principles, such as a new idea, creative modification, or application of an existing idea. 

• Up to two images can be included below the text. 

AN ABSTRACT IS UNACCEPTABLE IF IT

• contains meaningless statements such as “The results will be presented.”

• contains typing errors;

• fails to comply with submission requirements or

• presents opinion or speculation without demonstrated scientific evidence or use in the land, teaching, or extension experience.

• Only for Research abstracts: abstracts are unacceptable if presents data without appropriate statistical analyses or measurements of data variability; includes no data or statements relating to the objectives.

POSTER GUIDELINES 

Maximum dimensions: 36” x 48”  vertical orientation

Infographic posters are highly recommended, but traditional posters are also accepted. Learn more about infographic posters here (the organizers are not affiliated with those websites):

https://venngage.com/blog/infographic-poster/

https://www.canva.com/posters/templates/infographic/

• The same principles of simplicity and clarity apply to poster and oral presentations; a poster is a hybrid of an oral presentation and a printed paper.

• Your story should proceed logically, with headings indicating sections: Introduction, Objective(s), Materials and Methods, Results, Summary, and Conclusions. The Conclusions should not merely be summary statements but should provide the reader with your interpretation of what the results mean.

• Use photographs, drawings, or flow charts to help your audience better visualize the materials and methods used. Graphs must have titles, the axes must be named, and units must be quantified. Tables must include a title.

• Include a small, professional picture of yourself near the abstract number and the title so that other attendees can identify you as the presenter of the poster.

• Have colleagues or peers review your poster and make suggestions. Ask for a review before you produce the final copy of your poster.

Other tips:

Text:

• short statements, paragraphs using bullet points

• concise lists

Color:

• text: darker color on a white or light-colored background

• matting: darker or subdued colors instead of brilliant colors

• colors: limit the number used to avoid busyness and distractions; simple use can add emphasis

Text Size:

• bold, large, block style; mix uppercase and lowercase letters (i.e., sentence case)

• title: legible from 5 to 10 m of distance

• text: legible from 1.5 to 2 m of distance