Agenda

Southeast Seed Summit

Friday - Growing Seed in the Southeast Intensive (note: this requires a separate registration from the Saturday and Sunday workshops. See the Registration section on the Summit main page for details)

For most of these sessions, we have identified a few speakers to lead the topic. However, this summit is designed to foster peer-to-peer learning. Part of these sessions will be dedicated to participants sharing their experiences and expertise about these topics. If you have ideas you want to share at the sessions marked OPEN SPACE SESSION, please sign-up here.

8:30 am – 9:15 am Welcome and introductions

Ira Wallace and Melissa DeSa

9:15 am - 9:45 am Basic seed biology and physiology

Myra Manning

10:15 am – 11:30 am Regional pest, disease and climatic factors in seed production.

Workshop leads: Chris Smith, Ira Wallace, Edmund Frost, and Elizabeth Little

OPEN SPACE SESSION

11:30 am – 1:00 pm – Lunch

1:00 pm – 2:00 pm Facilitated conversation on how to reach the people who are not at the table and what the impediments are to more effective outreach to people of color in the region.

Jovan Sage

2:00 pm – 4:00 pm Listening session and Southern organic seed system strategic planning.

A big part of the strategic planning will be based on what everyone sees as the biggest strengths, challenges of the region, and our visions for the future. We are hoping that everyone participating in the Southeast Seed Summit can take a few minutes to fill out this four question survey to asses the strengths, challenges and dreams of the southeast seed system.

Craig LeHoullier and Jared Zystro

4:00 pm – 5:00 pm Seed harvesting and cleaning, processing and equipment peer-to-peer knowledge sharing

OPEN SPACE SESSION

Saturday

7:00 am – 8:30 am – Breakfast

8:30 am – 9:45 am Growing vegetable seed in the Southeast

Learn from Southeast seed growers and experts about the tools and techniques you need to be successful in growing vegetable seed in our region. Presenters will share information about timing, variety choices, pollination, harvest and post-harvest seed crop management, as well as best choices for tools and infrastructure.

Workshop leads: Edmund Frost, Ira Wallace, and Melissa DeSa

OPEN SPACE SESSION

10:15 am – 11:30 am Growing field crop seed in the Southeast

Interested in growing field corn or small grains as seed crops? Hear from members of the Southern Farmers Seed Co-op about the necessary tools and equipment, recommended variety choices, and seed crop management throughout the season and in storage.

Workshop leads: Peyton McDaniel and Ben Miller

OPEN SPACE SESSION

11:45 am – 1:15 pm – Lunch

1:30 pm – 2:45 pm Seed production economics, marketing, and market niches

Could commercial seed production be a profitable part of your farm? Find out from experienced farmers and seed industry experts about negotiating seed production contracts, and finding the right scales, markets and seed crop types.

Workshop leads: Debbie Piesen, Brett Grohsgal, Peyton McDaniel and Ben Miller

OPEN SPACE SESSION

3:15 pm – 4:30 pm Seed Showcase – Everyone can bring seeds and attendees set up tables to showcase their farms and business and swap seeds and ideas.

Sunday

7:00 am – 8:30 am – Breakfast

8:30 am – 9:45 am Finding farm solutions with variety trials

Variety trials can help you find the best varieties to grow for the farm and for the customer. Variety trials are also essential for farmer-breeders and seed growers dedicated to the continual improvement of seed. This workshop will help farmers gather useful information through good trial design and data collection without increasing labor and resource inputs. Presenters will share real life examples of variety trial layouts, results, and challenges.

Workshop Leads: Jeanine Davis, Edmund Frost and Jared Zystro

OPEN SPACE SESSION

10:15 am – 11:30 am Breeding Crops for Resilience in the Face of Climate Change

Brett Grohsgal and Michael Mazourek

Learn the fundamental skills to develop and adapt seed varieties to your farm in a changing climate. From planning a breeding project to crossing varieties and selecting the best plants, experienced plant breeders will show you how to get started and provide inspiring examples.

Throughout the conference

The CFSA Seed Exchange will be open to for everyone to bring their seeds to share: https://www.carolinafarmstewards.org/seed-exchange/

Lee Barnes and Doug Jones