In partnership with NC State University, the Carolina Farm Stewardship Association hosts the annual Organic Commodities & Livestock Conference as a one-day conference each winter in North Carolina.
This event centers on certified organic commodities, commercial-scale specialty crops, and pasture-based livestock. The conference is a full day of educational sessions, research updates, panel discussions, and networking.
In 2025, the Organic Commodities & Livestock Conference will be held at NC A&T State University’s Farm Pavilion in Greensboro, North Carolina on Monday, March 3rd from 8:30am – 3:30pm. Learn more on their website and register today! Scholarships are also available. See below for more details.- Cost & scholarships: $45 for non-farmers, free + $20 refreshment fee for farmers.
- NC SARE scholarships are available for Extension professionals . Please apply here.
- Southern SARE is also offering scholarship funding for farmers and Extension Agents to attend the conference. Please contact Mary Beth Miller at marybeth@
carolinafarmstewards.org for more information.
About the Conference: The Organic Commodities & Livestock Conference (OCLC) features a full day of educational sessions, research updates, panel discussions, and networking, all focused on certified organic commodities, commercial-scale specialty crops, and pasture-based livestock.
Who Should Attend OCLC: The conference is designed for commercial-scale growers of commodities, specialty crops, and pasture-based livestock, as well as educators, extension professionals, and agronomists, to learn, build connections, and explore opportunities in organic agriculture.
On The Agenda for OCLC 2025:
- Morning Organic Market Development Intensive, featuring a panel discussion on organic market outlook, breakout sessions, and grower-buyer networking
- Lunch plenary with farmer and researcher Dr. Heather Darby of the University of Vermont
- Afternoon breakout sessions on topics including:
- Cover crop management considerations and tools
- Carbon sequestration and soil health strategies
- Balancing animal welfare with organic standards
- Incorporating livestock into organic field rotations
- Organic grains production
- Financial incentives for organic management through conservation practices
- Trellised cucumber high tunnel production
This event is supported through the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Transition to Organic Partnership Program (TOPP). TOPP is a program of the USDA Organic Transition Initiative and is administered by the USDA Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) National Organic Program (NOP).
