MOUNT HOPE, Ohio – Soil health and dairy farm profitability will be among the topics for the 2025 Organic Farming Conference. The conference is Nov. 6-7 at the Mount Hope Event Center, 8076 SR 241, Mount. Hope.

Again this year, the planning committee focused less on a theme for the conference and more on helping producers find ways to improve their operations, according to Adam Yoder. Yoder operates an organic dairy farm near Charm, milking 35 head of Holsteins and is a member of the conference planning committee.

“The conference is geared toward people who are in the business of production agriculture,” Yoder said. “Agriculture is ever evolving.”

He said the goal of the conference is to help producers be profitable and with that in mind, this year’s conference features a mix of speakers in both the production side of agriculture and the business side of agriculture.

“We wanted to bring in a mix of speakers from executive level speakers to give a business perspective,” he said. “We wanted people with an agricultural perspective. We also want to bring in a mix of speakers that are local, from surrounding states and from a national level.

“We don’t want to lose our culture, but we are running a business and if we lose that, we are done. We want to support that way of life.”

Yoder added that a benefit of the conference is the opportunity for speakers to share new ideas with producers – the goal is to encourage and motivate them.

“They need to continue to tweak their operation or they aren’t going to make it,” he said.

Yoder said the trade show continues to grow and attract new venders and new products. A new addition to this year’s conference is a time for sponsor recognition and a chance for venders to share what they have to offer.

The conference opens on Nov. 6 at 8:30 a.m. with an overview of the day followed at 8:45 a.m. by a choice of presentations from Greg Bachman on “Starting a Dairy Farm from Scratch” or Direct Marketing by Brian Buckley, Jorgensen Farms. Bachman will share how they grew their operation from a single cow to their current herd of 70 cows, while Buckley will share tips on growing produce for the market and creating a unique experience for the customer.

Other morning sessions include a choice of “Carbonomics-The Amazing Economy of the Soil” by Keith Berns, Green Cover Seed “Permanent Bed Gardening” by Buckley. Berns will share how the principles such as supply, demand, currency, capital and infrastructure apply to the soil, while Buckley will share tips on regenerative farming with raised beds and silage tarps.

Afternoon sessions include a dairy panel on farm succession, timber management and how to get started in organic produce.

On Nov. 7, sessions begin at 8:45 a.m. with a presentation by Jordan Settlage on “Grazing Against the Grain” or “Organic Tree Fruit Production” by Isaac Yoder, Sunny Slope Orchards.

Settlage will share how he built a low input forage-based system that fits their farm, their cows and their goals for the operation. Yoder will share the challenges of growing organic fruit, focusing on growing systems, managing beneficial insects, disease resistant varieties, weed management with mulch and the challenges of biennial bearing varieties.

The morning presentations will conclude with sessions on “Living the Life” by Aaron Hershberger, or a panel on growing organic vegetables withy Raymond Weaver, James Otto and Marion Otto, with Aaron Weaver as the moderator.

Organic home sessions for the day include The Home Organized, Savory Soups and Freezer Food Prep.

In the afternoon, sessions on such topics as grassfed dairy, dairy economics and record keeping, and organic goats are planned.

The deadline for early-bird registrations is Oct. 25, 2025. The cost of the conference before Oct. 25 for one day is $25 per person and $35 per person after the 25th. The cost of the conference for both days is $40 per person before Oct. 25 and $50 per person after. Registrations may also be made at the door. Children 5 and under are free. The planning committee wants the conference to be family-friendly with a room available for mothers to feed or tuck their babies down for naps, with sleeping cribs and rocking chairs included.

The conference fee includes meals, breaks, registration and the vendor show.  Checks should be made payable to the Organic Farming Conference and mailed to 5119 Township Road 613, Fredericksburg, Ohio 44627. For more information contact Adam Yoder at 330-231-4226 or visit their website at www.organicfarmingconf.com. Lodging is available at Sleep Inn in Mount Hope (330-294-9977) or Comfort Suites in Berlin (330-893-7400). Mention the organic conference for a special discount.