January 11-132012 at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Springfield.

PRE REGISTER BY JAN 3

Below are some highlights from the organic tracks at the conference:
• Keynote address by Jim Riddle, University of Minnesota and USDA National Organic Standards Board: “What is Organic and Why Should I Care?” Thursday, January 12 from 10:45 to 11:45.
• Spray Drift Issues for Specialty Crop and Organic Growers. Comprehensive look at spray drift, including remarks on the Illinois Pesticide Act by Warren Goetsch of the IL Department of Agriculture, a case study of a spray drift incident, and suggestions on how to minimize risk and recover damages. Thursday, January 12 from 1:30 to 3:30.
• 13 different 40-minute workshops on a variety of organic topics related to organic soil and fertility, fruit and berry production, vegetable production, grain production, and livestock systems.
• Annual meeting of the IL Organic Growers Association–come tell us how we can support education and networking among organic growers in Illinois. You need not be a certified organic producer to join us. Thursday, January 12 from 4:00 to 4:45.
See our web site for a full listing of organic workshops and educational sessions. See here for the full ISCAOC program.

The cost of the conference for advance registration is $75 per person; $45 for additional persons in the same group. There is an additional $15 charge for registration after January 3. Registration includes the trade show and lunch. The conference banquet on the evening of January 12 is an additional $25 ($30 at the door).

To register in advance, please complete the registration form in the conference brochure and mail it to  Illinois Specialty Crops Conference • 1701 Towanda Avenue • Bloomington, IL 61701 no later than January 3, 2012

Prices and times are as follows

Pre-Conference Workshops (Wednesday, January 11, 2012)

(Select one workshop per attendee.)

#1 – Scaling Up Local Foods: Moving Beyond Farmers Markets

# Attending _______@ $35/member*; $45/non-member (includes lunch); on-site registration $15 more per person ………………………………………………… $ ______________

#2 – Legal Issues for Specialty Crop Producers

# Attending _______@ $35/member*; $45/non-member (includes lunch); on-site registration $15 more per person ………………………………………………… $ ______________

#3 – Getting Started in Local Foods: Guidelines and Resources for New Growers

# Attending _______@ $35/member*; $45/non-member (includes lunch); on-site registration $15 more per person ………………………………………………… $ ______________

#4 – Farmers Markets: Creating Resources and Partnerships for a Healthy Community

# Attending _______@ $35/member*; $45/non-member (includes lunch); on-site registration $15 more per person ………………………………………………… $ ______________

Specialty Crops, Agritourism and Organic Conference (Thursday & Friday, January 12-13, 2012)

Registration Fee (Includes trade show, lunch, and educational sessions; on-site registration $15 more per person)

First Person Attending……….$65/member*; $75/non-member = ……………………………………………………………………………………………………… $ _____________

Additional Person(s) #_______ at $40/member*; at $45/non-member = ………………………………………………………………………………………….. $ _____________

Banquet Tickets #_______ @ $25 ($30 on-site) …………………………………Vegetarian Option (circle if preferred) #________ ………………………. $ _____________

(Dietary restrictions required in advance)

Trade Show Only Pass (Thursday – Friday, January 12-13, 2012) (for those individuals attending only the trade show activities) # Attending _______@ $10/person =

For more info contact Charlene Blary: 309.557.2107 • (fax) 309.557.3729 • cblary@ilfb.org • www.specialtygrowers.org