Jul 6, 2022
Rodale Institude’s Organic Field Day, soil health workshop coming July 21-22
The Rodale Institute has scheduled an Organic Field Day at its Kutztown, Pennsylvania campus on July 22.
Farmers and community members are invited to join Rodale Institute’s researchers, consultants and staff to learn the latest results of their research projects and visit 16 stations on the 386-acre experimental farm. Participants will have the opportunity to interact one-on-one with Rodale Institute experts and learn about a wide variety of research and demonstration projects, all focused on regenerative organic agriculture.
“Field Day is our biggest event of the year,” said Jeff Moyer, Rodale Institute CEO. “Our guests can look forward to a wide range of exciting and engaging presentations that will inspire them to change their operations and grow the regenerative organic movement on their own farms and in their communities.”
State Senator Judy Schwank, Democratic chairman of the Senate Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee, will hold a press conference at 12:30 p.m. to highlight Rodale Institute’s 75th anniversary and the forthcoming science center building project. Rodale was awarded $3 million through the Redevelopment Assistance Capital Project grant funding for the 11th district which will go toward a new Science Center to replace the existing lab and provide the surrounding communities with a state-of-the-art research facility. This investment will support Rodale Institute in its work toward a more sustainable food system, as well as mitigating climate change.
During the field day, stations will be set up throughout the farm, so visitors will have the opportunity to explore the living laboratory by walking or enjoying a leisurely wagon ride from site-to-site. The stations will include:
- Organic No-Till Farm Management
- Farming Systems Trial
- Vegetable Systems Trial
- Organic Consulting
- Pastured Hog Production
- Beekeeping
- Industrial Hemp Production
- Soil & Water Quality
- Composting
- Organic Apple Orchard
- Ultraviolet Light Use in Agriculture
- Rodale Institute Farmer Training Program
- Medicinal Garden
- Pennsylvania Certified Organic
- Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture
- Bell & Evans U.S. Grain Initiative
Field day cost is $25. Attendees are encouraged to bring their own lunch, and there will be food on-site available for purchase. Attendees should dress appropriately for a day out on the farm with closed-toe shoes, sun protection, and a water bottle.
Rodale’s Organic Field Day is set for 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. July 22 at:
- Rodale Institute
- 611 Siegfriedale Road
- Kutztown, PA 19530
Guests can register at rodaleinstitute.org/events/
Soil health workshop
In addition, Rodale Institute and Organic Agronomy Training Service (OATS) will be host a soil health workshop from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. July 21 at Rodale’s Kutztown location.
At this workshop, ag advisors and professionals will look at the practical tools available for improving soil health in organic field crop systems and how they can help their farmer clients assess the health of their soils. Guests can register at rodaleinstitute.org/events/
For anyone not able to travel to Kutztown, Rodale Institute is again offering a virtual field day option through the virtual campus. The virtual field day will include on-demand, view-at-your-own-pace video content featuring our research trails and farm projects. Interested participants can register now for access. The cost for the Virtual Field Day is $25.
