Posted: 09.10.2010
Trying to figure out ways to jump-start your own rural business or turn your land's natural resources into income-generating (or savings) resources? The Wisconsin Association of Resource Conservation and Development (RC&D) Councils will explore "Growing Power, Greening the Economy" during its annual conference Sept. 22-24 at the Midway Best Western Hotel, 1835 Rose St. La Crosse, Wis.
The public is welcome to attend the pre-conference field tour as well as the conference break-outs that will explore everything from biomass to hazelnuts. As a special offer to rural residents interested in the conference, the early-bird registration fee of $95 for the full conference is being extended to Sept. 10.
The conference is organized by Southwest Badger RC&D on behalf of the statewide association. Registration should be made by calling the Southwest Badger RC&D office at 608-723-6377, ext. 135. Payment can be made by credit card. For reservations at the Midway Best Western, call the hotel at 608-781-7000 and mention the RC&D conference to receive the discount rates of $64.99 (single) and $74.99 (double).
Participants have the option of a pre-conference tour of forest ag enterprises Sept. 22 in rural Viola, Wis. A separate fee of $25 will be charged for the pre-conference tour and pre-registration is required. People can carpool from LaCrosse out to the farm, or stop at the farm on the way to LaCrosse.
The Viola tour will highlight Mark L. Shepard, owner and manager of New Forest Farms LLC. In 1995, the Shepard family began planting perennial and woody crops using the Agroforestry Practices of alley cropping, silvopasture, windbreaks and forest farming. The farm is a conscious conversion from a typical row-crop farm into a perennial agricultural ecosystem using oak savannah, succession brushland and eastern woodlands as the ecological models. The farm produces both solar and wind power with excess energy sold to the local utility company.
Workshops on Sept. 23 and 24 include: Program Updates by NRCS State Conservationist Pat Leavenworth; The Future of Biomass Energy by Alliant Energy's Bill Johnson; Wisconsin's Biomass Potential by Brett Hulsey; Mississippi River Fall Migration by the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service; True Costs of Harvesting Woody Biomass Project by Patrick Dayton; Woody Biomass Challenges & Opportunities by Terry Mace; Human Powered Trails; Perennial Grass Biomass Research by Steve Bertjens; Energizing Health Care: Energy Conservation & Renewable Energy by Jeff Rich. A keynote address will also be delivered by U.S. Representative Ron Kind.
The regular conference also includes three tours. The tours are of the Upper Midwest Environmental Sciences Center, one of 18 comprising the research arm of the U.S. Department of the Interior, situated on 65 acres with a research facility with some 50 experimental ponds and raceways; Excel Energy's French Island Biomass Generating Plant that reuses wood waste and railroad ties (for energy) and processed municipal solid waste (which is processed into refuse-derived fuel); and the Cameron Park Farmer's Market, which started in 2003 to advocate for the re-creation of a permanent farmers market in La Crosse's downtown and now includes over 30 members selling local produce, meats and dairy, as well as arts and crafts from local artists.
The Thursday evening dinner speaker will be "The Last River Rat" Kenny Salwey. An author, river guide and veteran woodsman, many people have been inspired by Salwey's documentary film "Mississippi: Tales of the Last River Rat." The film follows the life of the Alma, Wis., native who has lived his life close to the land, getting by as a river guide, trapper, fisherman, hunter, woodsman, and root and herb collector along the Mississippi River.
For more details about the conference, contact Southwest Badger RC&D at 608-723-6377, ext. 135; online at www.swbadger.com.
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