The Midwest Organic & Sustainable Education Service (MOSES) announces that an organic dairy pasture walk and farm tour will be held on Wednesday, August 24, from 1pm – 4pm at John and Kay Wiemer's Organic Dairy Farm near Arcadia, WI. The event is free and will be held rain or shine. Beginning and experienced producers are invited to join farmers John and Kay Wiemer as they discuss their pasture conversion experiences, rotational grazing system, organic pasture management, waterway conservation practices and manure management. In addition, Organic Valley veterinarians Dr. Paul Dettloff and Dr. Guy Jodarski will be on hand to discuss organic herd health management. The Wiemers have found that grazing cattle more intensively has had many benefits on their farm. Pasturing has reduced their input and labor costs and improved the health and longevity of their cattle. As good stewards of the land, they have also been pleased to see reduced soil erosion and manure runoff. Their farm, a combination of rolling hills and flat fields, has a stream that flows into the Trempealeau River, a tributary of the Mississippi, so they've incorporated conservation practices like creek rip rapping, creek fencing, strip cropping and CRP set aside into their farm management plan. The Wiemer family has been farming near Arcadia since 1935. John bought the farm from his parents in 1987 and began the transition to organic in 1999, becoming certified in 2002. Today, the farm consists of 157 acres owned and another 293 rented. The Wiemers produce corn, barley, rye, winter wheat, alfalfa and pasture to feed 85 milking cows and their young stock. The organic dairy pasture walk is sponsored by Organic Valley and the Midwest Organic and Sustainable Education Service (MOSES). Attendance is free, all are welcome and refreshments will be served. MOSES is a non-profit education and resource organization based in Spring Valley, WI, that works with farmers, farming organizations, and government agencies to organize its organic farm field days. Field day sessions are open to all farmers, agriculture professionals, and those interested in organic and sustainable farming practices. MOSES provides free information and resources to attendees of its field days, trainings and farm events. Pre-registration is preferred. There are three easy options to register for MOSES field day events: online at www.mosesorganic.org, call (715) 778-5775 or email: angie@mosesorganic.org. 08.05.2011