October 27, 2004
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Hunter Francis
Cal Poly Sustainable Agriculture Resource Consortium
(805) 756-5086

Cal Poly to Co-Host Sustainable Agriculture Conference
On Organic Pest Management Dec. 6-7

SAN LUIS OBISPO – New innovations for both organic and traditional
farmers and wine grape growers and a daylong field workshop led by
renowned agricultural consultant Gary Zimmer, author of the best-selling
book “The Biological Farmer,” are the highlights of a two-day pest
management conference in December.

The conference will be held Monday and Tuesday, Dec. 6 and 7. It is
co-sponsored by Cal Poly’s Sustainable Agriculture Resource Consortium
(SARC) and the California Certified Organic Farmers.

Participants will learn about the latest developments in sustainable
pest management in sessions held in San Luis Obispo Dec. 6.
Presentations will focus on organic regulations, materials and
production practices, and ecologically-beneficial wine grape, olive and
vegetable production practices. The practices demonstrated in Saturday
workshops can be used as part of a comprehensive integrated pest
management strategy, and are applicable to both organic and traditional
farming.

The second day of the conference (Dec. 7) will be a field day led by
Zimmer, with workshops held in vineyards and working farms throughout
San Luis Obispo County. The author will lead an all-day, on-farm
workshop titled “Sustainable Farming Practices for Improved Pest
Management.”

The hands-on event will focus on effective natural pest control
strategies at a commercial vineyard and farm in the South County.
Participants will study soil tests and current management practices
under Zimmer’s guidance to develop recommendations for enhanced nutrient
and pest management on site.

Registration for the full conference is $175 before Nov. 15; $225 after.
Fees include meals and parking; accommodations are not included.

Participants may also enroll separately for either day. Cost is $125 for
the Dec. 6 session and $50 for the Dec. 7 session if postmarked before
Nov. 15. Fees will be $150 and $75 after Nov. 15. Students with valid
I.D. can register for $35 for Dec. 6 and $20 for Dec. 7.

Two-day conference participants can earn 14 Continuing Education Units,
including three Laws and Regulations Units, recognized by the California
Department of Pesticide Regulation. For details, visit “PCA Conference”
at www.ccof.org , or call Hunter Francis at (805) 756-5086.

About Gary Zimmer:
For the past 25 years, Zimmer has been evaluating agricultural practices
as a consultant, on his family farm, and as president of Midwestern
Bio-Ag, a biological farming consulting company located in Blue Mounds,
Wisc. He operates the Bio-Ag Learning Center, where biological farming
practices and agricultural products are field-tested. He is the author
of the book “The Biological Farmer: A Complete Guide to the Sustainable
and Profitable Biological System of Farming.” For more information visit
www.midwesternbioag.com.


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