Our colleagues at the UVM Extension Northwest Crops and Soils Tea are helping to host two great conferences in March:
8th Annual Vermont Grain Growers Conference – March 15, 2012, The Essex Resort and Spa, Essex, VT, uvm.edu/extension/grainconference. 
The theme for the daylong event–offered in collaboration with the Northern Grain Growers Association– for farmers, bakers and homesteaders is “The Seeds that Farmers Need.” Four concurrent workshop sessions will be offered on topics including open-pollinated corn, grains as nutrient-dense animal feed, resurgence of ancient grains, home-scale stone mill maintenance, bread flour quality considerations and gluten-free flatbread making.
2012 Winter Hops Conference – March 19, 2012, Sheraton Hotel and Conference Center, Burlington, VT, uvm.edu/extension/hopsconference. 
As interest in craft brewing in the Northeast increases, hops growers are looking for ways to improve production and yield, including growing a wider variety of hops more efficiently, to meet the needs of these brewers. UVM Extension will sponsor its third annual Winter Hops Conference–in collaboration with the Northeast Hops Alliance– featuring hops experts, researchers and growers who will share research and recommendations for growing hops in this region.
