AMES, Iowa -- Iowa State University's Organic Agriculture Program will host the 5th Annual Iowa Organic Conference on Monday, Nov. 14, 2005 at the Scheman Building, located on the ISU campus.

The conference is sponsored by ISU Extension, Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship, Natural Resources Conservation Service, the Leopold Center for Sustainable Agriculture, Practical Farmers of Iowa, Organic Valley Cooperative of Family Farmers and the National Center for Appropriate Technologies. Katherine DiMatteo, executive director of the Organic Trade Association, will reflect upon 20 years of industry growth and give attendees a view of the future.

The organic conference also includes a trade show and breakout sessions covering topics ranging from organic grain and livestock production to working with the United States Department of Agriculture's Conservation Security Program.

For information regarding the organic conference,  visit the Web site at http://www.ucs.iastate.edu/mnet/organic05/about.html.

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