On-Farm Variety Improvement

Merchant Funding Alternatives

An increasing number of farmers are starting to breed new varieties and reselect older varieties for their farms. This presentation will introduce you to the steps needed to improve varieties for your particular region, as well as to create new crop varieties on your farm with little or no hand-pollination or specialized tools. Topics will include how to set breeding goals and find the best starting material, crossing techniques, mass selection, and progeny testing. The speakers will also discuss farmers working together cooperatively toward improving varieties.

Presenters:

Steve Peters, Seed Revolution Now and Family Farmers Seed Cooperative, San Mateo, CA;
Jared Zystro, Organic Seed Alliance, Arcata, CA.