By Blake Jackson
The Rural Partnerships Institute Indigenous Food Systems Project is hosting an interactive webinar series exploring Indigenous agronomy, its practical applications, and its integration with Western agronomic practices.
These webinars aim to foster a collaborative learning environment where participants can share knowledge and expertise.
The series begins with "Indigenous Agronomy in Practice" on March 6, 2025. This session will feature a research partnership between UW-Madison PhD student Daniel Hayden and the Ohe·láku corn growers cooperative.
Daniel and Lea Zeise will discuss their collaborative research on intercropping cover crops with Tuscarora white corn, providing insights into practical Indigenous agronomy. A community discussion for Tribal producers will follow.
Daniel Hayden (Comanche) researches intercropping with Native corns, while Lea Zeise (Oneida Nation) co-founded Ohe·láku to care for ancestral corn varieties and leads their cover crop research partnership with UW-Madison.
On March 19, "Archaeology and History of Wisconsin’s Native Agriculture" will delve into the historical context of Indigenous agriculture in Wisconsin. Dr. Bill Gartner will share his work with the Menominee Nation, studying their ancestral raised field agricultural systems and land use.
"Scaling Indigenous Corn Production: From Mounds to Combines" on March 27, 2025, will trace the journey of Indigenous corn seed from planting to harvest. Dan Cornelius (Oneida) will detail each step, covering both traditional and modern production scales, including the processing needed for the Tribal Elder Food Box.
"Basics of Indigenous Agronomy" on April 1, 2025, will provide an introductory overview of agronomy for Tribal producers and staff. Will Fulwider will lead the session, addressing participant questions and facilitating a community discussion. Additionally, an in-person Indigenous Agronomy Field Training will be offered in March.
Will Fulwider, a Regional Crops Educator, focuses on on-farm research and reduced input approaches, including nitrogen cycling with cover crops and integrating winter annuals into crop rotations.
Participants are encouraged to register for all webinars of interest, even if they cannot attend live. Recordings will be emailed to all registrants. The webinars will be conducted via Zoom, with links provided to registered participants.
For registration visit, https://cias.wisc.edu/news/introduction-to-indigenous-agronomy-webinar-series/
Photo Credit: gettyimages-klosfoto
Categories: Wisconsin, Crops