Weekly Events & Opportunities in Sustainable Farming & Foods

Mob Grazing Workshop 

Monday, January 27th.  1:00 pm-5:00 pm. This free workshop will discuss ultra-high stocking-density grazing with rancher and mob grazing practitioner Chad Peterson.  Peterson mob grazes Sandhills meadows near Newport, Neb. and is a collaborating rancher of the Demonstrating Mob Grazing Impacts project. Workshop topics include "Mob Grazing in Nebraska: Ranch History, Goals, and Management" with Chad Peterson; "Mob Grazing at Barta Brothers’ Ranch" with Ben Beckman and Miles Redden; and "Soil Organic Matter" with Ana Wingeyer. Keim Hall on UNL's East Campus in Lincoln, room 150. 

Getting Started With Selling To Restaurants

January 27. Online. This evening webinar is part of the ongoing 2014 Beginning Farmer Webinar Series from Michigan State University Extension. http://msue.anr.msu.edu/news/dependable_information_for_beginning_farmers_where_can_it_be_found

Agricultural Working Lands and Wildlife: Grassland Bird Conservation in Northeastern Haylands and Pasturelands

This webinar is scheduled for January 28, 2014 2:00 pm US/Eastern. Participants will learn about opportunities to manage haylands and pasturelands in the Northeast for nesting grassland birds. http://www.forestrywebinars.net/webinars/grassland-bird-conservation-in-northeastern-haylands-and-pasturelands

Webinar: Workers and Employees

January 28. 6 p.m. Farming is a lot of work, and help is often needed. Should a farm work with volunteers, trade labor for food, or hire employees? This webinar will explore the options and guide farmers through the legal considerations. Checklists, flowcharts, and model documents will help attendees move forward after they’ve decided on the best approach for their farm. Register and learn more here. http://www.farmcommons.org/webinars

Lawn and Landscape School

2014 - Third Annual. T

 

uesday, January 28th. 

8:00 am-Thursday, January 30th 5:00 pm. 

The Lawn & Landscape School utilizes a systems approach for the management of lawns and landscapes. 

 

West Central Research & Extension Center, 

402 W State Farm Rd, 

 North Platte NE 69101-7751

Beginning Farmer Tax Credit Workshop

January 28, 2pm – 4pm. 

Council Bluffs. 

Dickinson & Clark CPAs, PC will be hosting a Beginning Farmer Tax Credit workshop in its Council Bluffs offices on Jan. 28 from 2-4 p.m. 

 

Reservations are requested. You can get more details or register athttps://beginningfarmertaxcredit.eventbrite.com

IOIA Webinar: Livestock Feed Audits

January 28 and 30. Online. This International Organic Inspectors Association webinar is presented by Sarah Flack. Two sessions of two hours each focus on livestock feed audits for the grazing and non-grazing seasons.http://www.ioia.net/schedule_list.html

Putting a Handle on the Tomato: Reinventing the Product

Bob Buccieri, former President of the Farmers Market Federation of NY January 28, 10:00am – 11:30am January 29, 6:30pm – 8:00pm - See more at: https://www2.gotomeeting.com/register/778777714 and at https://www2.gotomeeting.com/register/877650602

Mitigating Drought: Optimizing pasture and supplemental feed and managing risk

January 29. Browns Valley, California and Online. With the worsening drought conditions the University of California has organized a meeting to provide ranchers with information to assist them managing their herd during periods of low feed supply. The meeting will be held at the UC Sierra Foothill Research & Extension Center in Browns Valley. For those who cannot attend in person, the program will be broadcast on the Web. http://ucanr.edu/sites/sfrec/Extension_and_Outreach_Programs_and_Materials/Drought_Workshop/

Addressing Resource Concerns: Evaluating, Documenting, and Reporting Progress using NRCS' New Land Use Planning Criteria

This webinar is scheduled for January 29, 2014 2:00 pm US/Eastern. Participants will learn about the new USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service land use designations and how they will be implemented in Customer Service Toolkit and the Progress Reporting System. http://www.forestrywebinars.net/webinars/nrcs-landuse-planning-criteria

Spring 2014 Biotechnology/Life Sciences Seminar Series

Open Algae Pond Ecology. Wednesday, January 29th. 4:00 pm-5:00 pm. Presented by Dr. Robert McBride, Sapphire Energy. A reception will be held at 3:30 p.m. The event is open to the public. http://biotech.unl.edu/

An Introduction to Worker Cooperatives for Farmers and Start-ups. 

Please join the National Young Farmers Coalition and the Democracy at Work Institute for a webinar on how cooperative businesses are helping to build local food economies and support young farmers in creating new markets, reaching new customers and building sustainable, rewarding farm-based enterprises. On January 30th presenters from the US Federation of Worker Cooperatives, The Greenhorns, The National Young Farmers Coalition and cooperative farm practitioners will discuss: Examples of how the worker cooperative model is being used to share land and other resources to enable farmers to overcome barriers to entry and share land and labor; The basics of worker cooperative start-ups; Your questions on worker cooperative farm structure, operations, management and governance. https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/906283809815124226

Soil Borne Diseases of Dry Bean

January 30th. 11am. Martin Chilvers will describe the identification of soil borne diseases of dry bean.  Please register in advance, https://www1.gotomeeting.com/register/282381377

Approaches to Small Scale Farm Composting Webinar

January 30. Online. The University of Illinois Extension presents a weekly educational series for the small farm community, providing practical knowledge on emerging topics which advance local food production in Illinois. Webinars are held from 1:00 - 2:30 pm on Thursdays and are free. This webinar is presented by Ellen Phillips, University of Illinois Extension Small Farms/Local Foods Educator. https://webs.extension.uiuc.edu/registration/?RegistrationID=8854

Basic Prescribed Burn Workshop

Thursday, January 30.  Sidney. Guidance and instructions for people with or without prescribed burning experience.  See www.NebraskaPF.com for more info.

7th Annual Organic Seed Growers Conference

January 30-Febuary 1. Oregon State University. Corvallis, Oregon. The biennial Organic Seed Growers Conference brings together hundreds of farmers, plant breeders, researchers, university extension, certifiers, food companies, seed production and distribution companies, and other organic stakeholders in two days of presentations, panel discussions, and networking events. There are also farm visits and short courses prior to the two-day conference. Click here to learn more and to register. http://seedalliance.org/events/organic_seed_growers_conference

North American Farmers Direct Marketing Association Convention: Makin’ Hey in the Heartland

January 31 - February 5. Kansas City, Missouri. This is the premier farm direct marketing convention in North America, with innovative speakers and focused bus tours. The off-site bus tour is now alternated with the in-house program days, to provide a total of three days of bus tours and two days of sessions, speakers, workshops, and trade show. http://www.farmersinspired.com/MW2014/

Totally Tomatoes

February 1. Mason City, Iowa. This event is part of the Healthy Harvest of North Iowa Winter Workshop series focused on introducing financial management and refined production skills for North Central Iowa specialty crop producers. This crop-intensive workshop on tomatoes will be led by an experienced producer with opportunity for all participants to share their tips. Presenter Rick Hartmann will provide an overview of his tomato production practices, including which variety to choose and why, planting techniques & equipment, harvesting & post-harvest handling practices.http://www.northiowafood.org/sites/northiowafood.org/files/workshop_descriptions_registration.pdf

Lincoln Farmers’ Market Vendor Workshop

Saturday, February 1. Lincoln. Includes required food safety training for Lincoln Farmers’ Market Vendor Placard to sell home prepared/processed foods.  See 

http://1.usa.gov/1gBeQoh for the agenda.

Opportunities

Sourcing items for the NSAS conference menu

Hello NSAS Farmer Friends, Hopefully this finds you all well.  We are getting close to the annual conference again!!  It's always such a nice time to catch up with old friends, learn something new, and enjoy some food that is sourced from our local food growers.   We are working to finalize the menu for the conference and would request that you check your stores and see what you could contribute (sell, discount or donate) for the three meals we put on.  Consider:  root crops, other veg you may have stored, apples, nuts, cheese, meat, eggs, flour, ??? No Item may be to small to be considered.  Garnishes, break items... Please see what you could offer and reply to  jgarvey4@mccneb.edu by Wednesday, January 29th.   Our conference meals are always the best of any conference!  Help make it happen again!!

Feeder Pigs Available

Hello All! --Due to a recent accident, Alex will not be working on the farm this summer and we are temporarily downsizing many of our operations. We have 8 feeder pigs available for sale.  They came to us in November from Larry and Lanette Stec at Erstwhile Farm, and we estimate their average current weight at 140 lbs. They have been fed with feed ground by Mike Ostry and Family at Wagon Wheel Farm in Bruno, NE that is based on their certified organic corn, peas, wheat, barley and oats. We are asking $250 each, but are open to other offers. Thanks! Alex & Chloe, Robinette Farms, 17675 SW 14th, Martell, NE  68404, 402.794.4025, robinettefarms.com, facebook.com/robinettefarms

Seeking Land for Veggie Production

Hello everyone. I am sending this out to begin the search for land for our farm, Cook Grow Sew, to continue our Vegetable production and possibly begin the expansion into raising animals. We have been renting a small plot of land (1 acre) for the last 2 years in Northeast Lincoln from Sunwest farms, and this year might be our last. We currently live in that part of Lincoln so it has been an ideal situation when it comes to managing the daily commute, but we are open to options. Ideally we would like to find a place we can be on for a longer period of time, as building soil is a time consuming and dedicated process. I have talked to a couple of folks and gotten some leads, but so far nothing has panned out.  We really appreciate any information that could help us to continue to grow local food for our community. Thanks, Jeremiah Picard, Cookgrowsew.com, 402.570.3746

Custom Grazing/Finishing Available

Hope this finds everyone well. We've been blessed with the opportunity to lease some additional ground and are looking to take in some cattle in 2014. We can take them in at anytime. We have  turnips, organic cornstalks, creek/timber ground and hay that are available now until the growing season. From there, we will have warm season pastures and annual forages for grazing/finishing. Depending on timing and a few other factors, we can take in, up to, an additional 30-60 AU's. Since we are building our herd, we will consider cash or cows as payment. Please feel free to call me on my cell if you'd like to discuss further, 402-309-4088. Thank You, Jon

Veggie Farm for Rent

Small house, shed, garage, 2.5? acres. West Burnham Street. Near Pioneers Park. Recently renovated house.  Perfect for starter veg farm. Call Jeff at 402-429-9507.

Looking for Equipment

Anyone have a single row transplanter for sale or rent, suitable for bare rooted raspberrries? Mike @ mdl1356@gmail.com

Upcoming

2014 Healthy Farms Conference

February 14th & 15th. Kearney.  Deadline to reserve lodging is quickly approaching. $89.95/night good for single/ double/ triple/quadruple occupancy. To reserve a room call, 308.237.4400 and reserve a room under The Healthy Farms Conference reservations.  We have numerous opportunities to participate including young and beginning farmer rates, family packages, and member discounts. To register for the conference please visit,  http://www.eventbrite.com/e/2014-healthy-farms-conference-tickets-8213056473