Weekly Events & Opportunities in Sustainable Farming & Foods

Small Farms: New Markets

April 13. Online. Northeast SARE and the Cornell Small Farms Program present a free, three-part webinar series open to the public. The webinars feature dairy, livestock, and mushroom farmers that have all transitioned successfully to one or more new wholesale markets. Farmers will reflect on their decision making process, benefits and challenges, costs, and infrastructure needed to get their products to bigger markets. Each webinar also features one of the farmer's 'wholesale' buyers who will describe how they establish productive relationships with smaller farms, and outline their business models and buying requirements. This webinar is called Upstate Livestock Farm Reaches NYC Restaurants, focusing on the experience of Stephen Winkler and his family selling their Lucki 7 Livestock Farm products, including 800-1000 hogs, 35 head of beef, 700 meat chickens, and 7000 dozen eggs a year. http://smallfarms.cornell.edu/2015/03/30/small-farms-new-markets-webinar-series-opens-april-6th/

Webinar: Business Planning in Agriculture

April 13. 3 p.m. Join the Farmer Veteran Coalition for webinar that will cover the mindset and process of writing a business plan. They will walk through what you need to think about before you sit down to write a business plan and what tools you can use to help you. https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/8868712832035758849

The Relevance of Soil Biology in Assessing Fertility and Soil Health

April 14. Participants in this webinar will learn how soil biology directly and indirectly influences crop growth and nutrient cycling, along with methods for measuring biological activity in soil and interpreting soil respiration to understand nutrient availability. In the Soil Health and Sustainability series, this webinar is presented by USDA NRCS Science and Technology. The presentation will be given by Will Brinton, Ph.D., Director, Woods End Laboratories. http://www.conservationwebinars.net/webinars/relevance-of-soil-biology-in-assessing-fertility-and-soil-health

Fungus Among Us: The Economy of Mycelium

April 14th. Come learn about how mushrooms can restore the earth and how to make a living at the same time. During this workshop you will learn how to recognize the patterns found in mycelium and the ecosystem, and how mushrooms can save the world. You will also learn some basic techniques on how to create a mushroom enterprise business. The patterns found in mycelium can help us to rethink our economy, while providing abundance and health for people and planet. https://www.facebook.com/events/936180756392842/

Assessing Carbon Footprints on the Farm

April 14. In this webinar from the Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy, Gijs Kuneman from the Centre for Agriculture and Environment (CLM) in the Netherlands will speak about current developments on climate impacts from farming. He will address tools for monitoring carbon footprint at the farm level including the CLM Climate Yardstick and the Cool Farm Tool and look at innovative approaches to lower carbon footprints at the farm level. http://www.iatp.org/event/assessing-carbon-footprints-on-the-farm

Entomology Seminar on Artificial Bumble Bee Domiciles

 April 14.  4:00 pm–5:00 pm. UNL's East Campus Union. “Artificial Bumble Bee Domiciles: An Entomological Enigma” will be presented by Louise Lynch, entomology graduate student.   Jeri Cunningham, 402-472-8678, jcunningham1@unl.edu. https://www.facebook.com/events/828708450541665/

Container Gardening with Edibles

 7:00 pm–9:00 pm. UNL'S City Campus Union. UNL Garden Friends will be hosting a spring lecture featuring Corey Brabec, manager of Earl May Nursery. Corey is very knowledgeable and will speak about Container Gardening with Edibles. It should be a fun and informative event. There will be a reception and refreshments following the lecture. Free admission. Susan Budler, 402-472-1229,sbudler1@unl.edu

O'Neill Sustainable Ag Meeting

April 15th. Contact Marlowe at marlowepasture@nntc.net for details

Installing perennial prairie strips

April 15. Online. The regular monthly Iowa Learning Farms webinar features Timothy Youngquist, agriculture specialist in the Iowa State University (ISU) Department of Agronomy. The presentation will focus on ISU research that shows by strategically converting 10 percent of a crop field into perennial prairie can greatly reduce soil erosion as well as phosphorous and nitrogen loss. The ILF webinars are held on the third Wednesday of each month at 1 p.m. They are free and all that is needed to participate is a computer with Internet access. http://www.extension.iastate.edu/ilf/content/iowa-learning-farms-april-webinar-focuses-installing-perennial-prairie-strips-farmland

From Lilies to Gladiolus: Flower Power Plant Breeding Webinar

Wednesday, April 15 at 1:00 pm. Join the National Association of Plant Breeding and PBG Works for a webinar on flower breeding, entitled From Lilies to Gladiolus: Flower Power, by Neil Anderson of the University of Minnesota. The webinar takes place on Wednesday, April 15, 2015 at 2PM Eastern Time (1PM Central, 12PM Mountain, 11AM Pacific Time). The webinar is free and advanced registration is required. Register in advance at http://www.extension.org/pages/72712

Discerning Pallets: Growers' Experiences Selling Their Crops Through Food Hubs

April 16. Online. The National Good Food Network has assembled farmers representing a wide variety of experiences--different geographies (CA, MT, MI, and MA), different sizes (from 8 to 400 ac.), different products (vegetables, animals, and mixed)--who sell into different kinds of food hubs (non-profit, for profit, growers co-op) asking different services from them (simple transport, sell-through, and selling to the hub). In this webinar, the farmers will share their unedited experiences and advice with their fellow farmers across the country who might now be considering a relationship with a food hub. https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/5216800408833088002

Western Corn Rootworm Seminar

 April 17.  3:30 pm–4:30 pm. UNL's East Campus, Keim Hall. The Western corn rootworm causes in excess of $1 billion in yield loss and control expenditures annually. Managing Western corn rootworms is difficult because of their ability to evolve resistance. Blair Siegfried, professor, UNL Department of Entomology, will present an overview of his research to understand resistance evolution in rootworms and describe recent developments in rootworm management technologies. Join us in person or online at https://connect.unl.edu/fridayseminarseries/.

Manure and Nutrient Management in Tile Drained Lands

Friday, April 17 at 1:30pm. This webinar will expose participants to management and fate of manure and nutrients in tile drained agricultural landscapes. Participants will be given an introduction to tile drainage followed by information and case studies on the fate of manure application timing, rate and mobility to tile drains. Finally participants will learn about management practices and technologies aimed at helping producers reduce the risks associated with manure and nutrients reaching tile drains and associated surface waters. http://connect.extension.iastate.edu/lpelc

Flock to the Farm

April 18th. Wahoo. Fleeces, shearing, wool handling,baby lambs and other sheepy topics for family fun. https://www.facebook.com/events/284537841670325/

Graze Master Open House

April 18th. Pleasant Dale. 

Our family is starting a new meat company and a movement to improve agriculture. We want to invite our neighbors to enjoy an evening of fellowship and celebrating our new venture. https://www.facebook.com/events/1587401878168688/

Party for the Pollinators

April 18th. Lincoln. We’ll have The Bootheels playing in the café with their fabulous Americana sound, and we’ll be sampling recipes from the many foods that depend on pollination. It’ll be a fun and delicious way to celebrate our amazing pollinators. Bee there or bee square! https://www.facebook.com/events/1560859720847204/

Composting Demonstration

April 18. Lincoln.  10:00 am.  Pioneers Park Nature Center’s backyard composting demonstration area.  Sarah Browning, Nebraska Extension in Lancaster County, 402-441-7180, sbrowning2@unl.edu. Learn how to be successful with composting by attending a composting demonstration sponsored by Nebraska Extension in Lancaster County and the City of Lincoln Recycling Office. Sessions are presented by Extension Master Gardeners. At each composting program, two lucky participants will win either a composting thermometer or a composting bin. http://lancaster.unl.edu/hort/

Opportunities

FarmTable Delivery is Hiring

We're HIRING! Office Manager, Vendor/Producer Relations, Accounts Receivable. Effective Immediately. (This is one single position, perfect for the well rounded person). Location: Harlan, Iowa. For more information contact, 

Ellen atFarmtabledelivery@gmail.com, 712.579.1933

Soaker Hoses

Anyone have a good source for a volume order of soaker hoses? Lanette, 402-897-4065, erstwhilefarm@gmail.com

Whole-Farm Revenue Protection Survey 

The National Center for Appropriate Technology (NCAT) is working with the Rural Advancement Foundation International-USA (RAFI) to better understand experiences with crop insurance and with a new crop insurance product called Whole-Farm Revenue Protection. Whole-Farm Revenue Protection is a pilot crop insurance policy available for the 2015 crop insurance year. The policy provides crop insurance coverage based on a farm’s 5-year revenue history, and it enables a farm to insure more than one crop with one policy. The link to the survey is https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/rafiwfrpsurvey. Questions about this survey can be directed to James Robinson at 919-542-1396 ext. 209 or james@rafiusa.org.

Help Wanted

Small but diverse greenhouse and herb/vegetable growing operation in SW Lancaster County needs a p/t to f/t employee/intern/helper effective ASAP. Minimum availability: Now until Memorial Day. For the right person, this position could extend until October/November.  Work in a 100° greenhouse required for first few weeks; then work shifts to the field. Must be able to lift 40 lbs. Must be able to get to a workplace 22 minutes from central Lincoln on time. Some flexibility on shifts, but limited to daylight hours. We are a Certified Natural Grower. If interested, please send a one-page resume and your contact information to gene@heartlandorganics.net. I will reply to everyone who applies via email. Thanks.

Egg Cartons

If anyone needs egg cartons, I have 20 bundles of generic, never used, still in plastic wrapping, recyclable pulp egg cartons available. I have switched packaging and don't need these anymore.  I can be contacted at 402-217-2797.  Thanks!  Dan Hromas - Prairie Pride Poultry

Mother Earth News Survey

Later this year, Mother Earth News will publish an article about the growing evidence of the vital importance of getting the right balance of fatty acids in our diet. Some researchers now believe that the shift away from beneficial fatty acids in modern diets is leading to health consequences that are as serious as the problems we face with climate change. As you probably know, grass-fed products are better sources of fatty acids than industrial products. We plan to help raise public awareness of this fact by conducting a large-scale survey to measure the fatty acid profiles of samples of grass-fed meat, eggs and dairy products from across the continent. We will publish the results of the survey in conjunction with our article. We are recruiting producers to join in this nutrient-testing project and hope that you will choose to participate. In order to be included, we need to hear back from you by March 15. https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/K5ZHWTB?newsletter=1&utm_source=Sailthru&utm_medium=email&utm_term=HE%20eNews&utm_campaign=2.23.15%20MEN%20HE%20eNews

Upcoming

Small Farms: New Markets

April 20. Online. Northeast SARE and the Cornell Small Farms Program present a free, three-part webinar series open to the public. The webinars feature dairy, livestock, and mushroom farmers that have all transitioned successfully to one or more new wholesale markets. Farmers will reflect on their decision making process, benefits and challenges, costs, and infrastructure needed to get their products to bigger markets. Each webinar also features one of the farmer's 'wholesale' buyers who will describe how they establish productive relationships with smaller farms, and outline their business models and buying requirements. This webinar is titled "Mushrooms to Dining Rooms: Meet the People Behind the Food Chain." It features mushroom grower Alan Kaufman and Natural Gourmet Institute CEO Anthony Fassio. http://smallfarms.cornell.edu/2015/03/30/small-farms-new-markets-webinar-series-opens-april-6th/

Getting started with poultry production

Monday, April 20, 6pm. Small scale commercial poultry operations are becoming more popular. Taking the time to do things right from the beginning will ensure you have success.  What species and breeds fit best for you?  What will you sell?  Eggs, broilers, turkeys?  What are the regulations you must follow?  And can you make money doing this?  This session will provide an overview of the opportunities for beginners in poultry.  Facilities, labor, feeding, processing, and marketing will be addressed. 

http://events.anr.msu.edu/beginningfarmerwebinars/  

National Food Policy Conference

April 21-22. Washington, DC. For 38 years, the National Food Policy Conference has been a Washington institution and a unique collaboration between consumer advocates, the food industry and government. The conference is organized by the Consumer Federation of America and is a key national gathering for those interested in agriculture, food and nutrition policy. https://www.signup4.net/Public/ap.aspx?EID=NATI605E

Open-Sourced HACCP: Making Cured Meats Production More Accessible

April 21. Online. Many small-scale inspected facilities, retail butcher shops and restaurants would like to make dry-cured and fermented products in house. This can be difficult to do from three perspectives: 1) to produce a quality product, 2) to produce a safe product, and 3) to meet the regulatory requirements. This Niche Meat Processor Assistance Network webinar will describe the challenges that most facilities face in starting a dry-cured product line and how they might be overcome. It will also share a new and novel resource for dry-cured HACCP: Underground Meats' open-sourced HACCP. http://www.extension.org/pages/72698/open-sourced-haccp:-making-cured-meats-production-more-accessible

Risk Management and Your Agritourism Business

Tuesday, April 21 at 11:00 am CDT. Agritourism and farm-based educational enterprises have become an important part of the U.S. economy. People are interested in how their food is produced and want to make connections with their local farmers. As important as it is to foster relationships with customers, it's also important to know the risks of opening your operation to the public, and learn how to protect your farm from potential accidents and hazards. You also want to keep your customers safe. In this webinar, learn about assessing potential risks on your agritourism business. You'll also hear from two farmers who will share their knowledge and experience in the agritourism industry. https://connect.extension.iastate.edu/womeninag

Meeting Heifer Nutrition Goals

Tuesday, April 21 at 12:00 pm CDT. Presenter: Dr. Bob James, Virginia Tech. It can be difficult to keep an efficient and effective heifer nutrition program. In this webinar Dr. James will discuss the challenges of meeting goals in heifer nutrition programs. Some of the critical control points he will address are: optimizing pre-weaning growth, optimizing post-weaning growth, achieving puberty at the desired age. https://connect.extension.iastate.edu/dairexnetwebinar/

Conservation Activity Plan Policies and Procedures

April 21. Online. In this USDA NRCS Science and Technology webinar, participants will learn about the history, purpose, regulation, and policy associated with Conservation Activity Plans (CAP). The presentation will include a discussion of the responsibilities of Technical Service Providers (TSPs), producers, and NRCS staff. Presenters will describe how CAPs are incorporated into the planning process and define the programmatic requirements that must be met to offer financial assistance for the development of a CAP. http://www.conservationwebinars.net/webinars/conservation-activity-plan-policies-and-procedures

Pine Straw Harvesting in Longleaf Pine Forests: Best Management Guidelines to Sustain Wildlife Resources

April 23rd. This webinar will discuss how longleaf landowners can balance income from pine straw harvesting while also preserving critical wildlife benefits of straw-harvested stands. http://www.forestrywebinars.net/webinars/pine-straw-harvesting-in-longleaf-pine-forests-best-management-guidelines-to-sustain-wildlife-resources