Monday, February 29, 2016

Weekly Events & Opportunities in Sustainable Farming & Foods!

Engage & Connect!

Spring is right around the corner!  There are many opportunities to engage, learn and connect with fellow farmers, both young and old in the coming weeks.  NSAS will be at several of these upcoming events and we encourage everyone to continue to engage and connect with the community of agriculture.  This week we'll be at the Governor's Ag Conference, and have information on sustainable and organic farming and foods. While the conference is not focused at all on sustainable agriculture, it's important to have our voice present and heard.  We are especially excited to attend the "From This Grass Earth" which will be held at the Great Plains Art Center on Friday. This exhibit celebrates the wild and immense beauty of the North American grasslands by exploring the legacy of stewards of the Great Plains Landscape. If you've not been to the Great Plains Arts Center in awhile this Friday will be a great opportunity to visit! Some additional events to highlight include a Farm to School Conference in Nebraska City and a Post Harvest Handling Workshop in Lincoln. Check out the complete list below or find us on Facebook! Thanks, and happy farm planning! 



Weekly Events & Opportunities in Sustainable Farming & Foods!




Increase the Sustainability of Your Organic Business

March 1. 2pm. Online. As a certified organic business, you already have a leg up when it comes to sustainability. But what does “sustainability” mean? What is sustainable about being an organic business, and how can you continue to deepen your commitment to sustainability? This webinar answers these questions by highlighting eleven “Sustainability Indicator” areas for the organic products sector. https://tilth.org/event/increase-sustainability-of-your-organic-business/




Writing Your Farm Food Safety Plan


March 1st. Please join Community Crops at 5:30 PM for a workshop covering food safety on the farm. We will discuss the different sections of a farm food safety plan and the latest info on the Food Safety Modernization Act. Come learn how and if your operation will be affected by these new rules. 



Tree Care Workshop


March 1. Scottsbluff. 8:30 am–3:30 pm.  Panhandle Research and Extension Center, 4502 Avenue I, Scottsbluff. Contact, Amy Seiler, 308-633-1173,aseiler2@unl.edu


Important Farm Financials: How to Get Started



March 1st. 7pm. Online. 
Most people who get started in agriculture do it out of a desire to grow things, rather than a desire to work with spreadsheets, do calculations or run a business. But understanding basic financial information is vital for long-term success. This farminar is also a chance for beginning and experienced farmers to ask questions of someone with experience as a banker or loan officer. 

Governors Ag Conference

March 2-3. Kearney. "Agriculture is Nebraska’s largest industry representing nearly a quarter of the state’s economy. That makes agriculture’s success important to all of us and provides a reason to gather together for a meaningful conversation about the future." Details and to register, http://www.nda.nebraska.gov/gov_ag/


The Role of Nutrition in Reproduction


Wednesday, March 2 at 12:00 pm CST. Dr. Wiltbank will join us to discuss the role nutrition plays in the reproductive health of dairy cattle. https://connect.extension.iastate.edu/dairexnetwebinar/
Food Safety Modernization Act

March 2. Online @ 1pm. Changes for Small Scale Producers. https://purdue.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_bmBrd3hIYREwlWB

Design and Management of Organic Strawberry/Vegetable Rotations

March 2. Online. Join eOrganic for a free, one-hour webinar on the design and management of organic strawberry/vegetable rotations for soilborne disease control, fertility management and crop production, presented by Carol Shennan and Joji Muramoto of the University of California, Santa Cruz. Findings from a four-year rotation study and on-farm trials will be discussed. The study compared two and four year rotations with either broccoli or lettuce as the primary vegetables grown between strawberry crops. Advance registration is required. http://articles.extension.org/pages/73281/design-and-management-of-organic-strawberryvegetable-rotations

Getting started with growing cider apples

Wednesday, March 2 at 6:00 pm CST. This session will focus on growing apples for cider making.  Cultural practices, variety selection, storage, and other considerations unique to cider apples will be discussed. http://events.anr.msu.edu/BegFrmrWeb2016/


Tree Care Workshop


March 2. North Platte. 8:30 am–3:30 pm.  West Central Research and Extension Center Room: Snyder Classroom 402 W. State Farm Rd. North Platte. Contact, Amy Seiler, 308-633-1173,aseiler2@unl.edu

Midwest Farm to School Conference


Wednesday, March 2, 2016, Lied Lodge, Nebraska City, NE. For those interested in building the farm to school initiative in Nebraska, Iowa, Missouri and Kansas. Food service professionals, farmers, students, school administrators, parents, and others are welcome to share ideas and learn techniques to improve students' knowledge of healthy foods and to increase the amount of local foods served in schools. Registration scholarships are available. For more information, an agenda and to register: visitwww.cfra.org/midwest-farm-school or contact Pamela Mueri (mueri683@gmail.com or402-580-9835). 

Everything about geese for the beginner - benefits and challenges of incorporating geese into your small farm operation

Wednesday, March 2 at 10:30 am CST. Location: https://connect.extension.iastate.edu/poultry

Using the Internet to Drive Farm Sales

March 2. Online. This 90-minute webinar from PASA will provide an overview of the importance, trends, potential and strategies associated for farm internet marketing. Participants will be given basic instruction on how to setup and use email lists, Facebook and Twitter. Participants will come out of the webinar with a framework to develop and distribute content across a variety of platforms on a weekly basis during the busy harvest season. The presenter is Simon Huntley from Small Farm Central. Registration is free, but the session is limited to 100 participants. http://pasafarming.org/events/pasa-events/pasa-webinar-using-the-internet-to-drive-farm-sales


Monitoring, Assessment, and Engagement to Sustain Forest Benefits in a Changing Climate

Sarah Workman, Extension and Technology Transfer Specialist and Bill Christie, Biological Scientist will discuss climate tools developed by the Eastern Forest Environmental Threat Assessment Center. The Center partners with government agencies, universities, and nongovernmental organizations to improve the collective national capacity to predict, detect, monitor and assess threats to forest, range and wildlands. 



Farm Succession Workshop



March 3. Kearney at the Extension Office. Topics will include stages of succession planning, contribution and compensation; balancing interests of on-farm and off-farm heirs; setting goals; analyzing cash flow; balancing intergenerational expectations and needs; beginning farmer loan and tax credit programs; and the use of trusts, wills, life estate deeds and various business entities. Call the Rural Response Hotline at 800-464-0258 to register or for more information.



What NOT to Do in the Landscape


March 3. UNL's East Campus @ 12:00 pm–1:00 pm in Keim Hall. The subtitle for this session is “things that drive me nuts,” says presenter Eric Berg, Community Forestry and Sustainable Landscapes program leader for the Nebraska Forest Service. Berg said this will be a lighthearted, subjective look at landscapes. “Most gardeners have strong and very individual preferences about how a garden should look and function.” He said this session will include some landscape tips but it is intended less as a how-to session than as a humorous look at landscape choices. Anyone wishing to listen in can take part online at: connect.unl.edu/brownbag. The presentations are also available afterwards atarboretum.unl.edu/brown-bags.

Small Ruminant Webinar: Internal parasite control

March 3. Online. The fifth installment in the University of Maryland Extension Small Ruminant Program's winter webinar series is by Dr. Gareth Bath, University of Pretoria, South Africa. Pre-registration is not required for these weekly, evening webinars, but participation is limited to the first 100 people who log on. http://www.sheepandgoat.com/#!webinars/cu81

Small Farms Winter Webinar Series: Getting Your Beehives Ready for Spring

March 3. Online. The University of Illinois Extension presents a weekly educational series for the small farm community. Webinars will be held from noon -1:00 pm on Thursdays and are free. This session is presented by Doug Gucker, University of Illinois Extension Local Food Systems and Small Farms Educator. https://web.extension.illinois.edu/registration/?RegistrationID=13379


Tree Care Workshop


March 3. Ord. 8:30 am–3:30 pm. Lower Loup NRD Office. Contact, Amy Seiler, 308-633-1173aseiler2@unl.edu

Corn Residue Grazing and Baling Effects on Soil Physical Properties

March 4th. UNL's East Campus Keim Hall. Tim Shaver, associate professor, Agronomy and Nutrient Management Specialist, UNL Agronomy and Horticulture, West Central Research and Extension Center, will present “Corn Residue Grazing and Baling Effects on Soil Physical Properties.” Corn residue grazing and baling can provide a valuable and cost effective means of feeding cattle and is a common practice Nebraska. However, there are concerns about the effects of residue removal on corn yields and soil physical properties. The results of a long term study concerning this issue will be presented. Join us in person or online at https://connect.unl.edu/fridayseminarseries.

From This Grass Earth

March 4. 5:00 pm–7:00 pm.  Great Plains Art Museum Room: Main gallery, 1155 Q St, Lincoln. Join us for the opening reception of “From This Grass Earth.” A 15-documentary about the project will be screened at 6 p.m. in the Museum. “From This Grass Earth” celebrates the wild and immense beauty of the North American grasslands by exploring the legacy of stewards of the Great Plains landscape. http://www.unl.edu/plains/gallery/currentexhibits.shtml

Post Harvest Handling & Food Safety Workshop

March 5th. Lincoln. Participating producers will receive a free copy of the Wholesale Success manual (if they did not receive a book at the previous training). Normally an $80 value, this 300+ page manual is newly updated, revised, and in its third printing. Wholesale Success covers up-to-date best practices information on food safety, postharvest handling, packing, business management, marketing, and crop- specific profiles for over 100 crops. Learn about: Aligning produce food safety to your buyers’ demands Human Health and Hygiene Harvest, Postharvest & Transportation Policies & Practice. Registrations are being handled by SCC.  You can call them directly at402.437.2700 and register for the food safety training. 



Opportunities

GM Position at Open Harvest 

Open Harvest Co-op Grocery has been serving Lincoln, NE as a leader in the organic and natural foods market for 40 years. We are seeking a General Manager to steer us through the increasingly competitive market and lead the success and continued growth of our store. We are looking for a candidate that embraces Cooperative Principles, is passionate about local food and economies, and has a strong work ethic and personal integrity. If you have questions, please email Brande Payne, Board Chair at openharvestboard@gmail.com. Applications will be accepted until the position is filled.




Ducks, Geese & Guineas


We are looking for baby ducks and geese available this Spring.  We are interested in Cayuga, Khaki Campbell or other breeds for egg production.  The geese we are looking for are Chinese or African for guard animals.  Guineas for bug control. 



Summer Garden Educators


Big Garden in Omaha is hiring. WE ARE HIRING for our 2016 Summer Garden Educators. Know 19+ young adults looking for a full-time summer job gardening & working with youth? Contact Cait at ccaughey@bigmuddyumc.org for more information.


Registered Milking Devons


I have two registered milking Devons, 1 six year old bred cow who had been milked before and one bred heifer. The cow is a1/a2 and the heifer has not been tested but has a 25% chance of being a2/a2. Both bred to a low birthweight belted Galloway bull. Makes some good beef calves. Their are only 1500 or so in the U.S. And they don't really fit my herd. I would like them to go to someone who would use them for what they were bred for. I am asking $1500 a piece. Let me know if you have any questions. Thanks, Eric Lanik, Johnson Hill Farm, 402-480-2485




Upcoming


Integrating Grazing into Cropping Systems

March 8. Online. This free, one-hour webinar presented by the USDA NRCS Soil Health Division will describe opportunities to integrate crop and livestock systems and how soil health responds to grazing of cover crops and perennial forages in diverse agricultural operations. Unique soil carbon and nitrogen dynamics in integrated crop-livestock systems will be explored in this presentation by Alan Franzluebbers, Ph.D., as well as description of a simple biologically based measurement to assess nutrient cycling. http://www.conservationwebinars.net/webinars/integrating-grazing-into-cropping-systems

Farm Biosecurity Plans and All Hazard Plans for Farms

Tuesday, March 8 at 12:00 pm CST. Do you have a farm biosecurity plan? Are you prepared for all hazards? Join Dr. Gregory Martin, Pennsylvania State Extension, to learn what goes in the plans. Lynette Black, Oregon State University Extension, will moderate. https://connect.extension.iastate.edu/eden

Tips of the Trade: Creative Marketing for Humane Farms

March 8th. FACT will offer a free webinar entitled Tips of the Trade: Creative Marketing for Humane Farms on Tuesday, March 8, 2016 from 3 to 4:15 p.m. EST. If you have ever wanted to learn new & innovative ways to market the products your farm produces, this is the webinar for you! Register here

Working with Local Organic Grains

March 8. Online. eOrganic invites you to a free, one-hour webinar by bakers and pasta makers on incorporating local grains into their businesses. Four panelists will discuss why they began working with local grains, the development of their product lines and how they have dealt with such issues as sourcing local grain and flour, flour quality, pricing and marketing, and what customer reaction has been. The webinar takes place at 2 p.m. Eastern Time. Advance registration is required. http://articles.extension.org/pages/73465/working-with-local-organic-grains

Small Ruminant Webinars: Natural parasite control

March 10. Online. This is the final episode of the University of Maryland Extension Small Ruminant Program's winter webinar series. The free, evening webinar is presented by Dr. Dahlia O'Brien, Virginia State University, at 7 p.m. EST. Pre-registration is not required, but participation is limited to the first 100 people who log on. http://www.sheepandgoat.com/#!webinars/cu81

Webinar: Building a Website to Tell Your Farm's Story

March 10. Online. Learn how to build an effective farm website to reach new customers through direct marketing, in this webinar from Future Harvest CASA. The webinar is perfect for new farmers looking to build thier first website, and for experienced farmers looking to freshen up their existing websites. https://www.futureharvestcasa.org/field-school/field-school-events

Small Farms Winter Webinar Series: Raising Meat Birds on Pasture

March 10. The University of Illinois Extension presents a weekly educational series for the small farm community. Webinars are held from noon -1:00 p.m. on Thursdays and are free. This session is presented by Andy Larson, University of Illinois Extension Local Food Systems and Small Farms Educator. https://web.extension.illinois.edu/registration/?RegistrationID=13379

Monday, February 22, 2016

Weekly Events & Opportunities in Sustainable Farming & Foods!



 Nebraska Agri/Eco-Tourism

February 22-24. Grand Island. This three-day event will provide community leaders, landowners, farmers and ranchers, entrepreneurs, small business owners and service providers with information on how to establish, finance, market and grow businesses based on agri/eco-tourism and small business partnerships. Participants will come away with fresh marketing ideas, greater financial opportunity and numerous new contacts. http://visitnebraska.com/media/industry

Biodiversity Webinar

February 22. The Organic Center and Furman University present a free webinar at 5:30 p.m. ET about measuring on-farm biodiversity using a simple, free public tool called the Healthy Farm Index. The Healthy Farm Index is a biodiversity and ecosystem service planning and monitoring tool for farmers to better understand the direction connection to actions taken and responses at the farm scale. There will be plenty of time to ask questions. More information

Walk-in Cooler Considerations and Construction 

Tuesday, February 23, 7:00pm – 8:30pm. Tim Landgraf from One Step at a Time Gardens will discuss the three types of walk-in coolers he has used over the farm’s 20-year history. He will also cover important considerations when choosing a cooler, such as size, temperature, shelving, product life and common issues. Tony Thompson, of New Family Farm, will discuss the process he recently went through to build his own walk-in cooler, and share his blueprints, material, and advice for those thinking of doing the same. https://connect.extension.iastate.edu/farminar

Integrating Beef Cattle into a Vegetable Farm

February 23. Online. NOFA Massachusetts presents this free, online educational opportunity. Learn tips for managing rotational grazing and balancing the needs of a healthy heard with the demands of a diversified vegetable farm. The presenter is Tevis Roberston-Goldberg of Crabapple Farm in Chesterfield, Massachusetts. The webinar begins at 7 p.m. Eastern and lasts one hour. http://www.nofamass.org/events/webinar-integrating-beef-cattle-vegetable-farm

New Times, New Tools: Cultivating Climate Resilience on Your Organic Farm

February 23. Online. Join eOrganic for a free, one-hour webinar by Laura Lengnick on Cultivating Resilience on Your Organic Farm. Weaving practical lessons from the field with the latest climate science and resilience thinking, author, educator, scientist, and farmer Laura Lengnick draws on the adaptation stories of award-winning organic farmers growing food across the U.S. to teach about successful farming strategies for managing increased weather variability and extremes. Learn how to assess your climate risk and use ecosystem-based adaptive management tools to cultivate climate resilience on your organic farm. Advance registration is required. https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/4886818284651307521

Sales 2: Contracts for Planning Ahead of Production

February 23. Online. Attend this free tutorial from Farm Commons to learn the legal ins and outs of contracting for sales. This online tutorial will explore the unique sales arrangements farmers are creating such as selling their labor or services, as well as participating in priority systems for sales. These new structures require a new type of contract. This tutorial will go through the process of developing a contract for production services and how to build strong sales relationships that fall outside of the traditional buyer-seller format. https://farmcommons.org/sales-2-contracts-planning-ahead-production

No-Till Conference

February 23rd. Holdrege @ the Phelps County Ag Center. Speakers and sessions relating to Climate, No-Till System Approaches, Plants & Soils Economics and more. Free event, but please pre-register by calling 308-995-4222.

High Plains Organic Farming Conference

February 23-24. Cheyenne, Wyoming. This third annual conference is presented by the University of Wyoming. This conference targets dryland crop, irrigated crop and forage, and livestock producers in the High Plains region of Wyoming, Colorado, and Nebraska. This year, the conference will offer a variety of sessions that focus on crop, soil, pest, and livestock management as well as marketing and USDA National Organic Program updates. http://uwextension.wix.com/organicfarming

Getting started with wheat agronomy

Wednesday, February 24 at 6:00 pm CST. This program is part of a 23-webinar Michigan State University Extension 2016 Beginning Farmer Webinar Series. Learn the basics of wheat production from soil fertility and pest control to seeding rates and planting dates. http://events.anr.msu.edu/BegFrmrWeb2016/

High Tunnel Cost Sharing and Diversified Farm Insurance

February 24th. 5:30pm.  Please join Community Crops, USDA-NRCS and USDA-RMA on Wednesday, February 24th at 5:30 PM for a great informational session on some topics very important to sustainable agriculture. The cost of this class is just $10, so sign up now! https://communitycrops.z2systems.com/np/clients/communitycrops/eventRegistration.jsp?event=746&

Walk-Behind Tractors and Their Applications on Small Farms


Anaerobic Digestion Bio-refinery: Potential for Biochar Production and Utilization

February 24. Online. This event is part of a free, five-webinar series on Anaerobic Digestion where Washington State University researchers and their collaborators share their findings as they strive to quantify the climate, air, water, nutrient and economic impacts of integrating emerging, next-generation technologies within anaerobic digestion systems on U.S. dairies. This session features Dr. Manuel Garcia-Perez, Associate Professor at the Department of Biological Systems Engineering, Washington State University. http://csanr.wsu.edu/anaerobic-digestion-systems-webinar-series2016/

Agroforestry in Action Webinar: Carbon Farming

February 24. Online. This webinar is part of the Agroforestry in Action Webinar Series, a production of the Center for Agroforestry at the University of Missouri. Presentations in this webinar series explore topics in agroforestry from North America and around the globe, showcasing examples of excellence in practice and research. Live webinars are presented on a monthly basis and are free and open to all. In this webinar, Eric Toensmeier, the author of the recently published book "The Carbon Farming Solution," will provide an overview of the potential of agroforestry and perennial crop systems for climate change mitigation. The webinar begins at 11 a.m. CST. http://www.agroforestryinaction.org/

Webinar on Methods for Teaching Organic Farming and Gardening

February 24. Online. CCOF presents an opportunity to join farmer-educator Christof Bernau from the Center for Agroecology & Sustainable Food Systems (CASFS) at UC Santa Cruz from 12-1 p.m. for a free webinar on farm-based experiential education. Bernau will discuss ways to use an array of strategies to engage your audience; build student, intern and apprentice capacity; and grow the next generation of farmers. Through this webinar, participants will gain new insights into how to best support their students' acquisition and development of new agricultural skills and conceptual knowledge, as we work toward growing the next generation of famers who must simultaneously steward precious resources and work to feed an ever-growing population. https://www.ccof.org/blog/ccof-hosts-webinar-methods-teaching-organic-farming-and-gardening

Economics of Herd Age Management: When to Cull Cows for Reproductive Performance and System Economics

February 24. Online. This free, one-hour webinar is presented by NRCS East National Technology Support Center. http://www.conservationwebinars.net/

Direct Sales Marketing: Expanding the Current & Finding the New


AgrAbility Webinar on Urban Agriculture

February 25th. Online. AgrAbility will provide expertise on the increasingly popular movement of urban agriculture in a one-hour webinar at 3 p.m. with special emphasis on military veterans and farmers with disabilities. Urban agriculture is not limited to fruits and vegetables but also includes enterprises such as livestock, beekeeping, and aquaculture. Pre-registration is required. http://www.purdue.edu/newsroom/releases/2016/Q1/agrability-to-present-webinar-on-urban-agriculture.html

Plant in a Box: A Solution for USDA-Inspected Poultry Processing?

February 25. Online. This is a free, one-hour webinar from the Niche Meat Processor Assistance Network. David Schafer, owner and founder of Featherman Equipment and NMPAN member, has built a "Plant in a Box" (PIB) that aims to be a turnkey answer for those looking to process chickens, turkeys, and other poultry under USDA inspection. The Plant in a Box unit utilizes a recycled shipping container and comes ready to go: all the operator needs is a site pad, water, power, and a plan for effluent. This webinar will feature John Smith of Maple Wind Farm in Vermont, the first farm in the country to own and operate a PIB. Smith will tell participants about how they got started, successes, challenges and surprises along the way, and plans for the future. Participants also hear from David Schafer and Greg Gunthorp (of Gunthorp Farms) about how the PIB concept got started and their plans for the future. http://articles.extension.org/pages/73434/plant-in-a-box:-a-solution-for-usda-inspected-poultry-processing

Nebraska Extension Cover Crops Conference

February 25th. ARDC near Mead. 9am. There are many benefits to utilizing cover crops, such as improved soil heath and reduced erosion. It’s the details of how and what to do that can present challenges. The focus of the conference is to provide information to growers who are strictly in a corn/soybean rotation and to assist them in understanding the value of cover crops. Pre-register by Feb. 22 to ensure resource materials are available and for meal planning purposes. Call 402-624-8000 or emailcdunbar2@unl.edu.

Small Ruminant Webinar: Sericea lespedeza

February 25. Online. The fourth installment in the University of Maryland Extension Small Ruminant Program's winter webinar series is by Dr. Tom Terrill, Fort Valley State University. Pre-registration is not required for these weekly, evening webinars, but participation is limited to the first 100 people who log on. http://www.sheepandgoat.com/#!webinars/cu81

Food Safety Modernization Act: Changes for Small Scale Producers

February 25. Online. The University of Illinois Extension presents a weekly educational series for the small farm community. Webinars are held from noon - 1:00 pm on Thursdays and are free. This session is presented by Laurie George, University of Illinois Extension Local Food Systems and Small Farms Educator. https://web.extension.illinois.edu/registration/?RegistrationID=13379

MOSES Organic Farming Conference

February 25-27. La Crosse, Wisconsin. The largest event in the U.S. about organic and sustainable farming offers 65 workshop choices, an exhibit hall with 170 vendors, and 3,400 participants. Learn ways to improve your farm, discover new resources and tools, and make connections and find support. The Organic University on February 25 offers full-day pre-conference seminars. https://mosesorganic.org/conference/

Buffalograss—native with unique challenges

February 26.  3:30 pm. UNL's East Campus @ Keim Hall room 150. Keenan Amundsen, assistant professor, Turfgrass Genetics, UNL Agronomy and Horticulture, will present “Buffalograss—native with unique challenges.” Buffalograss, like many specialty crops, has limited publicly-available genomic data, complicating genetic-based breeding strategies. Amundsen will discuss how modern RNA sequencing applications are advancing buffalograss cultivar development. He will also dispel myths of buffalograss management and discuss advancements in the understanding of seed and winter dormancy mechanisms. Join us in person or online at https://connect.unl.edu/fridayseminarseries.

Fruit Tree Pruning

February 28th. 3pm. Omaha. Come learn the basics of fruit tree pruning from community expert Jake Phillips! This workshop will be hands-on and geared toward gardeners and aspiring orchardists. Now is the time to prune your fruit trees! We will be pruning the beautiful & abundant mini-orchard at Clair Memorial UMC community garden. https://www.facebook.com/events/1219101744784749/



Opportunities

GM Position at Open Harvest 

Open Harvest Co-op Grocery has been serving Lincoln, NE as a leader in the organic and natural foods market for 40 years. We are seeking a General Manager to steer us through the increasingly competitive market and lead the success and continued growth of our store. We are looking for a candidate that embraces Cooperative Principles, is passionate about local food and economies, and has a strong work ethic and personal integrity. If you have questions, please email Brande Payne, Board Chair at openharvestboard@gmail.com. Applications will be accepted until the position is filled.

Ducks, Geese & Guineas

We are looking for baby ducks and geese available this Spring.  We are interested in Cayuga, Khaki Campbell or other breeds for egg production.  The geese we are looking for are Chinese or African for guard animals.  Guineas for bug control. Mike Levine, 
Fruit of Levine LLC, 

Summer Garden Educators

Big Garden in Omaha is hiring. WE ARE HIRING for our 2016 Summer Garden Educators. Know 19+ young adults looking for a full-time summer job gardening & working with youth? Contact Cait at ccaughey@bigmuddyumc.org for more information.

Registered Milking Devons

I have two registered milking Devons, 1 six year old bred cow who had been milked before and one bred heifer. The cow is a1/a2 and the heifer has not been tested but has a 25% chance of being a2/a2. Both bred to a low birthweight belted Galloway bull. Makes some good beef calves. Their are only 1500 or so in the U.S. And they don't really fit my herd. I would like them to go to someone who would use them for what they were bred for. I am asking $1500 a piece. Let me know if you have any questions. Thanks, Eric Lanik, Johnson Hill Farm, 402-480-2485



Upcoming


Design and Management of Organic Strawberry/Vegetable Rotations

March 2. Online. Join eOrganic for a free, one-hour webinar on the design and management of organic strawberry/vegetable rotations for soilborne disease control, fertility management and crop production, presented by Carol Shennan and Joji Muramoto of the University of California, Santa Cruz. Findings from a four-year rotation study and on-farm trials will be discussed. The study compared two and four year rotations with either broccoli or lettuce as the primary vegetables grown between strawberry crops. Advance registration is required. http://articles.extension.org/pages/73281/design-and-management-of-organic-strawberryvegetable-rotations

Getting started with growing cider apples

Wednesday, March 2 at 6:00 pm CST. This session will focus on growing apples for cider making.  Cultural practices, variety selection, storage, and other considerations unique to cider apples will be discussed. http://events.anr.msu.edu/BegFrmrWeb2016/

Midwest Farm to School Conference

Wednesday, March 2, 2016, Lied Lodge, Nebraska City, NE. For those interested in building the farm to school initiative in Nebraska, Iowa, Missouri and Kansas. Food service professionals, farmers, students, school administrators, parents, and others are welcome to share ideas and learn techniques to improve students' knowledge of healthy foods and to increase the amount of local foods served in schools. Registration scholarships are available. For more information, an agenda and to register: visitwww.cfra.org/midwest-farm-school or contact Pamela Mueri (mueri683@gmail.com or402-580-9835). 

Everything about geese for the beginner - benefits and challenges of incorporating geese into your small farm operation

Wednesday, March 2 at 10:30 am CST. Location: https://connect.extension.iastate.edu/poultry

Using the Internet to Drive Farm Sales

March 2. Online. This 90-minute webinar from PASA will provide an overview of the importance, trends, potential and strategies associated for farm internet marketing. Participants will be given basic instruction on how to setup and use email lists, Facebook and Twitter. Participants will come out of the webinar with a framework to develop and distribute content across a variety of platforms on a weekly basis during the busy harvest season. The presenter is Simon Huntley from Small Farm Central. Registration is free, but the session is limited to 100 participants. http://pasafarming.org/events/pasa-events/pasa-webinar-using-the-internet-to-drive-farm-sales

Small Ruminant Webinar: Internal parasite control

March 3. Online. The fifth installment in the University of Maryland Extension Small Ruminant Program's winter webinar series is by Dr. Gareth Bath, University of Pretoria, South Africa. Pre-registration is not required for these weekly, evening webinars, but participation is limited to the first 100 people who log on. http://www.sheepandgoat.com/#!webinars/cu81

Small Farms Winter Webinar Series: Getting Your Beehives Ready for Spring

March 3. Online. The University of Illinois Extension presents a weekly educational series for the small farm community. Webinars will be held from noon -1:00 pm on Thursdays and are free. This session is presented by Doug Gucker, University of Illinois Extension Local Food Systems and Small Farms Educator. https://web.extension.illinois.edu/registration/?RegistrationID=13379