Weekly Events & Opportunities in Sustainable Farming & Foods!

Farmers Night Out!

July 1st. 6pm. Branched Oak Farm North. A unique farm near Raymond, North Farm houses many ag enterprises.  North Farmers each have their own farm projects. North Farmers work for and with Branched Oak Farm Dairy, helping with cattle care and cheese-making, in exchange for the land and encouragement to start their own enterprises.   http://healthyfarmsnebraska.blogspot.com/2015/06/2015-farmers-night-out-schedule.html

Soil Health Field Day

June 29 & 30, 2015: Soil Health Field Day– Scott Gonnerman’s Farm in Waco, NE. Presentors are Dr. Will Brinton (Woods End Lab/Solvita), Ray Ward (Ward Laboratories) and Lance Gunderson (Ward Laboratories). Demonstrations and presentations on the importance of healthy soils. See more at: http://solvita.com/soil/upcoming-events#sthash.qOcXYKt0.dpuf

Webinar on Local Food

June 30, 10:30am – 11:30am. A look at the services provided by the USDA Agricultural Manufacturing Service (AMS) – topics expected to cover include, focus on grants for farmer markets and other local food efforts, and facilities design, and how the food landscape is changing.  We will also be hearing about how other places are using their services to develop and expand local foods in their area. https://rurdev.webex.com/rurdev/k2/j.php?MTID=tb1041d8c4add5fafcafe8d56439b8d21 

Live Avian Flu Twitter Chat

July 1, 9am – 10am. Learn new details on how avian influenza is affecting the US and North American poultry industry on WATTAgNet’s Twitter feed @WATTPoultry during WATT Global Media’s first-ever Animal Agriculture Twitter Chat on Wednesday, July 1, at 9 a.m. CT. Egg Industry Editor, Terrence O’Keefe, will host and answer avian flu questions during this live tweet chat. Submit your questions to WATTAgNet’s Twitter account @WATTPoultry and use the hashtag #Wattchat.

Opportunities

Dual Purpose, Grass-fed Shorthorn/Devon Herd for sale

We're looking to sell some/all of our wonderful Shorthorn/Devon herd. They have not been given any antibiotics, hormones, vaccinations or grain in the 4+ years we have owned them. We do not baby these cows and they do very well. They are dual purpose. Which means they work very well in our grass-fed beef operation but they also produce a lot of milk. I was told that the older cows had been milked at least once by the previous owners but we haven't actually milked any. We're more interested in developing our beef herd so some of the younger ones will have more of a beef influence.  We have 15 cows/heifers total that are available. Two of those have a strong Longhorn influence, though. About half are going to be in the 7-9 year old range. From there it goes to 5 year-olds and on down. We've been culling about 2-3 cows a year and adding 2-3 replacement heifers. We can be flexible on the timing. They are almost done calving so you can buy them as pairs or we can wait until the calves can be weaned and the cows are re-bred. My intent is to base the pricing on the Huss Livestock Market in Kearney. Ultimately, the pricing will depend on how many you want and how/when you want them (bred cows or pairs). The cattle are located in south-central/eastern Nebraska, in Thayer County, near Reynolds. Delivery is possible. Jon Yoachim, 402-309-4088, jkyoachim@gmail.com

Farm Family Placement Opportunity

'We are a family of four (with two kids), we are looking for any possibility that can lead us to live in the country (no more than one hour and a half driving from the farm to the city of Lincoln). We are specially looking for a farm/ house with a piece of land that is organic oriented .  Please do not hesitate to contact us for any queries (Cell phone; 402-4059195). rllasaca@gmail.com. Thanks. Troy Van Horn".

For Sale by Owner

Tekamah. (40+/- Acre farm with house & buildings). 

We have decided that we must downsize and are going to sell the farm. Please share with anyone you may know who is 

interested.  Northwest of Tekamah, Nebraska. Includes 5 

bedroom/3.5 bath raised ranch with walk-out basement house, Has two kitchens, oversized shower and whirlpool tub in 

master bath, plus walk-in closet. Property has been farmed organically for over 9 years, includes Morton machine shed, 

Butler livestock building and other small buildings. This farm has been ran to be self sufficient for several years. Farm 

does have underground wiring and a battery shed for solar power, solar panels do not go with farm, but all the 

underground wiring and permanent solar infrastructure stays. 

Call Rebecka Fleischman at 402-687-4149 for more information. 

More pictures available upon request. Schedule your tour today.

Looking for Mentorship in Shelton/Grand Island/Kearney Area.

My family and I are returning to Shelton, NE in order to re-establish her family's farm. It is 160 acres but hasn't been used in nearly 30 years. We are going to be establishing a Joel Salatin Polyface Farm type farm. Where we will raise a multi specie critical and threatened heritage breed livestock as determined by the Livestock Conservancy Organization. All livestock will be pastured raised. We are also going to establish seasonal vegetable gardens. Looking for mentorship opportunities in the Shelton/Grand Island/Kearney area that would be willing to help us learn the does and don'ts of pasture based all natural farming. Michael Peña, Michael.A.Pena@uscg.mil

2014 Farm Bill - Conservation Compliance Changes | NRCS

The 2014 Farm Bill re-established the applicability of the Highly Erodible Land Conservation and Wetland Conservation provisions to crop insurance subsidies, but the Farm Bill did not change how these were implemented in conservation programs. USDA is seeking comments on an Interim Final Rule, which would make official this change to conservation compliance provisions. Submit comments on regulations.gov.

Highly Erodible Land Conservation (HELC) and Wetland Conservation (WC) provisions aim to reduce soil loss on erosion-prone lands and to protect wetlands for the multiple benefits they provide. HELC and WC provisions apply to all land that is considered highly erodible or a wetland, and that is owned or farmed by persons voluntarily participating in USDA programs, unless USDA determines an exemption applies. 

Producers, and any affiliated individuals or entities who participate in most programs administered by the Farm Service Agency (FSA), the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), and the Risk Management Agency (RMA) are required to comply with these provisions. Farmers seeking federal crop insurance premium subsidies for the 2016 reinsurance year must comply by June 1 by filing form AD-1026. The 2016 reinsurance year runs from July 1, 2015 to June 30, 2016.

http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/wps/portal/nrcs/detailfull/national/programs/farmbill/?cid=stelprdb1257899

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.

Upcoming

Managing and Monitoring Hypocalcemia in Dairy Cows

July 6. Online. Join OEFFA and Veterinary Extension at The Ohio State University to learn how to manage organic dairy herd health during this webinar. During the webinar, Ohio State University Associate Professor and Extension Veterinarian Dr. Gustavo Schuenemann will provide information on best transition cow management practices to avoid a drop in dry matter intake, prevent hypocalcemia and ketosis, and maintain a strong immune system for animals under certified organic management. There is no cost to attend the webinar, but pre-registration is required.  http://www.oeffa.org/events.php

Good Agricultural Practices (GAPS) - Webinar Series

July 6, 6pm – 8pm. Online. The webinar is designed to provide information to growers on how to keep produce safe from production to the market. Topics of this webinar will include: What is GAP's; Water quality and testing; Soil management; Record keeping; Traceback, etc. The webinar series will be held Mondays, July 6, 13, 20 and 27 from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Click herehttp://web.extension.illinois.edu/units/event.cfm?UnitID=629&EventID=69076 for more information and to register. 

Revisiting Organic Agriculture Webinar Series: Definitions and Regulatory Requirements

July 7. Online. American Society of Agronomy is offering this monthly series of webinars that will examine several issues associated with organic production and management. Cost for each individual webinar is $25 for members and certified professionals and $40 for non-members. Cost for the series is $113 for members and certified professionals and $180 for non-members.https://www.agronomy.org/education/online-courses

Understanding Organic Labeling Requirements and Label Claims

July 7. Online. This webinar from Oregon Tilth and the Natural Resource Conservation Service will address labeling requirements under the National Organic Program as well as other labeling claims such as non-GMO, natural, and more. Join OTCO staff and other guest speakers in this free, one-hour webinar to learn about the intricacies of various label claims and how to ensure that your labels are compliant. The webinar begins at noon PDT.  http://tilth.org/event/organic-labeling-webinar/

Forage Management for Livestock Production

July 8th. Online. This free, one-hour webinar is presented by the USDA NRCS Central National Technology Support Center. This webinar is a refresher course on the basics of conservation planning on pastureland. Participants will learn how to balance forage supply with animal demand. http://www.conservationwebinars.net/documents/planned-conservation-webinars

Adaptive High Stock Density Grazing

July 10th. Online. This free webinar is part of a monthly series for grazing specialists, land managers, or grazing educators, hosted by Green Lands Blue Waters and The Pasture Project. The series presents topics important to grazing, with perspectives from scientists, experts, and producers. The webinar begins at 9 a.m. Central Time. http://greenlandsbluewaters.net/Perennial_Forage/grz_ed_webnr_AHSD.html

2015 Grain Place Foods Annual Farm Tour

July 11th. Tours of the organic Farm and Plant will start around 8:30am, with refreshments and networking in between and are free to all. Lunch is to follow around noon, catered by Chef Fayne Petersen of Creative Cuisine Catering. The cost is $15 and RSVP's are required for the meal. (tickets can be purchased at our website www.grainplacefoods.com or paid for day of, or e-mailinfo@grainplacefoods.com  or call 402-854-3195). 

USDA Announces Funding to Assist with Organic Certification Costs

USDA Announces Funding to Assist with Organic Certification Costs

WASHINGTON, May 14, 2015 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) announced today that approximately $11.9 million in organic certification assistance is available through state departments of agriculture to make organic certification more affordable for organic producers and handlers across the country.

"The organic industry saw record growth in 2014, accounting for over $39 billion in retail sales in the United States," said Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack. "The organic certification cost share programs help more organic businesses succeed and take advantage of economic opportunities in this growing market."

The funding is provided on a cost share basis and certification assistance is distributed by two programs. Through the National Organic Certification Cost Share Program, $11 million is available to organic farms and businesses nationwide. Through the Agricultural Management Assistance Organic Certification Cost Share Program (AMA), an additional $900,000 is available to organic producers (crop and livestock operators only) in Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, West Virginia, and Wyoming.

Funded by the 2014 Farm Bill, these programs provide cost share assistance to USDA certified organic producers and handlers, covering as much as 75 percent of an individual applicant's certification costs, up to a maximum of $750 annually per certification scope. In 2014, USDA issued nearly 10,000 reimbursements totaling over $6 million, providing critical support to the organic community.

To receive cost share assistance, certified organic producers and handlers should contact their appropriate state agencies via the contact information on the National Organic Program's (NOP) cost share website: www.ams.usda.gov/NOPCostSharing. Each state has its own guidelines and requirements for reimbursement, and NOP assists states to successfully implement the programs. Applicants for cost share assistance through the AMA program are encouraged to apply early, as these funds are only available through Sept. 30, 2015.

USDA connects organic farmers and businesses with resources that will ensure the continued growth of the organic industry domestically and abroad. During this Administration, USDA has signed four major organic trade arrangements and has helped organic stakeholders access programs that support conservation, provide access to loans and grants, fund organic research and education, and mitigate pest emergencies. The NOP upholds the integrity of the organic label and has helped the sector grow to include over 27,000 businesses around the world.

Today's announcement was made possible by the 2014 Farm Bill, which builds on historic economic gains in rural America over the past six years, while achieving meaningful reform and billions of dollars in savings for the taxpayer. Since enactment, USDA has made significant progress to implement each provision of this critical legislation, including providing disaster relief to farmers and ranchers; strengthening risk management tools; expanding access to rural credit; funding critical research; establishing innovative public-private conservation partnerships; developing new markets for rural-made products; and investing in infrastructure, housing and community facilities to help improve quality of life in rural America. For more information, visit www.usda.gov/farmbill. Additional information is available on the NOP's website at www.ams.usda.gov/NOPCostSharing.

The NOP is responsible for ensuring the integrity of USDA organic agricultural products in the United States and throughout the world. Find out more about organic certification by visiting www.ams.usda.gov/nop.

Weekly Events & Opportunities in Sustainable Farming & Foods!

Marlowe Family Farms, Farmers Night Out!

June 25th. Marlowe Family Farms. On Thursday June 25 2015 starting around 6 pm we will be hosting a Nebraska Sustainable Agriculture Society "Farmer's Night Out" here on the farm. Farmers, ranchers and consumers are all welcome.  https://www.facebook.com/events/1596631777281616/

Ag Labor: Complying with the I-9 Process

Monday, June 22 at 11:00 am. Complying with federal and state labor laws can be complicated matters for not only agricultural producers but any business operator.  One aspect of federal labor law is verifying the individual is eligible to work in the United States.  On June 22, Dr. Shannon Ferrell, Oklahoma associate professor of agricultural economics, Department of Agricultural Economics, Oklahoma State University,will cover this topic and touch upon other issues related to federal labor laws.  The webinar is open to all and is free.  The webinar will be recorded for those unable to attend. Please register at https://aleii-9webinar.eventbrite.com.  Web address will be sent to you the day of.

Low Stress Cattle Handling Presentation & BQA Training

 June 22.  4:30 pm.  Scotts Bluff County Fairgrounds. Contact Mr. Eirich, 308-632-1230, reirich2@unl.edu. All producers are invited to attend this FREE educational event with a live cattle presentation by Curt Pate. Let us help you learn more about Beef Quality Assurance and how you can implement BQA management practices into your business. BQA certification is good for two years and costs $20.

Conservation, Soil Health and On-Farm Energy

June 22. Emerson, Iowa. Learn about the numerous conservation measures McGrew Brothers Farm has implemented in southwest Iowa, ranging from diverse cover crops to nutrient management. Attendees will also get to view a soil pit and discuss soil health issues. Steve McGrew will talk about the wind turbine they installed three years ago as a source of on-farm energy production.

Small Unmanned Aerial Systems in Agriculture: Preparing for Legal Issues

Tuesday, June 23 at 11:00 am. This webinar will address the current legal and future status of Unmanned Aerial Systems/Vehicles (UAVs) operation in the United States. Issues to be discussed include the current rules and conditions for operating UAVs, proposed regulations for small commercial UAVs released by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) in February of 2015, and the range of proposed and enacted state laws across the country dealing with concerns around privacy and trespass.  https://uaag.adobeconnect.com/r4ycgl69lq9/

NRCS and Wildlife Habitat in Urban Environments: Linking Farm, School, and Community Agriculture

June 23. Online. In this webinar, join Nancy Adamson to learn how NRCS staff and partners are working in urban areas to conserve and create wildlife habitat, while at the same time protecting watersheds and supporting agricultural production. The one-hour webinar begins at 2:00 pm Eastern. http://www.xerces.org/2015/04/15/nrcs-and-wildlife-habitat-in-urban-environments-linking-farm-school-and-community-agriculture-webinar/

Practical Talk on Pasture and Row Crop Farming

June 24. Coon Rapids, Iowa. Whiterock Conservancy staff will lead a conversation on past and present grazing systems. For several decades, the pasture program had been based around rotational grazing, but last summer introduced high-density grazing. Whiterock staff will outline future plans to expand this grazing program. The conservancy also has an active row-crop program and, in recent years, has partnered with the Iowa Soybean Association (ISA) on a microwatershed study looking at how planting perennials in waterways can improve water quality runoff – both tile and surface flow – in a no-till, contour farming corn-soybean rotation. ISA staff will discuss their findings, and Whiterock staff will outline their experiences with how to add prairie strips to a farm program. A representative from ISU's Science-Based Trials of Rowcrops Integrated with Prairie Strips (STRIPS) project will also be present to discuss the long-running project and its findings.

How to Implement Rotational Grazing in Equine Facilities

June 24. Online. This one-hour webinar is presented by the USDA NRCS East National Technology Support Center. Participants will learn about equine behavior and how management needs to be adjusted to have successful pastures on limited acres. The discussion will focus on pasture management and heavy use areas (sacrifice areas) and why they are important for a successful pasture. Conservation planners and others will learn how they can help horse owners develop and implement conservation practices on these acres. http://www.conservationwebinars.net/documents/planned-conservation-webinars

Sell What You Grow: Diversifying Your Market Opportunities

June 24. Online. Join ASAP, along with the Rural Advancement Foundation International (RAFI), North Carolina Cooperative Extension, and Farm Service Agency (FSA) for a series of online workshops designed to help you manage risk for your farm. Join this webinar to learn more about the pros and cons of selling to a variety of local markets and how to determine if they are a good match for your operation. Find out more about strategies and tools for connecting with buyers and promoting your products.http://asapconnections.org/events/workshops-trainings/

Update on HPAI Mixed Origin Virus

Friday, June 26 at 1:00 pm. Dr. David  Schmitt, Iowa State Veterinarian and Dr. Beth Thompson, Minnesota State Board of Animal Health will provide an update on the HPAI mixed origin virus that has had a significant impact on the poultry industry in many states this year. Dr. Nathaniel Tablante, University of Maryland Extension Poultry Veterinarian, will moderate the session.http://connect.extension.org.iastate.edu/eden

Hands-On High-Tensile Fence-Building Workshop

June 27. Van Meter, Iowa. Join Ryan and Janice Marquardt at Wild Rose Pastures for a hands-on high-tensile fence-building workshop and lunch. They will cover the basics of corner construction, running high-tensile line, grounding and the best places to source (and not source) materials for building high-tensile fence. http://practicalfarmers.org/news-events/events/field-days/

Little Sprouts :: Art in the Garden

June 27th. Creativity is an important part of gardening! Join us as we make music, play with colors, and more. Presented by Drew Dietle and friends! Little Sprouts is a weekly garden program for our young gardeners to learn and explore at City Sprouts. Open to the public, we encourage weekly participation but welcome one-time visitors as well! Free. http://omahasprouts.org/event/little-sprouts-art-in-the-garden/

Defensive Gardening

Saturday, June 27th 9am-12pm. Papillion: Defensive Gardening:  birds and the bees, bugs and disease, companions/guilds, problem-solving. http://www.keipos.org/classes-workshops.html

W.O.W. – Wings on Wildflowers

Saturday, June 27th. 8:30 a.m. – 3 p.m. Plainview. Topics of the day: Native wildflowers & their importance to pollinators, Understanding the need for plant diversity in the environment,  Hand-harvesting native, wildflowers & tips on starting a plot. $40/person includes transportation, lunch, knowledgeable speakers & free stuff! Register by June 18th to: 402-582-4866 or email northeastrcd@plvwtelco.net

Opportunities

Car Pool to Farmers Night Out!

Hey I am looking for some adventurers to Marlowe Family Farm for the June 25th Farmers Night Out.  Perhaps a little river action and overnight?  Plans adjustable. Troy K-B,   kash-brown@inebraska.com

Dual Purpose, Grass-fed Shorthorn/Devon Herd for sale

We're looking to sell some/all of our wonderful Shorthorn/Devon herd. They have not been given any antibiotics, hormones, vaccinations or grain in the 4+ years we have owned them. We do not baby these cows and they do very well. They are dual purpose. Which means they work very well in our grass-fed beef operation but they also produce a lot of milk. I was told that the older cows had been milked at least once by the previous owners but we haven't actually milked any. We're more interested in developing our beef herd so some of the younger ones will have more of a beef influence.  We have 15 cows/heifers total that are available. Two of those have a strong Longhorn influence, though. About half are going to be in the 7-9 year old range. From there it goes to 5 year-olds and on down. We've been culling about 2-3 cows a year and adding 2-3 replacement heifers. We can be flexible on the timing. They are almost done calving so you can buy them as pairs or we can wait until the calves can be weaned and the cows are re-bred. My intent is to base the pricing on the Huss Livestock Market in Kearney. Ultimately, the pricing will depend on how many you want and how/when you want them (bred cows or pairs). The cattle are located in south-central/eastern Nebraska, in Thayer County, near Reynolds. Delivery is possible. Jon Yoachim, 402-309-4088, jkyoachim@gmail.com

Farm Family Placement Opportunity

'We are a family of four (with two kids), we are looking for any possibility that can lead us to live in the country (no more than one hour and a half driving from the farm to the city of Lincoln). We are specially looking for a farm/ house with a piece of land that is organic oriented .  Please do not hesitate to contact us for any queries (Cell phone; 402-4059195). rllasaca@gmail.com. Thanks. Troy Van Horn".

For Sale by Owner

Tekamah. (40+/- Acre farm with house & buildings). 

We have decided that we must downsize and are going to sell the farm. Please share with anyone you may know who is 

interested.  Northwest of Tekamah, Nebraska. Includes 5 

bedroom/3.5 bath raised ranch with walk-out basement house, Has two kitchens, oversized shower and whirlpool tub in 

master bath, plus walk-in closet. Property has been farmed organically for over 9 years, includes Morton machine shed, 

Butler livestock building and other small buildings. This farm has been ran to be self sufficient for several years. Farm 

does have underground wiring and a battery shed for solar power, solar panels do not go with farm, but all the 

underground wiring and permanent solar infrastructure stays. 

Call Rebecka Fleischman at 402-687-4149 for more information. 

More pictures available upon request. Schedule your tour today.

Looking for Mentorship in Shelton/Grand Island/Kearney Area.

My family and I are returning to Shelton, NE in order to re-establish her family's farm. It is 160 acres but hasn't been used in nearly 30 years. We are going to be establishing a Joel Salatin Polyface Farm type farm. Where we will raise a multi specie critical and threatened heritage breed livestock as determined by the Livestock Conservancy Organization. All livestock will be pastured raised. We are also going to establish seasonal vegetable gardens. Looking for mentorship opportunities in the Shelton/Grand Island/Kearney area that would be willing to help us learn the does and don'ts of pasture based all natural farming. Michael Peña, Michael.A.Pena@uscg.mil

2014 Farm Bill - Conservation Compliance Changes | NRCS

The 2014 Farm Bill re-established the applicability of the Highly Erodible Land Conservation and Wetland Conservation provisions to crop insurance subsidies, but the Farm Bill did not change how these were implemented in conservation programs. USDA is seeking comments on an Interim Final Rule, which would make official this change to conservation compliance provisions. Submit comments on regulations.gov.

Highly Erodible Land Conservation (HELC) and Wetland Conservation (WC) provisions aim to reduce soil loss on erosion-prone lands and to protect wetlands for the multiple benefits they provide. HELC and WC provisions apply to all land that is considered highly erodible or a wetland, and that is owned or farmed by persons voluntarily participating in USDA programs, unless USDA determines an exemption applies. 

Producers, and any affiliated individuals or entities who participate in most programs administered by the Farm Service Agency (FSA), the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), and the Risk Management Agency (RMA) are required to comply with these provisions. Farmers seeking federal crop insurance premium subsidies for the 2016 reinsurance year must comply by June 1 by filing form AD-1026. The 2016 reinsurance year runs from July 1, 2015 to June 30, 2016.

http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/wps/portal/nrcs/detailfull/national/programs/farmbill/?cid=stelprdb1257899

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.

Upcoming

Soil Health Field Day

June 29 & 30, 2015: Soil Health Field Day– Scott Gonnerman’s Farm in Waco, NE. Presentors are Dr. Will Brinton (Woods End Lab/Solvita), Ray Ward (Ward Laboratories) and Lance Gunderson (Ward Laboratories). Demonstrations and presentations on the importance of healthy soils. See more at: http://solvita.com/soil/upcoming-events#sthash.qOcXYKt0.dpuf

Weekly Events & Opportunities in Sustainable Farming & Foods

Farmers Night Out!

June 18th. Lincoln Neighbors Urban Farm, Lincoln. LNUF was formed in 2014 to produce food on underutilized urban space.  We hope to explore this approach to farming from an economic perspective.  We want to learn if sustainable agriculture can be successfully practiced in an urban setting & allow people to secure their livelihood from this model. https://www.facebook.com/lnufarm?pnref=lhc

Managing Herbicide Resistance- Needs for Concepts that Border Science Fiction

 June 15.  3:30 pm. UNL's East Campus,  Keim Hall Room: 150. Jonathan Gressel is now an emeritus professor at Weizmann Institute of Science. His interests are to see how plant sciences can contribute to world food and fuel securities, with collaborations throughout the developing world. He studied metabolic controls, especially by anti-metabolites and pesticides, and the evolution of resistance. He conceived and helped develop a system to control parasitic Striga (witchweed) using herbicide-treated crop seeds, which is commercialized throughout Africa. 

Multiple Benefits from Wetlands, Prairies and Cover Crops

June 15. Winterset, Iowa. Frederick Martens will share his experience with cover crops and grid-sampling for variable-rate planting and fertilizer application. He will also lead a tour of his nitrate removal wetland and adjacent prairie currently being established. Anna MacDonald will discuss efforts to improve water quality in the Badger Creek Lake watershed. Matt Helmers of Iowa State University will talk about the role of conservation practices in reducing nitrate losses. Jessie Lowry, with the Blank Park Zoo, will speak about the zoo's Plant.Grow.Fly. initiative to increase the amount of pollinator habitat.

Social Media & Email Marketing Tips to Increase Farm Market Sales

In this webinar, Pam Knights, branding strategist and marketing communications specialist, talks about how to step up your game in social media and email outreach to more effectively promote direct sales at your farmstand and/or farmers markets. The five points she will address are: Consistent branding of your communications tools, to focus on Facebook and email marketing, as well as online forums; the development of a posting strategy, implemented consistently across all platforms; the importance of using photography to illustrate your messaging; ways to build community through social media; and ideas and resources for sources of information to round out your farm related posts. 

Pumps and Waste Transfer and Evaluating System Pressures

June 16. 1pm. Participate to understand the principles of evaluating and sizing pumps for animal waste application. Participate in this training to learn how to determine pump output requirements, assess pump and driver efficiencies, input horsepower requirements, and understand energy use. You will learn about appropriate pump types for different applications. Understand and learn to assess pump performance requirements using two examples - irrigation and animal waste. http://www.conservationwebinars.net/webinars/pumps-and-waste-transfer-and-evaluating-system-pressures

Environmental Benefits of Organic Agriculture: Biodiversity

June 17. Online. This free, one-hour webinar is presented by USDA NRCS Science and Technology. It is the second in a four-part series exploring the environmental benefits of organic agriculture. This session will present scientific research examining the biodiversity benefits of organic farming practices in temperate and tropical farm systems. The presenters are John Quinn and Betsy Rakola. http://www.conservationwebinars.net/webinars/environmental-benefits-of-organic-agriculture-biodiversity

Humane Handling at the Processing Plant

June 17. Online. This Niche Meat Processor Assistance Network webinar is presented in collaboration with Animal Welfare Approved. Learn about humane handling practices at the processing plant. Presenters will discuss steps producers and processors can take to ensure humane treatment and how animal handling impacts meat quality. Humane handling experts Anna Bassett and Tim Holmes will speak about the research that backs AWA's technical info and slaughter standards as well as their Animal Welfare Officer and Poultry Welfare Officer courses. All NMPAN webinars are free and open to the public. The one-hour webinar begins at 10 am PDT.http://www.extension.org/pages/72961/humane-handling-at-the-processing-plant 

How to Pay for it: Grant, Loan and Cost Share Options for Farms

June 17. Online. Join ASAP, along with the Rural Advancement Foundation International (RAFI), North Carolina Cooperative Extension, and Farm Service Agency (FSA) for the second in a series of online workshops designed to help you manage risk for your farm. This workshop will offer an overview of options for accessing capital. Hear about services and resources available through your local FSA chapter, what records you need to be eligible for loans, and how to stay connected with grant or cost share opportunities for farms in the region. http://asapconnections.org/events/workshops-trainings/ 

Midwest Farm Energy Conference

June 17-19. Morris, Minnesota. The conference will be held at the University of Minnesota's West Central Research and Outreach Center. The event will address energy-optimized systems for dairy production and energy conservation and generation in swine facilities. It will provide practical information for agricultural producers, as well as an opportunity to network with energy experts and professionals. Renewable energy bus tours are also offered. http://wcroc.cfans.umn.edu/events-education/midwest-farm-energy-conference

“Bring Back the Pollinators”

Thursday, June 18. 7pm. Jennifer Hopwood of The Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation will discuss the importance of insect pollinators, introduce the insects that provide pollination services in Nebraska, the native plants they rely on, and present straightforward actions that each and every one of us can take to protect and provide habitat for pollinators. Jennifer Hopwood is a Senior Pollinator Conservation Specialist with the Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation. She is based in Nebraska, and provides resources and training for pollinator and beneficial insect habitat management, creation, and restoration to agricultural professionals and land managers across the Great Plains and Midwest. Jennifer is an author of a number of publications and articles, and is a co-author of the book Farming with Native Beneficial Insects. Jennifer has degrees in ecology and entomology from the University of Kansas, and is a Visiting Scholar with Michigan State University’s Kellogg Biological Station.Cost of the lecture is $10 for members and $14 for non-members. Space is limited. Please call (402) 346-4002, ext. 201 or email m.sears@omahabotanicalgardens.org to register and make payment by June 16.

Creative Financing for Food

June 18. Online. This National Good Food Network webinar is free, and takes place 1:30 - 2:45 pm MDT. Whether you run a farm, food hub, processing facility, retail store, co-op or shared kitchen this webinar will introduce you to new and creative sources of capital. https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/5986002251056027394

Horse Manure Composting: Specific Steps to Start or Improve the Process

Friday, June 19 at 1:30 pm CDT. Horses can be significant contributors to water quality impairment with the 50 pounds of manure they produce every day. Horse manure composting is one way to reduce this impairment. This webcast will discuss various aspects of composting horse manure. Bedding options and how they impact the composting process as well as basic design considerations in large and small operations will be discussed. http://connect.extension.iastate.edu/lpelc

Composting Demonstration - Lincoln, NE

June 20. 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

Opportunities

Farm Family Placement Opportunity

'We are a family of four (with two kids), we are looking for any possibility that can lead us to live in the country (no more than one hour and a half driving from the farm to the city of Lincoln). We are specially looking for a farm/ house with a piece of land that is organic oriented .  Please do not hesitate to contact us for any queries (Cell phone; 402-4059195). rllasaca@gmail.com. Thanks. Troy Van Horn".

Piglets for Sale

We have 5 dirt raised piglets born Easter morning for sale. There are 3 boys and 2 females left. No shots, antibiotics, medications or hormones of any kind have ever been given to them or their parents. We do not spray chemicals or pesticides on our farm, and we have been feeding them as much fresh green grass as they can shovel in. These are very people friendly, as we play with them several times a day. They are  a Duroc mix. Price is $50 per pig. Pickup is near Lyons. Thanks and happy bacon to you all. Serena Bourne, serenasaurus09@yahoo.com

For Sale by Owner

Tekamah. (40+/- Acre farm with house & buildings). We have decided that we must downsize and are going to sell the farm. Please share with anyone you may know who is interested.  Northwest of Tekamah, Nebraska. Includes 5 bedroom/3.5 bath raised ranch with walk-out basement house, Has two kitchens, oversized shower and whirlpool tub in master bath, plus walk-in closet. Property has been farmed organically for over 9 years, includes Morton machine shed, Butler livestock building and other small buildings. This farm has been ran to be self sufficient for several years. Farm does have underground wiring and a battery shed for solar power, solar panels do not go with farm, but all the underground wiring and permanent solar infrastructure stays. Call Rebecka Fleischman at 402-687-4149 for more information. More pictures available upon request. Schedule your tour today.

Looking for Mentorship in Shelton/Grand Island/Kearney Area.

My family and I are returning to Shelton, NE in order to re-establish her family's farm. It is 160 acres but hasn't been used in nearly 30 years. We are going to be establishing a Joel Salatin Polyface Farm type farm. Where we will raise a multi specie critical and threatened heritage breed livestock as determined by the Livestock Conservancy Organization. All livestock will be pastured raised. We are also going to establish seasonal vegetable gardens. Looking for mentorship opportunities in the Shelton/Grand Island/Kearney area that would be willing to help us learn the does and don'ts of pasture based all natural farming. Michael Peña, Michael.A.Pena@uscg.mil

2014 Farm Bill - Conservation Compliance Changes | NRCS

The 2014 Farm Bill re-established the applicability of the Highly Erodible Land Conservation and Wetland Conservation provisions to crop insurance subsidies, but the Farm Bill did not change how these were implemented in conservation programs. USDA is seeking comments on an Interim Final Rule, which would make official this change to conservation compliance provisions. Submit comments on regulations.gov.

Highly Erodible Land Conservation (HELC) and Wetland Conservation (WC) provisions aim to reduce soil loss on erosion-prone lands and to protect wetlands for the multiple benefits they provide. HELC and WC provisions apply to all land that is considered highly erodible or a wetland, and that is owned or farmed by persons voluntarily participating in USDA programs, unless USDA determines an exemption applies. 

Producers, and any affiliated individuals or entities who participate in most programs administered by the Farm Service Agency (FSA), the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), and the Risk Management Agency (RMA) are required to comply with these provisions. Farmers seeking federal crop insurance premium subsidies for the 2016 reinsurance year must comply by June 1 by filing form AD-1026. The 2016 reinsurance year runs from July 1, 2015 to June 30, 2016.

http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/wps/portal/nrcs/detailfull/national/programs/farmbill/?cid=stelprdb1257899

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.

Upcoming

Conservation, Soil Health and On-Farm Energy

June 22. Emerson, Iowa. Learn about the numerous conservation measures McGrew Brothers Farm has implemented in southwest Iowa, ranging from diverse cover crops to nutrient management. Attendees will also get to view a soil pit and discuss soil health issues. Steve McGrew will talk about the wind turbine they installed three years ago as a source of on-farm energy production.

NRCS and Wildlife Habitat in Urban Environments: Linking Farm, School, and Community Agriculture

June 23. Online. In this webinar, join Nancy Adamson to learn how NRCS staff and partners are working in urban areas to conserve and create wildlife habitat, while at the same time protecting watersheds and supporting agricultural production. The one-hour webinar begins at 2:00 pm Eastern. http://www.xerces.org/2015/04/15/nrcs-and-wildlife-habitat-in-urban-environments-linking-farm-school-and-community-agriculture-webinar/

Practical Talk on Pasture and Row Crop Farming

June 24. Coon Rapids, Iowa. Whiterock Conservancy staff will lead a conversation on past and present grazing systems. For several decades, the pasture program had been based around rotational grazing, but last summer introduced high-density grazing. Whiterock staff will outline future plans to expand this grazing program. The conservancy also has an active row-crop program and, in recent years, has partnered with the Iowa Soybean Association (ISA) on a microwatershed study looking at how planting perennials in waterways can improve water quality runoff – both tile and surface flow – in a no-till, contour farming corn-soybean rotation. ISA staff will discuss their findings, and Whiterock staff will outline their experiences with how to add prairie strips to a farm program. A representative from ISU's Science-Based Trials of Rowcrops Integrated with Prairie Strips (STRIPS) project will also be present to discuss the long-running project and its findings.

How to Implement Rotational Grazing in Equine Facilities

June 24. Online. This one-hour webinar is presented by the USDA NRCS East National Technology Support Center. Participants will learn about equine behavior and how management needs to be adjusted to have successful pastures on limited acres. The discussion will focus on pasture management and heavy use areas (sacrifice areas) and why they are important for a successful pasture. Conservation planners and others will learn how they can help horse owners develop and implement conservation practices on these acres. http://www.conservationwebinars.net/documents/planned-conservation-webinars

Sell What You Grow: Diversifying Your Market Opportunities

June 24. Online. Join ASAP, along with the Rural Advancement Foundation International (RAFI), North Carolina Cooperative Extension, and Farm Service Agency (FSA) for a series of online workshops designed to help you manage risk for your farm. Join this webinar to learn more about the pros and cons of selling to a variety of local markets and how to determine if they are a good match for your operation. Find out more about strategies and tools for connecting with buyers and promoting your products.http://asapconnections.org/events/workshops-trainings/

Marlowe Family Farms, Farmers Night Out!

June 25th. Marlowe Family Farms. On Thursday June 25 2015 starting around 6 pm we will be hosting a Nebraska Sustainable Agriculture Society "Farmer's Night Out" here on the farm. Farmers, ranchers and consumers are all welcome.  https://www.facebook.com/events/1596631777281616/

W.O.W. – Wings on Wildflowers

Saturday, June 27th. 8:30 a.m. – 3 p.m. Plainview. Topics of the day: Native wildflowers & their importance to pollinators, Understanding the need for plant diversity in the environment,  Hand-harvesting native, wildflowers & tips on starting a plot. $40/person includes transportation, lunch, knowledgeable speakers & free stuff! Register by June 18th to: 402-582-4866 or emailnortheastrcd@plvwtelco.net