Producers Choice Chef Award Recipient Matt Roush, Chef de Cuisine at bread&cup!

Bread & Cup nominated again for dedication to local & sustainable foods in Nebraska!

Lincoln chef Matt Roush, @chefmattroush, from Bread & Cup, @breadandcup, has been selected for the Producers Choice Chef Award.  The PCCA recognizes chefs nominated & voted on by NSAS farmers throughout Nebraska for their dedication to local & sustainable foods.  Attendees will enjoy a five course meal prepared by local chefs made with ingredients from local producers. Each chef will be paired with a local & sustainable farmer. Chef Matt will be paired with one of the founders of NSAS, Grain Place Foods!






About Matt, courtesy of the Sustained Chef Blog;

Matt Roush, aka Uncle Matt, came to us almost two years ago this December to work as my sous chef at bread&cup.  We were at a point in growth that I needed someone to trust to help execute the evening service.  He had experience cooking in volume and speed, and when he told me the number of covers they would kick out the window on a busy weekend night at his previous employment, I knew the slower pace of our little craft kitchen wouldn’t be a problem.

I repeat over and over again that I don’t first look for experience, but instead I look for people that can work. I can teach and develop skill. I can’t create work ethic. While Matt did not have the immediate skills of finesse and creativity that our constantly changing menu requires, I could easily see he had the raw material of devotion and dedication that is needed to develop a great plate of food to our standards.

In two short years he has improved to the point that he now holds the title of Chef de Cuisine at bread&cup.  I have handed him the keys to our kitchen and he shoulders the responsibility of our nightly service. 

About Grain Place Foods;

It all began on the Vetter family farm near Marquette, Nebraska in 1953. That is when Don Vetter, questioning the science and ethics of the agricultural practices of the day, began to adopt organic farming methods.

Don’s son David returned to the farm in 1975 after earning a Bachelor’s Degree in agronomy/soil science from the University of Nebraska, and a Master of Divinity Degree from United Theological Seminary in Dayton, Ohio. For David, organic, sustainable farming methods became an application of both biological and theological principles.

The Vetters were true pioneers, being among the first in the region to take the organic challenge. Their courage and perseverance paid off; the farm was certified organic in 1978, and became The Grain Place, Inc. in 1979.

Join us on November 1, 2015 as we celebrate the Fabric of Local Foods. Enjoy a five course meal prepared by local chefs made with ingredients from local producers. Our keynote speaker, Robert Egger, will share challenges and solutions to eliminate intergenerational hunger. Egger is Founder and President of L.A. Kitchen, which recovers fresh fruits and vegetables to fuel a culinary arts job training program.

Engage in a unique farm to table dining experience for one night only. Reserve your seat at the table! Sponsorships and tickets are available.

All proceeds will support programs of Nebraska Sustainable Agriculture Society and the food hub for No More Empty Pots.
For more information:
Call: 402.502.1642 and ask for Susan
Email: chefawards@gmail.com

Weekly Events & Opportunities in Sustainable Farming & Foods!

NaturePalooza 2015

September 29.  3:00 pm–8:00 pm. UNL's East Campus,  Hardin Hall. See wildlife up close, test your outdoors skills with Campus Rec, browse the exhibits, cast for bass, call for turkeys, sing and dance with the String Beans, dare to venture down to the snake pit and bone yard, learn to make your yard a wildlife habitat, and sample Lincoln’s hottest food trend: food truck cuisine. Free prizes and gifts.http://snr.unl.edu/event/naturepalooza2015/index.asp

Nebraska Natural Legacy Conference

September 29th - 30th. Join us in celebrating a decade of the Nebraska Natural Legacy Project at Natural Legacy Conference 2015! Come learn what is new with mountain lions, river otters, owls, grassland birds, amphibians, pollinators, native oak tree regeneration, and more! The Natural Legacy Project invites natural resource professionals, conservationists, Natural Resource and Biological Science students, and land managers and owners to gather in central Nebraska to learn about important actions taking place in the state for wildlife habitat and at-risk species. http://shopoutdoornebraska.ne.gov/Events/?id=19&pid=239da35a7d5e4c53adcc3e97588f2087

Entomology Seminar on host-plant resistance and insects

September 29.  4:00 pm. UNL's East Campus Union. Contact, Jeri Cunningham, 402-472-8678, jcunningham1@unl.edu. “An overview of host-plant resistance and insects” will be presented by Dawn Sikora, graduate student in the Entomology Department.

Validation of Dried and Fermented Meats: Tools for Small Processors

Wednesday, September 30 at 12:00 pm CDT. Specialty fermented and dried meat products, from jerky to biltong, are growing in popularity, and an increasing number of small meat processors are making these products for their own sales or on a co-packing basis. HACCP regulations require these processors to use "validated" processes -- that is, processes scientifically proven to kill dangerous pathogens. That kind of scientific support can be hard to track down. On this webinar, we will learn about tools that small processors can use to assure their products are safe and in compliance with regulations. This webinar is an online version of a recent symposium by these speakers at the 2015 International Association for Food Protection Conference in Portland, Oregon. https://connect16.uc.att.com/usda/meet/?ExEventID=85277207

Reading & Weeding

September 30th. The garden is a great place for learning, especially for curious little ones! Play in the garden and join us for a book reading -- fun for the whole family! Free, ages 3+ and open to the public. This program is part of our Growing Gardeners Workshop Series, which is a collaboration between City Sprouts and the Big Garden. Our purpose is to offer four seasons of hands-on workshops that feature skills and techniques for every gardener and urban farmer: growing, cooking, preserving and eating healthy local food. All workshops are free or low-cost, all ages, and no one will be turned away for inability to pay. https://www.facebook.com/events/1527840204173707/

Agroforestry for Climate Change Adaptation

Online. 

Irrigation Water Management Plan - An Overview

Online. 

Ag Literacy Festival

 October 1.  10:00 am.  Agricultural Research & Development Center, near Mead.  UNL ARDC, 402-624-8000, ardc@unl.edu. Ag Awareness Coalition and Festivals. With continued urban growth, many youth do not have as much exposure to agriculture as in the past. Many communities are losing touch with Nebraska’s greatest resource - agriculture. The Agricultural Literacy Festival provides an opportunity for youth to take a close-up look at agriculture. The Ag Literacy Festival is sponsored by the Agricultural Awareness Coalition of Nebraska. The goal of the Agricultural Awareness Coalition is to help youth (predominantly urban) become aware of agriculture. The group develops resources and opportunities that will increase youth understanding and awareness about agriculture concepts.

Growing Strawberries for Home Gardeners Using Integrated Pest Management

Thursday, October 1 at 11:30 am CDT. Growing Strawberries for Homeowners Using IPM is a 90-minute webinar designed for Extension Master Gardeners and Extension Educators to learn more about integrated pest management, IPM, with home strawberry plantings. The webinar features Dr. Eric Hanson, Professor Michigan State University, on Selecting and Managing Strawberries followed by questions and answers; South Dakota State University Professor and Extension Plant Pathologist Dr. Rhoda Burrows, who will discuss Managing Strawberry Diseases using IPM followed by questions and answers; and Jeff Hahn, Extension Entomologist from the University of Minnesota, on Managing Strawberry Insects using IPM. Webinar host is Dr. Mary Meyer professor from the University of Minnesota. Participants are asked to preregister at the url above, and complete a PRE test or survey on their knowledge of IPM, here: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/V69DRNJ. For more information. https://umn.webex.com/umn/onstage/g.php?MTID=ede93e250042e1f43fa3540ed8ef93673

Agronomy & Horticulture Seminar - Marco Cristancho

"Keep Enjoying Your Morning Coffee: Research can maintain healthy beans in times of Climate Change." October 2. UNL's East Campus Union. 3:30 pm–4:30 pm. Marco Cristancho – Scientific Director, Centre for Bioinformatics and Computational Biology, Parque los Yarumos, Manizales, Caldas, Colombia, will talk about how climate change has caused major reductions in coffee production due to increased incidence of insect pests and diseases, as well as abiotic stresses that are threatening sustainable coffee production around the world. Join us in person or online at https://connect.unl.edu/fridayseminarseries

Pasture Walk

Sunday October 4, 2015, from 3 PM to 5 PM.  Doug and Sheila Garrison invite you to a walk in our pasture.  Meet in pasture located one-quarter mile North of US HWY 34 and NW 140th Street, Lancaster County Nebraska (east side of road).  NW 140th Street is the Lancaster – Seward County line. Street Address: 7650 NW 140th Street, Malcolm, NE. Pasture Walk Topics: View pasture raised, 100% grass-fed beef herd, low stress nose ring weaning, eastern gamagrass planting, warm season CRP grass grazing, solar powered fence and water, automatic time controlled Batt-Latch gate release, native grass, forb, flower identification, pollinator, bird, wildlife observations, monitoring forages and soil carbon.Dress for walking in a tall grass prairie.  Bring your ideas and questions.  Let's learn together.  Share our successes and mistakes. If questionable weather on the day of the walk or further information: http://dsfamilyfarm.com/2015-pasture-walk/

Seminar Series - Department of Agricultural Economics

October 2.  3:00 pm–4:30 pm. UNL's East Campus, Filley Hall. Contact,  Jane Witte, 402-472-1913, janewitte@unl.edu. Presented by David Just, Cornell University. http://agecon.unl.edu/seminar

Opportunity!

NSAS Membership Month!

During the month of September NSAS will be celebrating membership month! Look for testimonials from board, staff and members throughout the month highlighting the vibrancy of the Nebraska Sustainable Agriculture Society. To maintain the financial sustainability of our organization, I invite you to renew your memberships or if you aren't a member to join!!  In just a few easy clicks, you can show support for the sustainable agriculture movement right here in Nebraska!! 

Here are a few dates to keep in mind of upcoming activities NSAS has is store for you:

November 1st:  NSAS is partnering with No More Empty Pots this year to host the third Producers Choice Chef Award fundraising dinner.  This will again be in Omaha at Metro's Institute for Culinary Arts and this year's theme is collaboration.  We have five great chefs from the Omaha, Lincoln and Waverly area who will be putting on a great meal for us!

January 28-30:  NSAS will be celebrating 35 years!!  Plan to join us for our conference in Nebraska City at the Lied Lodge.  The "Back to the Roots" theme will be the backbone for great breakout sessions and as always the conference is a great way to catch up with your friends.

Opportunities

Solar Fencer for Sale

I have a Gallagher B100 fencer for sale.  Purchase 3.5 years ago, used 2 of the last 3.5 years. http://gallagherelectricfencing.com/collections/solar-powered-energizers/products/new-gallagher-b100-solar-powered-fence-charger-fencer-energizer-60acres-7miles.   

Survey seeks opinions of women livestock farmers

USDA Small Business Innovation Research grant to study the tool- and equipment-related needs of women livestock farmers. To assist Green Heron in designing better tools and equipment, women who raise or care for livestock of any kind are invited to complete a brief survey.   The survey will be open through September, and respondents who complete it will be entered into a drawing for a $100 Green Heron Tools gift certificate. Begun by two small-scale farmers with backgrounds in nursing and public health, Green Heron is the first company in the world to focus on scientifically designing agricultural tools and equipment that work well for women. For more information please visit www.greenherontools.com. Complete the survey at https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/greenherontools_women_livestock_farmers.

Soybeans

I'm looking to buy conventional soybeans with out Herbicides pesticides spray. In need of 10 Bushel   Rich, richvernon7@yahoo.com, 402-443-6762

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".

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

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

Climate Change and Organic Agriculture

October 6. Online. Participate in this webinar in the Understanding Organic Agriculture series, presented by USDA NRCS Science and Technology, to learn about farming practices that can sequester carbon. Dr. Kris Nichols will discuss the Rodale Institute's white paper: Regenerative Organic Agriculture and Climate Change: A Down-to-Earth Solution to Global Warming. This paper discusses the positive impacts of organically managed soils on climate change. She will present data from farming systems and pasture trials around the world that show the carbon sequestration impact of organic management practices. The presentation will describe the farming practices that can be implemented to meet this objective. http://www.conservationwebinars.net/webinars/climate-change-and-organic-agriculture

Raising guinea fowl

Tuesday, October 6 at 2:00 pm CDT. Guinea fowl are becoming popular for controlling ticks and other insects. If you are interested, or thinking about, raising guinea fowl, this is the webinar for you. Dr. Sam Nahashon from the University of Tennessee (http://www.tnstate.edu/agriculture/resumes/samuel_nahashon.aspx) will be discussing what is involved in raising guinea fowl.https://learn.extension.org/events/2034#.VXg8vkZ_CdA

Yields: More or Less

October 6. Online. This webinar is part of the monthly Revisiting Organic Agriculture series offered by the American Society of Agronomy. The speaker for this session is Kathleen Delate of Iowa State University. Online registration is available. https://www.agronomy.org/education/online-courses

Good Agricultural Practices Webinar Series

October 7 - October 28. Online. University of Illinois Extension presents this webinar series, held Wednesdays, October 7, 14, 21, and 28 from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. 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 the following: What is GAPs, Water quality and testing, Soil management, Record keeping, and Traceback. Each registered participant will be sent webinar instructions, handouts, and a GAPs manual prior to the first webinar and webinar instructions before each subsequent session. https://web.extension.illinois.edu/registration/?registrationid=12829

NOP Livestock Standards Webinar

October 8. Online. OEFFA will offer a 90-minute webinar introducing the National Organic Program's livestock standards. Gain a better understanding of the history and meaning of organic, the certification process, and the standards governing organic crop and livestock production. Come prepared to learn, having completed a brief, pre-course self-study assignment prior to the webinar. Be ready to engage in livestock discussion and examine real-world examples facing producers, veterinarians, and certifiers each day. The session is geared toward veterinarians, Extension educators, farmers, and other animal health professionals who work with certified organic livestock. There is no cost to attend the webinar, but pre-registration is required. http://www.oeffa.org/events.php

Amazing Farmer Support Network and Terrific People!

Greetings good people of the NSAS!.

I'm here to remind you how wonderful the Nebraska Sustainable Agriculture Society is and why you should join/renew. If the amazing support network and terrific people aren't enough, do it for the conference!

You can join or renew here, http://nebsusag.org/join.shtml

We'll be back at the beautiful Lied Lodge in Nebraska City again this year and we have a ton of great sessions lined up. There are sessions of interest for seasoned farmers and curious urbanites and everything in between.

It's $45 to join and you'll save $45 on your full conference registration by being a member.

$45 paid - $45 saved = $0 Net Cost 

So let's review:

1. Join or renew, http://nebsusag.org/join.shtml
2. Great organization with a worthy cause
3. Wonderful people and support network
4. Numerous educational events
5. The best sustainable ag conference (and best value) around
6. You get a 100% return on your membership investment just by attending the conference.

If you think you're a member but don't recall when you renewed last, please drop us a line and double check.

Here's some additional info on the conference for those who couldn't/wouldn't click on the link above. There will be more info coming out soon:

Jon Yoachim, NSAS Board Vice President & Farmer at Open Sky Farm

jkyoachim@gmail.com

2016 Healthy Farms Conference

Planning for the 2016 Healthy Farms Conference is well under way! The 2016 Healthy Farms Conference will be on January 29th and 30that the Lied Lodge and Conference Center in Nebraska City. We are also pleased to announce Molly Haviland as one of our keynote presentations. Find details below!

Molly Haviland
Certified Soil Life Consultant, Haviland Earth Regeneration. Molly has a B.S. degree in sustainable living and is an affiliate professor at the Maharishi University of Management where she co-teaches with world renowned soil microbiologist Dr. Elaine Ingham. She is co-founder of the Living Soil Compost Lab and is a Holistic Soil Life Consultant. As a microherder, Molly understands how to cultivate beneficial soil organisms, merge them into growing systems, and encourage them to thrive in that location. She has worked with compost operations, graziers, and growers to develop the highest quality compost and compost amendments designed specifically for the desired crop. She introduces her audiences to the foundational principals of cultivating the soil foodweb and the myriad benefits from its presence. She demonstrates how the soil foodweb is a tool that, when used correctly, has been proven to provide maximum yields with increased mineral and nutrient content, components essential for thriving plants, animals, and human communities.

About Molly Haviland

Follow this link for more information, http://nebsusag.org/conference.shtml

This organization continues to help and support beginning farmers!

Hello friends,

This message is to discuss an issue I have been thinking about as well as a call to support NSAS by signing up to be a member here.

The farmers of Big Muddy Urban Farm are placed in the 25-34 age group in the ag census, considering us to be young farmers (although I think it is not time that defines youth, more as to action). Sometimes I feel like a better descriptor of where my number should be placed in the statistical data would be in a made up category called the 'mad' young farmer. A primary issue that gets my madness stirring and the reason I support NSAS - when looking out at a landscape that is vastly agricultural there is a sufficient lack of opportunities in sustainable agriculture education. To communicate this in numbers, 91% of Nebraskan land is reported as agricultural and for all this agricultural land, there are only two Nebraskan sources listed in a pretty out-dated directory of sustainable agriculture education and training.

Surveying the scene currently, there are a number of organizations in Nebraska that promote sustainable agriculture, and should not be dismissed. SARE is doing quite a lot in these efforts and there are opportunities active at Community Crops, UNL and the extensions. The number of these organizations are not many compared to the agricultural passion of our state. The number may be counted on the fingers of two hands (maybe less, but I want to be optimistic) and this does not set-up a good space for many young people, who are presently in the middle of experiences, having accumulated a couple of chapters of past experiences to pull from and having much more that they envision for in their future experiences. This demographic may not think of sustainable agriculture as a good situation in Nebraska and may send their passions elsewhere.

It is not all dark in Nebraska, the door to sustainable agriculture is not closed and thankfully I have a way of mellowing out my madness. From my point of view, I can say Nebraska Sustainable Agriculture Society has and is very important to Big Muddy as it has helped to provide a great deal of knowledge and resources when we were first starting up from Common Good Farm's presentation of their CSA model at the annual conference charging us with a guiding energy and the sharing activity from its members, like when Billene and Richard Nemec responded to our need of garlic seed. This organization continues to help and support beginning farmers entering into this way of life and thank goodness for it!

The support Big Muddy has received comes from the members of NSAS and not one sole person in the organization, this is because NSAS is a membership organization. If you find NSAS to be important, I ask you to please consider becoming a member or renewing your membership, because after all NSAS is stronger with you than without you. If you would like to join the membership please follow the link here.

Thank you!

Brent Lubbert

NSAS Secretary

Weekly Events & Opportunities in Sustainable Farming & Foods!

Social Media Webinars for Business

September 14, 8am – 9am. Online. Using Social Media tools like Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Instagram and YouTube can help small businesses reach the right audience and affirm their brand through cost-effective, user-friendly forms of direct communication.  Through a series of online classes, social media consultant Shuva Rahim will share ways to help you take advantage of the technology available to small businesses. To register, book online through University of Illinois Extension –https://web.extension.illinois.edu/registration/?RegistrationID=12784  or call Extension at (309) 756-9978.  

Women's Role in Water Quality in the Midwest

 Tuesday, September 15 at 11:00 am CDT.  Jamie Benning, Water Quality Program Manager with Iowa State University Extension and Outreach will present current water quality issues and challenges in Iowa and the Midwest and roles for women landowners, farmers, and professionals. Farmer Kellie Blair will share her perspective on water quality in Iowa and describe experiences with using conservation practices to improve water and soil quality on her grain and livestock farm in North Central Iowa.https://connect.extension.iastate.edu/womeninag

What "Newbees" Need to Know

September 16th. 8am.  Alex Zomchek, Master Beekeeping Instructor. Research and outreach related to honey bees, wild bees and other pollinators Join us for our free, monthly webinar series. All webinars are recorded and archived on the Bee Lab website:http://u.osu.edu/beelab/

Helping our Returning Heroes Find Opportunities in Agriculture: Join us for a Google+ Hangout!

September 17, 10am – 11am. Online. On Thursday, September 17, at 11 a.m. Eastern, Deputy Secretary Krysta Harden will sit down with a panel of veteran farmers and veteran training organizations for a live Google+ Hangout to discuss opportunities available through USDA for returning service members who are looking for long-term careers in farming, ranching and agriculture. Use the USDA Google+ page or www.usda.gov/live to join us. 

Webinar: Nature-based Forestry: The Pro Silva Movement in Europe

Thursday, September 17, 11am – 12pm. The webinar will feature University of Maryland Extension Forest Stewardship Educator Lyle Almond. His presentation, “Nature-based Forestry: The Pro Silva Movement in Europe” will provide an overview of the movement that is sweeping across the European continent. The Pro Silva movement promotes continuous cover forestry, which mimics natural forest stand development for optimizing social, ecological, and economic benefits. The webinar will include Almond’s first-hand experience through his work in the European nation of Slovenia. The webinar will be conducted through Adobe Connect and will be free of charge.www.eventbrite.com/e/nature-based-forestry-the-pro-silva-movement-in-europe-tickets-17794387492

Overview of chicken anatomy

Thursday, September 17 at 2:00 pm CDT. There is a lot of interest in the general anatomy of chickens. This webinar will give this overview concentrating primarily on the reproductive and digestive systems but will also cover skeletal, muscular, excretory and respiratory systems. Dr. Jacquie Jacob from the University of Kentucky will be presenting. https://connect.extension.iastate.edu/poultry

Applications of Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) in Agriculture

Thursday, September 17 at 2:00 pm CDT. This is the second in a year-long series of webinars; the topic of this hour-long webinar is ‘Applications of UAS in Agriculture’. The webinar will provide details on inventory management related applications of UAS acquired images. The discussion will also involve workflow for software needed to process UAS images. A third presentation will highlight a safety program in Colorado with emphasis on aerial applicators and UAS. A review of current topics of interest to UAS community in agriculture will also be part of the webinar. https://connect.extension.iastate.edu/learnuasag

Thermal Manure-to-Energy Systems for Farms: Technical and Environmental Feasibility

Friday, September 18 at 1:30 pm CDT. The Farm Manure-to-Energy Initiative is regional, collaborative effort focused on demonstrating and evaluating the performance of thermal, poultry litter-fueled technologies capable of producing energy and facilitating the transport of excess nutrients out of high-density animal production areas. Results of performance evaluations, including technical and environmental feasibility will be presented, along with results from field trials where ash and biochars were compared side-by-side in row crop and vegetable production with commercial fertilizer and untreated poultry litter. Presenters will discuss challenges and opportunities associated with using thermal poultry litter-fueled technologies at the farm-scale. http://connect.extension.iastate.edu/lpelc

E3A - Understanding incentives: A key to a viable renewable energy project

September 17th. 3pm. As part of the Exploring Energy Efficiency and Alternatives (E3A) curriculum, the 15 minute presentation and follow-up conversation will address federal tax credits and grants and offer a quick overview of net metering.  References for finding and harnessing state and local will also be discussed.  www.e3a4u.info

Agronomy & Horticulture Seminar

September 18th. 3:30pm. Dryland Crop Production in the Panhandle.  UNL's East Campus, Keim.  Cody Creech, assistant professor, Dryland Cropping Systems Specialist, UNL Agronomy and Horticulture, will discuss how dryland crop production in the Nebraska panhandle has changed drastically over the last 50 years. The traditional wheat-fallow rotation has given way to complex rotations with diverse crops. The current status of dryland crop production and research will be shared. Future research ideas and opportunities will also be discussed. Join us in person or online at https://connect.unl.edu/fridayseminarseries

Grazing Tour

A grazing tour will be held Saturday morning, September 19 at the farm of Dave and Deb Welsch.  The tour will begin at 9 a.m. and conclude around 11.  This will be a walking tour so bring boots in case of wet weather. The tour will include looking at the cow/calf herd which is moved once or twice a day in a high density grazing program.  Many native grasses have shown up in some of the pastures which have been grazed under high density for 5 years.  We’ll look at some new hi-tensile fencing and see a demonstration of how to tie hi-tensile wire without using tools other than a wire cutter. The tour is at West Blue Farm, 146 County Road 1900, Milford, NE.  It is 6.5 miles south of Southeast Community College in Milford.  Or from Crete go 3 miles west to Co. Rd. 1900 and then 4.5 miles north.  For more information call Dave or Deb at 402-826-5361.

Composting Demonstration

 September 19.  10:00 am. Lincoln.  Pioneers Park Nature Center’s backyard composting demonstration area. Sarah Browning, Nebraska Extension in Lancaster County, 402-441-7180, sbrowning2@unl.edu

Farm Aid 30

September 19. Chicago, Illinois. Farm Aid 30, an all-day music and food festival, will feature performances by Farm Aid board members Nelson, John Mellencamp, Neil Young, and Dave Matthews — with Tim Reynolds — as well as Imagine Dragons, Jack Johnson, Kacey Musgraves, Mavis Staples, Old Crow Medicine Show, Holly Williams, Lukas Nelson & Promise of the Real, Insects vs Robots, and Blackwood Quartet. In addition to a diverse lineup of music, Farm Aid 30 festivalgoers will be able to experience family farm agriculture firsthand. In the HOMEGROWN Village, attendees will have the chance to meet farmers from Illinois and across the country. The HOMEGROWN Village also features hands-on activities by local, regional and national farm and food organizations that engage festivalgoers in the ways family farmers are enriching our soil, protecting our water and growing our economy, in addition to bringing us good food for good health. https://www.farmaid.org/concert/

Opportunity!

NSAS Membership Month!

During the month of September NSAS will be celebrating membership month! Look for testimonials from board, staff and members throughout the month highlighting the vibrancy of the Nebraska Sustainable Agriculture Society. To maintain the financial sustainability of our organization, I invite you to renew your memberships or if you aren't a member to join!!  In just a few easy clicks, you can show support for the sustainable agriculture movement right here in Nebraska!! 

Here are a few dates to keep in mind of upcoming activities NSAS has is store for you:

November 1st:  NSAS is partnering with No More Empty Pots this year to host the third Producers Choice Chef Award fundraising dinner.  This will again be in Omaha at Metro's Institute for Culinary Arts and this year's theme is collaboration.  We have five great chefs from the Omaha, Lincoln and Waverly area who will be putting on a great meal for us!

January 28-30:  NSAS will be celebrating 35 years!!  Plan to join us for our conference in Nebraska City at the Lied Lodge.  The "Back to the Roots" theme will be the backbone for great breakout sessions and as always the conference is a great way to catch up with your friends.

Opportunities

Solar Fencer for Sale

I have a Gallagher B100 fencer for sale.  Purchase 3.5 years ago, used 2 of the last 3.5 years. http://gallagherelectricfencing.com/collections/solar-powered-energizers/products/new-gallagher-b100-solar-powered-fence-charger-fencer-energizer-60acres-7miles.   Regards, Robert White, lnkrob@gmail.com

Survey seeks opinions of women livestock farmers

USDA Small Business Innovation Research grant to study the tool- and equipment-related needs of women livestock farmers. To assist Green Heron in designing better tools and equipment, women who raise or care for livestock of any kind are invited to complete a brief survey.   The survey will be open through September, and respondents who complete it will be entered into a drawing for a $100 Green Heron Tools gift certificate. Begun by two small-scale farmers with backgrounds in nursing and public health, Green Heron is the first company in the world to focus on scientifically designing agricultural tools and equipment that work well for women. For more information please visit www.greenherontools.com. Complete the survey at https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/greenherontools_women_livestock_farmers.

Soybeans

I'm looking to buy conventional soybeans with out Herbicides pesticides spray. In need of 10 Bushel   Rich, richvernon7@yahoo.com, 402-443-6762

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

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

Farm Advocacy Webinar

September 21. Online. In this free webinar, OEFFA Policy Program Coordinator Amalie Lipstreu will explain what advocacy is and why it's important for farmers and citizens to be engaged in the policy process. Also learn how you can be an effective voice for change and make a difference on the food and farm issues you care about—even if you don't have a lot of time. Learn techniques for successfully communicating with legislators and find out about resources and opportunities to help you get involved. http://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/1430411120105992449

Environmental Benefits of Organic Agriculture: Water Quality

September 23. Online. This free, one-hour webinar is the fourth in a four-part series exploring the environmental benefits of organic agriculture, presented by USDA NRCS Science and Technology and Oregon Tilth. This session will present scientific research examining the water quality benefits of organic farming practices. http://www.conservationwebinars.net/webinars/environmental-benefits-of-organic-agriculture-water-quality

Agvocacy Webinar

Wednesday, September 23 at 11:00 am CDT. We need positive voices to tell our story. Learn how to effectively communicate and “agvocate”in this arena. To register: http://www.eventbrite.com/e/wednesday-webinars-registration-11452674257

Getting Started in Grazing

September 23. Salina, Kansas. If you're ready to change your operation from letting cows manage your business to you being in charge, this Beginner’s Grazing School taught by Jim Gerrish is just for you. Topics include understanding stock rate, carrying capacity and stock density, and grazing management based on four ecosystem processes 1) capturing more solar energy on every acre 2) creating a more effective water cycle 3) building more dynamic mineral cycles 4) why biodiversity matters and planning for year-around grazing. http://www.kansasfarmersunion.com/jim-gerrish-returns-to-kansas-for-three-workshops-six-days-september-21-26/

Practical Livestock Evacuation

Friday, September 25 at 1:00 pm CDT. Are you prepared to evacuate your livestock in the event of a disaster? Discover practical steps to a safe and successful livestock evaluation. Scott Cotton, Wyoming Extension ANR Area Educator, will be our presenter and Andrea Higdon, Emergency Management System Director for the College of Agriculture, Food and Environment, University of Kentucky, will moderate the session. http://connect.extension.iastate.edu/eden

Perennial Grass Decision Tool (Web Seminar)

Friday, September 25 at 10:00 am CDT. Perennial warm season grasses for use as bioenergy crops is still a future possibility, yet current opportunities exist to use perennial warm season grasses for erosion control, grazing, or forages.  The CenUSA bioenergy project funded by USDA NIFA has completed extensive analysis on Switchgrass and other perennials to help foster their utility in the corn belt as bioenergy crops on marginal land.  The enonomic and agronomic analysis has led to the creation of an online tool farmers can use to quantify the costs and benefits of growing switchgrass or other perennial warm season grasses.https://connect.extension.iastate.edu/nebraska