Climate Impacts on Water Management in the North Central Region
Monday, March 28 at 1:00 pm CDT. Speakers will be Jonathan Aguilar from Kansas State and Jane Frankenberger from Purdue. Register at our website atclimateagwater.wordpress.com. Links to the archived webinars are also available at this website.
Regulations and Best Practices for Value Added-Products
March 29th. Nicole Saville from Spiritus Vitae Botanicals in Lincoln, NE will discuss how to navigate the legal requirements for value-added products. Nicole has experience getting regulatory approval for several types of value-added products including infusions, herbal teas, syrups and more! https://communitycrops.z2systems.com/eventReg.jsp? event=996&
Webinar: Trialing No-Till Systems in the Market Garden
March 29. Online. This free, one-hour, evening webinar from NOFA Massachusetts will be presented by Liz Joseph, Heifer International. Learn tips for managing a no-till, one acre garden from Liz, who has been managing her market garden with no-till and hand-tillage systems for five years. http://www.nofamass.org/events/webinar-trialing- no-till-systems-market-garden
How to Assess a Horse's Health and Welfare
Tuesday, March 29 at 6:00 pm CDT. This webcast is intended to help participants learn and apply equine welfare principles that will lead to improvements in the care and management of horses. The importance of equine welfare and definitions of welfare will be presented. Participants will also be introduced to current advances in equine welfare science and to valuable resources relevant to the welfare of horses.http://myhorseuniversity.com/ resources/webcasts/health_ welfare
Entomology Seminar on Variations in Insect Mating
March 29. 4:00 pm. UNL's Nebraska East Union. Contact, Jeri Cunningham, 402-472-8678, jcunningham1@unl.edu. Katie Keller, a graduate student in the entomology department at UNL, will present the seminar, “Variations in Insect Mating.”
Impacts of the Food Safety Modernization Act on Diversified Organic Vegetable Farms
March 29. Online. Join eOrganic for a free webinar on the impacts of the Food Safety Modernization Act on Diversified Organic Vegetable Farms, by Erin Silva of the University of Wisconsin. While it still remains unclear as to how many aspects of the regulation will look "on the ground," this webinar will address what diversified organic vegetable farmers need to begin thinking about with respect to moving forward toward compliance. Advance registration is required. https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/ 8892256681358029570
Getting started with meat goats
Wednesday, March 30 at 6:00 pm CDT.The focus of this Webinar will be raising Meat Goats and will include such topics as health, housing, nutrition and management of the different phases of production.http://events.anr.msu.edu/BegFrmrWeb2016/
Savanna-Based Restoration Agriculture
March 30.Online.This event 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.
Conservation Planning Considerations for Outdoor Swine Operations
March 30.Online.This webinar is presented by the USDA NRCS East National Technology Support Center. This webinar will introduce participants to conservation practices and strategies that can be considered when assisting producers with their outdoor swine operations. The presenter is James T. Green, Jr., Ph.D., North Carolina State University. Participants will have a better understanding of the unique difficulties presented and the opportunities provided to solve resource concerns on outdoor swine operations.
Waste Management at the Processing Plant
March 30.Online.This free, one-hour webinar from the Niche Meat Processor Assistance Network begins at 1 p.m. Eastern. For those new to meat processing, or those looking for new ideas for their plant, this webinar will provide a general overview on waste management for both solid waste and wastewater. The webinar will discuss wastewater management, basic systems and pre-treatment options, and regulations. It will also cover solid waste streams (things like manure, bones, trim, etc.) and solutions for dealing with those various waste streams.
Identifying Disease and Pest Problems on the Farm
March 30th. Tom Creswell, director of the Purdue Plant and Pest Diagnostic Lab.https://purdue.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_bmBrd3hIYREwlWB
Webinar: Planning for Farm to School Success
Thursday, March 31, 1pm – 2pm. Hear about the different ways to incorporate school gardens into your farm to school program as well as how schools are successfully procuring school garden produce for their meal programs. Join Bob Gorman, the Farm to School Regional Lead in the Food and Nutrition Services' Mountain Plains Regional Office, as he moderates this webinar. https://cc.readytalk.com/cc/s/registrations/new? cid=q4mdwam7hrx5
Setting Up a Grazing System on a Small Farm
March 31.Online.This event concludes the Small Farms Winter Webinar Series presented by University of Illinois Extension. This free, one-hour webinar with Jay Solomon, University of Illinois Extension Energy and Environmental Stewardship Educator, begins at noon CT.
First Friday: “We, The Heartland”
April 1st. 5:00 pm. Great Plains Art Museum. Contact, Katie Nieland, 402-472-3965,knieland2@unl.edu. “We, The Heartland” is a love letter to the cultural landscape of the prairies. Photographs by Kate Schneider portraying the proposed Keystone XL pipeline route in Nebraska and South Dakota are paired with handwritten letters to President Obama from landowners and Lakota natives. The landscapes address the unseen threat the proposed pipeline poses to the land, and the accompanying letters address the indexical relationship between the land and those who seek to preserve it. Also up now:- “From This Grass Earth,” photography and poetry from the Northern Great Plains, - “Denizens: Wildlife on the Western Frontier, an exhibition of vintage engravings, 1770-1902” (lower level), - 75 Iconic Covers from the University of Nebraska Press (lower level lobby). http://www.unl.edu/plains/schedule-exhibitions
All Bugs Good and Bad Webinar Series: Help pollinators cope with pesticides
April 1.Online.Pollinating insects are at risk when pesticides are used carelessly. Learn practical tips for preventing polliniator deaths from pesticides by Jack Rowe, Dr. James Tew, Sallie Lee, and Dani Carroll from the Alabama Cooperative Extension System. https://learn.extension.org/events/2317
Farm to School Opportunity
April 2. North Platte Public Schools. Join the Center for Rural Affairs, in partnership with UNL, at a farm to school training. This is an excellent opportunity to learn more about the farmer and school connection, and to spend face-to-face time with school food service staff. Workshops & Lunch are free. Please register via email or phone, sarahs@cfra.org, 402-783-1183.
Composting Demonstration
April 2. 2:00 pm. Pioneers Park Nature Center’s backyard composting demonstration area in LNK. Contact, Sarah Browning, Nebraska Extension in Lancaster County, 402-441-7180, sbrowning2@unl.edu
Opportunities
Organic Custom Grazing
I have 150 acres of grass that is certified Organic. I'd potentially be interested in custom grazing pairs/cows/yearlings. I also have an additional 250 acres of grass that can be certified. I've been custom grazing 50 pairs the last few years on non-certified ground. Please let me know if you're interested or know of someone who might be. Jon Yoachim, 402-309-4088
Facility Manager Position at Prairie Hill
PRAIRIE HILL Learning Center, a Montessori farm - school located on HWY 77 seven miles south of Lincoln, seeks a Facility Manager beginning in May. 20-30 hours per week, with daily hours beginning at 6:45am. Position involves being knowledgeable and handy with maintenance of buildings and grounds on our 12 acre farm. Good communication and organizational skills are required. Respect for and appreciation of children is crucial. E-mail: Send a resume to prairiehillschool@yahoo.comMail: PRAIRIE HILL Learning Center, 17705 S. 12 St., Roca, NE 68430, Telephone: 402-438-6668 and ask to speak to our Executive Director, Mandie Schadwinkel.
Robinette Farms Apprenticeship
We're looking for one more addition to our farm for 2016. If you or someone you know wants to learn about small-scale vegetable production, CSA management, management-intensive grazing and pastured poultry, please get in touch! Testimonials from former Apprentices can be found here: http://www.robinettefarms.com/apprentice- testimonials Details about the Apprenticeship here: http://www.robinettefarms.com/ apprenticeship/info
Positions Available
I wanted to let you know that we are still trying to fill multiple positions on both our farm, New Earth Farm & Goods, and with our non-profit, Keipos. Here are the positions available: 1) Farm Apprentice at New Earth Farm & Goods, which includes food, housing, and pay. 2) Internships positions with Keipos, a 12-week program working at our heart and in the city, which includes a PDC certificate. Jonathan Dodd, Keipos, Inc. http://keipos.org, http://negoods.com, jonathan@keipos.org,
Dryland Farming Opportunity
I have + or - 6 acres that I am transitioning to organic status. It has not had any pesticides, herbicides or fertilizers applied to it for five years. It is currently in alfalfa that has reached the end of its productivity. It does not have access to irrigation. Anyone out there want to farm it organically on a sharecrop or cash rent basis? I also have 10 acres of prairie grass (never sprayed with anything) that will need to be harvested - usually sometime between June 25 and July 10. Will do that on a sharecrop or cash basis as well. I do not have the necessary large farming equipment, but have access to some on a rental basis. Interested? Please email me at gene@heartlandorganics.net. Gene Gage, Heartland Organics
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.orgfor more information.
Fund a Truck, Fund Local Foods!
Nebraska Food Cooperative is asking for your help to raise capital for loan repayment and truck repairs. Our delivery trucks put on a lot of miles to deliver fresh food across our state. We had to replace one of our vehicles and make extensive repairs on another. As a grassroots community to help small farms and build local economies, we are asking for your contribution so that the money tied up in these expenses can be freed to go toward running the co-op and making our network stronger. We believe in the value of the co-op, and we believe in you, our community of co-op members! Read more, and support NFC today!
Upcoming
Getting started with the basics of insect morphology
Monday, April 4 at 6:00 pm CDT. Understanding an insect’s form and features will help you tell friends from enemies and determine how to best deal with them. This session will deepen your understanding of insects, both pests and beneficials.http://events.anr.msu.edu/BegFrmrWeb2016/
Transitioning to Organic Production
April 5. Online. This webinar will explore the challenges producers face when transitioning part or all of their operation to organic certification. Case studies will be used to profile and discuss different producer groups that are successful in the transition from conventional production to organic. This presentation will introduce participants to Making the Transition to Organic: Ten Farmer Profiles, a publication from the University of Minnesota that features both crop and livestock producers. In the Understanding Organic Agriculture series, this free, one-hour webinar is presented by USDA NRCS Science and Technology. http://www.conservationwebinars.net/ webinars/transitioning-to- organic-production
Avoiding Disease in Dairy Calves
Tuesday, April 5 at 12:00 pm CDT. Location: https://connect.extension.iastate.edu/dairexnetwebinar/. Presenter: Dr. Geof Smith, North Carolina State University
An Introduction to the Anaerobic Digestion System Enterprise Budget Calculator
April 6. Online. This event is part of the Anaerobic Digestion Systems Webinar Series presented by Washington State University researchers and their collaborators. Join Dr. Greg Astill, the creator of the Anaerobic Digester (AD) System Enterprise Budget Calculator, for a walk-through of the basic operations of the budget calculator and a demonstration of the results it produces. The Budget Calculator is intended for dairy owners, AD system industry experts, and AD researchers to be able to easily calculate the net present value of investment under a variety of technology and price scenarios for an AD system. http://csanr.wsu.edu/anaerobic-digestion-systems- webinar-series2016/
Overview of poultry related equipment
Wednesday, April 6 at 10:30 am CDT. Location: https://connect.extension.iastate.edu/poultry
Irrigation Options for Market Gardens and Small Farms
April 6th. Lyndon Kelley, irrigation. https://purdue.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_ bmBrd3hIYREwlWB
Grazing Guides for Dairy Systems Webinar Series: Gaining Control of Parasite Issues in Grazing Systems
April 6. Online. In this free webinar, Dr. Robert Van Saun of Penn State University will provide an overview of the challenges internal parasites pose for grazing dairies as now the host and parasite are both in the same environment. He will discuss fundamentals to approaching a sustainable and appropriate parasite control program and detail practical recommendations for developing a farm-specific control program. http://extension.psu.edu/animals/dairy/events/ grazing-guides-for-dairy- system-gaining-control-of- parasite-issues-in-grazing- systems
Evaluating Sprouted Grains on Grazing Dairy Farms
April 7. Online. Join eOrganic for a webinar focused on research that is evaluating fodder systems on grazing dairy farms. To evaluate the feasibility, effectiveness and challenges of sprouted grain systems on dairy farms in the Northeast, Dr. Kathy Soder is conducting a research and outreach project with funding from Northeast SARE. Dr. Soder has been collecting farm data (animal productivity, feed information, economic data) to develop science-based, objective recommendations that can be used by farmers, consultants and researchers in making educated decisions on a case-by-case basis on whether to implement a sprouted grain system on the farm. This free, one-hour webinar beginning at 2 p.m. Eastern will report project findings thus far. http://articles.extension.org/pages/73431/ evaluating-sprouted-grains-on- grazing-dairy-farms-webinar- by-eorganic
