Getting started with hay production
Monday, April 11 at 6:00 pm CDT. This session will cover the basics of growing, harvesting and storing hay for the less experienced farmer. We’ll discuss the various grass and legume species that make up most hay in Michigan, soil fertility needs for hay, harvest timing, equipment needs, storing and selling hay. http://events.anr.msu.edu/BegFrmrWeb2016/
Entomology Seminar on a Community View of Plant-insect Interactions
April 12. 4:00 pm–5:00 pm. UNL's Nebraska East Union. Contact, Jeri Cunningham,402-472-8678, jcunningham1@unl.edu. Kyle Koch, a graduate student in the Entomology Department at UNL, will present the seminar, “A Community View of Plant-Insect Interactions: Herbivore-Associated Organisms Affect Plant-Herbivore Interactions.”
All-Seasons Approach to Monitoring and Managing Spotted Wing Drosophila
April 12. Online. Northwest Center for Alternatives to Pesticides offers this free webinar with Dr. Amy J. Dreves, Education Entomologist. Soft-fruit growers should attend to add monitoring, prevention, and cultural methods to their management plans. The webinar will be organized by each of the four seasons, demonstrating what’s happening in the life cycle of SWD and presenting effective techniques to monitor and reduce populations. http://www.pesticide.org/swd_webinar_2016
Grazing Management on CRP Acres to Improve Soil Health
April 12. Participants in this webinar presented by the USDA NRCS Soil Health Division will learn about the mineral cycle in a mature forage system, improving wildlife habitat, and how to efficiently and economically provide fence and water to enable grazing of Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) fields. Participants will gain understanding of what is required to achieve adequate animal performance on what is typically a very mature forage base. The presenter is Doug Peterson, Central Regional Soil Health Specialist, USDA NRCS Soil Health Division. The free, one-hour webinar begins at 2:00 p.m. Eastern.
Webinar: Deciding on a Business Structure
Wednesday April 13, 11am – 12pm.
Getting started with compost production and use for the small and mid-sized farm
Wednesday, April 13 at 6:00 pm CDT. Are you ready to include or improve composting at your farm? Learn efficient and effective techniques for making compost, as well as criteria for deciding when and how to use farm-made or purchased compost. Topics will include how to make and use compost for transplant and or containerized crop production and recommendations for vermicomposting. http://events.anr.msu.edu/ BegFrmrWeb2016/
Ecology and Climate Change
April 14th. 3:30 pm–4:30 pm. UNL's City Campus in Hamilton Hall. School of Biological Sciences, 402-472-2720, biology@unl.edu. “Putting ecology into predictions of forest range shifts under climate change” The School of Biological Sciences Seminar is a weekly series presented by invited speakers and UNL faculty to showcase current research advances in biological sciences. http://biosci.unl.edu/school-biological- sciences-seminar-series
Getting started with the Food Safety Modernization Act: What you need to do
Thursday, April 14 at 6:00 pm CDT. No matter how big your farm or market garden is, if you sell fruits and vegetables to anyone, you will need to do SOMEthing to comply with the Food Safety Modernization Act. This webinar will outline what you need to do, whatever your farm size. http://events.anr.msu.edu/BegFrmrWeb2016/
Manure Management That Won’t “Bug You”
Friday, April 15 at 1:30 pm CDT. Ever wonder how Mother Nature takes care of her own waste stream? Did you know Scarab Beetles that were worshipped and worn in ancient times as jewelry are actually Dung Eating Beetles? Learn all about nature’s important waste eating bugs (and more) during this webcast. Find out about Black Soldier Flies, Dung Beetles, Filth flies and more. http://connect.extension.iastate.edu/lpelc
On-Line Resources for Managing Cover Crops in the North Central States
Friday, April 15 at 12:00 pm CDT. Interest in cover crops is growing among North Central crop growers, however incorporating cover crops into current cropping system can be challenging. Surveys conducted in the North Central US during 2014-15 winter meetings showed that growers are continuously seeking for useful resources to counter their challenges. Extension personnel from the region put together a compendium of resources related to different aspects of growing cover crops. This webinar will highlight available resource materials related to in-season cover crops growth, species selection, cover crops impact on soil health, and economics of cover crops. https://learn.extension.org/events/2373
Beekeeping Workshop
Saturday, April 16, 2016 from 9a-5p at the West Central Research & Extension Center in North Platte, NE. Registration is $35 and includes lunch, breaks, and a work book. To register send a check and your contact information to: Jeri Cunningham
402-472-2123, jcunningham1@unl.edu. For more information:http://entomology.unl.edu/2016beeworkshops.pdf
Central Plains Severe Weather Symposium and Family Weatherfest
April 16. 9:00 am–2:00 pm. UNL's Hardin Hall. Contact, Ken Dewey, 402-472-2908,kdewey1@unl.edu. Hands-on weather activities for kids, including the Green Screen Experience and meeting local weathercasters as well as weather related talks. The event is free with free parking in the lot surrounding Hardin Hall. Storm Spotter Training will begin at 2:00 pm.
Opportunities
Omaha area gardens sought for milkweed/monarch research project
I am studying monarch caterpillar survivability in conservation areas compared to residential gardens. I am asking for help in locating people with gardens that could be part of my study. I would need to visit a garden once every four days throughout the summer. An ideal garden should have at least ten milkweed plants from two species. We will have small quantities of milkweed (swamp milkweed & common milkweed) that we can provide to help bring the garden’s total milkweed to the number needed. My name is Emily, and I am a master’s student at UNO. Please contact me ategeest@unomaha.edu for more information. Thank you!
New Farm Storage Facility Loan
The Farm Storage Facility Loan (FSFL) Program administered by the FSA has expanded to include some new eligible commodities. The new commodities eligible for facility loans include floriculture, hops, rye, milk, cheese, butter, yogurt, meat and poultry (unprocessed), eggs, and aquaculture (excluding systems that maintain live animals through uptake and discharge of water). Commodities already eligible for the loans include corn, grain sorghum, rice, soybeans, oats, peanuts, wheat, barley, minor oilseeds harvested as whole grain, pulse crops (lentils, chickpeas and dry peas), hay, honey, renewable biomass, and fruits, nuts and vegetables for cold storage facilities. Loan applications should be filed in the administra-tive FSA office that maintains the farm’s records. For more information about Farm Storage Facility Loans, visit www.fsa.usda.gov/pricesupport, or contact your local FSA office. To find your local FSA office, visit http://offices.usda.gov.
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.
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
Agritourism--The Next Frontier in Agriculture
April 18. Online. If you are currently running an agritourism operation or are thinking about making this an addition to your farm, you should become familiar with the Compendium of Measures to Prevent Disease Associated with Animals in Public Settings. Following the guidelines outlined in the Compendium will help you make your farm as safe as possible for visitors and protect your assets. This webinar begins at noon central and features Carrie Klumb, MPH Epidemiologist, Senior UMASH Project Coordinator. https://attendee.gototraining.com/r/ 4690069473314528258
Conservation Planning for Pastureland: Essential and Needed Practices and Planning Policy
April 19. Online. This free, one-hour webinar is from NRCS Science and Technology. http://conservationwebinars.net/
No comments:
Post a Comment