North American Prairie Conference
July 17-20. Normal, Illinois. "From Cemetary Prairies to National Tallgrass Prairies" includes sessions on landscape scale restoration, status of grassland birds, and much more. There will be more than 70 oral papers on many aspects of prairie ecology, restoration, management, and some innovative ideas on working lands. http://nap2016.illinoisstate.edu/
Citizen Science in a Global Perspective
Tuesday, July 19 at 7:00 am CDT. Citizen Science has become an umbrella term for a variety of forms of public participation in scientific research. This participation ranges from data gathering to more collaborative and community-led forms. Distinct national and cultural traditions shape how and in what fields nonscientists get involved with scientific projects. While public participation is not new, the recent trend to label many activities as “Citizen Science” raises important questions: • Who brings what to Citizen Science projects? • What relationships develop between experts, communities and policymakers? • Where is the line between empowerment and exploitation? • Do Citizen Science practices challenge or support communication models such as the deficit model? The webinar combines short introductory statements with a discussion amongst participants". Speakers and discussants include Bruce Lewenstein (USA), Yaela Golumbic & Ayelet Baram Tsabari (Israel), Claudia Goebel (Germany), Lisa Pettibone (Germany) and Emma Weitkamp (UK). The session will be facilitated by Simone Roedder (Germany). Participation is free of charge. To participate it is necessary to register using this link: http://societas.biodiv.naturkundemuseum-berlin.de/?q= node/83.
Organic Seed Production: Trials and Selection
July 19. Online. A new six-webinar series on organic seed production will provide training for seed growers and seed production interns throughout the 2016 growing season (June - November). This series, offered by Organic Seed Alliance (OSA) and the Multinational Exchange for Sustainable Agriculture (MESA), will cover a range of topics, from planting to harvest to the economics of seed production. The free webinars are open to the public and appropriate for farmers, interns, students, and other agricultural professionals. This session addresses trials and selection. https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/ 1033801889354662914
Agroforestry for Food: New Research on Multifunctional Woody Polyculture Systems
July 20.Online.The Center for Agroforestry at the University of Missouri invites you to participate in the Agroforestry in Action Webinar Series. In this session, Dr. Sarah Taylor Lovell, Associate Professor in the Department of Crop Sciences at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign presents. Dr. Lovell established The Multifunctional Landscape Analysis and Design lab (MLAD) in 2006. MLAD is committed to the research and development of sustainable solutions for working lands. Dr Taylor Lovell is the lead Principal Investigator on a newly awarded a five-year grant with the overall goal of developing the information and tools to facilitate the transition to MPCs on "opportunity lands" of farms (lands marginal for conventional crops). The project will target the Upper Sangamon River Watershed, a typical region of the Midwest primarily dominated by corn and soybeans.
National Value Added Agriculture Conference
July 21-22. Madison, Wisconsin. National leaders in value-added agriculture will be convening for the 18th Annual National Value-Added Agriculture Conference. The theme of this year's conference is "Agriculture, Innovation, and Entrepreneurship: Developing Thriving Rural Communities." Conference topics include agritourism, rural and urban economic development, food waste, food safety, marketing, policy, local and regional food systems, labor issues, alternative energy, technology, supply chain management, and more. http://www.agmrc.org/national-value-added- agriculture-conference/
Opportunities
Chicken Equipment for Sale
After 20+ years of chickens, we have decided to call it quits! So we have for sale a Heavy duty custom-built chicken picker and scalde. More pics available. $800 each. 402-254-2372. Dave & Jill Wubben
Large stacking agricultural crates for producers for sale
FarmTable Delivery is selling large stacking agricultural crates for producers. They measure 23.75 x 15.75 x 7.25 inches, have ventilation holes and are asymmetrical so they can either nest or stack with a 180 degree turn. A great product - food grade, freezer and dishwasher safe, some producers use them for deliveries and have customers dishwash and return them!View them here: http://www.thunderbirdplastics.com/pages/ agriculturalus.php.
Or order by email, farmtabledelivery@gmail.com.
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.
Upcoming
NMPAN Webinar: Co-op Owned and Operated Processing
July 26. Online. On this free NMPAN webinar, participants will hear the story of one co-op, Cattle Producers of Washington, and their journey to build and operate their own plant, the LPCA Plant in Odessa, Washington. Learn how they got started, how they financed the plant, and hear about the build-out process. Presenters will talk about the LPCA's first few years of operation: successes, challenges, and surprises along the way. http://articles.extension.org/pages/33477/ nmpan-webinars
Ideas on Alternative Crops Webinar
Farm Diversification - Ideas on alternative crops - Farm diversification opens opportunity and increases potential profitability! Adding specialty fruit and vegetable crops to your farm can increase profit margins in several ways. Like diversifying in the stock market, engaging in more than one enterprise and adding value to what you already grow will spread profit risk, not to mention “growing” interest in locally produced foods. This webinar will introduce participants to some new potential specialty crops, discuss new federal regulations to be aware of and regional research that has been done with specialty crops over the past few years.
National Good Food Network Webinar: Hidden Implications of Food Hub Business Growth
July 28. Online. In this free, one-hour webinar, Tera Johnson, founder of the Food Finance Institute at University of Wisconsin, will take you on a journey through three archetypal hub business decision points, and advise how to manage for success. Drawing from her own experience, as well as premier industry data, Tera will present a big picture view of: adding a frozen product line, adding a new distribution channel, and taking on a very large customer. https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/ 913983710116877057
Earthen Oven Workshop
July 29-31. This will be the third weekend workshop that New Earth Farm & Goods will be hosting Jim Schalles (you can learn more about Jim on the registration page). This 3-day event will give you the knowledge, skill, and confidence you need to not only build your own pizza oven, but will teach you about cob, fire science, and natural building. Limited spots available, so register today at http://www.keipos.org/courses.html
