A. Leveraging labels
to market your product: An overview of the labeling landscape and an in depth
look at AWA Certification
How do you let consumers know that your farm really has the well-treated
animals raised outdoors on pasture or range that they see on supermarket labels and want for their families? Today’s
producers face a bewildering range of terms and claims used to promote and label food. Animal Welfare
Approved audits and certifies family farms that utilize high-welfare methods of
farming, outdoors on pasture or range. Certified farms use the AWA label as a
way to add value and to assure customers of high-welfare
farming practices. Hear from Alexandra Frantz, Central Region Farmer and Market Outreach Coordinator, about what the
most commonly used labels mean (and
don’t mean) and how certification and effective labeling can help your products stand out in the marketplace.
Alexandra Frantz; As the Central Region
Farmer and Market Outreach Coordinator for AWA, Alexandra works to expand the
market for Certified AWA products by promoting Certified AWA farmers and
developing relationships with retailers, restaurants, farmers markets, and
consumers. In addition to attending and speaking at events and conferences
across the Midwest, Alexandra provides a broad range of marketing support—from
traditional press releases to social media features—for Certified AWA farmers,
and identifies and recruits pasture-based farmers interested in AWA
Certification.
B. Training for Beginning Farmer in
Nebraska; The Farm Beginnings Nebraska Story!
The Farm Beginnings® Program works to get more
successful farmers on the land and organize for a system in which family
farmers can flourish. Family farmers are a force for change. They are caring
for the land, strengthening rural communities, running viable farm businesses,
and producing food and fiber for their communities. Farm Beginnings provides a
wide range of trainings, including Farm Dreams, Farm Beginnings and the Journeyperson
Course. We are working to improve land access for family farmers through
organizing to reform key policies. We facilitate a vibrant network of farmers
who lead field days, skill shares, and lots of support to each other. We have
developed a Farm Transition Toolkit and a clearinghouse that connects land
owners and land seekers. The 2016 Farm Beginnings® Nebraska
Classes are being held in Weeping Water,
NE at the Cass County Extension Office.
In this session we will discuss the Farm Beginnings Nebraska
program and hear from several graduates
Gary Lesoing; has served as Nebraska's SARE
State Coordinator since 2008. Lesoing has been involved in research and
extension in sustainable agriculture since 1980. He conducted research in
organic and diversified cropping systems at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln
Agriculture Research and Development Center. In 1998 Lesoing became a Regional
Agronomy Specialist for the University of Missouri-Columbia in the West Central
Region of Missouri and continued working in sustainable agriculture. In 2004 he
moved back to his home state of Nebraska and became an Extension Educator in
Nemaha County with a focus on crop production, sustainable agriculture and
beginning farmer training. Lesoing holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in
Biology (1975) from Peru State College in Nebraska and a Master of Science
Degree in Animal Science (1977) and a PhD. in Agronomy (1992) from the
University of Nebraska-Lincoln. Gary and his wife Evey have two adult daughters
and two grandchildren. Gary is an NSAS member, and has served on the Board of
Directors for NSAS.
C. Introduction to
High Density Planting of Tree Fruits
The latest trend
in fruit tree production is high density planting using dwarf trees with increased
plant population. Planting 1000 trees or more per acre rather than 180 trees
per acre as done in traditional planting schemes. Learn about the pros and cons as well some of
the different types of high density planting methods and how this might fit
into your production and marketing plans.
Vaughn Hammond; is currently the Team Leader and Mentor at
Union Orchard located near Nebraska City.
His career has focused around local foods and sustainable, alternative
agriculture and the entrepreneurship related to small farming. His education includes a Bachelor of Science
in Horticulture and a Masters of Science in Entomology. His previous experience includes working for
the University of Nebraska as a research technologist and Extension Educator
and Agriculture Advisor in Afghanistan working with fruit, vegetable and honey
producers in the Paktya Provence. Vaughn is a longtime NSAS member.
Click below for details and to register!
