Weekly Events & Opportunities in Sustainable Farming & Foods

Hosting Safe, Legally Secure Farm Events

January 5, 2015. Online. Make sure your farm isn’t left with the short end of the stick after a good-intentioned event goes bad. From zoning compliance to guest injuries and serving prepared food, this Farm Commons webinar will work through a checklist of things a farm should address before hosting an event. http://farmcommons.org/hosting-safe-legally-secure-farm-events-0

Farm Commons Webinar: Adding Value Without Adding Legal Liability to Farm Products

January 6. Online. Although starting a processing operation, improving packaging, and developing new products are great ways to make the farm more profitable, these activities have a huge legal impact, says this Farm Commons webinar. Employment laws, liability potential, state/federal regulations, and tax factors all change when a farm begins to process product. Farms relying on cottage food laws should make sure to attend- this webinar will talk about what these laws do not do to protect farms.http://www.farmcommons.org/adding-value-without-adding-legal-liability-farm-products

Health problems with the digestive system of poultry

Tuesday, January 6 at 1:00 pm. As the first in a four part webinar series on poultry health, Dr. Frame will start this webinar with an introduction to chicken health programs. The remainder of the webinar with discuss problems with the digestive system. The digestive system of poultry is exposed to a variety of pathogens on a daily basis. Dr. Frame will be discussing how some of these digestive-related diseases are manifested in poultry. https://connect.extension.iastate.edu/poultry

Building the Capacity of Small Meat Processors:

January 7. The Niche Meat Processor Assistance Network presents this free one-hour webinar at 10am PST / 1pm EST. NC Choices, an initiative of the Center for Environmental Farming Systems at North Carolina State University, spent two years working with a set of small processors in North Carolina, providing a range of technical assistance and support. On this webinar, NC Choices and three processors who participated in the project will tell us how they did it, what they accomplished, and why it matters. To attend: Go to https://connect.extension.iastate.edu/nichemeat 5-10 minutes before start time and log in as a guest.

Great Plains Growers Conference

January 8-10. St. Joseph, Missouri. This three-day conference for beginning and experienced growers features presentations by knowledgeable speakers from throughout the nation. The conference showcases educational information from all five states: Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, and South Dakota, along with vegetable specialists and growers from those states. There is also a trade show with more than 50 exhibitors. http://www.greatplainsgrowersconference.org/

Organic Production Round Table Discussion

January 10th @ 1:30pm. Learn More about Organic Agriculture and Marketing: If you want to learn more about organic farming, here is the opportunity where you will get farmer to farmer answers and information. A panel of certified organic Nebraska farmers and grain elevators managers will answer questions about the following topics. The event is free and open to the public.  No registration is needed, refreshments will be provided.  Location: Columbus Community College, Columbus. For more information contact: Kim Mosel @ 402-620-2701  ociane1@yahoo.com

American Forage and Grassland Council Annual Conference

January 11-14. St. Louis, Missouri. The Missouri Forage and Grassland Council and the Illinois Forage and Grassland Council will host this event. It includes workshops on cover crops and soil health, cool season grasses, native species, and grassland improvement, as well as the national forage bowl. http://www.afgc.org/annual_conference.php

Opportunities

Producers Choice Chef Award: Farmer Hosts Needed

The Producers Choice Chef Award committee of the Nebraska Sustainable Agriculture Society is looking for 25 farmers to participate in 2015 Chef Award Dinner.  This offer is exclusively for farmers! You are being offered one or two tickets at $50 each (instead of the $125 public price) and the opportunity to sponsor a table at the event.  The event is 5:30-9pm on Sunday January 25th, but you may be asked to arrive earlier for photo ops. For the $50 (or $100 for 2)  ticket price you will  1. eat a delicious meal prepared by six of the top chefs from Lincoln, Omaha,and Hastings and each receive two complimentary drink tickets.  2. Your farm and names will be on the table that evening as well as listed in the event program that evening.  We are doing extensive promotion for this event so  3. we will promote you and your farms during the weeks leading up to the event. For more information please contact, chefaward@gmail.com. Details about the event can be found here, http://nebsusag.org/chef.html

Local Foods Survey

This survey is being conducted by graduate student, Megan McGuffey, from the University of Nebraska at Omaha who is working with the Local Foodshed Working Group. The goal of this survey is to help create a more accurate picture of how many farmers are participating in the Lincoln/Lancaster County local food market. We are asking you to help us to complete this survey so that we can better understand the complex, local food system that gets food to our plates. If you have any questions or concerns about the survey please contact Megan McGuffey at mmcguffey@unomaha.edu. Follow this link for the survey,  https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1wuvRR4EFNcvPiazbZ4F6Av-PjeuvXrtFgT54SW4Pl2o/viewform?c=0&w=1

Upcoming

The Science Behind Healthy Soil: NRCS' Soil Health Literature Review Project

January 13. Online. 

Join the webinar for an overview of the USDA NRCS Soil Health Literature Review Project and its accompanying public website and USDA employee SharePoint that provide access to a searchable database of journal references related to physical and chemical soil health properties and conservation practices. Link: http://www.conservationwebinars.net/webinars/the-science-behind-healthy-soil-nrcs-soil-health-literature-review-project

Specialty Crop Producer Workshops – Farmer Training

January 13, 14, 15, 16: GAPs (Good Agricultural Practices) Level 1: GAPs are production and farm level approaches to ensure the safety of fresh produce for human consumption. GAPs Level 1 will cover education training in preparation for a self-audit and on farm food safety plan.  A USB Drive will be provided with the materials needed for the training. Our Farmer Training series will consist of training in 5 Nebraska Cities: Grand Island, Norfolk, Lincoln, Scottsbluff (Via Video Conference) and Omaha.  We will be using local producers as well as national trainers to offer a unique farmer training program that is unlike anything NeFU has done before.  Our goal is to help producers move to the next level of production by providing the skills necessary to increase efficiency and profitability.  These trainings are open to any speciality crops producers, beginning or experienced,  that are producing for markets. http://Nebraskafarmersunion.org/farmertraining 

Grazing Guides for Dairy Systems Webinar Series: Collecting a Forage Sample and Interpreting the Analysis

January 14. Online. This webinar presented by Mat Haan, PSU Extension, will discuss how to collect a representative forage sample and how to interpret the analysis. This session is part of a monthly webinar series that will cover current research and basic management issues of interest to experienced, novice, conventional and/or organic, dairy grazers and industry representatives that support them. http://extension.psu.edu/animals/dairy/events/grazing-guides-for-dairy-systems-webinar-series-collecting-a-forage-sample-and-interpreting-the-analysis

Vegetable and Small Fruit Production Webinars: Current Issues in Strawberry Pest Management

January 14. Online. Cornell Cooperative Extension and Penn State Extension are teaming up to present a series of webinars to keep fruit and vegetable growers informed on critical production issues. The series provides convenient access to timely updates in commercial vegetable and small fruit production for extension educators, producers, and industry representatives in Pennsylvania, New York, and surrounding state. http://bit.ly/1yhHcha

Weekly Events & Opportunities in Sustainable Farming & Foods

Grassland Studies 2014 Fall Seminar Series

 

December 1.  3:00 pm–4:00 pm. UNL's East Campus Union. Ctr for Grassland Studies, 402-472-4101, grassland@unl.edu. David Wedin, School of Natural Resources, and the sod house team, will present “A sod house autopsy: Insights into prairies and homesteading a century ago.” Free and open to the public. http://grassland.unl.edu/upcoming-seminars

2014 Farm Bill Workshops

December 1st. Multiple locations.  Loup City at the Sherman County Community Center. Hartington at the Knights of Columbus Hall.Bloomfield at the Community Center.
For more information contact the FSA or Extension office in the host county.

True Cost of Food

December 2nd, Urban Alley in Omaha. Watch the “True Cost of Food” video followed by a discussion on supporting alternatives to industrialized agriculture.  Co-sponsored by The Big Garden and the Humane Society of the United States. There will be an opportunity to make a free-will donation to support the on-going work of the Big Garden. https://www.facebook.com/events/948187555209361/?ref_dashboard_filter=upcoming

IPM in Crucifer Crops: Focus on the Yellowmargined Leaf Beetle

December 2. Online. Join eOrganic for a webinar on the organic management of the yellowmargined leaf beetle, presented by Rammohan Balusu and Ayanava Majumdar of Auburn University, and Ron Cave of the University of Florida. In this webinar, the presenters will discuss the identification and crop damage of the yellowmargined leaf beetle, as well as trap cropping, attractants, and biological control. They will share relevant outcomes from a NIFA-OREI funded project and highlight IPM resources for producers and educators. The webinar is free and open to the public. Advance registration is required. http://www.extension.org/pages/71270/

Entomology Seminar on Mountain Pine Beetle Outbreaks

 

December 2.  4:00 pm–5:00 pm. Lincoln.  Jeri Cunningham, 402-472-8678, jcunningham1@unl.edu. “Mountain Pine Beetle Outbreaks” presented by Zachary Rystrom, entomology graduate student.

Nutrient Budgeting: Organic Considerations for Implementing 590 Webinar

December 2. This webinar is part of the series of organic webinars presented by NRCS East National Technology Support Center and Oregon Tilth. This session will equip participants with knowledge and resources to complete a nutrient budget to describe the application of nutrients to meet crop needs and improve soil health. The following will be covered: determining a crop’s nutrient needs; crediting sources of nutrients in the system including the contribution of cover crops and past soil management decisions; and determining the target nutrient application rate. The webinar will include a discussion of inputs commonly used in organic systems.http://www.conservationwebinars.net

2014 Farm Bill Workshops

December 2nd. Multiple locations.  Pender at the Pender Fire Hall. Fairbury at the Fairgrounds. Dakote City at the Extension Office. Broken Bow
For more information contact the FSA or Extension office in the host county.

Webinar: By the Numbers: What the Census of Ag Tells us About Women Operators

Tuesday, December 2. One of a 3-part series focuses on women's influence on agriculture and food security.  More information can be found at: 

bit.ly/11jUHzV

The Value of Consumer Coops

December 3rd. Heidi Demars will update participants on current coop work as well as inform about the benefits of consumer coop purchasing. https://attendee.gototraining.com/r/4241252115500571650

Acres U.S.A. Conference & Trade Show and Eco-Ag U

December 3-6. Columbus, Ohio. Acres U.S.A. presents Eco-Ag U Advanced Learning on December 3-4, with two-day or whole-day educational sessions. The conference and trade show on December 4-6 brings farmers and consultants from every side of eco-farming who come together to share their experience and expertise. http://www.acresusa.com/events

2014 Farm Bill Workshops

December 3rd. Multiple locations.  Seward at the Fairgrounds. Columbus at Ag park. For more information contact the FSA or Extension office in the host county.

Introducing Radishes into the Organic Pasture Webinar

December 4. Join eOrganic for a webinar on considerations for introducing radishes into the organic pasture by Cornell Cooperative Extension’s Fay Benson and Liz Burrichter. Radishes can provide two benefits to the organic dairy pasture: 1) to extend the grazing season with a high energy feedstock, and 2) to provide "bio-drills" by utilizing the tap roots of these plants to address soil compaction. In this webinar, Fay Benson and Liz Burrichter will describe their on-farm research with brassicas, including no-till seeding Daikon Radish into grazing swards. The webinar is free and open to the public. Advance registration is required. http://www.extension.org/pages/71820/

Geography General Seminar

Geographic perspectives of Human Trafficking in the Great Plains. December 5. 2:00 pm. Lincoln. Jim Merchant,jmerchant1@unl.edu. Rebecca Buller, UNL geography lecturer, will present “Geographic Perspectives of Human Trafficking in the Great Plains.”

Recent advancements in switchgrass for bioenergy

December 5.  3:30 pm–5:00 pm. Lincoln. Dept. of Agronomy & Horticulture, 402-472-2811, agrohort@unl.edu. Presented by Robert Mitchell, USDA Research Agronomist and Adjunct Professor, UNL Dept. of Agronomy & Horticulture. Mitchell will provide updates on the bioenergy research conducted by USDA-ARS in Lincoln, discuss recent developments in the multi-location NIFA-CAP grant, and address potential pathways to commercialization.

2014 KFU Convention and Beginning Farmer Workshop

Manhattan. Convention: Thursday, December 4 – Friday, December 5. Join the Kansas Farmers Union Board of Directors and National Farmers Union Historian Tom Giessel for lunch and some early NFU history while learning how it developed into a modern-day ag organization. Day 2 begins with key findings from KRC’s Feeding Kansas report; an exploration of a potential Kansas aqueduct; and the nuts & bolts of starting a local food co-op. Kansas Beginning Farmers Coalition Day: Saturday, December 6. Join the Kansas Beginning Farmers Coalition for its 3rd annual Beginning Farmers Day. Featured presenter Cody Holmes of Rockin H Ranch. Complete details about both can be found at, http://www.kansasfarmersunion.com/convention/

Opportunity

Farm Beginnings Nebraska

Farm Beginnings® is an educational training and support program designed to help people who want to evaluate and plan their farm enterprise.  Farm Beginnings® participants engage in a mentorship experience and network with a variety of successful, innovative farmers; attend practical, high quality seminars, field days and conferences.  Classes begin January 3, 2015, and conclude on April 25, 2015.  They will be held at the Douglas/Sarpy Extension Office in Omaha.  For more information about the class and how to register can be found in the brochure at:

http://nesare.unl.edu/documents/5640053/5643054/Farm+Beginnings+Brochure+2015.pdf/5f1fb55d-8044-4928-a8a7-85ce902ab520

Non GMO Yellow Corn

I have approximately 900 bushels of non-gmo yellow corn available now. It was grown in a field transitioning to organic and it was the control against a field of red corn. It has been tested and is 99.4% non-gmo. This is some really good non-gmo corn. It is still standing in the field since I don't have anymore storage available. Located at Utica (between Seward and York). Please call me at 402-617-1718 if you are interested. 

Farm for Sale in Western Nebraska

We have operated a pastured poultry (including processing) operation and a direct beef operation.  This would be an excellent opportunity for someone who would like to start a small scale sustainable agricultural business. We are having an auction on October 21st which will have all of our equipment for the pastured poultry operation (including processing equipment) and livestock equipment. The link for the auction is: http://www.helbergnussauction.com/selected_auction.php?Auction_ID=18

(check back often as we are still adding items). We also have our cattle herd for sale.  We will only sell them all to one buyer to keep the herd together.  The herd consists of approximately 40 cows and 3 bulls.  The herd is comprised of Angus and Angus/Lowline cross. If you have any questions, please call or email myself or my husband Dan. Dan's cell phone is 308-631-6849. Email iskathi@openabar2ranch.com 

BarnRaiser at Darby Springs Farm

As you may know, we have been slowly growing our farm, Darby Springs, over the past several years. We have launched a crowdfunding campaign with Barnraiser and are asking you to join us in building a creamery barn to create farmstead ice cream, featuring local flavors, and space to learn and grow as a food community. Click here to skip the rest and get right to it: https://www.barnraiser.us/projects/building-the-barn-at-darby-springs-farm. We already sell pastured meat, milk, and eggs, but want to grow to bring you farmstead ice cream and opportunities to experience all our farm has to offer. To do this the Barn will have: The Loft: event and classroom space; Community Kitchen: a certified kitchen for use by all; Farm Store: featuring our ice cream and homemade baked goods as well as other area farmers & artists; Creamery: where the wonderful desserts are made; Milking parlor. Click here to check out our video, get full project details and support our project if you can, or spread the word to your friends: https://www.barnraiser.us/projects/building-the-barn-at-darby-springs-farm

News

Local View: City dwellers can grow food in a risky climate

By TIM RINNE. It’s been a year of bad news for the security of our food supply. In March, the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change reported that “Throughout the 21st century, climate-change impacts are projected to further erode food security — particularly in urban areas and emerging hot spots of hunger.” All aspects of food security, the report stated, are potentially affected by climate change, “including food access, utilization and price stability.”

Then in May, the Chicago Council on Global Affairs’ Agricultural Development Initiative (co-chaired by former Nebraska Congressman Doug Bereuter) issued a report warning that “Climate change will bring hotter temperatures, changing rainfall patterns and more frequent natural disasters. Farmers everywhere will be affected.” If these challenges are not addressed, “consumers will need to be prepared for higher food prices and potential food shortages.”

Read the rest!

Upcoming

The Beginning Farmer’s Introduction to Farm Law

December 8. Online. In this Farm Commons webinar, beginning farmers will get a preview of the many legal issues they should consider when just starting out with farming. What business entity should a farmer choose? Which insurance policies are really important? What about that farmland lease--when should it be written down and what should it say? Is there anything to know about farmers market sales, volunteers, or working with family members? This webinar will touch on all of these questions and more.http://farmcommons.org/beginning-farmer%E2%80%99s-introduction-farm-law-0

Put Your CSA on Strong Legal Footing

December 9. Online. This Farm Commons webinar provides an opportunity to learn how an attorney sees CSA and what you can do to protect your farm. This webinar will also discuss risks with farm volunteer programs and buying the right insurance.http://farmcommons.org/put-your-csa-strong-legal-footing

Webinar on NOP Organic Integrity Database

December 9. The AMS National Organic Program (NOP) and Information Technology Service (ITS) will host an interactive webinar regarding the development of the Organic Integrity Database. The NOP will open with a short presentation about the database development project, including its goals, current development priorities, and timeline. They will then invite feedback from the group about the database priorities, and any additional requirements that are critical to the organic community and consumers. Step 1: Dial In by Phone, Toll-Free (U.S. & Canada) 866-740-1260. Access Code: 7202000. Step 2: Access the meeting URLhttp://www.readytalk.com 

On the left side of the screen, enter Participant Access Code 7202000

Kansas Forage and Grassland Council Winter Conference and Annual Meeting

December 9. Manhattan, Kansas. The agenda includes sessions on integrating livestock with crops, managed intensive grazing, managing nitrates, and grazing grasslands. http://ksfgc.org/

Feeds and Feeding of Pullets and Layers Webinar

December 10. In this eXtension webinar, Dr. Paul Patterson from Penn State University will be discussing the feeding of replacement pullets and laying hens. Dr. Patterson is a nutritionist. The central theme of his extension and research programs is environmental poultry management. Efforts focus on discovering and promoting efficient poultry production systems that place minimum burden on the environment. https://learn.extension.org/events/1749

Grazing Guides for Dairy Systems Webinar Series: Tall Grass Grazing for Dairies

December 10. Online. Tall grass grazing has become a popular management practice for beef cattle in recent years. Learn how this practice is being applied to dairy grazing. This webinar is presented by Mena Hautau, Penn State Extension. This session is part of a monthly webinar series that will cover current research and basic management issues of interest to experienced, novice, conventional and/or organic, dairy grazers and industry representatives that support them. http://extension.psu.edu/animals/dairy/events/grazing-guides-for-dairy-systems-webinar-series-tall-grass-grazing-for-dairies

Forest Botanicals: Deep and Tangled Roots

December 12. Online. This webinar is the last in a series on non-timber forest products, presented by the National Agroforestry Center, NIFA, the American Tree Farm System, and others. In this webinar, Eric Burkhart, faculty instructor at Pennsylvania State University, will share insights from his studies and involvement with native plant species on eastern U.S. forestlands that are wild-harvested for the domestic and international plant trade. Quality-control, profitability, and sustainability within this industry will be discussed. https://cc.readytalk.com/cc/s/registrations/new?cid=sodq9sgrbjol

Weekly Events & Opportunities in Sustainable Farming & Foods

Sustainable Small Farms & Backyards Online Course

September 15 - October 31, 2014. Online. Clemson Extension's Livestock & Forages team and the Home & Garden Information Center will offer six classes online from September 15 to October 31, 2014. The course is geared toward teaching people with very small farms (under 10 acres) the basics on how to care for livestock and honeybees and how to grow your own fruits and vegetables. County/Area Extension Agents and State Extension Specialist deliver information on beekeeping basics, livestock (goats, pigs and chickens), forages, small fruit and vegetable gardening, and state guidelines for selling direct to consumers. http://calendar.clemson.edu/event/sustainable_small_farms_backyards_online_course

Ramping Up to Forest Farm Culinary Delights

September 16. Online. This one-hour webinar is the second in a series of eight on non-timber forest products. It will be presented by Jim Chamberlain, Research Forest Products Technologist with the USDA Forest Service, who will focus on forest farming wild onions, also known as ramps. https://www.extension.org/sites/default/files/Webinar%20Line%20Up%20.pdf

Preventing Storm Damage to Trees

September 16th. PA Urban & Community Forestry Webinar: Preventing Storm Damage to Trees. https://meeting.psu.edu/pacommunityforestry

Direct Marketing Meats

September 16. Online. During this webinar, brought to you by the Women in Ag Learning Network, presented in collaboration with the Niche Meat Processor Assistance Network, participants will hear from a meat processor and a farmer about how to increase profitability from your direct market meat sales. Presenters will talk about how to fill out a cut sheet, marketing tips for selling the whole animal and what works (and what doesn't!) in direct marketing meats. https://learn.extension.org/events/1694

DIY Kimchi

Tuesday, September 16, 6pm-8pm. Did you know that Kimchi can be eaten fresh or fermented? Learn how to create a tasty Kimchi from great produce. This traditional Korean dish will present you with endless possibilites in the kitchen! https://communitycrops.z2systems.com/np/clients/communitycrops/event.jsp?event=71&

Alternate Market Opportunities for Bioenergy Feedstock

September 16. Northeast Woody/Warm-Season Biomass Consortium Webinar. https://meeting.psu.edu/bioenergy

Giving Your Horse the Best Chance During Disasters

Tuesday, September 16. 6pm Central. Participants in this webcast will learn practical things a horse owner should know, and can do, that will reduce risks to horses during fires, floods and storms. This webcast is presented by My Horse University, Michigan State University Extension and the Extension Disaster Education Network. You must register for this FREE webinar to access the session URL. http://events.anr.msu.edu/event.cfm?folder=MHUWebcast

Insecticide Resistance Management

Entomology Seminar. September 16.  4:00 pm–5:00 pm. UNL's East Campus Union. Jeri Cunningham, 402-472-8678,jcunningham1@unl.edu. “Insecticide Resistance Management (IRM): Negative Cross-Resistance in Focus” presented by Matheus Ribeiro, Entomology Graduate Student

Cover Crop Field Day

September 16, 5pm – 8pm. Bladen. Free Cover Crop Field Day, with meal to follow.  We will be looking at double cropped sunflowers planted with a high diversity companion covers, planted in mid-July after a triticale crop.  We also will be looking at covers flown-on to hailed corn as well as other summer planted cover crop plots.  No RSVP required but let us know ahead of time if you want to pickup any seed.  More information at https://greencoverseed.com/ or call 402-469-6784.

NOP Livestock Standards Webinar

September 16 and 19. Online. This IOIA webinar will be given in two sessions, on two dates, each three hours long. This webinar is a 100-level course will prepare participants to verify compliance with the NOP Livestock Standards. This webinar training course will focus on topics including the National List of allowed synthetic and prohibited natural inputs for livestock production. Participants will also gain skill in understanding and navigating the NOP regulations. This course is geared to prepare those who intend to take further training to become organic inspectors or file reviewers. This course is comprised of four components: pre-course self-study, mid-course exercises, the webinar, and post-webinar evaluation. http://www.ioia.net/schedule_web.html#sept16

Evaluating Investments and Operational Changes

September 16. Online. MOSES is offering free webinars help you manage your farm's finances. Presenters are two of the co-authors of the book Fearless Farm Finances. This free webinar with Chris Blanchard will show you the tools you need to evaluate your options. You'll get a down-to-earth approach to help you better understand the economic and other impacts of investments and operational changes. http://mosesorganic.org/events/webinars/

Pressure Canning :: Tomatoes

Wednesday, September 17th at 6pm. All workshops are hosted at City Sprouts, 4002 Seward Street. There is a  $5 participation fee. 

To RSVP, e-mail gardenmanager@omahasprouts.org

Oiling with Miranda Bitz

September 17th. Curious about the latest “oiling” craze. Learn about the potential of oils from seed to seal with Miranda Bitz and Tanya Schoessow. https://attendee.gototraining.com/r/9092833978906219266

Farmer Veteran Coalition Presents: 

A Celebration of our American Heroes

We are having a huge celebration to honor everyone who has served our nation. We want to connect with veterans who are already involved in agriculture and those who have the dream to do so.  Thursday, September 18. 6:30 PM-10:30 PM.  Music Begins 7:30 PM Seward Ag Pavilion, Seward. Doors open 6 PM. Dinner by Chances R 6:30 PM.  Featuring a Special Live Performance by Jason Earl Band www.jasonearlmusic.com. www.farmvetco.org. For more information contact: Chet Bennetts- Director of Farm Business, Development/Farmer Veteran Coalition, (402) 890-0797 or chet@farmvetco.org

Legal and Financial Clinic

Thursday, September 18. Valentine or Lexington. Call the Farm Hotline at 800-464-0258 to sign up.

How the Wind did Human Work on the Farm

September 18th. Paul A. Olson Seminar in Great Plains Studies. 3:30 pm. Center For Great Plains Studies, 1155 Q St. Lincoln. Presented by T. Lindsay Baker, director, W.K. Gordon Center for the Industrial History of Texas and professor at Tarleton State University. The lecture is free and open to the public.

Energy Upgrades: Steps to Implement Energy Conservation Opportunities

September 18. Online. This webinar is part of a series of agricultural energy webinars presented by USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service. http://www.conservationwebinars.net/

Webinar: Composting 101 and Five Strategies for Success n Nebraska

September 18, 12:00pm – 1:30pm. Composting has great potential to stimulate rural economies, protect our food supply, conserve water and reduce waste. And news keeps getting better: Nebraska is well-positioned to reap these myriad benefits with an existing network of local composting facilities.  National composting expert Brenda Platt will start us off with a primer on what is composting, why it matters, an overview of the infrastructure needs, and a look at where things stand in the U.S.  To register:https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/5286878877248346370

Agroforestry Workshop

September 19. Emmetsburg, Iowa. This workshop hosted by Trees Forever will introduce property owners and natural resource professionals to the benefits of agroforestry practices, including perennial crops and more. Topics include alley cropping, or growing annuals and other crops between rows of trees; silvopasture, which involves grazing animals in forested areas or orchards; and riparian forest buffers — trees and shrubs planted next to streams and rivers — and other agroforestry practices.http://www.treesforever.org/Events

Landowner Habitat Tour

Friday, September 19. Nebraska City. The Critical Role of Pollinators. See NebraskaPF.com or call 308-850-8395

World Food Prize Nebraska Youth Institute

 

September 19.  9:00 am–3:00 pm. UNL's East Campus Union. Jennifer Greenlee, 472-2807, jgreenlee2@unl.edu. World Food Prize Nebraska Youth Institute—ALEC/CASNR

Chicory - A new crop for Nebraska

September 19. 3:30 pm–5:00 pm. Keim Hall on UNL's East Campus. Dept. of Agronomy & Horticulture, 402-472-2811,agrohort@unl.edu. Presented by Robert Wilson, UNL Professor & Extension Weed Specialist, Panhandle Research & Extension Center. In 1995 Dr. Wilson began exploring the possibilities of showing farmers how to successfully grow industrial chicory. This seminar will give the background and what has been accomplished with chicory in the past 20 years.

Livestock Mortality Composting – Beyond the Basics Part 2

Friday, September 19 at 1:30 pm CDT. As the popularity of composting as an option for managing livestock mortalities increases, innovative research has recently emerged regarding drug and prion persistence in mortality compost piles. A related issue is the consideration of worker safety during composting. This webcast will feature presentations by national experts who participated in Langston University’s Livestock Mortality Composting – Beyond the Basics Conference held earlier this year.   Topics for this webcast include: fate of euthanasia drugs during composting; can composting destroy prions; and mortality composting worker safety considerations. New mortality composting resources will also be covered.  https://connect.extension.iastate.edu/lpelc

The Farmers Daughter: A Women in Agriculture Series

September 19. Olathe, Kansas. The "Farmers Daughter" educational series is designed to provide information and training on a wide variety of farm management topics that will be catered directly to farm women. Women with any level of experience in farm management or with any degree of farm involvement are invited to attend. The first hour-and-a-half-long program will focus on a recap of the current wheat harvest, a look at farm income levels over the past year and finish up with some brainstorming for future meeting dates, topics and times. This free program is made possible with support from Johnson County Farm Bureau, K-State Research and Extension, and Frontier Farm Credit. http://www.johnson.ksu.edu/p.aspx?tabid=1494

Grow Local! Workshop for Local Food Growers & Producers

September 20. Council Bluffs, Iowa. Golden Hills RC&D - Southwest Iowa Food & Farm Initiative presents this workshop for people in the business of locally grown food. Hear stories and get advice from successful local growers and specialty crop producers, learn how to market your agri-business, find funds to launch your speciality crop, and leave with resources and information to help your business grow. http://bit.ly/XxElCE

Opportunity

Job Opportunity

OneCert is expanding our staff. We are looking for two Certification Specialists: one will primarily focus on crops (and livestock) and the other will primarily work with handling operations. Contact Sam Welsch for more information, 402-420-6080. 

www.onecert.com

Yeoman Keyline Shank For Sale

If you are into restorative farmscale agriculture, this is a necessary tool.  I will show you how to build an implement for way under the cost of what you can buy commercially and I will even teach you how to use it.  You can use this tool for regenerating pasture, implementing keyline systems, planting trees, root pruning and making mini swales. I live in Papillion just outside of Omaha.  Call if you are interested at the number below. Jonathan Dodd, Keipos, Inc. & New Earth Farm & Goods, 321.544.2851

Ram lambs, yearling ewes for sale

Hello, folks. For sale, 2 Romney ram lambs, 6 months old, white wool but carry natural color gene. Tested RR for scrapie resistance. Also 4 yearling ewes, Romney cross, black wool. Romney is medium-size, dual purpose wool & meat breed, this flock is used for handspinning wool. All these are totally grass raised in northeast Nebraska, an hour north of Norfolk. Call Jeanie at 402 283-4802, or email to fraas@nntc.net.

Organic Hens for Adoption!

We are replacing some of our flock and need to find home for our older hens (1.5years old). You are welcome to buy as many as you can care for. We are asking that you pay $4 for each hen. Our hens enjoy vegetable scraps, grit, oyster shell, bugs, fresh water and organic feed. They are locked up every night to keep them safe from critters. We recommend that you bring a large box or a pet carrier to bring your hens home. Our farm is located at 1240 Ironwood Road, Harlan, Iowa. Please let us know if you need directions. We are offering pick up times this week. Please let us know what day and time will work for your pick up this week. We need to find homes for these ladies ASAP. Ellen Walsh-Rosmann, 712-579-1933,www.pinoakplace.com/

For Sale

We have a few things for sale.  John Deere 24 T  twine Baler $1000. New Holland 116 windrower, needs hydraulic pump, otherwise works great $3500.  King Kutter Shredder  6ft.  $500. Give us a call if you are interested 402-780-5287. Melissa

Upcoming

Scaling Up Your Business and Packaging & Grading Produce

September 22. Lawrence, Kansas. This workshop is part of the Growing Growers workshop series. The classes address skills required to run a local farm. Workshops are geared toward beginner farmers, but all the classes offer great information and skill development for more experienced farmers as well. http://www.growinggrowers.org/workshops.html

National Bioenergy and Environment Summit

September 23-25. Ames, Iowa. The 2014 National Bioenergy and Environment Summit will provide a forum for the exchange of biorenewables and sustainability research findings and educational ideas, methods, and techniques for Extension Educators, NGO’s and outreach and policy professionals with agriculture, energy, and natural resource interests and/or appointments.http://www.2014e3.org/

Climate Change Implications for Nebraska: Managing Resources in a Changing Climate

September 25, 3:30pm – 5:00pm. Lincoln. Live Webcast: http://heuermannlectures.unl.edu\ (high-speed internet access required – dialup will NOT work). Web Rebroadcast: 7:00 p.m. at http://heuermannlectures.unl.edu\ (high-speed internet access required) 

Winter care of backyard poultry flocks

Thursday, September 25. Fall is the time to prepare your flocks and coops for the toils of winter. Dr. Brigid McCrea from Delaware State University will cover the activities that are recommended for such preparations.  Whether this is your first  or fortieth flock, take the time to learn about changes to your management and biosecurity routines so that your flock stays happy and healthy all winter long. https://connect.extension.iastate.edu/poultry

NGFN Webinar: Food Hub Benchmarking Study

September 25. The NGFN Food Hub Collaboration, with partners at Farm Credit East, Farm Credit Council, and Morse Marketing Connections, has collected and analyzed financial and operational data from dozens of hubs across the country, creating the second food hub benchmarking study. This webinar describes the lessons learned from the recent benchmarking study of food hub financial and operational characteristics. The presentation highlights how successful food hubs across the nation have achieved their mission and goals through financial and business metrics. Farmers who attend the webinar will gain a better understanding of their ability to access new markets through food hubs, and researchers and local food advocacy organizations will benefit from this webinar's business-based analysis of food hub functions and operational issues. https://www2.gotomeeting.com/register/388854594