Weekly Events & Opportunities in Sustainable Farming & Foods

2014 Farm Bill Workshops

December 15th. Multiple locations.  Hastings at the Fairgrounds. Scribiner at the Mohr Auditorium. Leigh at the Fairgrounds. For more information contact the FSA or Extension office in the host county.

Agricultural Working Lands: Meeting the Needs of Spring-migrating Waterfowl in the Intermountain West on Working Ranches

December 16. Online. Participants in this 1.5-hour NRCS webinar will learn about opportunities to manage irrigated haylands and pasturelands in the Intermountain West for wetland birds during spring migration. http://www.conservationwebinars.net/webinars/meeting-the-needs-of-spring-migrating-waterfowl-in-the-intermountain-west-on-working-ranches

Haney & PLFA Soil Tests: What, How? Why?

December 16th. 7pm. Do you wonder how soil tests can be used to help improve your soil management? Learn the basics of two increasingly popular tests – the Haney and phospholipid fatty acid (PLFA) soil tests – from soil microbiologist Lance Gunderson, including how the results are determined and how to interpret these results. Farmer and grazier Fred Abels will then describe how he’s used the Haney test on his farm to inform his management. They will both discuss the results of tests taken on Fred’s farm. https://connect.extension.iastate.edu/farminar

Farm Financial Planning "Give Yourself a Financial Check-Up"

Tuesday, December 16 at 9:00 am. This webinar will discuss 20 ways that people can assess their personal financial progress and identify areas of their financial life that need improvement. Topics covered include financial quizzes, financial goal-setting, income and expense statements, net worth, debt ratios, marginal income tax brackets, retirement planning, investment performance metrics, investment risk tolerance, insurance needs, estate planning, government financial statistics, and more.  The program will conclude with suggested action steps to put the workshop content into practice. http://tinyurl.com/krtxvn4

Heart of the Farm – Why Women’s Unique Family and Farm Business Roles Matter

Tuesday, December 16 at 11:00 am. Women bring different perspectives, values and priorities to the table. This webinar will focus on what aspects of rural life are important to women, how they learn, and how that influences decision-making with regard to production, marketing and land management practices. Angie Carter is a Sociology PhD candidate co-majoring in ISU's Graduate Program in Sustainable Agriculture (GPSA). She is currently studying women farmland owners in Iowa and how they make decisions about conservation on their farmland. She also serves as a board member of the Women, Food and Agriculture Network. Angie will be joined by Jenny Barker-Devine, an assistant professor of history at Illinois College, and Sara Shepherd, owner of Sara Shepherd Farms. Join us for a webinar that highlights and celebrates the unique contributions that women bring to agriculture. https://connect.extension.iastate.edu/womeninag

Estate and Transition Workshop

Tuesday, December 16. Concord. Call the Farm Hotline at 800-464-0256 to sign up.

A Certified Organic Winter Nursery for Corn Breeding

Tuesday, December 16 at 1:00 pm. Join eOrganic for a webinar on running a certified organic winter nursery for corn breeding in Puerto Rico! http://www.extension.org/pages/71860

2014 Farm Bill Workshops

December 16th. Multiple locations.  Geneva at the Fairgrounds. Clay Center at the Activities Building. For more information contact the FSA or Extension office in the host county.

Why Cooperative Extension? A New Century for Food and Ag Engagement

Wednesday, December 17 at 8:30 am. Attention ‘CUSTOMERS’ Who Use the Cooperative Extension System!  This is YOUR Opportunity to Provide Feedback! The National Coalition for Food & Agricultural Research invites members and all interested stakeholders to a dialogue with Cooperative Extension Directors. While the meeting is being held in Washington ( National Council of Farmer Cooperatives , 50 F Street, NW, Suite 900, Washington, DC), the discussion will be broadcast as a webinar. These directors will be leading the discussion.  Dr. Tim Cross, Dean of Extension, University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture; NC-FAR Board Member. Dr. Michael Ouart, Vice Provost for Extension and Professor of Animal Sciences, University of Missouri; NC-FAR Research Outreach Committee Member. Please register to attend in person or by webinar at: http://bit.ly/1uTmfrk

2014 Farm Bill Workshops

December 17th. Multiple locations.  Minden at the Fairgrounds. For more information contact the FSA or Extension office in the host county.

How to Use Fruit and Vegetable Market News

December 18. Online. The USDA's Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) invites you to take part in a free, interactive webinar on how to use its Fruit and Vegetable Market News to your benefit. This webinar is free and available to anyone with Internet access, however you must register and space is limited. Produce buyers and receivers use Market News when planning purchases to ensure they are paying a reasonable price for product. If you purchase or receive shipments of fruits and vegetables for a school, food bank, hospital, other institution, food hub, or farmers market, this webinar is for you. http://bit.ly/1CZRFCr

Legal and Financial Clinic

Thursday, December 18. Lexington. Call the Farm Hotline at 800-464-0256 to sign up.

2014 Farm Bill Workshops

December 18th. Multiple locations.  Osceola at the Fairgrounds. For more information contact the FSA or Extension office in the host county.

Learning from Our Observations of Pastures & Livestock: Preventing Pasture Problems on the Organic Dairy Webinar

December 18. Join eOrganic for a webinar on preventing pasture problems on the organic dairy farm by Sarah Flack. This webinar will review the key grazing principles that help your cattle maximize dry matter intake from pastures and avoid potential problems. It will also look at examples of how to observe the livestock, their manure, soils, and pasture plants to determine how well your pasture management system is working. http://www.extension.org/pages/71819/

New Year’s Resolution for Direct Marketing

December 19th. 12pm. The webinar will be led by Christie Welch, director of the South Centers’ Ohio Cooperative Development Center and farmers market program, and will focus on tips farmers and producers can take to set a good marketing business foundation for the new year. https://carmenconnect.osu.edu/r59accaqtk2

Direct-Marketing Grain-Finished Beef

December 23rd. 7pm. Shanen and Beau Ebersole, of Ebersole Cattle Co., will share their expertise raising grain-finished beef cattle with no hormones or antibiotics. Learn about issues from production to marketing methods, then listen in as the Ebersoles answer beginning farmer Dave Hill’s questions on starting up this type of enterprise. https://connect.extension.iastate.edu/farminar

Opportunity

BarnRaiser at Darby Springs Farm

Deadline Friday December 19th. 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

Upcoming

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 tohttps://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/

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 

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

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

Happy Thanksgiving!

2014 Farm Bill Workshops

November 24. Multiple locations.  Omaha at the Papio Missouri River NRD Bldg.,154th and Giles Rd. Tekamah at the City Auditorium, 1315 K St. West Point at the Nielsen Center, 200 Anna Stalp Ave. Franklin at the Franklin County Fairgrounds. Cambridge at the Cambridge Community Center.  For more information contact the FSA or Extension office in the host county.

2014 Farm Bill Workshops

November 25th. Multiple locations. Aurora at Leadership Center. Bridgeport at the Prairie Winds Community Center. Curtis at the Community Center. Grand Island at College Park, Extension Meeting Room. For more information contact the FSA or Extension office in the host county.

Opportunity

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. 

Vegetable Operations Manager Position near Omaha

Vegetable/small fruit farm and nursery in Papillion has a full-time permanent vegetable operations manager position available. Tasks may include crop selection/scheduling, prep/planting, greenhouse management, construction/maintenance, and sales. Vegetable production experience helpful. The land has been farmed with organic practices for 30 years. Currently selling at local markets and planning to expand. On-farm housing may be negotiable. Also hiring full/part-time general laborer; farm or construction experience helpful. Send resume and cover letter to Lucena@MeristemFarmAndNursery.com or call Tom at 402-306-4500.

Growing Farmers, Growing Food

The Community Crops Growing Farmers workshops will help you learn the planning and production skills you need to start a market farm business. Learn from experienced growers, Extension Educators and business experts about sustainable vegetable production. Workshop topics will include: Seed Starting and Crop Planning, Functional Business Planning, Different Market Opportunitiesincluding farmers' markets, Marketing 101, Planning for Profit and Managing Your Risks, Field Management, 

GAPs (Good Agricultural Practices) and Food Safety. More details, Register here:  http://www.communitycrops.org/growingfarmers

Vegetable Transplant Supplier Needed

The Community Crops plant sale sells plant starts and perennials to many Lincoln gardeners, and we also supply plants to our community gardeners.  We have outgrown the amount of plants our current supplier can produce and would like to find additional suppliers for 2015 to grow a variety of herb and vegetable transplants on contract.  All plants need to be grown using organic methods, using 32s and delivered in early May.  Please contact me to discuss details at ingrid@communitycrops.org or 402-474-9802.

Thanks! Ingrid

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

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/

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

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/

Weekly Events & Opportunities in Sustainable Farming & Foods

Shh... Sustainability Happy Hour at PloughShare Brewing!

November 19. Lincoln. Lets talk local! Join us for the Nebraska Sustainable Agriculture Society's Sustainability Happy Hour, as we tour Ploughshare Brewing Company in Lincoln. We will enjoy a tour of the brewery with brewmaster & Cicerone Matt and good conversation. We'll learn about Nebraska's newest brewery and their goals to be a sustainable brewery & restaurant. 

Shh.... is an event in the Nebraska area, centered around sustainability, local foods, local flavors and great conversation! We will have several Shh... events throughout the fall and winter, and we hope you will join us! Details and to rsvp here, 

shh.nsas@gmail.com 

Public Webinar: Pollinator Strategy Listening Sessions

November 17, 12pm – 2pm. Online. Sponsored by EPA and USDA. The EPA and the U. S. Department of Agriculture will hold two public listening sessions to solicit stakeholder input on the Pollinator Health Task Force’s development of a federal strategy. Feedback from the listening sessions will play an important role in the Task Force efforts to develop a federal strategy to reverse pollinator losses and help restore pollinator populations to healthy levels. Additional information is available online:http://www2.epa.gov/pollinator-protection/public-listening-sessions-pollinator-health-task-force

Structural Racism and Food Inequity

Monday, November 17 at 2:00 pm. This webinar will discuss the past, current and future work at NC A&T State University as a part of the Center for Environmental Farming Systems (CEFS) to address food systems inequities. The discussion will cover our history of youth work and community engagement in eastern North Carolina as well as statewide efforts and national engagement with organizations like the Inter-Institutional Network for Food and Agricultural Sustainability (INFAS) and the Center for Social Inclusion (CSI) as well as the WK Kellogg Foundation (WKKF) to build shared language, a shared analysis and frame for food equity using race as a lens. http://connect.extension.iastate.edu/diversity

Leading the Way – How Women are Changing Board Rooms and Rural Landscapes

Tuesday, November 18 at 11:00 am. Krysta Harden, Deputy Secretary of Agriculture, will discuss women's leadership roles in agriculture. As a daughter of farmers, Harden understands the changing face of agriculture and the need to create and expand opportunities in rural America. Harden's highest priority is to ensure that beginning farmers and the growing ranks of agriculture - women, young people, immigrants, socially disadvantaged producers, returning veterans and retirees - have access to the programs and support they need. As USDA’s third female Deputy Secretary, Harden is interested in building a strong and diverse future for women in agriculture. Deputy Secretary Harden will be joined on the webinar by Dr. Jewel Hairston, Dean at the Virginia State University College of Agriculture, and Kate Danner, a young farmer from Illinois. More than ever before, we see women manage farms and ranches, lead agricultural policy, and work at the helm of agribusinesses. The number of farms and ranches owned and operated by women has been steadily increasing over the past several years. We invite you to join for this webinar to discuss the future of the U.S. agriculture system and the importance of transferring knowledge, retaining talent, and supporting the women leaders of tomorrow.https://connect.extension.iastate.edu/womeninag 

Dehulling Ancient Grains Webinar

November 18. Online. Join eOrganic for a webinar on dehulling ancient grains, presented by members of the NIFA OREI project: Value-added Grains for Local and Regional Food Systems. This webinar will provide an overview of the methods used to dehull grain and the components needed in a dehulling system. One focus will be on the current dehulling options for both larger-scale and small-scale growers, including custom dehulling, new and used dehullers, modification of milling/cleaning equipment to dehull, and building one’s own dehuller. The webinar will also focus on the economics of dehulling, including consideration of ancient grain yield, dehulling efficiency and costs, and prices for hulled and dehulled grain. The webinar is free and open to the public. Advance registration is required. http://www.extension.org/pages/71272/

Webinar: Managing Outdoor Pests of Schools Using IPM

November 18, 1pm – 3pm. A part of the School IPM Webinar Series for school facility managers, IPM Coordinators, building and grounds supervisors, nurses, administrators, or pest management professionals.  See archived and future webinars in this series at this EPA web site. http://www.epa.gov/pestwise/events/sipm-webinars.html

Effective Use of Electric Fencing to Improve Grazing Management and Enhance Soil Health

November 19. This webinar is part of a series offered by the NRCS East National Technology Support Center. This webinar will focus on how to make effective use of temporary electric fencing for a variety of livestock species. Basic management and troubleshooting of electric fences will be covered as well as species-specific temporary fencing techniques. The discussion will include effective management of electric fences for cattle, horses, sheep, goats, swine, and poultry. http://conservationwebinars.net/

"Why can't we stop Eating?"

November 19.  12:00 pm–1:00 pm. UNL's East Campus Union in Lincoln. More information. Jolene Walker, 402.472.3862,jwalker5@unl.edu. Dr. Allen Levine from the University of Minnesota Department of Food Science and Nutrition will present a talk, “Why can’t we stop eating?” as part of the Nebraska Gateway to Nutrigenomics seminar series. This is a brown bag lunch with coffee and dessert provided.

Foraging for Food - Session I and II

November 19th. Online. A hunter-gatherer or forager society is a nomadic society in which most or all food is obtained from wild plants and animals, in contrast to agricultural societies, which rely mainly on domesticated species. Anthropologists have remarked that the term foraging is a more appropriate description of the predominant food source for most non-agricultural groups: Gathering is a far more important source of food than is hunting for the majority of non-agricultural societies, according to Richard Borshay Lee. Join Rachel Brazil and special guests to learn how modern day foraging supplies fruits and other native species to supplement your food supply. https://attendee.gototraining.com/r/8726488799175434242

Plants that eat plants: Evolutionary and functional genomics of parasitic plants

November 19.  4:00 pm–5:00 pm. UNL's City Campus at the Beadle Center, 1901 Vine Street. Contact, Lisa Vonfeldt, 402-472-2635,BiotechPSIOffice@unl.edu. “Plants that eat plants: Evolutionary and functional genomics of parasitic plants” will be presented by Dr. Claude dePamphilis, Penn State University. A reception will be held at 3:30 p.m. The event is open to the public.

Iowa GAP Level 1 and 2

November 19 and 25. Sioux City, Iowa. The Iowa State University On Farm Food Safety Team will be hosting full-day GAPs workshops across Iowa during fall and spring. Levels 1 and 2 are each one-day workshops. http://bit.ly/12sLsxE

Organic Working Group Training and Outreach Webinar

November 20. From 2:00-3:00 PM Eastern Time, the USDA Organic Working Group (OWG) will host a webinar on organic training and outreach resources. The OWG is currently updating its Organic Literacy Initiative package, which includes the Organic 101 and 201 training modules, the "Is Organic an Option for Me?" brochure, and the USDA Organic Resource Guide. The OWG will open with a short presentation, and then ask for comments and discussion from participants. The OWG seeks feedback on how the current organic training materials are used, what information is most helpful, and what additional tools are needed. Pre-registration is not required for this webinar session. To participate: Step 1--Dial In by Phone: 866-740-1260. Access Code: 7202000. Step 2--Also Access the Web: http://www.readytalk.com. On the left side of the screen, enter Participant Access Code: 7202000

Crop Selection and Insect Management in High Tunnels Webinar

November 20. Online. Purdue Extension is offering a series of free webinars and workshops providing essential how-to and background information on topics related to year-round growing. This webinar will be led by Liz Maynard, Purdue Extension commercial floral and vegetable crops specialist. No registration is required. http://www.indianaagconnection.com/story-state.php?Id=770&yr=2014

Organic Inputs: Options and Opportunities for Improving Crop Health and Productivity Webinar

November 20. Online. OEFFA and the Cuyahoga Valley Countryside Conservancy have partnered to offer this webinar and other educational opportunities designed to address the business and production aspects of managing successful specialty crop operations. This webinar will review key concepts and principles involved in choosing organically acceptable inputs. Details that will help growers make sound and profitable choices for their operations will be provided. This webinar will be presented by Brian McSpadden Gardener, Ph.D. He is a professor in the Department of Plant Pathology at the Ohio State University. http://www.oeffa.org/events.php

Poultry Operations: Broiler and Layer Energy Conservation Opportunities

November 20. Online. This webinar is part of a series of free webinars on energy, presented by the USDA NRCS East National Technology Support Center and the National Energy Technology Development Team located at the West National Technology Support Center. Participants in this webinar will learn about the most important energy-using systems involved in broiler and breeder operations and the most effective energy improvement options. The webinar will address key differences between lighting systems (including CFL and LED) and electrical issues to consider when implementing upgrades. Viewers will learn about building envelope issues, such as the benefits and drawbacks with different types of insulation and options for curtain wall retrofits. The speaker will discuss heating and ventilation of poultry houses including performance differences between radiant and convective heating systems.http://www.conservationwebinars.net/

Considerations for Out-Wintering the Organic Dairy Herd Webinar

November 20. Online. Join eOrganic for a webinar on considerations for out-wintering the organic dairy herd by Dr. Brad Heins. In this webinar, Dr. Brad Heins will describe a study that evaluated the effect of two winter housing systems on organic dairy production, somatic cell counts (SCC), body weight, body condition scores (BCS), and dry matter intake (DMI). The webinar is free and open to the public. Advance registration is required. http://www.extension.org/pages/71817/

Food Safety for the Holiday Season

Thursday, November 20 at 1:00 pm. Holiday season is approaching. Cooking holiday meals is very challenging since you need to cook so many different foods at the same time and you could easily forget about food safety. This seminar will discuss food safety practices for cooking holiday meals (from shopping to leftover) and provide food safety tips during winter storm and/or power outage. Please register for this FREE webinar. Go to http://eden.lsu.edu/Conferences/SCAP/Registration/Registration, choose "Food Safety for the Holiday Season" from the drop down list, and complete the online form. 

Department of Agricultural Economics Seminar Series

 

November 21.  3:00 pm. Lincoln. Contact, Jane Witte, 472-1913, janewitte@unl.edu. Presented by Jim Vercammen, University of British Columbia. “A Welfare Analysis of Conservation Easement Tax Credits” http://agecon.unl.edu/seminar

Soil Health Webinar

November 21. Online. Registration is now open for a free Sustainable Farming Association Keep Cattle in Minnesota webinar featuring soil health experts Michael Lehman and Wendy Taheri of the USDA North Central Agricultural Research Lab in Brookings, South Dakota. The webinar is set for 1-2:30 p.m. In the first presentation, Cover Cropping: A Great Tool for Building Soils That Work, Lehman will consider the invisible world of soil microorganisms, how what they do that is helpful to producers, and how cover cropping is one management tool that promotes soil microorganisms and their beneficial activities. Taheri's presentation, Understanding the Importance of Diversity in Cropping Systems, will help farmers understand the importance of diversity in their cropping systems and the role cover crops play in creating and maintaining diversity. https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/696479405526232577

Alternatives for Fire Blight Control Webinar

November 21. Online. This workshop is ideal for growers of organic apples and pears who need to prepare for or deal with a current fire blight infection in their orchards. Join CCOF for this timely webinar workshop on several viable and important alternatives to antibiotic fire blight treatment. http://www.ccof.org/alternatives-fire-blight-control-webinar

Opportunity

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. 

Vegetable Operations Manager Position near Omaha

Vegetable/small fruit farm and nursery in Papillion has a full-time permanent vegetable operations manager position available. Tasks may include crop selection/scheduling, prep/planting, greenhouse management, construction/maintenance, and sales. Vegetable production experience helpful. The land has been farmed with organic practices for 30 years. Currently selling at local markets and planning to expand. On-farm housing may be negotiable. Also hiring full/part-time general laborer; farm or construction experience helpful. Send resume and cover letter to Lucena@MeristemFarmAndNursery.com or call Tom at 402-306-4500.

Growing Farmers, Growing Food

The Community Crops Growing Farmers workshops will help you learn the planning and production skills you need to start a market farm business. Learn from experienced growers, Extension Educators and business experts about sustainable vegetable production. Workshop topics will include: Seed Starting and Crop Planning, Functional Business Planning, Different Market Opportunities including farmers' markets, Marketing 101, Planning for Profit and Managing Your Risks, Field Management, 

GAPs (Good Agricultural Practices) and Food Safety. More details, Register here:  http://www.communitycrops.org/growingfarmers

Vegetable Transplant Supplier Needed

The Community Crops plant sale sells plant starts and perennials to many Lincoln gardeners, and we also supply plants to our community gardeners.  We have outgrown the amount of plants our current supplier can produce and would like to find additional suppliers for 2015 to grow a variety of herb and vegetable transplants on contract.  All plants need to be grown using organic methods, using 32s and delivered in early May.  Please contact me to discuss details at ingrid@communitycrops.org or 402-474-9802.

Thanks! Ingrid

FarmTable Delivery is hiring

We really need a driver ASAP. Qualifications include: - Experience driving an 18ft vehicle - Experience driving a diesel vehicle - Good driving record - Familiar with driving in Omaha, Des Moines, Lincoln a plus! - Detailed orientated - good time management skills - a people person. Right now, 10-15 hours a week. Will increase as company grows. Will Train! SEND RESUMES with REFERENCES to farmtabledelivery@gmail.com 

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 Food Movement Growing Nationwide

When you turn on the TV and see a commercial for a national big-box store bragging about its food being fresh from the farm, you know the local food movement is bearing fruit.

That was among the messages Nebraska beef and dairy farmer Bob Bernt brought to an audience of more than 100 people Wednesday afternoon. Bernt was one of five Nebraska experts on local food production who were brought together for a panel discussion as part of the Paul A. Olson Seminars in Great Plains Studies at the Great Plains Art Museum in downtown Lincoln.

Read the rest!