Weekly Events & Opportunities in Sustainable Farming & Foods

Non-Timber Forest Products Webinar Series: Art from the Forest

October 29. Nontimber forest products include plants, lichens and mushrooms used for specialized art and craft practices: basketmaking, fiber dyeing, and more. Artisans who gather and use these species have specialized knowledge of their micro-habitats and require certain qualities in the material they use. In this one-hour webinar, Allaire Diamond M.S., Conservation Ecologist with the Vermont Land Trust, will discuss a variety of species used by master artisans and the unique opportunities for landowners to foster these species on their land and build relationships with artisan-gatherers. https://cc.readytalk.com/cc/s/registrations/new?cid=3b9mqeifumu5

Planning and Design of Stream Crossings Webinar

October 29. This webinar is presented by the USDA NRCS East National Technology Support Center. Participation in the webinar will build an understanding of the process and procedures required to successfully plan and design a stream crossing structure to meet the USDA NRCS Practice Standard, Code No. 578 - Stream Crossing. http://www.conservationwebinars.net/webinars/planning-and-design-of-stream-crossings

What are aquaponics?

October 29th. Aquaponics is a food production system that combines conventional aquaculture with hydroponics in a symbiotic environment. Learn about the aquaponic way of growing with Keith Knudson.  How does growing with aquaponics differ from gardening the way we know it. Presented by Keith Knudson.  https://attendee.gototraining.com/r/670358306351617537

Fall 2014 Biotechnology / Life Sciences Seminar Series

October 29.  4:00 pm–5:00 pm. “Honey Bee Health Risks of Acaricide Exposures: A Rationale for Alternative Chemistries for Varroa Mite Management,” will be presented by Dr. Troy Anderson, Virginia Tech. Beadle Center 1901 Vine Street. Lincoln. Lisa Vonfeldt,402-472-2635, BiotechPSIOffice@unl.edu. A reception will be held at 3:30 p.m. 

The event is open to the public.

Basics of Poultry Health and Management

October 30. Online. Veterinary Extension within The Ohio State University's Department of Veterinary Preventative Medicine and the OEFFA have joined together to provide a series of webinars and workshops for veterinarians, Extension educators, and other professionals who work with certified organic livestock herds and flocks. This free webinar will cover the basic concepts of poultry disease diagnosis and control in organic production systems, with a brief discussion of management conditions that will impact poultry health. This webinar is presented by Dr. Mohamed El-Gazzar, Poultry Extension Veterinarian with OSU's Department of Veterinary Preventative Medicine. http://www.oeffa.org/events.php

BioChar and Beyond

Friday, October 31 at 10:00 am. Presented by Matt Kieffer, Student, Iowa State University. Matt Kieffer is a student at Iowa State University who, along with fellow ISU students have started a biorenewable business. Matt will discuss biochar from production to end product and its uses and applications worldwide.  Their company ARTI can be found online at http://artichar.com/. Don't miss this presentation, you will be impressed with the enthusiasm and drive of these young bioenergy entrepreneurs. https://connect.extension.iastate.edu/agenergy/

Haney and PLFA tests and soil health

October 31. 3:30 pm–5:00 pm. Lincoln. Dept. of Agronomy & Horticulture, 402-472-2811, agrohort@unl.edu. Presented by Raymond Ward from Ward Laboratories, Inc. Ward will discuss the benefits and problems with these new tests for making fertilizer recommendations and to test for living microbes in soil both of which have the goal of the measuring soil health to refine fertilizer and pesticide applications each year.

Restoration Agriculture and Mob Grazing Workshop

October 31 – November 2. Clark, MO. In this 3-day, hands-on educational workshop, you will learn to merge the philosophies of restoration agriculture and mob grazing. This is not a permaculture design course, nor is it an introduction to Restoration Agriculture. This weekend will be the first time that Mark Shepard and Greg Judy will work together to synthesize the agriculture models of permaculture and mob grazing. The end result will be the installation of a permaculture swale system into Greg Judy's grazing system. 

Specialty Crop Workshop

October 31 - November 1. Wheatland, WY.  Specialty Crops & Topics Covered; Native seed production, Proso Millet, Markets & Marketing, Herbs, Quinoa. Location, Platte County Public Library 904 9th St. Wheatland, WY. Cost: $50.00 Registration limited to 60 people. To register contact, 57 Antelope Gap, Wheatland, WY 82201. Phone: 307-322-3667. Email: mmckinl2@uwyo.edu

Opportunity

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.

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

Chickens, Goats & Cattle Sale

Selling 25 +- chickens.  A colorful, diversified variety flock of _soon-to__-__be_ egg layers.  An Orschlen's *special* _"everything that could fly out of water tank"_ of white, orange, speckled, barredchicks beginning of May, 2014.  All hens except oneloud, white rooster (what a surprise). These chickens have forage with cattle in the pasture paddocks and housed in a portable coup. Spend time frolicking in the grass and forages eating whatever fits in the beak on an organic farm.  Supplemented with poultry mix for layers in "always available feeder". These birds would be a perfect starter egg layer flock because of the variety of different types of chickens the same age to try out; nearly 6 months old, free-range and trained to a coup at night.  Talk about your side by side test! Selling whole flock at $7.25 a chicken or willing to sell in smaller select choice groups at an adjusted price.  Delivery possible. Troy Kash-Brown,402-476-9616, please leave a message. Located west of Pioneers Park on West Van Dorn, Lincoln.

Quince

Does anyone know of anyone that is growing quince?! Amy, amy@edibleomaha.com

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

Penalty flag for UNL leaders

I’m throwing a red penalty flag at UNL and calling out our purported land-grant university for flagrant ethical inconsistency. Earlier this year, UNL’s administration forced two of its employees, extension agents, to resign from the board of the Nebraska Sustainable Agriculture Society. The administration cited an obscure rule and decided it was a conflict of interest for a UNL employee to be volunteering with a group that supports and educates Nebraskans on clean family-scale farming, a group that has a long track record of integrity and accomplishment across the state with thousands of our Nebraska farm families and that provides education in a field UNL generally gives scant attention. Yet now, as reported by the Journal Star (Oct. 12), we learn that UNL’s administration is giving a glowing green light to a board appointment for another UNL employee: Vice Chancellor Ronnie Green. The vice chancellor has been appointed to the board of Neogen, a multinational ag pharmaceutical corporation based in Michigan, a corporation that’s also eyeballing UNL’s Innovation Campus. UNL’s administration apparently regards this as fine and dandy. The ultimate referees in this matter — NU's Board of Regents — must engage a basic question when considering this matter on Nov. 20. Why is it somehow a conflict of interest for UNL employees to serve on a volunteer board for a nonprofit group that supports farmers who grow clean, chemical-free food for Nebraskans, yet it is no conflict of interest for another UNL employee to serve on the board of a profit-driven multinational corporation?   Read the rest here

Upcoming

Internal Parasite Management in Pasture-Based Sheep and Goat Operations Webinar

November 3. Veterinary Extension within The Ohio State University's Department of Veterinary Preventative Medicine and the OEFFA have joined together to provide a series of webinars and workshops for veterinarians, Extension educators, and other professionals who work with certified organic livestock herds and flocks. This free webinar is presented by Wayne County OSU Extension Educator Rory Lewandowski. To register, go to https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/6088907739364733953

Mechanical Farm Implements: Scale-Appropriate Technology for Specialty Crop Production

November 6. Onine. This free webinar from OEFFA will explore factors to consider in choosing equipment for a successful specialty crop farm, with presenter Jean-Paul Cortens of Roxbury Farm. Learn about the best equipment to use for tillage, weed control, mulching, planting, seeding, harvesting, and haymaking on a specialty crop farm. http://www.oeffa.org/

Kansas Rural Center Farm & Food Conference and 35th Anniversary Celebration

November 7-8. Manhattan, Kansas. "Sustainable Agriculture: A Once and Future Vision," will celebrate KRC's 35th Anniversary and focus on the future of agriculture, food, and community in Kansas and the region. A full two-day slate of conference workshops will provide inspiring ideas, helpful information and valuable connections for attendees, ranging from practical farm management, diversification and transition strategies, to community and food advocacy training. Keynote speakers will include Bryan Welch and Fred Kirschenmann. http://kansasruralcenter.org/calendar/conference-2014/

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

Weekly Events & Opportunities in Sustainable Farming & Foods

Good Agricultural Practices (GAPs) Webinar Series

September 2. Online. This webinar series from University of Illinois Extension is designed to provide information to growers on how to keep produce safe from production to the market. Topics of this webinar will include: What is GAPs; Water quality and testing; Soil management; Record keeping; Traceback; and more. Pre-registration along with pre-payment is required by August 26. https://web.extension.illinois.edu/registration/?registrationid=10735

The Incredible Edible Ostrich Fern Fiddlehead

September 3. Online. This one-hour webinar is the second in a series of eight on non-timber forest products. It will be presented by Dave Fuller with University of Maine Cooperative Extension, who will teach about the ostrich fern and its spring edible, the fiddlehead. https://www.extension.org/sites/default/files/Webinar%20Line%20Up%20.pdf

Seed Saving Webinar

September 3rd. Now’s the time to begin saving seed for next year’s garden. Learn the basics of saving seed from Zachary Paige from White Earth Tribal Community College Land Recovery project. To register click here, https://attendee.gototraining.com/r/8409012513220157186

Farm to Fork Culinary Tour

September 4. Sheldon, Iowa. Flavors of Northwest Iowa, Iowa State University Extension and Outreach, will host a Farm to Fork bus tour to connect people who want to know more about local foods with local producers. The afternoon bus tour will make three stops: Cottonwood Farms, Sheldon; Solsma’s Pumpkin Patch, Sanborn; and Calico Skies Vineyard and Winery, Inwood. http://www.extension.iastate.edu/article/flavors-northwest-iowa-offers-last-culinary-tour-season

Putting Local on the Menu: Five Best Practices and a Cost Calculator Training

September 4. Online. This National Good Food Network webinar, led by Anthony Flaccavento, will present the results of SCALE Inc.'s research into how institutional cafeterias and mid-priced restaurants are successfully putting local on the menu, while staying within their tight budgets. The first half of the webinar reveals five best practices that showed up across SCALE's study. The driving forces behind The Root Café and Carlton College will illustrate how they are using each of these techniques to get significant quantities of local food into their kitchens. The second half of the webinar presents a tool, developed by SCALE, Inc. that enables buyers and local foods advocates to accurately determine the cost of local buying down to the level of per plate or menu item costs. https://www2.gotomeeting.com/register/734901394

Legal and Financial Clinic

Thursday, September 4th. Grand Island. Call the Farm Hotline at 800-464-0258 to sign up.

Western Summer Field Day

September 4 & 5 in McCook. Common Scents Greenhouses & Nursery, McCook Community College and the Burr Oak Canyon will be host sites for the Nebraska Arborists Association and Nebraska Nursery & Landscape Association’s 2014 Great Plains Western Field Day. Mark your calendars for Thursday and Friday, September 4-5, for an informative event in a relaxed setting with your colleagues. Burr Oak Canyon is a very unique native resource. http://www.nnla.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/2014-Western-Field-Day-Brochure-web-FINAL.pdf

Southeast Nebraska Diversified Ag Tour

Friday, September 5, 7:30am. Southeast Nebraska. The stops will include Union Orchard-The Wostrel Family; Bloom Where You're Planted Farm,- Teresa & Terry Lorensen; Lunch: Slattery Vintage Estate- Barb & Sarah Slattery; Ox Bow Animal Health; and Chisholm Family Farm- The Chisholm Family.  Cost $20.00 per person.  Deadline to Register: Friday, August 29.   For more information contact Vaughn Hammond at 402-873-3166 or email Vaughn.hammond@unl.edu

"Green Agritourism" - Power of Business Friday 15

Friday, September 5 at 10:15 am Central. Our September 5 Friday 15 guest is Beth Kennett, from Liberty Hill Farm, in Rochester, VT. Liberty Hill Farm is a 240-acre working dairy farm, that has been offering "farm vacations" to visitors from all over the world. Many of Liberty Hill's guest return year and after year. We'll chat with Beth about how Liberty Hill attracts and keeps customers and what it means to be a "green" agritourism destination. https://powerofbusiness.wufoo.com/forms/friday-15-the-power-of-business-live-chat/

4th Annual Dig Deeper Farm Tour

It's that time of year again-- the 4th annual Dig Deeper Farm Tour and Community Crops Farm Walk is just around the corner. Mark your calendars for Saturday, September 6th from noon to 4 PM. You can check out the following farms: Shadowbrook Farm, Common Good Farm, Branched Oak Farm, Fox Run Farm, Robinette Farms and Emerald Acres. We've added three urban garden projects to the tour as well: the Hawley Hamlet, The UNL Student Farm and the Southern Heights Food Forest. Prairie Pines, the Farmer Training facility for Community Crops will be open from 4 PM to 7 PM. For more complete information, please read the attached press release, visit our Facebook page or go to the Open Harvest website:www.openharvest.coop/events . Please help spread the word. Thank you!

Opportunity

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

Farm Job Available in Kansas

We at Heartland Farm, a 25 year old organic Farm in central Kansas are seeking a full time, live-in farmer to run all aspects of our 80 A. (not all in farm acreage) sponsored by the Dominican Sisters of Peace.  Sister Jane Belanger, OP. Heartland Farm, 1049 CR 390, Pawnee Rock, KS 67567. www.heartlandfarm-ks.org

sheepbelanger@gmail.com  or  hfarm@gbta, 620-923-4585

Farm Job Wanted

I am currently looking for a farm job. I would like to stay close to Blair, Omaha, Fremont, or even across the border in Iowa.  Brenda Ruenholl,  Washington County, brrr@juno.com, 402-533-2541, 402-203-0850

News

USDA announces $25 million for nation's farmers to turn commodities into value-added products; two awards in Nebraska

Two Nebraska companies receive awards totaling $181,518. Prairie Pride Poultry received a $5,500 Value-Added Producer Grant (VAPG) from USDA Rural Development. The funds will be used to support the marketing of locally produced farm-fresh eggs from over 600 farm raised Rhode Island Red hens. Dan Hromas, the owner of Prairie Pride Poultry, is a former Marine and current member of the Nebraska National Guard and served in both Iraq and Afghanistan. After nearly two decades protecting U.S. freedom and interests as a soldier, the former Marine and current member of the Nebraska Army National Guard has found a new purpose and resolve through his flock of chickens. Read the rest!

Upcoming

Meat Processing Plant Management Strategies to Reduce Fall Season Stress

September 9. Online. In this free Niche Meat Processor Assistance Network webinar, Nick McCann will share real-life examples and proven strategies for solving common problems in meat plant management: excessive overtime, stressed-out employees, customer complaints, and quality problems that often occur during the busy fall season. Nick will share examples from plants he has worked with and answer your questions about how to make the most of your fall season. Processors are asked to pre-register and submit their challenges for the presenter to address. https://www.extension.org/pages/71106/plant-management-strategies-to-reduce-fall-season-stress

National Heirloom Exposition

September 9-11. Santa Rosa, California. Billed as "The World's Pure Food Fair," The National Heirloom Exposition is a not-for-profit event centered around the pure food movement, heirloom vegetables, and anti-GMO activism. The event includes speaker presentations and more than 300 natural vendors from across the country and beyond, offering food, plants, farm equipment, and more. http://theheirloomexpo.com/

National Summit on Herbicide Resistance

September 10. Washington, DC. Building on the insights and perspectives that were established from the 2012 Herbicide Resistance Summit, one of the outcomes expected from Herbicide Resistance Summit II will include a more unified understanding of the issues across the country, understanding of differences of viewpoints, and approaches to solutions. This event is sponsored by the Weed Science Society of America and hosted by the National Research Council. Everyone participating in the Herbicide Resistance Summit II should walk away understanding their role in addressing and solving the evolution of herbicide resistance in weeds. The Herbicide Resistance Summit II will end with the question "What will you do?" http://wssa.net/meeting-registration/

Eastern Kansas Grazing School

September 10-11. Blaine, Kansas. Pottawatomie County Extension Office hosts a two-day workshop on Management Intensive Grazing (MiG) for beginning and experienced graziers. http://www.pottawatomie.ksu.edu/doc55068.ashx

In/out balances, Traceability Tests and Recipe Verification for Processing Inspection under NOP & COR

September 10 & 17. Online. The In/out balances, Traceability test and Recipe Verification for Processing inspection under NOP & COR webinar is a 200-level course from IOIA. The course will be delivered in two, two-hour sessions. This course is designed for persons with at least two years of experience in organic inspection or certification review experience. This webinar will allow inspectors and certifiers to further their understanding of the requirements of the NOP and COR standards as they pertain to recordkeeping in the processing environment, with an emphasis on methodology, practical applications and standardized reporting. http://www.ioia.net/schedule_web.html#sept10

Promoting High Quality Conservation on Organic Farms

September 10. Online. In this webinar from the National Center for Appropriate Technology, conservation professionals and landowners will learn how NRCS conservation practices and enhancements can provide high value production and biodiversity benefits while at the same time aiding producers to obtain or maintain their USDA organic status. Presenters are Jo Ann Baumgartner, Director of the Wild Farm Alliance, and Harriet Behar, MOSES Organic Specialist.https://www2.gotomeeting.com/register/479205674

Farm Aid 2014

September 13. Raleigh, North Carolina. Each year, Farm Aid board members Willie Nelson, Neil Young, John Mellencamp & Dave Matthews headline a Farm Aid concert to bring together a wide variety of musicians, farmers & fans for one mission: keeping family farmers on their land. Farm Aid 2014 is an all-day music & food festival, & will feature a unique lineup of artists & genres. http://www.farmaid.org/site/c.qlI5IhNVJsE/b.6236707/k.8E86/About_the_Concert.htm