Weekly Events & Opportunities in Sustainable Farming & Foods!

National Organic Standards Board Meeting

April 25-27. Washington, DC. The National Organic Standards Board (NOSB) will hold a public meeting during which the board will address several petitions pertaining to changes to the National List of Allowed and Prohibited Substances. The public is invited to provide oral comments during one of two sessions--at the meeting or during a webinar. The webinar will be held on April 19, 2016, from 1:00 - 4:00 p.m. Eastern. Interested individuals must pre-register no later than April 14, 2016, to provide oral comments. https://www.ams.usda.gov/press-release/usda-announces-meeting-national-organic-standards-board-invites-public-comments-1

Soil Erosion: A Historical Perspective

April 26. Online. This free, one-hour webinar is presented by USDA NRCS Science and Technology. Participants will gain an understanding of the impact soil erosion has had on civilization through time and what society needs to do to protect this precious resource. http://www.conservationwebinars.net/webinars/soil-erosion-a-historical-perspective

Medicinal Herb Gardening

April 26th 6.00pm - 8.00pm. Prairie Pines Training Farm, Adams St & N 112th St, Lincoln. Participants will learn some of the unique conditions required for starting medicinal herbs from seed, proper harvesting times, different drying and preservation techniques and why you should be growing your own medicine. Nicole Saville co-owns and operates Spiritus Vitae Botanicals, a small medicinal herb farm outside Lincoln. She has a B.S. in Herbal Medicine from Bastyr University and has a passion for stewardship and sustainability. Register

Heuermann Lectures: Working to Meet the World’s Growing Food Needs

April 26.  4:00 am–5:30pm. Nebraska Innovation Campus Conference Center Room: Auditorium, 

Lincoln. Contact,  Jessie Brophy, 402-472-7080, jbrophy3@unl.edu. Presented by Sally Rockey; executive director of Foundation for Food and Agriculture Research.

Ensuring Nitrogen and Potassium Fertility Through the Growing Season--Initial Bed Preparation, the Economics of Compost, and Side Dressing

April 26. Online. This free evening webinar from NOFA Massachusetts begins at 7 p.m. Eastern. Learn the role of nitrogen and potassium in plant growth and tips for increasing nitrogen availability in cool spring soils. The presenter is Derek Christianson, Brix Bounty Farm. http://www.nofamass.org/events/webinar-ensuring-nitrogen-and-potassium-fertility-through-growing-season-initial-bed

Grow a Garden That's Easy For You & Great For The Environment

April 26th 6.30pm - 8.30pm. Learn how to start or maintain a garden inexpensively and reduce your labor. We'll discover how to conserve resources, store carbon in your soil and help the environment all at the same time! Class is taught by Ingrid Kirst, Community Crops Executive Director and long-time gardener. Class will be held at the Antelope Church of the Brethren, 3645 Sumner. To register, go to the Southeast Community College's Continuing Education Site and click the yellow "Register" button at the bottom of the page. Use the keyword "Grow". Registration fee is $12.

Marketing Channels for Beginning Farmers

April 27. Online. This free, half-hour webinar from Community Alliance for Family Farmers is intended for beginning farmers who would like to learn more about the various direct and indirect marketing channels, such as farmers markets, CSAs, distributors, restaurants, and grocery stores. http://www.caff.org/news-and-events/workshops/

Selecting a tractor for your small farm

Wednesday, April 27 at 6:00 pm CDT. Aside from land and farm buildings, a tractor is often one of the larger investments made by new farmers. Big, new and shiny may not be your best choice. Old, rusty and untrustworthy may not be a good choice either. Fred will discuss how to determine what you really need to get the job done from both the financial and mechanical points of view, key points to consider when selecting a tractor, and various options for obtaining it. http://events.anr.msu.edu/BegFrmrWeb2016/

Soil PH, Liming Rates and Fertility

Wednesday, April 27 at 11:00 am CDT. Soil pH is only one number on a soil test report, but can control a lot of your production potential. To maximize your returns from the soil, understanding where soil acidity comes from and how we determine lime rates is essential. https://www.eventbrite.com/e/wednesday-webinars-registration-11452674257

Farm Financial Calendar

April 28, 11am – 12pm. Online. Are you having difficulty finding time for regular financial tasks? Is your farm business running as smoothly as possible? This webinar is designed to give you the tools to stay on track during the growing season. Join New Entry Sustainable Farming Project and The Carrot Project for a webinar overview of a new Financial Calendar tool. We'll dive into how the tool can help you stay organized with daily, weekly, monthly, and annual tasks. A successful beginning farmer will also be on hand to help you adapt the calendar to your farm's needs and realities and create a personalized financial management calendar for your farm. Pre-registration required:https://nesfp.org/events/farm-financial-calendar

How to Evaluate Economic Benefits of Local Food Systems Webinar

April 28. Online. The authors of a new U.S. Department of Agriculture guide to evaluate the economic impacts of investing in farmers markets, community supported agriculture (CSA), food hubs, and other local food systems will discuss the toolkit during a free webinar. https://www.ams.usda.gov/event/how-evaluate-economic-benefits-local-food-systems-webinar

Womens Learning Circle

April 30th. The Center for Rural Affairs brings the first of its series of learning circles for women farmers and landowners in eastern Nebraska to Robinette Farms in Martell on April 30.The program runs 9-11:30 a.m. and the topic is tools and equipment. Light refreshments and snacks will be provided. Robinette Farms is at 17675 S.W. 14th St., Martell. Space is limited and people are asked to register by April 26. Contact Kirstin Bailey at kirstinb@cfra.org or at 402-367-8989.

Teaching Biodiversity & the Tree of Life

April 30. 9:30 am. UNL's Hardin Hall. Contact, Shawna Richter-Ryerson, 402-472-6515, shawna@unl.edu. Dr. Harry W. Greene, professor of ecology and evolutionary biology at Cornell University, will present and discuss “Teaching Biodiversity & the Tree of Life.” 

Opportunities

​Omaha area gardens sought for milkweed/monarch research project

I am studying monarch caterpillar survivability in conservation areas compared to residential gardens. I am asking for help in locating people with gardens that could be part of my study. I would need to visit a garden once every four days throughout the summer. An ideal garden should have at least ten milkweed plants from two species. We will have small quantities of milkweed (swamp milkweed & common milkweed) that we can provide to help bring the garden’s total milkweed to the number needed. ​​My name is Emily, and I am a master’s student at UNO. Please contact me ategeest@unomaha.edu for more information. Thank you!

​New Farm Storage Facility Loan

​T​he Farm Storage Facility Loan (FSFL) Program administered by the FSA has expanded to include some new eligible commodities. The new commodities eligible for facility loans include floriculture, hops, rye, milk, cheese, butter, yogurt, meat and poultry (unprocessed), eggs, and aquaculture (excluding systems that maintain live animals through uptake and discharge of water). Commodities already eligible for the loans include corn, grain sorghum, rice, soybeans, oats, peanuts, wheat, barley, minor oilseeds harvested as whole grain, pulse crops (lentils, chickpeas and dry peas), hay, honey, renewable biomass, and fruits, nuts and vegetables for cold storage facilities.​ ​Loan applications should be filed in the administra-

tive FSA office that maintains the farm’s records.​ ​For more information about Farm Storage​ Facility Loans, visit ​ ​www.fsa.usda.gov/pricesupport, or contact your local FSA office. To find your local FSA office, visit http://offices.usda.gov.

For Sale

If you're a BCS and/or Grillo two wheel tractor owner looking to add to your implements, I have the following available for sale and/or trade for mowing equipment: 

Power Harrrower, 

Cultivator with hitch

3' mulch layer (drip tape layer not included).

Robert, 

lnkrob@gmail.com

Organic Custom Grazing

I have 150 acres of grass that is certified Organic. I'd potentially be interested in custom grazing pairs/cows/yearlings. I also have an additional 250 acres of grass that can be certified. I've been custom grazing 50 pairs the last few years on non-certified ground. Please let me know if you're interested or know of someone who might be. Jon Yoachim, 402-309-4088

Facility Manager Position at Prairie Hill

PRAIRIE HILL Learning Center, a Montessori farm - school located on HWY 77 seven miles south of Lincoln, seeks a Facility Manager beginning in May. 20-30 hours per week, with daily hours beginning at 6:45am. Position involves being knowledgeable and handy with maintenance of buildings and grounds on our 12 acre farm. Good communication and organizational skills are required. Respect for and appreciation of children is crucial.  E-mail: Send a resume to prairiehillschool@yahoo.com Mail: PRAIRIE HILL Learning Center, 17705 S. 12 St., Roca, NE 68430, Telephone: 402-438-6668 and ask to speak to our Executive Director, Mandie Schadwinkel. 

Robinette Farms Apprenticeship

We're looking for one more addition to our farm for 2016. If you or someone you know wants to learn about small-scale vegetable production, CSA management, management-intensive grazing and pastured poultry, please get in touch! Testimonials from former Apprentices can be found here: http://www.robinettefarms.com/apprentice-testimonials 

Details about the Apprenticeship here: http://www.robinettefarms.com/apprenticeship/info

Positions Available

I wanted to let you know that we are still trying to fill multiple positions on both our farm, New Earth Farm & Goods, and with our non-profit, Keipos. Here are the positions available: 1) Farm Apprentice at New Earth Farm & Goods, which includes food, housing, and pay. 2) Internships positions with Keipos, a 12-week program working at our heart and in the city, which includes a PDC certificate. Jonathan Dodd,  Keipos, Inc. http://keipos.org, http://negoods.com,  jonathan@keipos.org, 

321.544.2851

Dryland Farming Opportunity

I have + or - 6 acres that I am transitioning to organic status. It has not had any pesticides, herbicides or fertilizers applied to it for five years. It is currently in alfalfa that has reached the end of its productivity. It does not have access to irrigation. Anyone out there want to farm it organically on a sharecrop or cash rent basis? I also have 10 acres of prairie grass (never sprayed with anything) that will need to be harvested - usually sometime between June 25 and July 10. Will do that on a sharecrop or cash basis as well. I do not have the necessary large farming equipment, but have access to some on a rental basis. Interested?  Please email me at gene@heartlandorganics.net. Gene Gage, Heartland Organics

Ducks, Geese & Guineas

We are looking for baby ducks and geese available this Spring.  We are interested in Cayuga, Khaki Campbell or other breeds for egg production.  The geese we are looking for are Chinese or African for guard animals.  Guineas for bug control. 

Fund a Truck, Fund Local Foods!

Nebraska Food Cooperative is asking for your help to raise capital for loan repayment and truck repairs.  Our delivery trucks put on a lot of miles to deliver fresh food across our state.  We had to replace one of our vehicles and make extensive repairs on another. As a grassroots community to help small farms and build local economies, we are asking for your contribution so that the money tied up in these expenses can be freed to go toward running the co-op and making our network stronger.  We believe in the value of the co-op, and we believe in you, our community of co-op members! Read more, and support NFC today!

Upcoming

Getting started with farm business planning and financial readiness

This program is a final addition to the 24-webinar Michigan State University Extension 2016 Beginning Farmer Webinar Series. A descriptive flyer and on-line registration and payment for any or all of the original 23 webinars is available at http://events.anr.msu.edu/BegFrmrWeb2016/  This final webinar is a free offering. 

Recordkeeping for Organics: Tips, Tricks & Questions Answered

May 3. Online. This webinar from Oregon Tilth will help producers understand what records are required to apply for organic certification. The webinar will also share “sound and sensible” recordkeeping practices that producers can implement to demonstrate organic compliance to inspectors and certifiers. The webinar will conclude with a question and answer session. It begins at noon Pacific Time. https://tilth.org/event/record-keeping-for-organics-tips-tricks-questions-answered/

Overview of poultry related equipment

Wednesday, May 4 at 10:30 am CDT. Dr. Jacquie Jacob from the University of Kentucky will discuss the different equipment needs for backyard flocks and small scale poultry operations. https://connect.extension.iastate.edu/poultry

2016 All Bugs Good and Bad Webinar Series: Managing Pests of Backyard Pecans

Friday, May 6 at 1:00 pm CDT. Thousands of mature pecan trees are grown around homes, many with sparse and erratic production. Usually, there is no single reason why a pecan tree fails to produce a crop or produces poor quality nuts. Learn practical tips anout pecan pests and pecan management by  Bryan Wilkins, Research Associate IIl,  Gulf Coast Research and Extension Center. http://connect.extension.iastate.edu/fireant

Local Foods & Sustainable Agriculture Tour!

The Nebraska SARE Program is sponsoring a tour that focuses on local food production and sustainability.  We have plenty of room available and are  opening this tour up to the public.  This will be an opportunity to learn more about local food production, sustainability and entrepreneurship in Nebraska.  Master Gardeners and anyone interested in learning about these issues are also welcome to participate in this tour.

This tour is of 5 farms/sites where you will have an opportunity to see diverse farming operations.  The tour will leave Lincoln from the large parking lot at 56th & Highway 2 (north of CVS) in the southeast part of Lincoln.  The tour is scheduled for Tuesday, August 18th and we will be leaving the parking lot at 8:30 a.m.  and traveling in an air-conditioned bus.  Our first stop on the tour is Jones Produce, which is located southwest of Lincoln, near Crete, NE.  Jones Produce is small farm dedicated to quality food and ecologically beneficial agriculture. They are proud to offer a variety of fine fruits and vegetables, grown here near Crete, Nebraska.

Jones Produce is owned and operated by Justin G. Jones.  Justin’s great-great-great grandfather homesteaded in the area, and founded the original limestone quarries at nearby Roca, Nebraska.  The family eventually moved west, but after growing up in rural New Mexico, and living in California where he developed his horticultural skills, Justin returned to his family’s Nebraska roots. With his wife Kari, a life-long Nebraskan, Justin started Jones Produce to grow the freshest, organically grown produce for our neighbors and community here in Southeast Nebraska.  To learn more about Jones Produce go to: http://www.jonesproduce.net/.  

Our second stop on the tour is Ficke Cattle Company near Pleasant Dale, NE.   Del Ficke and his family have a Graze Master herd that is bred with the core belief that animals must excel maternally and be naturally accountable. Their cattle are raised on forage-based nutrients and are free to live out their lives in a holistic pasture setting.  They sell cattle to be used in forage-based livestock systems.  For more information about Ficke Cattle Company go to:  http://www.fickecattle.com/.   We will be eating lunch at Ficke Cattle Company.  Following a tour of Ficke Cattle Company and lunch we will travel to Spring Creek Prairie Audubon Center near Denton, NE. and tour part of the preserve.

Spring Creek Prairie Audubon Center is an 850-acre tallgrass prairie nature preserve located 20 minutes southwest of Lincoln, Nebraska. Visitors can enjoy miles of walking trails nearly 650 acres of native (never plowed) tallgrass prairie, ponds and wetlands, wildflowers and grasses, a diverse assortment of birds and other wildlife, historic nineteenth-century wagon ruts, peaceful surroundings, and beautiful scenic vistas. Our natural and human history has wrought strong imprints in Nebraska. Within Spring Creek Prairie Audubon Center's 850 acres lie wagon ruts, undisturbed by the plow or more modern bulldozer, that mark the crossing of wagons along the Nebraska City-Fort Kearny Cutoff, a direct freighting trail in southeast Nebraska.  For more information about Spring Creek Audubon Center go to: http://springcreekprairie.audubon.org/.  

    

We will then travel a few miles to Shadowbrook Farm.  We have visited their farm on previous tours, but in 2014 they built Dutch Girl Creamery where cheese from their goat herd will be produced on their farm.  ShadowBrook Farm is a small, family owned diversified vegetable farm.  They own a total of 34 acres. About 10 acres are devoted to growing  specialty vegetables and herbs chemical free and with non-gmo seed.  They also plant about an acre of cut-flowers. They are committed to sustainable farming practices and are devoted to being good stewards of our land. Our goal is to plant green manure crops in a third of our vegetable ground annually.  Sustainability is our goal by using natural methods to grow our products that we provide at farmers’ markets and to other local establishments.  To learn more about Shadowbrook Farm go to: http://shadowbrk.com/.  

Our final stop of the day will be at Hawley Hamlet, an urban garden right in the middle of Lincoln (Block bounded by 25th & 26th and T & U St.).  Tim Rinne and his wife started this movement and since 2010, they have gone from a measly little tomato patch to six tenths of an acre (the equivalent of roughly 65 yards of a football field). They have planted over 50 fruit and nut trees and two dozen berry beds, set up two chicken coops and two beehives, and now have 20 neighbors actively participating in what they call their hamlet. They are growing food in the “Hawley Hamlet.” But equally important, they’re growing community. And that’s a good thing. With the risks climate change and extreme weather are posing to our environment, we’re going to need all the food and community the city can produce.  For more information about Hawley Hamlet go to:  https://www.facebook.com/HawleyHamlet.   Following our visit to Hawley Hamlet the bus will return to our vehicles at 56th & Highway 2.  We hope to return there between 5:00 and 5:30 p.m.     

The cost of the tour which includes transportation and lunch is $25.00. You can also apply for a SARE Travel Scholarship to pay for this registration cost and travel to the pickup site in Lincoln.  Please register by August 14th so we can get an accurate lunch count.  Also if you have any dietary restrictions, please let us know in advance so arrangements can be made.  Register by calling our office at (402) 274-4755 or emailing me at glesoing2@unl.edu.    We do not take credit cards, but will take a check or payment through a UNL Cost Object # as well.  This is an excellent opportunity to learn about local food production, sustainability, alternative farming enterprises, entrepreneurship and also get a glimpse of the way the land was in pioneer days in eastern Nebraska.  If you have questions, feel free to contact me at glesoing2@unl.edu.   I hope many of you will be able to participate.  If you know of people that would be interested in this tour, please pass this information on to them.  We have plenty of room available. 

Gary Lesoing

Nebraska State SARE Coordinator

Extension Educator

University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension in Nemaha County

Suite 102 1824 ‘N’ St.

Auburn, NE 68305

(402) 274-47555

Weekly Events & Opportunities in Sustainable Farming & Foods

Turning Milk to Gold (Butter)

Monday, April 6th. Noon – 1:00pm with Shannon Mason of Cowbella and Sonia Janiszewski & Richard Giles of Lucky Dog Food Hub. Learn more about how Shannon Mason and other upstate farmers work together with Lucky Dog Food Hub to reach larger markets in the NYC metropolitan region.   Register Here, http://smallfarms.cornell.edu/2015/03/30/small-farms-new-markets-webinar-series-opens-april-6th/

Growing Farm to School

April 6. Council Bluffs, Iowa. This is one of three planned workshops that will highlight practical examples of farm to school in action and provide resources tailored to Iowa. Topics will include connecting school gardens to the lunchroom, classroom, and community; working with farmers and food hubs to bring local fresh food to school cafeterias; increasing knowledge of food safety guidelines; and cultivating a strong network of stakeholders in farm to school activities. Space is limited and registration is required.https://www.ncat.org/downloads/Iowa_Farm2School_Workshops_030915.pdf

Getting started with cover crops in field crop rotations

Monday, April 6 at 6pm. 

Farmers who want to prevent soil erosion, improved nutrient cycling, sustain their soils and protect the environment have been returning to a very old practice: planting cover crops.  This session will provide an introduction into benefits, selection and management of cover crops in field crop systems including corn, soybeans, wheat, and other row, small grain and forage crops. 

http://events.anr.msu.edu/beginningfarmerwebinars/

Innovative Approaches to Extension in Organic and Sustainable Agriculture

Tuesday, April 7 at 1:00 pm. Agroecology has a proven track record of assessing the principles underpinning sustainable farming. Yet, approaches to utilizing research-based information to develop and deliver extension programs that allow innovative agricultural producers to make informed management decision are still lacking. In this webinar, we will explore pedagogical principles that Extension agents and agricultural educators can take advantage of when developing context-dependent outreach and educational programs for organic and sustainable farmers. Register now at https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/8446809328032977410

The avian immune system and vaccination programs for poultry

Tuesday, April 7 at 1pm. The final webinar in this health-related series will focus on the avian immune system and vaccination programs for poultry flocks. As the last in a four part health-related webinar series, Dr. Frame will also discuss things to do to minimize health challenges. https://connect.extension.iastate.edu/poultry

Food as Medicine Online Seminar

April 7-9. Online. Learn & get inspired with 16 experts, authors & longtime practitioners sharing about wild food & fermentation, nourished eating, natural healing & more! For FREE access to the online summit, register here: http://ashevillage.org/food-as-medicine-summit/

Farminar: Attract Customers through Fiber & Education

April 7. Online. Farminars are a virtual field day from Pennsylvania Women's Agricultural Network. PA-WAgN 2015 Specialty Mentor Terri Kinka of Golden Glen Alpacas will discuss methods to break into the niche market of alpacas. She will review the fiber qualities and value-added aspects of this unique animal and review the characteristics of several breeds. Terri will discuss how she builds knowledge and attracts customers to her farm through educational tours to the community. http://agsci.psu.edu/wagn/events/copy_of_Farminar%20-%20Heirloom%20Tomatoes

Reduced Tillage in Organic Specialty Crop Systems

April 7. Online. Participate to learn about research aimed at methods to improve soil health by minimizing tillage in organic vegetable systems. In the Understanding Organic Agriculture series, this webinar is presented by USDA NRCS Science and Technology. The presenter will describe current research at Washington State University that is exploring methods to address a significant soil health challenge in vegetable production - tillage. The discussion of methods to reduce tillage in organic specialty crop systems will include cover strip tillage, the use of a roller crimper, and the role of cover crops. Research findings compare the impacts of different techniques in terms of compaction, water infiltration, soil respiration, and other factors. http://www.conservationwebinars.net/webinars/reduced-tillage-in-organic-specialty-crop-systems

Twitter for Newbies Webinar

Wednesday, April 8 at 11:00 am. We’ll create a new Twitter account and go through the step-by-step process. Some basic techniques will be covered. Entry level. For more information: http://www.extension.umd.edu/womeninag/webinars

Food Safety and Food Safety Plans

April 8th. All classes will be held Wednesdays from 5:30-7:30 pm at Community Action (210 "O" St. Lincoln, NE). Cost for the series is $150, scholarships are available. Individual classes are $20 each, please click the link next to the class to register for that particular class. For more information, contact Kirstin Bailey, kirstin@communitycrops.org or call 402.474.9802.http://www.communitycrops.org/wholefarm

Raspberry Breeding

Wednesday, April 8 at 1:00 pm. Join the National Association of Plant Breeding and PBG Works for a webinar on Raspberry Breeding for the Pacific Northwest by Pat Moore of Washington State University. The webinar takes place on Wednesday, April 8, 2015 at 2PM Eastern Time (1PM Central, 12PM Mountain, 11AM Pacific Time). The webinar is free and advanced registration is required. Register now at https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/290563905062405377

Water Seminar Series; 

Nitrates in Nebraska Groundwater & a Small Town's Plight to Avoid Treatment

April 8.  3:30 pm. UNL's East Campus, Hardin Hall. Ryan Chapman, wellhead protection coordinator at the Nebraska Department of Environmental Quality, will present this free and public seminar.

Green Globes – A Unique Approach To Green Building Certification

April 9th. 7pm.  @ UNO's Community Engagement Center, Room 201, 6500 Dodge Street. Speaker: Shervin Ansari, Kiewit Corporation’s Sustainability Manager, LEED AP BD+C, SFP, Green Globes Professional (GGP) & Green Globes Instructor at UNO. Green Globes is a nationally recognized green building certification that offers an affordable alternative to LEED. New and existing buildings certified through Green Globes cost less. In addition, these facilities operate with lower energy and water bills, increased recycling, and other sustainable measures. Often, sustainable improvements qualify for tax incentives and meet state and federal requirements. Sponsors: Nebraskans for Solar & UNO’s Center for Urban Sustainability. For more information, please visit:www.nebraskansforsolar.org/calendar

Local Foods on a Budget

April 9th. Omaha. Learn how to incorporate more local & organic food into your life, even on a tight budget. We will discuss everything from CSAs, the best retail spots to buy local, tips for shopping at the farmer's market, and advice from experts. https://www.facebook.com/events/579577175518410/

Targeted Grazing Online Workshops: Diet Selection Basics

April 9. Online. This workshop is part of a series of online presentations and discussions led by experts on the topic of targeted grazing and made possible by the Targeted Grazing Committee of the Society for Range Management. This session is presented by Dr. Karen Launchbaugh, University of Idaho. https://targetedgrazing.wordpress.com/training/

Wyoming Farmers Marketing Association Annual Conference

April 9-11. Casper, Wyoming. The Wyoming Farmers Marketing Association, University of Wyoming Extension, Wyoming Department of Agriculture Specialty Crops, and University of Nebraska Extension are presenting a two-day GAP (Good Agricultural Practice) workshop, followed by the Wyoming Farmers Marketing Association Annual Conference and Business meeting. The WFMA conference will include a keynote speaker followed by two sessions of one-hour topics. http://www.wyomingfarmersmarkets.org/

What is Permaculture?

April 10th. 7pm. Papillion. Contact Jonathen at jonathan@keipos.org.  http://www.keipos.org/workshops.html

Chickens 101 for Little Sprouts

April 11th. Omaha. Bring your little ones to learn about the wonders of chickens at City Sprouts! Meet our chickens, learn about the different breeds, how a chicken lays an egg,/

 and more! 

Free and family friendly, this programming is in partnership with the NE SciFest. 

https://www.facebook.com/events/1804391113120286

Building and Managing Healthy Soils

April 11. Olathe, Kansas. This event is part of the Growing Growers monthly workshop series that seeks to help new and existing growers increase production of local food. http://www.growinggrowers.org/workshops.html

Spring Gardening Workshop

 April 11th. Omaha. https://www.facebook.com/events/630050940430524/

Eat Local & Organic Expo

April 11. Kansas City, Missouri. Join Kansas City Food Circle at their 17th annual exhibition of farmers. This is the second of two dates for the event. Meet and buy directly from some of the best local, organic, and free-range farmers in the area. There will also be workshops and CSA information. http://kcfoodcircle.org/eat-local-expo/

Opportunities

Help Wanted

Small but diverse greenhouse and herb/vegetable growing operation in SW Lancaster County needs a p/t to f/t employee/intern/helper effective ASAP. Minimum availability: Now until Memorial Day. For the right person, this position could extend until October/November.  Work in a 100° greenhouse required for first few weeks; then work shifts to the field. Must be able to lift 40 lbs. Must be able to get to a workplace 22 minutes from central Lincoln on time. Some flexibility on shifts, but limited to daylight hours. We are a Certified Natural Grower. If interested, please send a one-page resume and your contact information togene@heartlandorganics.net. I will reply to everyone who applies via email. Thanks.

Egg Cartons

If anyone needs egg cartons, I have 20 bundles of generic, never used, still in plastic wrapping, recyclable pulp egg cartons available. I have switched packaging and don't need these anymore.  I can be contacted at 402-217-2797.  Thanks!  Dan Hromas - Prairie Pride Poultry

Mother Earth News Survey

Later this year, Mother Earth News will publish an article about the growing evidence of the vital importance of getting the right balance of fatty acids in our diet. Some researchers now believe that the shift away from beneficial fatty acids in modern diets is leading to health consequences that are as serious as the problems we face with climate change. As you probably know, grass-fed products are better sources of fatty acids than industrial products. We plan to help raise public awareness of this fact by conducting a large-scale survey to measure the fatty acid profiles of samples of grass-fed meat, eggs and dairy products from across the continent. We will publish the results of the survey in conjunction with our article. We are recruiting producers to join in this nutrient-testing project and hope that you will choose to participate. In order to be included, we need to hear back from you by March 15. https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/K5ZHWTB?newsletter=1&utm_source=Sailthru&utm_medium=email&utm_term=HE%20eNews&utm_campaign=2.23.15%20MEN%20HE%20eNews

Upcoming

The Relevance of Soil Biology in Assessing Fertility and Soil Health

April 14. Participants in this webinar will learn how soil biology directly and indirectly influences crop growth and nutrient cycling, along with methods for measuring biological activity in soil and interpreting soil respiration to understand nutrient availability. In the Soil Health and Sustainability series, this webinar is presented by USDA NRCS Science and Technology. The presentation will be given by Will Brinton, Ph.D., Director, Woods End Laboratories. http://www.conservationwebinars.net/webinars/relevance-of-soil-biology-in-assessing-fertility-and-soil-health

Assessing Carbon Footprints on the Farm

April 14. In this webinar from the Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy, Gijs Kuneman from the Centre for Agriculture and Environment (CLM) in the Netherlands will speak about current developments on climate impacts from farming. He will address tools for monitoring carbon footprint at the farm level including the CLM Climate Yardstick and the Cool Farm Tool and look at innovative approaches to lower carbon footprints at the farm level. http://www.iatp.org/event/assessing-carbon-footprints-on-the-farm

O'Neill Sustainable Ag Meeting

April 15th. Contact Marlowe at marlowepasture@nntc.net for details

From Lilies to Gladiolus: Flower Power Plant Breeding Webinar

Wednesday, April 15 at 1:00 pm. Join the National Association of Plant Breeding and PBG Works for a webinar on flower breeding, entitled From Lilies to Gladiolus: Flower Power, by Neil Anderson of the University of Minnesota. The webinar takes place on Wednesday, April 15, 2015 at 2PM Eastern Time (1PM Central, 12PM Mountain, 11AM Pacific Time). The webinar is free and advanced registration is required. Register in advance at http://www.extension.org/pages/72712

Manure and Nutrient Management in Tile Drained Lands

Friday, April 17 at 1:30pm. This webinar will expose participants to management and fate of manure and nutrients in tile drained agricultural landscapes. Participants will be given an introduction to tile drainage followed by information and case studies on the fate of manure application timing, rate and mobility to tile drains. Finally participants will learn about management practices and technologies aimed at helping producers reduce the risks associated with manure and nutrients reaching tile drains and associated surface waters. http://connect.extension.iastate.edu/lpelc