Don’t Forget à Southern SARE Seeks Administrative Council Producer Nominations
Deadline: June 1
The Administrative Council of the Southern Region Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education Program is seeking one producer to join the Council for a three-year term beginning February, 2012. Self nominations are welcomed. Nominees must be familiar with sustainable agriculture and its impact on the environment and rural communities. Nominees representing women in agriculture, minorities and farm laborers are especially welcome. The Administrative Council is the governhing body of the Southern SARE program and is made up of seven producers, three NGO representatives, one agribusiness representative, one quality of life representative and a number of 1862, 1890, federal and state governmental agency representatives. Duties of the Administrative Council include attendance at two council meetings each year, February and August. Each meeting is expected to last two days. Administrative Council members read and review proposals and make funding decisions on all Southern SARE grants awarded each year. For more details about AC duties go to: http://www.southernsare.uga.edu/forms/ACduties.doc. We would love to see some Florida producers nominated!
Membership Solicitation for the NAREE Advisory Board
Deadline: July 12, 2011
The U. S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is soliciting nominations to fill the eight vacancies on the National Agricultural Research, Extension, and Economics (NAREEE) Advisory Board. The eight slots to be filled are: Category B. Farm Cooperatives, Category D. Plant Commodity Producer, Category E. National Aquaculture Association, Category H. National Food Science Organization, Category J. National Nutritional Science Society, Category K. 1862 Land-Grant Colleges and Universities, Category M. 1994 Equity in Education Land-Grant Institutions, Category Y. National Social Science Association. The text of the USDA announcement can be found at: http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-2011-04-22/pdf/2011-9638.pdf
Global G.A.P. Version 4 Training: Fruit and Vegetables Workshop
May 5-6, 2011; New Orleans, LA
The objective of this workshop is for participants to fully understand the Version 4 Global G.A.P. standard, requirements, and documentation. We will go through the Control Points and General Regulations in detail, and leverage discussion and case studies to understand how the Global G.A.P. standard applies in practice. Training Objective: Upon completion of the training, participants will be better prepared to: -audit under the Version 4 standard, -implement the standard on a fruit and vegetable operation. Who should attend? Auditors, quality managers, and technical advisors, as well as any fruit or vegetable producer, supplier, distributor or retailer who is interested in the Global G.A.P. certification process. Training will be held at the Hilton New Orleans Riverside (2 Poydras Street, New Orleans, LA 70140). Interested participants should read the Training Flyer and contact Oriana Lisker for registration information.
USDA Rural Development Invites Applications for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Projects
Due: June 15 and June 30
Agriculture producers in non-rural areas are now eligible. Funding may be used for flew-fuel pumps. USDA announced April 14 they will provide funding for up to $61 million in guaranteed loans and $42 million in grants through the Rural Energy for America Program. Funds are available to help agricultural producers and rural small businesses develop renewable energy systems, make energy efficiency improvements and conduct studies to determine the feasibility of renewable energy systems. The Deadlines for submitting completed REAP applications are June 15 and June 30, depending on the type of project to be funded. For information on how to apply for assistance, contact your local USDA Rural Development office or see page 20943 of the April 14 Federal Register: http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2011/pdf/2011-8456.pdf. A list of USDA offices is available at http://www.rurdev.usda.gov/StateOfficeAddresses.html.
And just in case you missed something from our last listserv update:
Business Planning Consultants Needed
The Trade Adjustment Assistance for Farmers Program (TAAforFarmers.org) is looking for business planning consultants (BPC) with experience in business planning. Attached is the BPC roles and qualifications. They need consultants to serve the shrimp applicants in the gulf and southern Atlantic coast states and lobster applicants in the New England states. If applicants get through the initial screening process, they will be required to attend a 3 day training session. TAAFP currently has a noon-to-noon session scheduled in Portland, ME on May 23-26 and in Baton Rouge, LA on June 7-10. There will be another session offered in late Aug-Sept. TAAFP will pay travel and $1,000 for attending the training session. They are open to institutional arrangements for a group of consultants and have several in the works. Questions? Contact: Bob Craven, University of Minnesota, 612.625.6701, rcraven@umn.edu.
NRCS- EQIP Application Deadline Approaching
May 20, 2011
USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service is offering a funding opportunity for certified organic producers, those transitioning to organic production, and those exempt from certification (gross annual organic sales are less than $5,000) to implement resource conservation practices on their agricultural operations. The cutoff date for this application period is set for May 20, 2011. Up to $50 million is available this year to help producers to plan and implement conservation practices that address natural resource concerns in ways that are consistent with organic production. For example, conservation practices might include planting cover crops, establishing integrated pest management plans, constructing seasonal high tunnels, or implementing nutrient management systems consistent with organic certification standards. Interested producers should submit their application through their local NRCS Service Center. Locate yours here: http://offices.sc.egov.usda.gov/locator/app?agency=nrcs. A workshop and follow-up session on this grant opportunity will be offered at the Florida Small Farms and Alternative Enterprises Conference this summer.
Food Policy from Neighborhood to Nation
May 19-21, 2011, Portland, Oregon
This conference will be the most comprehensive national conference on local and state food policy in the US! Building on CFSC’s 2009 Food Policy Council national gathering, this conference will bring together people from across North America who are working to influence local and state food, agriculture, or nutrition policy. Food Policy from Neighborhood to Nation includes exciting field trips, educational and skill-building workshops, a reception featuring local food and beverages, as well as ample opportunities to network with food policy professionals and advocates. Register online here.
National Urban Extension Conference
May 2-5, 2011, Des Moines, Iowa
Referred to as the “Birth Place of Extension” Iowa is a novel blend of urban and rural landscapes. Des Moines, the capital of Iowa, is both a civic and social center for urban living and culture in the state. The 2011 urban conference planning committee made up of Extension professionals from 14 states, understands the unique challenges that face land grant institutions in their urban educational outreach efforts. We are pleased to offer this unique opportunity for learning and discussion. Join us in May of 2011 as we discuss the unique needs of urban communities around the nation. Conference highlights include, nationally recognized keynote speakers, urban success stories and sessions featuring leading Extension professionals, urban cultural immersions, and networking.
Kelly Monaghan
Program Assistant
Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education-Florida (SARE)
University of Florida
3031 Mc Carty Hall D
PO Box 110310
Gainesville, FL 32611-0310
352.273.3508
352.392.8196 Fax
