Update from Florida SARE 4.10.2017

Thank you for signing up for the Florida SARE Newsletter   Florida SARE Newsletter **NEW items noted in RED**     --News--   Native American Artists USDA's Natural Resources Conservation Service in Florida is conducting a contest for the national 2017 American Indian / Alaska Native Heritage Month Poster. The winning artist will be awarded $2,000 and the poster will be shown in NRCS offices throughout the nation to celebrate American Indian Heritage Month during November. The submission deadline is June 14. American Indian artists in Florida are invited to create an original painting that reflects the artist's interpretation of American Indian culture and heritage with the title "Big Water of Life," and the theme: "Water is the Essential Element"(Okeechobee means Big Water in the Seminole language). Following are the guidelines: • Open to American Indian/Alaska Native artists in Florida. • Submit one original piece of artwork, 18 by 24 inches, acrylic or oil on canvas. • Include a brief written narrative about how the artwork relates to the title and theme. • Winner must sign an agreement allowing NRCS the right to reproduce and distribute copies of the artwork. The artist may keep artwork and agrees to identify that the artwork was used for the NRCS AIAN Heritage Month Poster. Artwork will be judged on: 1) creativity and originality; 2) portrayal of the heritage and culture of American Indians in Florida; 3) incorporation of the title and theme and, 4) artistry and skill. Artwork not selected will be returned to the artist. Submit artwork, narrative and contact information to NRCS, Labelle Field Office, 1085 Pratt Blvd., Labelle, FL 33935. For information contact Katy Greene, (352) 538-4655 or katherine.greene@fl.usda.gov. April is Invasive Plant Pest and Disease Awareness Month During the month of April, APHIS will deliver the message through print, radio and social media. The online IPPDAM Action Kit is loaded with links to pest cards and all kinds of publications on invasive pests, or visit www.Hungrypests.com to get the materials to help the public learn how to "leave hungry pests behind." If you've got any questions, contact Abbey Powell with APHIS at abbey.powell@aphis.usda.gov . How Does Health Insurance Affect Farmers and Ranchers? Farmers and ranchers: How does health insurance affect you? Help influence rural health policy by participating in a USDA funded survey. Your responses will help researchers understand how health-insurance policy affects farmers' and ranchers' decisions to invest, expand, and grow their enterprises. To participate, follow this link:  https://survey.uvm.edu/index.php/132344?lang=en. For more information, visit the HIREDnAG website: http://www.hirednag.net/. Or contact Katlyn Morris, HIREDnAG Project Coordinator at katlyn.morris@uvm.edu or by phone at 802-656-0257. Farmers! We Need Your Ideas About 'Intermediated' and Other Markets A new study, funded by USDA, and led by Syracuse University, New York University, the Pennsylvania State University, and the National Center for Appropriate Technology (NCAT) seeks to examine local and regional agricultural production and intermediated markets. The study will examine the opportunities and risks of four main marketing opportunities for farmers—direct-to-consumer, direct-to-institution, direct-to-retail, and selling to intermediaries (such as distributors or food hubs), who in turn sell the products as local food. We are interested in all farmers' perceptions of these markets, whether currently selling to these markets or not. The survey has several intended benefits for farmers, including the identification of technical assistance and information needs to help scale up farms for marketing to intermediaries. A national outreach and technical assistance program, conducted by NCAT's ATTRA Program (National Sustainable Agriculture Information Service) will be developed based on the results of this research. Click here for the survey: https://nyu.qualtrics.com/SE/?SID=SV_81Z2uih9NPHcnTD     --SARE News--   Southern SARE Releases 2018 Research & Education Grants Call for Proposals New this year: Applicants may submit either a systems research-based grant, or an education-based grant. The Southern region of the Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE) program has released its Call for Proposals for the 2018 Research & Education Grants program. 2018 Call for PDP Pre-Proposals The 2018 Call for PDP pre-proposals has been posted on the Southern SARE website and the submission site is open. PDP pre-propsals are due June 2, 2017. Please feel free to share the link below with anyone you come in contact with who may have an interest in submitting a pre-proposal. http://www.southernsare.org/News-and-Media/Press-Releases/Professional-Development-Program-Grants-Now-Being-Accepted2. Cover Crops Protect Vegetables from Pests For farmers in central Florida, planting cover crops in strips as a trap crop alongside cash crops is proving to be a highly effective method for attracting beneficial insects and controlling pests. Farmers have been so pleased with the results that they have fully adopted the Integrated Pest Management (IPM) strategy as an alternative to using chemical insecticides. Producer Grants Funded for FY2017 Over $97,000 in grants from the Southern Sustainable Agriculture Research & Education (SARE) program has been funded for farmers to further sustainable agriculture production and marketing practices throughout the Southern region. On-Farm Research Grants Funded for FY2017 Evaluating on-farm use of multi-species cover crops, using covers to reduce fungicides in organic wine production, and developing non-chemical weed control strategies for container nursery growers are just some of the On-Farm Research Grants funded for FY2017 by the Southern Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SSARE) program. Cover Crops Work? Show Me! All across the United States, farmers are increasingly using cover crops to suppress weeds, conserve soil and control pests and diseases. But agricultural educators know that savvy farmers are reluctant about risk and often want to see cover crops in action before making significant change. SARE's Library of Cover Crop and Soil Health Images is now available to help educators show producers how cover crops can work on their farms. Browse Cover Crop Image Library Now.     --Webinars--   N/A     --Resources & Research--   March UF/IFAS Entomology and Nematology Newsletter The March 2017 issue of the UF/IFAS Entomology and Nematology Newsletter is now available: http://entomology.ifas.ufl.edu/news/2015-2017/March17.html Farmers Transitioning to Organic Need People-Centered Support Systems New report details motivations and obstacles for transition success. Read Press Release. PubAg PubAg is the National Agricultural Library's search and discovery system for agricultural information. It contains full-text articles relevant to the agricultural sciences, along with citations to peer-reviewed journal articles with links to publisher sites for full-text access. It is available at: https://pubag.nal.usda.gov/. NAL is eager to hear from our customers on these new features, and any other reactions to the new interface. Please feel free to send your comments and questions to: https://www.nal.usda.gov/ask-question.     --Conferences & Workshops--   So You Want to be A Farmer? Workshop Series First Tuesday of each month, February through May, from 7 - 8:30 PM EST February 7, 2017 in Quincy, FL March 7, 2017 in DeFuniak Springs, FL April 4, 2017 in Marianna, FL May 2, 2017 in Quincy, FL Cost is $10 per session. A workshop series for new and beginning farmers across the panhandle.  Register online at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/so-you-want-to-be-a-farmer-tickets-30520387300. For more information, contact Evan Anderson at eanderson350@ufl.edu.     FAMU High Tunnel Workshop April 15, 2017 in Quincy, FL Fee: $10/per person - payment due at onsite check-in RSVP is mandatory at (850) 875-8555 or alejandro.bolques@famu.edu. The workshop is intended for small scale, sustainable and organic specialty crop producers and those that are interested in growing fruits and vegetables in high tunnels. 2017 Greater Everglades Ecosystem Restoration April 17-21, 2017 in Coral Springs, FL Find more information here: http://conference.ifas.ufl.edu/GEER2017/.     Invasive Exotic Species and Control Workshop April 21, 2017 in Ocala, FL 9 am-3 pm, UF/IFAS Marion County Extension Auditorium, 2232 NE Jacksonville Rd; Ocala, FL 34470. Learn about identifying and controlling cogongrass, Japanese climbing fern, Old World climbing fern, Chinese tallowtree and exotic animals, such as feral hogs. Earn pesticide applicator CEUs and forestry CFEs and connect with partnership and assistance opportunities! Cost is $10 per person, lunch and materials included. Register at https://fsp-workshop042117.eventbrite.com/ or call Marion County Extension at (352) 671-8400 to reserve a space. Presented by the Big Scrub Cooperative Invasive Species Management Area, Florida Forest Stewardship Program and USDA's Natural Resources Conservation Service.     Conservation and Conversation Dinner April 21, 2017 in Orlando, FL Join us for this opportunity to support the Florida-Friendly Landscaping Program and converse with UF/IFAS Extension leadership. For more information, please contact Dr. Esen Momol at eam@ufl.edu.     The Future of Food and Challenges for Agriculture in the 21st Century April 24-26, 2017 in Europa Congress Palace, Vitoria Gasteiz, Álava, Basque Country, Europe Find more information here: The Future of Food and Challenges for Agriculture in the 21st Century.     11th Watershed In-Service Training: Florida's land development process, drivers, challenges, and potential solutions for sustainable development April 27-28, 2017 at Chain of Lakes Complex, FL This IST includes both in-class as well as field trip. In-class participation is encouraged to interact with speakers and panelists and to benefit from the field trip. Speakers include developers, engineers, consultants, government officials, and UF/IFAS faculty. The IST will include a panel discussion on "Lessons Learned from a Local Water Initiative and Planned Conservation Development". Travel and registration will be covered through a grant from UF/IFAS Extension. To register and see the detailed agenda, click here: http://pdec.ifas.ufl.edu/hub/TrainingInfo.aspx?ist=31280. We also ask that you register on Evenbrite (http://protectFLwaters.eventbrite.com). This IST is filling fast and we have only 10 seats left (maximum seats = 30).     Extension Risk Management Education National Conference April 27 – 28, 2017 in Cincinnati, OH The goal of this conference is to broaden risk management education programming for agricultural producers, to encourage new programming efforts, and to strengthen existing programs. Please go to the conference page on the ERME website: http://www.extensionrme.org/conferences/2017.     Introductory Training in GIS - Applications for Natural Resource Management May 1-4, 2017 in Gainesville, FL Register now for this hands-on, 3.5-day workshop that will introduce you to basic GIS knowledge and skills for real world applications! For more information or to register visit: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/gis-workshop-may-1st-4th-2017-tickets-30519044283     Introduction to Florida Food Entrepreneurship May 3-4, 2017 in Gainesville, FL Find more information and register here: Attend Event . Managing Visitors and Volunteers in Natural Areas May 3-4, 2017 in Keystone Heights, FL This workshop provides guidance on how to integrate visitors and volunteers into natural areas management. For more information and to register for this workshop, go HERE. For more information, contact: Shelly Johnson, Workshop Coordinator Natural Areas Training Academy (850) 875-7153 shelly.johnson@ufl.edu http://wec.ufl.edu/nata     American Planning Association/APA's Food Interest Group May 6-9, 2017 in NYC, NY Find more information here: American Planning Association/APA's Food Interest Group.     Aquatic Weed Control Short Course May 8-11, 2017 in Coral Springs, FL Find more information here: http://conference.ifas.ufl.edu/aw/.     Changing Communities Using a Theory of Change IST #31263 May 11, 2017 in Gainesville, FL UF employees may now sign up for this training by logging in to the IST system and selecting "Trainings."  All other interested participants should contact Kaylene Sattanno at ksattanno@ufl.edu.  This training is limited to 30 participants.   We are under increasing demand in Extension to demonstrate that our programs create community-level change. Donors who fund our grants and government agencies want to see that our programs go beyond creating change at the individual level -- they want to see significant movement in critical indicators for entire communities, for the county, and ultimately for the state. Examples of community-level indicators might be things like reduced average water use in municipalities, increased tax revenues from agriculturally based businesses at the county level, or decreased incidence of obesity among youth in specific communities. They also want us to effectively address complex issues that involve both individual attitudes and behaviors and structural barriers. It is true that individuals have to change their behaviors to get community level change, but that is just one component of community-level change. Programs that will achieve these kinds of broad-based, systemic changes require concerted efforts to increase resources and opportunities and reduce barriers at a broader, community scale. As a result, we in Extension will have to be much more strategic in our programming and that requires a theory of change -- a path of related events that must occur at multiple scales and with multiple actors for change to occur. It also typically requires that we develop strong, mutually beneficial partnerships with other agencies and organizations. This training will give you an opportunity to develop your own strategic theory of change to access a complex problem that is critical to your work in Extension.   Training Objectives: After completing this training, participants will be able to... 1. Use a theory of change to develop a strategy to improve the outcomes of community systems. 2. Establish objectives for a community-based program to achieve change in performance of community systems. 3. Identify community partners you need to work with to implement the objectives of your program. 4. Select community-level indicators you can use to monitor and evaluate your program impacts.     Managing for Diversity Across Florida's Unique Landscape May 18, 2017 in Gainesville, FL This workshop builds understanding of management and restoration approaches for conserving biodiversity. For more information and to register for this workshop, go HERE For more information, contact: Shelly Johnson, Workshop Coordinator Natural Areas Training Academy (850) 875-7153 shelly.johnson@ufl.edu http://wec.ufl.edu/nata     2017 National Farm Viability Conference May 22-24, 2017 in Albany, NY The National Farm Viability Conference is geared towards professionals in the fields of farm and food business planning, financial planning, agricultural financing, farmland conservation, agricultural market development, and food hub management. It will offer attendees the opportunity to network and learn from industry leaders and other professionals in their fields, develop new knowledge and skills and will also include tours of nearby farms and value-added processing facilities. Click Here for Call for Proposals.     Canadian Association for Food Studies May 27-June 2, 2017 in Toronto, Ontario Find more information here: Canadian Association for Food Studies.     Application of New Technologies for Improved Management Strategies for Horticultural and Agronomic Crops June 6, 2017 in Tampa, FL Intended audience: County and regional faculty whose clientele grow, harvest and market agronomic and horticultural crops. Registration. The event is free but advance registration is required.  Registration is limited to 50 participants.  Lunch will be provided for registrants prior to the IST.  Please register by May 29, 2017 so that we can get a head count for lunch. UF-IFAS faculty register for In-Service Training #31367 at http://pdec.ifas.ufl.edu/inservice_training/. For further information contact Mike Mulvaney, m.mulvaney@ufl.edu, 850-382-5221 or Josh Freeman, joshuafr@ufl.edu, 352-273-4771. National Association of Community Development Professionals & Association of Natural Resource Extension Professionals Joint Annual Conference June 11-14, 2017 in Big Sky, Montana Find more information here: https://nacdep.memberclicks.net/2017-cds-nacdep-conference.     Changing Lands, Changing Hands June 13-15, 2017 in Denver, CO A National Conference on Farm and Ranch Access, Tenure and Transfer This conference will bring together service providers, policymakers and advocates working on land access, farm succession, conservation, beginning farmers, tenure arrangements, and farm landowners to explore the issues surrounding land access, tenure and transfer. Topics include tenure innovations, farmers without successors, affordability, special populations, public policy, equity challenges, and more. This event is hosted by Land For Good, in cooperation with the US Department of Agriculture. Learn more. Early Bird Registration opens February 1, 2017     AFHVS/ASFS Annual Meeting and Conference June 14-17, 2017 in Los Angeles, CA Occidental College is pleased to host the Joint 2017 Annual Meetings and Conference of the Agriculture, Food, and Human Values Society (AFHVS) and the Association for the Study of Food and Society (ASFS). The conference theme, "Migrating Food Cultures: Engaging Pacific Perspectives on Food and Agriculture," invites us to reflect on and engage with the entirety of the Pacific region. Learn more here: http://oxyfoodconference.org/.     34th Southern Forest Tree Improvement Conference June 19-22, 2017 in Melbourne, FL Applying genetics and genomics to accelerate breeding, enhance genetic gain, and improve adaptation. Find more information here: http://www.conference.ifas.ufl.edu/SFTIC2017/.     Soil Microbiology Short Course: Applications and Analyses of Mycorrhizal Associations July 10-12, 2017 in Gainesville, FL Register here: http://conference.ifas.ufl.edu/soils/micro/#registration.     Caribbean Food Crops Society 53rd Annual Meeting July 16-22, 2017 in Puerto Rico Please visit the website http://cfcs.eea.uprm.edu/ for further information.     Successful Grant Writing for Extension Programming July 25, 2017 in West Palm Beach, FL UF employees may now sign up for this training by logging in to the IST system and selecting "Trainings."  All other interested participants should contact Kaylene Sattanno at ksattanno@ufl.edu.  This training is limited to 30 participants. The funding opportunities for community-based and farm organizations provide important resources to foster community and farm development. Both public organizations, like USDA, and private foundations offer many grant opportunities that can provide fiscal resources for the development of community based organizations. Successful proposal development is a learned skill. While the specific requirements for each proposal will vary, depending on the donor's goals, objectives, and proposal requirements, there are commonalities to virtually all proposals. Understanding the major factors that donors commonly use to evaluate proposals is key to writing winning proposals. The objective of this program is to provide participants with an understanding of key factors that donors commonly use to evaluate proposals and how to respond to these factors.  After completing this training, participants will be able to: Write a problem statement that is responsive to the donor's funding priorities. Develop goals, objectives, and outcomes to address the problem statement. Develop and describe objective-based activities. Construct an appropriate evaluation strategy. Develop an objective-based budget. Rural Sociological Society July 27-30, 2017 in Columbus, OH Find more information here: http://www.ruralsociology.org/index.php?option=com_jevents&task=icalrepeat.detail&evid=2&Itemid=1&year=2017&month=07&day=27&title=2017-annual-meeting&uid=228a2ec7445c534814747f4d31b551bd. National Closing the Hunger Gap September 11-13, 2017 in Tacoma, WA Submit your workshop proposal by April 17, 2017. Find more information here: https://thehungergap.org/2017-conference/.     2017 International Food Studies Conference October 26-27, 2017 in Rome, Italy Find more information here: http://food-studies.com/2017-conference.     Sustainable Food Planning Conference November 7-8, 2017 in Coventry, England Find more information here: Sustainable Food Planning Conference.     SAVE THE DATE: 2017 NESAWG Conference November 9-11, 2017 in Baltimore, MD For more info visit: nesawg.org/conference. Community Food Systems Conference December 5-7, 2017 in Boston, MA Find more information here: http://nesfp.org/community-food-systems-conference-2017.     --Funding Opportunities--   USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service Deadline: April 21, 2017 USDA's Natural Resources Conservation Service is now accepting proposals for Fiscal Year 2018 Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP) funding. Pre-proposals are due April 21. Conservation partners, including private industry, non-government organizations, Indian tribes, state and local governments, water districts, and universities are invited to submit project applications that improve the nation's water quality, combat drought, enhance soil health, support wildlife habitat and protect agricultural viability.  Applicants must match or exceed the federal award with private or local funds. For more information on applying, visit the RCPP website.     National Black Farmers Association Scholarships Deadline: April 28, 2017 The National Black Farmers Association Scholarship Program is now accepting applications for the 2017-18 academic year. In its third year, the NBFA Scholarship Program will award scholarships of up to $5,000 to African-American farmers or dependents of African-American farmers who plan to enroll or are enrolled in agriculture-related study at an accredited two-year or four-year college, university or vocational-technical school.   Ag Producers Can Extend Expiring Conservation Stewardship Program Contracts Deadline: May 5, 2017 Acting Deputy Agriculture Secretary Michael Young announced that a contract renewal sign-up is underway for the Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP), USDA's largest working lands conservation program with more than 80 million acres enrolled nationally.  USDA's Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) made several updates to the program last fall.  These changes help producers better evaluate conservation options that benefit their operations while improving the health and productivity of private and Tribal working lands. Participants with existing CSP contracts that will expire Dec. 31 can take advantage of the recent program changes by renewing their contracts for an additional five years if they agree to adopt additional conservation activities. Producers interested in contract renewals or applying for CSP for the first time should visit www.nrcs.usda.gov/csp or contact your local field office in Florida.   SSARE Graduate Students Grants Deadline: May 5, 2017 at 5PM EST The Southern Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE) program has released the 2017 Call for Proposals for Graduate Student Grants. Graduate Student Grants are one of the few sustainable agriculture research funding opportunities open to PhD and Master's students at accredited institutions in the Southern region. Proposal submission deadline is May 5, 2017 at 5 p.m. EST.  Download the Call for Proposals on the Southern SARE website and carefully read the proposal application instructions. All of the guidelines, program goals, review criteria, and the submission process to apply for a Southern SARE Graduate Student Grant can be found within the Call for Proposals.     Restore Longleaf Pine Forest, Reestablish Quail on Florida's Ag Lands Deadline: May 19, 2017 FL Ag producers have until May 19 to apply for financial assistance to restore longleaf pine and build habitat for northern bobwhite quail habitat.  Landowners can apply through Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) of the USDA's Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS). Contact your local USDA service center for more information. https://www.nrcs.usda.gov/wps/portal/nrcs/detail/fl/newsroom/releases/?cid=NRCSEPRD1322773   Financial Assistance Helps Ag Producers Improve Water Quality Deadline: May 19, 2017 Agricultural producers in the following watersheds can apply until May 19 for financial assistance from USDA's Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) to improve water quality: Deep Creek and Clarks Creek watershed on the Lower St. Johns River in Putnam & St. Johns counties & Little Scurlock Creek Watershed on the Lower Choctawhatchee River in Jackson & Washington counties. Contact your local NRCS field office. SSARE Research & Education Grant Deadline: June 2, 2017 at 5PM EST http://www.southernsare.org/Grants/Apply-for-a-Grant. SSARE Professional Development Program Grant Deadline: June 2, 2017 at 5PM EST http://www.southernsare.org/Grants/Apply-for-a-Grant. Agriculture and Food Research Initiative - Childhood Obesity Prevention Challenge Area Deadline: June 28, 2017 at 5PM EST The U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) today announced $6.3 million in available funding for projects to help combat childhood obesity, which affects more than 12 million children in the United States. Funding is made through NIFA's Agriculture and Food Research Initiative (AFRI), authorized by the 2014 Farm Bill. Read the full press release on the NIFA website. Link to Funding Opportunity Grant Station Insider Deadlines: vary by grant Visit this website for a complete list of national, regional, and federal funding opportunities, partner depot opportunities, online training opportunities, and other announcements.     Please contact Kaylene Sattanno with any questions or comments. Kaylene Sattanno Program Assistant Florida SARE Program Center for Sustainable and Organic Food Systems 3025 McCarty Hall D, PO Box 110310, Gainesville, FL 32611 Ph: 352-273-3530; Fax: 352-392-8196 ksattanno@ufl.edu   CONFIDENTIALITY NOTICE: The information contained in this electronic message is confidential and intended only for the use of the individual or entity named above. If the reader of this messge is not the intended recipient, you are hereby notifed that any dissemination, distribution, or copying of this email or any of its components is strictly prohibited. If you have received this email in error, please "reply" to the sender.   Copyright © 2017 University of Florida Center for Sustainable and Organic Food Systems, All rights reserved. You are receiving this email because you opted to receive newsletter updates from UF's Center for Sustainable and Organic Food Systems (CSOFS) and the Florida Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE) Program. 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