Wednesday, December 4, 2013

The Northeastern IPM Center, based at Cornell University in Ithaca, NY, is accepting applications for a director. Details at: http://www.northeastipm.org/ipm-in-action/current-news/director-of-the-northeastern-ipm-center/ or https://cornellu.taleo.net/careersection/10161/jobdetail.ftl?job=372710&lang=en&sns_id=. This is an academic staff position (Senior Extension Associate) with Cornell Cooperative Extension. Review of applications begins January 6, 2014 and the search committee hopes to have the new director on board by April to dovetail with the retiring director. Direct questions to Nancy Cusumano, nec2@cornell.edu.

STUDENTS: Agricultural Innovation Prize

The Howard G. Buffet Foundation and the University of Wisconsin-Madison announced October 2 the launch of the 2014 Agricultural Innovation Prize in cooperation with the United States Department of Agriculture. The competition is open to U.S. undergraduate and graduate students across all academic disciplines and runs through spring 2014, when teams will compete for the chance to win $215,000 in prize money, with a grant prize of $100,000; making this the largest agriculture-focused student competition in the world. The contest encourages student teams to develop innovative plans to address social and agricultural challenges within food systems, improving the standard of living and quality of life for the world’s population. Submissions are invited beginning December 1, 2013 and will end February 28, 2014. Start thinking about your ideas now! Find out more about the competition here.

Webinars

FoodCorps Model of Teaching Kids About Healthy Food

Wednesday, December 4, 1:00 PM EST

Description: They are t-shirted and tilling up soil in schools across the country. And this year, thanks to a new partnership, FoodCorps service members have USDA at their side. Join us to learn more about FoodCorps’ model of teaching kids about what healthy food is and where it comes from, building and tending school gardens, and bringing high-quality local food into public school cafeterias. Deb and Rachel will also showcase how FoodCorps is successfully partnering with Extension at the state level in five regions (University of Connecticut Cooperative Extension, University of Maine Cooperative Extension, North Carolina 4-H, Michigan State University Extension, and New Jersey’s Rutgers University Cooperative Extension). Additionally, Susan will describe how University of Minnesota Extension has strategically supported farm to school throughout Minnesota by collaborating with partners to provide training and develop materials. Susan will also highlight Extension staff roles that promote farm to cafeteria work and resources including their online farm to school toolkit, research briefs, and training materials.

Presenters: Debra Eschmeyer, FoodCorps Co-Founder, and Rachel Spencer, Arkansas FoodCorps Fellow, Susan DeBlieck, Extension Educator in Community Food Systems with the University of Minnesota Extension

Connection information: Please plan to connect 5-15 minutes early to ensure you are connected on time, the meeting will begin promptly at 1:00 p.m. EST.

Audio

· Call the toll-free number (from your telephone, audio is not available over the computer): 1-800-988-0278

· When prompted, provide the operator with the participant pass code: 7486005#

Live Meeting

· Click on (or copy and paste) this link to join the meeting: https://www.livemeeting.com/cc/usda/join?id=JKSZ6W&role=attend

· You will be prompted to type in your name, email, and organization. Once you hit “continue” you will be joined with the meeting.

Floridians’ opinions of GMOs, food safety and food security: What happens when people don’t believe the facts?

Wednesday, December 4, 2:00 PM EST

Description: Three of the most contentious issues in agriculture come head-to-head in the PIE Center’s newest public opinion survey and upcoming webinar. Genetically modified organisms, or GMOs, have led to genetically modified food, new crop traits and greater control over a food’s genetic structure. Food safety practices avoid foodborne illnesses and potentially severe health hazards, while food security refers to the availability and accessibility of food among a growing population. PIE Center researcher Joy Rumble will share Floridians’ opinions about these issues, followed by Associate Professor Kevin Folta, who will discuss the public’s surprising reactions to the science behind GMOs.

Presenters: Joy Rumble, UF/IFAS Department of Agricultural Education and Communication; Kevin Folta, UF/IFAS Horticultural Sciences

Connection information: Register here: http://www.centerpie.com/easy-as-pie/.

Interpreting USDA Fruit & Vegetable Inspections: Does the shipment make good delivery?

Thursday, December 5, 2:00 PM EST

Description: The Perishable Agricultural Commodities Act (PACA) Division has a customer service line (800-495-7222) that allows the produce industry to call and get real time answers to real time problems. The majority of the questions asked by the industry relate to USDA inspections. More specifically, “Does the load make good delivery or not?”. So, if you have ever had a question regarding a USDA inspection certificate or wondered how those inspection results affect your company, then you definitely should join us for this webinar.

Presenters: Jacob Garcia, Marketing Specialist for PACA

Connection Information: Register for the webinar here.

Connecting Beginning Farmers to New Markets: Start-up Advice & Resources for Gaining Access to Farmers Markets

Wednesday, December 11, 3:00 PM EST

Description: Farmers markets are a growth industry in Virginia and the nation and a great venue for new farmers to reach customers and sell products. This panel discussion covers three related themes to help you gain access to farmers markets. First, learn about farmers markets in the state, unique marketing opportunities and resources available to assist in marketing and promotion through the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (VDACS). Next, learn a few “best practices” for applying and participating in a local market. There are many variations in farmers markets. How do you find the best fit for your business? How do you apply? Third, learn the ins and outs of accepting SNAP benefits (food stamps) at the farmers market or by applying for your own machine as a new vendor, discussed by our Virginia Cooperative Extension, Family Nutrition Program. And don’t miss the question and answer session at the end of the panel discussion!

Panelists: Leanne DuBois, VA Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, Virginia Grown Program; Ellen Stewart, Blacksburg Farmers Market; Meredith Ledlie, Virginia Cooperative Extension

Connection information: Pre-registration is not required. Go to http://connect.ag.vt.edu/access2farmersmarket/ to participate.

Free Farm Commons Webinars

Various Dates

Description: The nonprofit firm Farm Commons is hosting a series of free webinars this winter on a variety of legal issues faced by farmers who sell directly to consumers. Registration is now open for all webinars at www.farmcommons.org/webinars. All webinars are at 6pm CST.

· Community Support Agriculture Legal Issues –December 17

· Hosting On-Farm Events –January 13

· Workers and Employees –January 28

· Selling Products to Larger Buyers –February 10

· Starting a Farm –February 25

· Adding Value to Farm Products –March 10

· Food Safety Liability and Regulations –March 25

Resources

PBS Video on UF/IFAS Fruit and Vegetable Breeding Program

Florida Crossroads made a 28 minute video entitles “Seeds of Change” featuring the UF/IFAS plant breeding efforts to create new varieties of blueberries, strawberries, tomatoes, and other crops, and the ways these programs have influenced Florida industry. For those who are not familiar with UF/IFAS development of new plant varieties, it is well worth the watching: http://thefloridachannel.org/video/seeds-of-change/.

From farm income to food consumption: Valuing USDA data products

This report, released from The Council on Food, Agricultural and Resource Economics, outlines eight questions to provide a framework for making more informed and subjective judgments about the relative merits of competing data products. In addition, the report also emphasizes recommendations for further research, understanding the extent of data use across Federal agencies and streamlining data collection to more closely match how and when they are most useful. The report can be accessed on C-FARE’s website at www.cfare.org/datareview.

Farmer Knows Best

A new user forum on NCAT’s ATTRA website, called Farmer Knows Best, offers more than a dozen topical areas where you can start a conversation or contribute to the conversations already going on. ATTRA sustainable-ag experts will be joining in too. Farmer Knows Best just started, so this is your chance to get in on the ground floor of the conversations. Please pass the word to anyone you know who would be interested. The details are in the attached documents or you can find out more by visiting www.attra.ncat.org.

Access Agriculture

The website of Access Agriculture features training videos and related audio files on a wide range of topics of service providers working with farmers in developing countries. Videos are available in over 40 international and national languages, the selection of which is entirely demand-led. All video and audio files are freely downloadable after you have registered. By registering you will also be kept informed on a two-monthly basis about new videos made available or other key events related to video-mediated rural learning. Register at: http://www.accessagriculture.org/.

No-Till and Cover Crop Innovations Increase Dairy Profits

The Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education program highlights research in the Northeast that determines the benefits of cover crops, no-till and shorter-season corn silage varieties. Read the full article here.

USDA Farm to School Census Results Released

A nationwide census on farm to school activities shows promising results. Over 38,000 schools with 21 million students serving over $350 million in local food. Census results can be accessed online, at www.fns.usda.gov/farmtoschool/census/.

Conferences & Workshops

Small Farms & Alternative Enterprises Events Calendar

Various Dates

The University of Florida, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences has a thriving Small Farms & Alternative Enterprises (SFAE) Extension Program. This program offers many different workshops at various locations around the state. Here’s a taste of a few events coming up:

· Starting a Successful Hydroponic Business, Hobe Sound, FL, December 15-16

· Small Scale Mushroom Production, Live Oak, FL, January 24

Like what you see? There’s more! For a complete list of events, workshop details, and registration information, visit the SFAE Events Calendar. Check back frequently for updates on opportunities near you!

Florida Grape Growers Association Annual Conference

January 10-11, 2014

The 2014 FGGA Annual Conference will be held on January 10 and 11, 2014 at the Quality Inn Riverfront, Palatka, FL. Breakout sessions include topics such as improving efficiency, yield and gross income, starting a vineyard, pesticides and disease prevention, winemaking, marketing, berry fruit and other non-grape winemaking, and other relevant topics. The full agenda, registration information, and FGGA membership information can be found by visiting their website.

AGRItunity 2014

January 24-25, 2014

Bushnell, FL

Friday, January 24 is Shock-A-Pond Workshop or Farm Tour in Sumter County, Florida.

Saturday, January 25 is the trade show and conference, with a dozen workshops in three concurrent sessions. Details and registration at http://AGRItunity2014.eventbrite.com

Annual Meeting of the Society for Range Management

February 8-13, 2014

Orlando, FL

Save the date for the Annual Meeting of the Society for Range Management. The meeting will be held in Orlando, Florida at the Caribe Royale! This 67^th meeting goes from Saturday February 8^th to Thursday February 13^th and will have speakers pulled from academia to working ranches. The conference is packed with overlapping workshops and sessions pertinent to researchers, Extension, ranchers, and policy makers. There are outings to Disney Wilderness Preserve, Deseret Ranch, Wild Florida, and Orlando Brewing in addition to the Gala featuring The Bellamy Brothers! More information coming soon.

New Technology for Commercial Vegetable Production –IST for Extension ONLY

February 26, 2014

Various Sites

A unique program is planned for Wednesday, February 26, 2014 (12:00 to 4:50 EST). The program is offered to county faculty as an In-Service Training opportunity (IST # 30753), “New Technology for Commercial Vegetable Production (II).” You can register online at http://pdec.ifas.ufl.edu/ist/list.pl. There is also an opportunity for licensed applicators to earn up to 5 FDACS-approved CEUs in 4 categories (Ag Row, Ag Tree, Demo/Res, and Private) for recertification credit (FDACS Program # 16706). The event will originate via Polycom from 1308 Fifield Hall. A detailed agenda is attached. Professor Lehmann, Chair of the IBI Board (http://www.biochar-international.org/board/advisorycommittee), will talk to us:

Additionally, if you'd like to host a local site for colleagues and students, please contact David Liu (guodong@ufl.edu) with the following:

1. Your host site's IP address.

2. Your host site's physical location.

3. The name of a person on-site who is an approved FDACS CEU provider.

National Food Hub Conference

March 26-28, 2014

Raleigh, NC

Mark your calendars! The Wallace Center and the National Good Food Network Food Hub Collaboration will host a National Food Hub Conference March 26-28, 2014 in Raleigh, NC. There will be pre-conference tours, compelling panes and speakers, and plenty of opportunities for networking. If you missed the 2012 National Food Hub Conference you can read the proceedings here. More details will be announced soon.

7^th National Farm to Cafeteria Conference

April 15-18, 2014

Save the date for the 7^th National Farm to Cafeteria Conference: Powering Up, which will be held in Austin, April 15-18, 2014! The conference will convene a diver group of stakeholders from across the farm to cafeteria movement –more than 1,000 food serve professionals, farmers, educators, youth leaders, policy makers, advocates, state/federal agency professionals, entrepreneurs, public health professionals and others –working to source local food for institutional cafeterias and foster a culture of food and agricultural literacy across America. Explore the new conference website to preview the event and to learn more about the host city and other travel details. Registration will open in January 2014, and a request for workshop proposals will be released in September 2013.

Florida Sheep, Wool, and Herding Dog Festival

April 25-27, 2014

The MSA Membership Spring Meeting will be held in conjunction with the MSA sponsored sheep, wool & herding dog festival. Check out workshops held on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. Find out more information here: www.floridasheep.com.

Joint Conference: 16^th Annual National Value-Added Agriculture Conference & The Northeast Regional Center for Rural Development “What Works III” Conference

May 13-15, 2014

Save the date for this joint conference held in Baltimore, MD. The theme of this conference is “Enhancing food security and rural viability through innovative food system practices and opportunities”. The call for abstracts is currently open through December 15, 2013. See the attached flyer for more information about the conference and how to submit your abstract today.

Funding Opportunities

FSA Microloans

The Farm Service Agency offers direct farm operating loans with a shortened application process and reduced paperwork designed to meet the needs of smaller, non-traditional, and niche type operations.

Whole Foods Market Local Producer Loan Program

Whole Foods Market is providing up to $10 million in low-interest loans to independent local farmers and food artisans. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis.

League of Environmental Educators in Florida Grants List

This website gives a great list of grants available for various types of community and classroom projects. Really worth perusing. Due dates vary by grant.

http://leef-florida.org/core/item/topic.aspx?s=0.0.110.37432&tid=85010

Kelly Monaghan

Program Assistant

Florida SARE Program, UF/IFAS & FAMU

Center for Sustainable and Organic Food Systems

3031 Mc Carty Hall D, PO Box 110310, Gainesville, FL 32611

Ph:(352)273-3508; Fax: (352)392-8196

Preemergent Herbicide Demonstation and Workshop In Hillsborough County

Preemergent Herbicide Demonstration Plots and Workshop

Only a few days left to sign up to look at the Herbicide Demonstration Plots and Herbicide Workshop for Ornamental Growers. Are your preemergent herbicides working the way they should? Are they controlling the weeds that you have? Come out to the Extension Office to see 20 different herbicides applied at 30 and 60 days prior to the workshop and how well they stand up against the weed pressure. This will be a hands on weed identification, control, calibration and preemergent herbicide demonstration for ornamental plant growers. Attendees will be treated to a lunch and up to 1 Core and 2 PVT, 2 L&O, 2 LL&O, 2 LCLM, 2 O&T Pesticide CEUs. Attendees may bring weeds for ID as well. Attendees must purchase tickets in advance for $35.00 or call Shawn Steed 813-744-5519 ext 54147. If you are a TBWG member tickets are $15.00. There will be no same day registrations due to space constraints. If you have any special needs please notify the Hillsborough County Extension Office 813-744-5519. An agenda is available at http://hillsborough.ifas.ufl.edu/ornamental_production/index.shtml If you would like to register for the event go to www.tiny.cc/weedwork

Shawn T. Steed

Multi County Environmental Horticulture Production Agent II

UF/IFAS Extension

5339 County Road 579, Seffner, FL 33584-3334

Telephone: 813.744.5519 x 54147 / Fax: 813.744.5776

Email ststeed@ufl.edu / web: www.tiny.cc/envirohortprod

Online Magazine: www.hortagent.blogspot.com

UF/IFAS in the news, 12/3

Good morning! Today’s UF/IFAS news:

Florida battles Mexican strawberries

http://www.thegrower.com/regions/florida/Florida-battles-Mexican-strawberries-234089101.html

UF/IFAS team awarded strawberry sustainability grant

http://farmerandranchernow.com/2013/12/02/ufifas-team-awarded-strawberry-sustainability-grant/

Researchers to Get More Biofuels from Pine Trees

http://domesticfuel.com/2013/12/03/researchers-to-get-more-biofuels-from-pine-trees/

Plum Creek prepares to submit plan to the public

http://www.gainesville.com/article/20131202/ARTICLES/131209936/1109/sports?p=1&tc=pg

UF/IFAS expert part of beef team honored with national USDA award

http://farmerandranchernow.com/2013/12/02/ufifas-expert-part-of-beef-team-honored-with-national-usda-award/

UF, other news:

Detroit braces for bankruptcy ruling

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/12/04/us/detroit-braces-for-bankruptcy-ruling.html?_r=0

Report: Train engineer was asleep

http://www.politico.com/story/2013/12/metro-north-derailment-report-100573.html

Amazon Drone Skeptics Lack Imagination (opinion)

http://www.forbes.com/sites/modeledbehavior/2013/12/03/amazon-drone-skeptics-lack-imagination/

Audit questions revenue spending decisions by UF

http://www.gainesville.com/article/20131202/ARTICLES/131209939/1109/sports?Title=Audit-questions-revenue-spending-decisions-by-UF

Florida Department of Citrus Cited Over Records

http://www.theledger.com/article/20131202/NEWS/131209902/1178?Title=Florida-Department-of-Citrus-Cited-Over-Records

Regulators must decide who gets Floridan Aquifer's last drops

http://articles.orlandosentinel.com/2013-12-02/news/os-water-future-central-florida-20131202_1_aquifer-water-floridan-aquifer-central-florida-water-initiative

Citrus making a comeback in Pensacola area

http://www.pnj.com/article/20131203/BUSINESS/312030014/Citrus-making-a-comeback-in-Panhandle

Sunday, December 1, 2013

Inviting Applications for Value-Added Producer Grants

The program purpose is to help U.S. agricultural producers enter into value-added activities. Awards may be made for either economic planning or working capital activities related to the processing and/or marketing of valued-added agricultural products. The maximum grant amount for a planning grant is $75,000 and the maximum grant amount for a working capital grant is $200,000.

Applicant must submit your application by February 24, 2014.

Please, pass this Notice of Funding to whom you think may be beneficial.

Florida Grape Growers Association Conference in January

I think I’m going to be able to go and I hope you can too!! MB

2014 Annual Conference

Documents and Forms coming soon

The 2014 FGGA Annual Conference will be held on January 10 and 11, 2014. The conference will be held at the Quality Inn Riverfront, Palatka, FL 32177. More details will be posted by July, 2013. If you have any questions, please contact the FGGA office.

JANUARY 10 - 11, 2014

QUALITY INN RIVERFRONT
201 North 1st Street
Palatka, FL 32177
(386) 328-3481
(Make sure to mention Florida Grape Growers for special pricing)

Conference Agenda- Program - CLICK HERE

Registration Form - CLICK HERE - Receive a Free FGGA wine glass if Registration Received by Dec. 13, 2013

Membership Form - CLICK HERE

Mary Beth Henry

Small Farms/Pesticide Licensing

Extension Agent II, UF/IFAS Extension Polk County

1702 HWY. 17 S, Bartow, FL 33830
NOTE NEW PHONE NUMBER 863.519.1049 Fax: 863.534.0001
Previous number 863.519.8677 x 110 will be phased out soon

mbhenry@ufl.edu http://polksmallfarms.com http://smallfarms.ifas.ufl.edu/

No Farmers No Food

Need notice of upcoming training and other information?
Join the email newsletter here: http://visitor.constantcontact.com/manage/optin?v=001o4tMzQsu5DOxO2qVEDjYVdg1iw8e-mlP
Join the conversation here http://polksmallfarms.blogspot.com/