NCAT Specialist at Florida Small Farms Conference

Powering Your Greenhouse with Renewable Energy: NCAT Specialist at Florida Small Farm Conference NCAT Energy Engineer Dave Ryan will be speaking on "Powering Your Greenhouse with Renewable Energy" at the Florida Small Farms and Alternative Enterprises Conference. The conference will be held August 2-4 at Osceola Heritage Park in Kissimmee, Florida. The University of Florida's (UF) Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (IFAS), Extension, and Florida A&M University's (FAMU) College of Agriculture and Food Sciences (CAFS) Small Farms Focus Team are sponsoring the event. Through educational sessions led by industry experts and noted researchers, the annual conference provides opportunities for attendees learn about groundbreaking research and access educational support about topics such as operating sustainable and profitable enterprises, integrating cost-effective methods to meet state regulations, and applying the latest research to real-world problems. Dave's talk will be held in the Extension Services building in the Park during the 4:30 p.m. session on August 3. For more information on the conference, go online at www.conference.ifas.ufl.edu/SmallFarms/

Copyright © 2013 The National Center for Appropriate Technology NCAT mailing address: P.O. Box 3838 Butte, MT 59702 1-800-ASK-NCAT Please consider a donation to NCAT. Your support helps NCAT promote sustainable solutions. Become an E-news Subscriber Pass it on! If you know someone who may be interested in receiving this newsletter, please forward it to a friend.   THE NCAT MISSION Helping people by championing small-scale, local, and sustainable solutions to reduce poverty, promote healthy communities, and protect natural resources. Unsubscribe || Privacy Policy

 

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Aquatics News from around the world

Aquatic Plant Management Society News

 

   • Southern lakes appear to be free of weed

   • Aggressive milfoil treatment affects fish in Lake Ellwood — biologist

   • Emerald Bay waters clearing as weed removal progresses

   • Hydrilla Under Control

   • County works to reduce aquatic invasive species

   • Pond and Lake Weed Rake Product Line Expanded by Lake Restoration

   • Invasive plant threatening the Charles in Newton

   • Another Deadly Invasion

   • Exotic weed spreads its tentacles in Waipa waterways

 

Southern lakes appear to be free of weed

Posted: 25 Jul 2013 11:53 AM PDT

Source: Southland Times (New Zealand) 06/27/2013

Southland lakes have been found to be free of a fast-growing weed that chokes lakes and waterways, creating problems for recreational users and the aquatic environment. A systematic search of boat ramps along Southland lakes in May had found them free from lagarosiphon again this year, a pleasing result for the Department of Conservation.   READ MORE

 

Aggressive milfoil treatment affects fish in Lake Ellwood — biologist

Posted: 25 Jul 2013 11:52 AM PDT

Eric Engbretson PhotosEric Engbretson Photos

Source: Iron Mountain Daily News (Wisconsin) 06/29/2013

In 2012, Greg Matzke, a fisheries biologist for the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, made a startling discovery on Florence County's Lake Ellwood.   READ MORE

 

Emerald Bay waters clearing as weed removal progresses

Posted: 25 Jul 2013 11:50 AM PDT

Source: Nevada Appeal (Nevada) 06/30/2013

"There were people who worked here for years that wouldn't swim here because it was too weedy," Shaw said, as he stood on the dock near Vikingsholm Wednesday. "The weeds would wash up on the beach." Today, much of the iconic bay's shoreline is sparkling clear and free of Eurasian milfoil, the aquatic invasive species that mucked up the area.   READ MORE

 

Hydrilla Under Control

Posted: 25 Jul 2013 11:49 AM PDT

Source: Southern Pines Pilot (North Carolina) 07/08/2013

Efforts to eradicate a fast-spreading aquatic weed that threatened to choke the life out of Lake Pinehurst have been so successful that some may not think there is still a threat. "Some said they don't see it as a problem anymore," Reedy said. "They think we have won the battle. We can't be complacent. This is still a credible threat."   READ MORE

 

County works to reduce aquatic invasive species

Posted: 25 Jul 2013 11:47 AM PDT

Source: Clark Fork Valley Press (Montana) 07/08/2013

A task force gathered at the Montana State Offices in Thompson Falls on Wednesday to discuss efforts to reduce the population of the invasive species known as Eurasian Water Milfoil in Sanders County waters.   READ MORE

 

Pond and Lake Weed Rake Product Line Expanded by Lake Restoration

Posted: 25 Jul 2013 11:45 AM PDT

Source: DigitalJournal.com (Minnesota) 07/09/2013

Lake Restoration has expanded its line of pond and lake weed rakes to include new rake tools, rake and weed control kit bundles, and more options for the LAKEMAID mechanical weed removal system.   READ MORE

 

Invasive plant threatening the Charles in Newton

Posted: 25 Jul 2013 11:43 AM PDT

Source: Newton TAB (Massachusetts) 07/09/2013

Water chestnuts were almost eradicated in the 1990s, but when the Mass. Department of Conservation and Recreation funding for aquatic weed control was cut about ten years ago, the weed with the sharp-spiked seeds came back with a vengeance and now covers 50 acres in the Charles River Lakes District in Newton, Weston and Waltham.   READ MORE

 

Another Deadly Invasion

Posted: 25 Jul 2013 11:41 AM PDT

Source: GreaterKashmir.com (India) 07/09/2013

One more dreadful noxious weed attacks Dal Lake. Alligator grass, an aquatic weed also referred to as pig weed is a perennial, floating emergent, noxious invasive weed, has recently invaded all our famous fresh water bodies.

  READ MORE

 

Exotic weed spreads its tentacles in Waipa waterways

Posted: 25 Jul 2013 11:38 AM PDT

Source: Waikato Times (New Zealand) 07/10/2013

A blackmarket trade in a Brazilian aquatic weed is threatening to choke waterways in the Waipa District that could flood land and create a hazard where people and livestock could drown. Salvinia (kariba weed) was introduced to New Zealand nearly a century ago for fishponds and is now found in Northland, Auckland, Waikato and Bay of Plenty. A Waipa District Council worker discovered a small amount of the invasive plant in a stormwater pond near Te Awamutu last month but failed to recognise the species and when he returned six weeks later, he found the pond choked by the plant. "In six weeks it had gone from pretty much nothing to the entire 50 metres by 20 metres pond," Waikato Regional Council biosecurity officer Darion Embling said.   READ MORE

 

2013 Peanut Field Day

Peanut Field Day- August 15, 2013

 

Mark your calendars to join us for the 2013 University of Florida Peanut Field Day at the North Florida Research and Education Center near Marianna, Florida.  Registration will begin at 8:00 am (CDT) followed by field tours. Topics to be addressed include disease control, new varieties, crop management, and weed control. CEUs will be available at registration. Please see the attached flyer.

 

Thanks,

 

 

Tina Gwin - Office Assistant

University of Florida

North Florida Research and Education Center

3925 Hwy 71

Marianna, FL 32446

phone - (850) 394-9124 ext 101

fax - (850) 482-9917

 

 

Weekly Harvest, July 24, 2013

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Weekly Harvest Newsletter Sustainable Agriculture News Briefs - July 24, 2013 Weekly sustainable agriculture news and resources gleaned from the Internet by NCAT staff for the ATTRA - National Sustainable Agriculture Information Service website. The Weekly Harvest Newsletter is also available online. News & Resources Sustainable Vegetable Production Website Introduced FDA Issues Draft Guidance Regarding Salmonella Prevention in Eggs from Layers with Outdoor Access USDA-Approved Mobile Chicken Processor Debuts Research Says Increasing Agricultural Productivity Sustainably Is Best Route to Cutting Greenhouse Emissions Agritourism Economic Impact Doubled, Says Tennessee Study Farmers Share Concerns About Proposed FSMA Rules Funding Opportunities Small Business Innovation Research Program--Phase I Ben and Jerry's Foundation Grassroots Organizing for Social Change Program New York Energy Management & Bioenergy Grants Coming Events National Heirloom Exposition Are You Crazy? Retail Farm Market & Agri-Tourism Bus Tour Eat Local Month News & Resources Sustainable Vegetable Production Website Introduced A new Sustainable Vegetable Production website from Iowa State University Extension and Outreach shares the results of research by Ajay Nair of the ISU Department of Horticulture. Nair has explored the use of soil amendments such as compost and biochar, various ways to extend the growing season, cover cropping systems, and transplant production. Project results, publications, videos, and other resources can be found at the site. Related ATTRA Publication: Resource Guide to Organic and Sustainable Vegetable Production FDA Issues Draft Guidance Regarding Salmonella Prevention in Eggs from Layers with Outdoor Access The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued draft guidance to egg producers on FDA's final rule "Prevention of Salmonella Enteritidis in Shell Eggs During Production, Storage, and Transportation," concerning the management of production systems that provide laying hens with access to the outdoors. Producers with fewer than 3,000 laying hens and those that sell all of their eggs directly to consumers are exempt from the egg rule. A comment period on the draft guidance will be open for 60 days. USDA-Approved Mobile Chicken Processor Debuts The first USDA-approved mobile chicken processing unit in the nation is ready for use in northern New York. The unit, owned by North County Pastured, will make it possible for local poultry producers to access new markets such as Clarkson University, restaurants, and consumers. The unit can be set up for humane and certified organic slaughter. Research Says Increasing Agricultural Productivity Sustainably Is Best Route to Cutting Greenhouse Emissions Research published in Environmental Research Letters investigated the effects of crop yield and livestock feed efficiency scenarios on greenhouse gas emissions from agriculture. Modeling showed that yield increase could mitigate some agriculture-related emissions growth, but these improvements are dependent upon the technological path by which yield increases are achieved. Sustainable land intensification would increase greenhouse gas savings by one-third when compared with a fertilizer-intensive pathway. Agritourism Economic Impact Doubled, Says Tennessee Study A study of Tennessee's agritourism industry estimates that the economic impact of agritourism in the state more than doubled between 2006 and 2012. Visitors to Tennessee agritourism operations in 2012 were estimated to have spent more than $34.4 million directly and more than $54.2 million when multiplier effects are included in the sum. Results of the study are now available online in A Snapshot of Tennessee Agritourism: 2013 Update. Related ATTRA Publication: Entertainment Farming and Agri-Tourism Farmers Share Concerns About Proposed FSMA Rules Community Involved in Sustaining Agriculture recently convened a meeting for farmers on the Food Safety Modernization Act rules proposed by FDA. FDA estimated that the cost to comply with the rules would be $4,697 for small farmers who make between $25,000 and $250,000 and about $13,000 for mid-sized farms who make between $250,000 to $500,000. Some farmers say that costs will be higher and call some provisions in the rules unworkable for small farmers. The public comment period on the proposed rules has been extended to September 16. >> More Breaking News Back to top Funding Opportunities Small Business Innovation Research Program--Phase I USDA invites science-based small business firms to submit research applications for up to $100,000 under this program solicitation. The Phase I application should concentrate on research that will significantly contribute to proving the scientific or technical feasibility of the approach or concept. Applications are due by September 26, 2013. Ben and Jerry's Foundation Grassroots Organizing for Social Change Program This program supports non-profit grassroots, constituent-led organizations that are using direct action, grassroots community-organizing strategies. The program considers proposals that are aligned with the Foundation's broad interests in social justice, environmental justice, and sustainable food systems. The program funds organizations with budgets of $500,000 or less. Grant awards are up to $20,000 for a one-year period. The next deadline for new applicants is September 13, 2013. New York Energy Management & Bioenergy Grants New York Farm Viability Institute is accepting proposals for grants up to $150,000 that focus on practical, applied research and outreach education on energy issues from the farmer's perspective. These may include on-farm energy conservation, bioenergy feedstock production, balance and integration of energy systems and animal agriculture, integrated food and energy systems, and bioenergy systems optimization. Eligible applicants include farmers, producer groups, researchers, educators, organizations, agencies, and businesses. Applications are due August 11, 2013. >> More Funding Opportunities Back to top Coming Events National Heirloom Exposition September 10-12, 2013 Santa Rosa, California The National Heirloom Exposition is a not-for-profit event centered around the pure food movement, heirloom vegetables, and anti-GMO activism. The event will feature more than 100 speakers, and highlight over 3,000 heirloom varieties of produce and livestock. Are You Crazy? Retail Farm Market & Agri-Tourism Bus Tour September 10-11, 2013 Allentown, Pennsylvania Penn State Extension is coordinating this opportunity to visit 12 premiere retail farm marketers in northern New Jersey and Connecticut that are major providers of fruits, berries, vegetables, prepared foods, and agri-tourism. The emphasis is on seeing what others are doing, peer networking, sharing, and learning. Eat Local Month September 1-30, 2013 Whatcom County, Washington Celebrate the bountiful harvest and eating local all month long with festive and delectable events, family farm tours, cooking classes, and special dinners at farm-to-table restaurants, all as part of the Eat Local First Campaign. >> More Events Back to top Subscribe to the Weekly Harvest Comments? Questions? Contact us Weekly Harvest and ATTRAnews Archives Digital versions of recent and archived Weekly Harvest and ATTRAnews newsletters are available online. ATTRAnews is the newsletter of ATTRA - National Sustainable Agriculture Information Service. The National Sustainable Agriculture Information Service - ATTRA - was developed and is managed by the National Center for Appropriate Technology (NCAT). The project is funded through a cooperative agreement with the United States Department of Agriculture's Rural Business-Cooperative Service. Visit the NCAT website for more information on our other sustainable agriculture and energy projects. © 2013 NCAT Back to top	New Publication Why Intensive Grazing on Irrigated Pastures? Question of the Week I am a small egg producer. Can you give me advice on preparing my eggs for sale? Ask a Sustainable Agriculture Expert Submit questions to our professional staff online ATTRA Webinars Our recent webinars are available for viewing in the Sustainable Agriculture Video Archive. ATTRA Spanish Newsletter Subscribe to Cosecha Mensual (Monthly Harvest), ATTRA's Spanish-language e-newsletter ATTRA is on Facebook! We feature breaking news on sustainable agriculture topics several times a week. Add us to your Facebook friends list today!

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Florida Land Steward Update 7/26/13

Can’t read info below? See  http://floridalandsteward.org

Florida Land Steward Update July 26, 2013 Have Land?  Get a Plan and Stay Connected.  Florida Land Steward is your source of assistance, information, events and resources. News and upcoming events below.   Please share this update with your neighbors, agents, foresters, biologists, clients, constituents.

-Spring / Summer (Vol 2, No 2) and back issues of Florida Land Steward Newsletter-

News & Info Brief 2011 FLORIDA AGRICULTURE AND NATURAL RESOURCES ECONOMIC REPORT A study by the University of Florida’s Food and Resource Economics Department found Florida’s agriculture, natural resources and related food industries provided a $104 billion impact on the state in 2011.  These industries accounted for employment of just under 2 million full- and part-time workers in 2011, including indirect jobs in related sectors. This represents 20 percent of all jobs in the state. Full report available at: http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/pdffiles/FE/FE93500.pdf NEW LAW LEVELS THE PLAYING FIELD FOR FLORIDA TIMBER Florida House Bill 269 revised a 2008 state law that mandated that the Florida Department of Management Services follow the U.S. Green Building Council's LEED standards in state office buildings. The new law allows government agencies to institute any type of building code or sustainable rating system they choose — as long they treat Florida wood products equally, and provided they are equal in quality and price. In practice, this means that timber recognized by all credible certification programs will be eligible to enter publicly financed construction projects in Florida. Wood certified by the American Tree Farm System (ATFS), Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) and the Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFI) is all on an equal footing.   SOUTHERN PINE BEETLE ASSSITANCE AND PREVENTION PROGRAM ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services’ Florida Forest Service announced that the Southern Pine Beetle Assistance and Prevention Program will accept applications from non-industrial, private forest landowners  through July 31. To obtain application forms and more information on program requirements and procedures, visit a local Florida Forest Service office or visit the Southern Pine Beetle Assistance Program web page.   More on this and other stories on Florida Land Steward blog     *** EAST FLORIDA (Madison County, east and south) August 2-4 2013 Florida Small Farms and Alternative Enterprises Conference, Osceola Heritage Park, 1875 Silver Spur Lane, Kissimmee, FL 34744. Details at http://conference.ifas.ufl.edu/smallfarms/location.html August 12-16 Natural Areas Training Academy: Basic Certified Wildland Fire Training, 8:00 am - 5:00 pm daily, Waccasassa Forestry Center, Gainesville (Mon, Tue, Wed, Fri), Ordway-Swisher Biological Station, Melrose (Thurs only), Registration: $100 for university students; $125 for all others (includes registration, materials, and lunch on the day of the live fire exercise) Registration at  http://2013_s130-190.eventbrite.com August 16-17 South Florida Bee College, UF/IFAS Ft. Lauderdale Research and Education Center, 3205 College Avenue, Davie, FL 33314. Details and registration at http://entnemdept.ufl.edu/honeybee/extension/SFbee_college.shtml August 22 Invasive Exotic Species and Control Workshop (link to pdf flier) ,  UF-IFAS Indian River Research and Education Center, Fort Pierce, FL.  Presented by Florida’s Forest Stewardship Program, Treasure Coast and Oscoela County Cooperative Invasive Species Management Areas. $15 covers lunch and materials. Details and registration online at http://fsp-workshop082213.eventbrite.com/. September 12 Forest Stewardship Workshop: Integrate Timber and Wildlife Management (link to pdf flier) , 9 am - 3 pm ET, UF-IFAS Nassau County Extension Office, 543350 US-Hwy 1, Callahan, FL 32011. Details and registration online at http://fsp-workshop091213.eventbrite.com/ September 24 Invasive Exotic Species and Control Workshop (link to pdf flier) , UF-IFAS Clay Extension, Green Cove Springs, FL . Presented by Florida’s Forest Stewardship Program and First Coast Invasive Working Group.  $10 fee. Details and registration at http://fsp-workshop092413.eventbrite.com/ October 9 Invasive Exotic Species and Control Workshop (link to pdf flier) ,  Florida Center for Wildfire and Forest Management Training, 24059 Childs Road, Brooksville, FL 34601 , Presented by Florida’s Forest Stewardship Program and Nature Coast Cooperative Invasive Species Management Area. $10 covers lunch and materials. Details and registration online at http://fsp-workshop100913.eventbrite.com/ January 14-16, 2014 2014 Green Infrastructure Conference (link), University of South Florida, Patel College of Global Sustainability, Tampa, FL. See link for details.  WEST FLORIDA (Jefferson County and west) August 24 Annual Grape Harvest Festival, 8 am to 4 pm, Center for Viticulture and Small Fruit Research, 6505 Mahan Drive, Tallahassee, FL 32317. Hosted by FAMU. For more information, call (850) 599-3996. September 19 Invasive Exotic Species and Control Workshop (link to pdf flier) , UF-IFAS Jackson County Extension Conference Room, Marianna, FL . Presented by Florida’s Forest Stewardship Program and Apalachicola Regional Stewardship Alliance.  $10 fee. Register online: http://fsp-workshop091913.eventbrite.com/ November 14 Forest Stewardship Tour at George C. Owens Farm, Washington County. Join us to learn the many benefits of silvopasture - combining livestock and timber. Details to come. November 21 Forest Stewardship Tour at Kent-Carroll Forests, Holmes County. Details to Come. Join us to learn about this multi-enterprise property of forests, blueberries, ponds and wildlife. Details to come.  WEBINARS, REGIONAL OR NATIONAL EVENTS, OTHER July 25-27 2013 National Tree Farmer Convention (link) , Minneapolis, Minnesota. See link for details. August 1 Natural Resources Webinar: Dragonfly Conservation: Habitat Needs, WRP, Mosquito Control, and Migratory Species (link) , 2 pm ET. See link for details. August 6 Forestry Webinar: Application of Forestry Best Management Practices for Water Quality Protection (link) , 12 pm ET. See link for details. August 8 Forestry Webinar: Prescribed Fire Opportunities for Forestry Consultants (link) , 10 am ET. See link for details. August 8 Conservation Webinar: Turning Your Land Into a Sponge (link), 1-2 pm ET, See link for details. August 8 Natural Resources Webinar: Wetland Reserve Program: Hydrology Management and Nuisance Mammal Prevention (link) , 2 pm ET. See link for details August 21 Bioenergy Webinar: Where Will Dedicated Bioenergy Crops Be Grown? Potential Land-use Change Associated with Growing Bioenergy Feedstocks (link) , 2 pm ET. See link for details. August 28 Natural Resources Webinar: Small-scale Micro-irrigation Design and Components (link) , 2 pm ET. See link for details. September 15-18 National Goat Conference (link) , Greensboro, North Carolina, hosted by North Carolina A&T University Cooperative Extension. See link for details. October 8-10 Longleaf Academy Understory 201 (link) , Solon Dixon Forestry Education Center, 12130 Dixon Center Road, Andalusia, AL 36420. This course is part of The Longleaf Alliance’s Longleaf Academies . To register for this course, please contact the Longleaf Alliance office at office@longleafalliance.org or 334-427-1029 Visit Florida Land Steward on Facebook     More events at these calendars:   UF-IFAS Web Calendar Florida Forest Stewardship Program Calendar http://smallfarms.ifas.ufl.edu/events_calendar.html Florida Master Naturalist Program Brooker Creek Preserve Events, Pinellas County Florida Forest Service Training Opportunities Prescribed Fire Training Calendar Forestry Webinars Check with your UF-IFAS County Extension Office for more events in your county: http://solutionsforyourlife.ufl.edu/map/         Florida Land Steward Partnership:   FLORIDA FOREST SERVICE FLORIDA FOREST STEWARDSHIP PROGRAM FLORIDA FISH AND WILDLIFE CONSERVATION COMMISSION UF-IFAS SCHOOL OF FOREST RESOURCES & CONSERVATION UF-IFAS DEPARTMENT OF WILDLIFE ECOLOGY & CONSERVATION USDA NATURAL RESOURCES CONSERVATION SERVICE FLORIDA FORESTRY ASSOICATION / SUSTAINABLE FORESTRY INITIATIVE                       http://floridalandsteward.org       To be added or removed from this service, simply email a request to cdemers@ufl.edu