| Weekly Harvest Newsletter
Sustainable Agriculture News Briefs - July 18, 2012 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. | Presenting the 2012 US Biochar Conference
The National Center for Appropriate Technology (NCAT) is one of the sponsors for the 2012 US Biochar Conference July 29 - August 1 in Rohnert Park, California. This event is designed to advance understanding of the economic, science, and policy issues related to biochar as both an amendment for soils and an agent to sequester carbon. NCAT's Jeff Schahczenski will speak at the conference. | News & Resources - USDA Releases Agroforestry Handbook
- Report Explores Local Food Success in the Deep South
- Report Examines Feasibility of Farm to Child Care
- Field to Market Report Says Commodity Production Efficiency Increasing
- UK Releases Roadmap to Keeping Food Affordable Without Destroying Nature
- Urban Agriculture Producing More than Food
Funding Opportunities - Northeast SARE Partnership Grants
- Animal Welfare Approved Good Husbandry Grants
- Enhancing NRCS Program Delivery in Georgia
Coming Events - Integrating Pastured Poultry with Crop Production
- Urban Agriculture Summit
- Farmscaping & Pollinators Field Day
News & Resources USDA Releases Agroforestry Handbook
USDA has released a practical agroforestry handbook that contains information to help establish, manage, and market agroforestry projects that are profitable and sustainable. The handbook, Profitable Farms and Woodlands, is written for underserved and limited-resource farmers and woodland owners living in the Southeast and includes five main agroforestry practices: alley cropping, forest farming, riparian buffer strips, silvopasture, and windbreaks.
Related ATTRA Publication: Agroforestry: An Overview Report Explores Local Food Success in the Deep South
The Wallace Center has released Increasing Farmer Success in Local Food Markets in the Deep South: Mississippi & Alabama: Challenges & Opportunities in the Fruit & Vegetable Market . The report explores on-farm, market, and infrastructure barriers that small farmers face in accessing markets for fresh, local produce in the Deep South, and shares pragmatic interventions and insights that can shape the success of developing local food systems. The 63-page report is available online as a 2.1 MB PDF file.
Related ATTRA Publications: Direct Marketing Options Report Examines Feasibility of Farm to Child Care
The Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy has published Farm to Child Care: Opportunities and Challenges for Connecting Young Children with Local Foods and Farmers. This PDF report explores the feasibility of expanding Farm to Child Care (F2CC) initiatives, the dynamics that surround foodservice in various child care contexts, and lessons learned from early efforts around the country. Field to Market Report Says Commodity Production Efficiency Increasing
A new report released by Field to Market, the Keystone Alliance for Sustainable Agriculture, demonstrates how six commodity crops are being produced more efficiently in the United States than they were 30 years ago. At the same time, increased production to meet growing demand has resulted in greater overall resource use by many crops. UK Releases Roadmap to Keeping Food Affordable Without Destroying Nature
The Green Food Project, a major study into how Britain's entire food system must change to keep food affordable without destroying nature, has been released by the UK's Department for Environment, Food, and Rural Affairs. Urban Agriculture Producing More than Food
A feature in Orion magazine profiles several urban agriculture programs operating across the country. Many urban agriculture programs are bringing healthy and diverse foods to neighborhoods where access may be lacking. Some projects are providing jobs and job training. Gardens also provide important community open space and education. >> More Breaking News Back to top
Funding Opportunities Northeast SARE Partnership Grants
The Partnership Grant program supports agricultural service providers who work directly with farmers to do on-farm demonstrations, research, marketing, and other projects that will add to understanding of sustainable agriculture. Partnership Grants are capped at $15,000.
The deadline for applications is November 1, 2012. Animal Welfare Approved Good Husbandry Grants
Animal Welfare Approved certified farmers and those who have submitted an application for AWA certification may apply for up to $5,000 towards projects such as mobile housing, breeding stock, and on-farm processing equipment. Slaughter plants working with or seeking to work with AWA farmers are also eligible for funding.
Applications are due by September 28, 2012. Enhancing NRCS Program Delivery in Georgia
Georgia NRCS is making a request for proposals for outreach and related activities that will improve NRCS program promotion and delivery to new and underserved individuals, groups, and communities in Georgia. Grants will not exceed $50,000, with a required 25 percent local match. State and local governments and nonprofit organizations may apply.
Applications must be received by July 30, 2012. >> More Funding Opportunities Back to top
Coming Events Integrating Pastured Poultry with Crop Production
August 14 or 15, 2012
Orleans or Carlotta, California
The National Center for Appropriate Technology presents a free informational meeting for small farms and homesteads on raising poultry in safe, productive ways, either for home use or commercial production. The August 14 event at Sandy Bar Ranch includes farmer visits, an overview on pastured poultry production, presentations on flock health, food safety, and monitoring costs. The August 15 agenda includes an overview of pastured poultry production, a farmer panel on integrating pastured poultry with crops, and presentations on flock health, food safety, egg handling, and meat-bird processing. Urban Agriculture Summit
August 15-18, 2012
Toronto, Canada
The 2012 Urban Agriculture Summit will bring together design professionals, community groups, social housing advocates, tenants and developers, educators, planners, homeowners, urban growers, and others to share what is working in urban agriculture and to discover what is possible. Farmscaping & Pollinators Field Day
August 20, 2012
Dickerson, Maryland
Future Harvest CASA and PASA present this workshop where participants will learn about how to best conserve pollinators by providing adequate food and nesting resources, as well as protecting them from potentially harmful activities. >> More Events Back to top
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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. © 2012 NCAT Back to top | 
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