| Weekly Harvest Newsletter
Sustainable Agriculture News Briefs - July 3, 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. | Planning for Profit: Marketing and Financial Management for New Farmers
USDA Risk Management Agency and the National Center for Appropriate Technology (NCAT) present a workshop in numerous locations for returning veterans and others interested in starting a career in farming. Participants will learn how to develop the business side of starting an entrepreneurial, diversified farm. Wisconsin and Minnesota workshops include a farm tour. For more information or to register, contact NCAT at 515-288-0460 or email hannahl@ncat.org.
July 12, Cedar Falls, Iowa
July 13 -14, East Troy, Wisconsin
July 15, Farmington, Minnesota
July 22, Farmington, Minnesota
July 23, Decorah, Iowa
July 24, Council Bluffs, Iowa | News & Resources - Course Materials for "Choosing Your Markets" Available Online
- Organic Research and Promotion Program Discussion Underway
- Guide to Breeding Organic Vegetables Now Online
- NCR-SARE Seeking Members for Farmer Rancher Review Committee
- Publication Alerts Organic Producers to Pesticide Drift
- Sustainable Agriculture Education Association Calls for Conference Presentations
Funding Opportunities - Small Business Innovation Research Program
- North Dakota Farmers Market Association New Vendor Grant
- Indiana Farmers' Market Cost Share Program
Coming Events - National Farm to Cafeteria Conference
- Pennsylvania Organic FarmFest
- Student Organic Seed Symposium
News & Resources Course Materials for "Choosing Your Markets" Available Online
Southern Sustainable Agriculture Working Group has posted the course materials from their "Choosing Your Markets" course. Learn benefits, challenges, and resources needed for marketing through farmers markets, CSAs, on-farm markets, Internet marketing, and direct sales to restaurants and grocers. The course is intended especially for small- and mid-scale farmers striving to become more sustainable.
Related ATTRA Publications: Direct Marketing Options Organic Research and Promotion Program Discussion Underway
The organic sector is evaluating an Organic Research and Promotion (Checkoff) Program. The Organic Trade Association is holding town-hall-style forums across the country and online webinars to evaluate this opportunity and facilitate an industry-wide decision. A schedule of events is posted on the Organic Trade Association website. Guide to Breeding Organic Vegetables Now Online
Northeast Organic Farming Association of New York has released Breeding Organic Vegetables: A step-by-step guide for growers, available online as a 5.9M PDF. In addition to explaining basic plant breeding theory and methods, the authors cover all the necessary steps in a breeding project, from deciding on a breeding goal and finding suitable germplasm to performing selections and evaluations.
Related ATTRA Publication: Seed Production and Variety Development for Organic Systems NCR-SARE Seeking Members for Farmer Rancher Review Committee
North Central Region SARE is seeking farmers and ranchers to join the NCR-SARE Farmer Rancher Grant Program Review Committee, particularly from Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, North Dakota, and South Dakota. Applicants should have a very good understanding of sustainable agriculture. Publication Alerts Organic Producers to Pesticide Drift
A new publication from Purdue Extension describes the consequences of pesticide drift onto organic farms and offers steps that pesticide applicators and organic producers can take to reduce the risk of damage from drift. The three-page publication is available free online as a PDF file.
Related ATTRA Publication: Forms, Documents, and Sample Letters for Organic Producers Sustainable Agriculture Education Association Calls for Conference Presentations
The theme of the September 2012 SAEA conference is "The Campus Food System: A Learning Laboratory." Organizers are accepting abstracts for presentations until July 23, 2012. Abstracts should be 150-250 words, single-spaced, and submitted via email attachment to saea2012@oregonstate.edu. >> More Breaking News Back to top
Funding Opportunities Small Business Innovation Research Program, Phase I
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) invites science-based small business firms to apply for funding for high-quality research or research-and-development applications. Proposed projects should contain advanced concepts related to important scientific problems and opportunities that could lead to significant public benefit. Phase I awards may not exceed $100,000. 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 6, 2012. North Dakota Farmers Market Association New Vendor Grant
Brand-new farmers market vendors of specialty crops are eligible for a $200 grant to be used for equipment and supplies related to starting to vend at a farmers market. The grant can aid in the purchase of tables, canopies, signs, vendor fees, display boxes, etc.
Vendors can apply until August 31, 2012. Indiana Farmers' Market Cost Share Program
The Farmers' Market Cost-Share Reimbursement Program offers up to $500 per organization for advertising, displays, and promotional materials used to increase consumer awareness and overall appeal of Indiana farmers' markets and enhance the competitiveness of specialty crops. Funds will be paid on a first-come, first-served basis.
Applications will be accepted until August 31, 2012. >> More Funding Opportunities Back to top
Coming Events National Farm to Cafeteria Conference
August 2-5, 2012
Burlington, Vermont
The sixth National Farm to Cafeteria Conference will bring together food service professionals, farmers, educators, policy makers, representatives from government agencies and nonprofits, entrepreneurs, students, and others who are breaking down barriers and expanding the impact of Farm to Cafeteria. There will be skill-building short courses, field trips to innovative Vermont farms and institutions, a diverse workshop program, and plenty of opportunities to network. Pennsylvania Organic FarmFest
August 3-4, 2012
Centre Hall, Pennsylvania
FarmFest celebrates the broad organic community, including growers and consumers. This two-day festival features live music, educational workshops, children's programming, hands-on demonstrations, a farmers market, organic food, and vendors. Student Organic Seed Symposium
August 5-8, 2012
Greensboro, Vermont
The Student Organic Seed Symposium is a student-led initiative that provides a unique opportunity for graduate students interested in organic seed systems to share resources with one another and learn from leaders in the field. >> 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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