**New items noted in RED**
Note: Southern SARE Producer and On-Farm Research Grants Calls for Proposals have been released! Scroll down to “Funding” for more information.
Calling all Gator fans –special football ticket offer for farmers!!
The University Athletic Association, Inc. has partnered with RAM Trucks (formerly Dodge) to offer the agriculture community as well as their family and friends, an opportunity to catch the Gator Football team in action Saturday, November 9th versus the Vanderbilt Commodores. Enjoy the Homecoming Football Game at a special rate of $25 per ticket, which is 50% off the regular ticket price. Find out how to show your Gator pride at this game here! Go Gators!
Congratulations to Dr. Laura Sanagorski –2013 Sustainable Agriculture Fellow!
The SARE/NACAA Sustainable Agriculture Fellows program enhances extension educators’ understanding of sustainable agriculture through broad-based trainings that feature practices that are successful, unique and geographically diverse. Each year, the Sustainable Agriculture Fellows program selects one educator from each of the four SARE regions to participate in a series of national seminars that highlight how sustainable management principles are practiced in the field. Dr. Sanagorski was chosen as the 2013 Southern Region Sustainable Agriculture Fellow! Dr. Sanagorski is a UF/IFAS faculty member in the Department of Agricultural Education and Communication. Her work focuses on increasing environmental sustainability and food security through improved agricultural landscaping practices. Read more about her Extension appointment here. Participants of the Sustainable Agriculture Fellows program will visit sustainable farming and ranching systems in each of the four regions to learn sustainable agriculture strategies and how to implement them. Following the two year program, they will share this knowledge to help build capacity among the farmers and ranchers in their locality.
Nominations for SSARE Administrative Council Producer Member Requested
The Administrative Council of the Southern Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SSARE) Program is seeking nominations of producers familiar with sustainable agriculture and its impact on the environment and rural communities to replace retiring AC members. Producer members are directly involved in deciding the future of research and education of the SSARE program. One producer seat will be filled. Nominations representing women in agriculture and/or minorities are especially welcome. Producer nominations from all 13 states and the territories in the Southern region will be considered. If you are interested in nominating a farmer or nominating yourself, please follow the link for instructions on how to submit a nomination.
Webinars
Partnering with Cooperative Extension to Support Farm to School –Part 2
Wednesday, October 9, 1:00 PM – 2:00 PM, EST
Description: Julia Govis from University of Illinois Extension will share information about how she is leading farm to school in Illinois through the development of educational resources and curriculum to support Extension work in its diverse program areas. Morgan Taggart from Ohio State University Extension will describe how OSU Extension has prioritized involvement in farm to school and how other Extension professionals in urban and suburban areas can be involved with farm to school related activities. Morgan will also share how she is currently involved with farm to school across the Cleveland area through school gardens, local food procurement, and local food and agriculture curriculum development/ instruction.
Presenters: Julia Govis, Program Coordinator, University of Illinois Extension and Morgan Taggart, Program Specialist, Ohio State University Extension
Connection information: 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: 91613#. Computer: Click on (or copy and paste) this link to join the meeting: https://www.livemeeting.com/cc/usda/join?id=SJ9CSP&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. 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.
Food Hubs and Farm to School
Thursday, October 17, 3:30 PM – 4:45 PM, EST
Description: Farm to school programs have been very successful at getting good, healthy, local, whole foods to our nation’s students. Food hubs hold great promise for filling a gap some programs have found. It is difficult to add aggregation logistics on top of already-taxed school food service professionals. Food hubs hold great promise for bridging that gap. Join us for some inspiring examples of successful food hub-assisted farm to school programs.
Connection information: Register at https://www2.gotomeeting.com/register/747966202
Resources
New UF/IFAS EDIS Fact Sheets for Horticulture Crops
The University of Florida IFAS Extension offers a database of fact sheets available for free download on the Internet called EDIS (Electronic Data Information Source) that has many publications of interest to farmers and ranchers in Florida (http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu). Each fact sheet has a PDF or printer friendly link in the top left corner. The following are just a few of the new fact sheets that were recently added to the collection pertaining to fruit and vegetable crops.
· Florida Peach and Nectarine Varieties
· Florida ‘Radiance’ Strawberry
· Magnesium (Mg) for Citrus Trees
· Nitrogen (N) for Citrus Trees
· Phosphorus (P) for Citrus Trees
· Potassium (K) for Citrus Trees
· Calcium (Ca) and Sulfur (S) for Citrus Trees
· Spotted Wing Drosophila: Pest Management Recommendations for Southeastern Blueberries
Beyond the Birds and the Bees: The Effects of Neonicotinoid Insecticides on Agriculturally Important Beneficial Invertebrates
A new report from the Xerces Society moves the spotlight from the risks neonicotinoids on invertebrates such as earthworms or lady beetles. Beyond the Birds and the Bees provides a comprehensive review of published articles and pulls together the growing body of research that demonstrates risks from neonicotinoids to these beneficial animals. These risks occur particularly in agricultural systems, but are also felt in urban and suburban ornamental landscapes.
Trap Cropping in Vegetable Production: An IPM Approach to Managing Pests
Trap cropping is an integrated pest management (IPM) technique that uses plants attractive to insect pests to lure them away from the cash crop. Trap cropping, while not a silver bullet solution to all pest problems, can be an effective IPM tool against insect pests when farmers take the time to research and implement the required steps. This bulletin showcases Southern SARE-funded research studies that have explored trap cropping and its effectiveness in controlling a variety of pests in some of the more popular vegetable crops grown in the Southern region. The entire publication is attached, or you can access it online here.
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 this month:
· Commercial Shade Houses, Greenhouses, High Tunnels and Hydroponics, Deland, FL, October 4
· Invasive Exotic Species and Control Workshop, Brooksville, FL, October 9
· Building Your Own Farm’s Food Safety Manual, Tavares, FL , October 10
· Small Ruminant Workshop, Lake City, FL, October 21
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!
Vegetables in Containers
October 7, 9am – 12pm
Workshop will cover growing vegetables in containers, grow buckets, and passive hydroponics. Class space is limited, cost is $5. Pre-registration and pre-payment required. Register with Jeannie at 904-255-7450. The class will be held at the Urban Garden Office in Jacksonville, FL.
Alabama Sustainable Agriculture Network Regional Food & Farm Forums
October 9 & 23, 2013; 9:00am – 4:00pm
The Alabama Sustainable Agriculture Network is hosting two, one-day Regional Food and Farm Forums in October. Topics may include: Young and Beginning Farmers, Unfilled Business Niches in the Local Food System, Funding Opportunities, Cooperative Buying and Selling, Food Preservation and Fermentation, and others. Space is available for North Alabama, Wednesday Oct. 9 in Muscle Shoals and South Alabama, Wednesday Oct. 23 in Ramer. Visit the ASAN website for more information.
Who is Food Insecure and How Do We Help Them? Using Existing Resources to Serve Food Insecure Populations
October 17, 2013; 9:00am – 11:00am
This training is limited to county extension agents and will be offered online. The purpose of this training is to provide county faculty members with the expertise needed to use public data sources to identify at-risk communities, develop programs and partnerships to address food security in those communities, and document the impacts of Extension programs. After completing this session, participants will be able to:
1. Use public data sources to identify food insecure communities
2. Assess the specific needs of individual communities
3. Identify potential public and private collaborators in addressing those needs
4. Develop programmatic solutions that draw on Extension`s strengths and expertise
5. Identify and use existing indicators to assess the impact of these programs
Register for PDEC training number 30761.
Florida Agricultural Financial Management Conference
October 21-22, 2013
Orlando, FL
The FAFMC is taking place on October 21 – 22, 2013 at the beautiful Omni Orlando Resort at Champions Gate. This year we’re pleased to announce our partner with with the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services to bring this conference to the region. The conference will highlight agriculture risk management from a strategic perspective, agribusiness finance for non-finance managers, latest banking regulatory and lending trends, agricultural economic forecast, affordable care act and planning strategies for ag producers, and succession planning for the next generation. For more information and to register visit www.fafmc.org.
Local Food Systems Urban Farming Conference
October 22, 2013
Orlando, FL
In Florida, today’s rural county is tomorrow’s urban county. Slowly, over the last 20 years, Orange County has become a net importer of food. This conference is a forum for local producers, businesses and residents to invest in their community’s food and economic security. The conference will be held at the UF/IFAS Extension Orange County Extension Education Center from 9:30 Am to 3:00 PM. See the attached flyer for an agenda and registration information.
Fall Master Beekeeper Program Training and Exams
October 31, 2013
The Honey Bee Research and Extension lab will host the Fall Master Beekeeper Program Training and Exams at the UF/IFAS Extension Washington County office. Visit http://entnemdept.ufl.edu/honeybee/extension/master_beekeeper.shtml for more information.
Fall Farm Fest 2013
November 2, 2013
Sponsored by the FAMU Cooperative Extension Program. The event will feature demonstrations in agriculture and a “Fall Crop Showcase”. A family-friendly event. Lunch will be covered by the registration fee. Location: FAMU Research and Extension Center, Bainbridge Highway, Quincy, FL. Registration required: $5/person. Contact Dr. Lawrence Carter/Ms. Rhonda Miller at 850-599-3546. See event details here.
Water, Food, Energy, & Innovation for a Sustainable World
November 3-6, 2013
Tampa, FL
The American Society of Agronomy, Crop Science Society of America, and Soil Science Society of America will host their 2013 International Annual Meeting in Tampa, Florida with the Canadian Society of Agronomy and the International Society of Terrain-Vehicle Systems. The Southern SARE program will be co-sponsoring a Florida organic farm tour on November 3 as part of the meeting. The tour will run from 9am to 6pm and will include stops at Sweetwater Organic Farm, Gateway Organic Farm, Worden Farm, and Bridge Street Market. The cost of the tour is $30. For more information, or to register for the tour, contact Kathleen Delate at 515-294-7069 or kdelate@iastate.edu. More information is attached.
2013 Florida Ag Expo
November 6, 2013
The Florida Ag Expo is the only show where Florida vegetable growers can listen to the latest information on new production trends and techniques, sample new varieties and see new field trials. The event will be at the Gulf Coast Research and Education Center in Wimauma, FL. More information: http://flagexpo.ifas.ufl.edu.
National Black Farmers Association Conference
November 8-9, 2013
Columbia, South Carolina
The National Black Farmers Association (NBFA) Conference 2013, “Moving Forward While Honoring the Past”, is an interactive two day program giving participants practical knowledge and techniques to enhance their skills, networking, and financial resource capabilities for small, limited resource, and socially disadvantaged farmers, ranchers, and landowners. Farmers will have the opportunity to share and connect with government agencies as well as other resources from around the country. For more information, contact Kara D. Jones, Event Coordinator, (910) 316-1118, email: HIYLII@yahoo.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 67th meeting goes from Saturday February 8th to Thursday February 13th 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.
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.
7th National Farm to Cafeteria Conference
April 15-18, 2014
Save the date for the 7th 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.
Joint Conference: 16th 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
Southern SARE Producer Grants are now open!
Calls for Proposals for the 2013 Producer Grants, intended for farmers/ranchers and farmer/rancher organizations throughout the Southern region, are now available from the Southern Sustainable Agriculture Research & Education (SSARE) program. Proposal submission deadline is November 18, 2013. Announcement of funded grants will take place in late February 2014. Producer Grants are used to conduct sustainable agriculture research projects that solve agricultural production challenges farmers face and to develop information on what works and what doesn’t so that other farmers and ranchers facing those same challenges can benefit from the results of the funded project.
Producer grants are not designed to pay a farmer to farm; buy livestock, equipment, or land; make permanent farm improvements or support private enterprises through capital investments. Southern SARE Producer Grants are research grants, designed to take some of the financial risk away from trying a solution. Projects may be funded for up to two years for a project maximum of $10,000 for an individual producer or $15,000 for a producer organization. Producer organizations should be comprised primarily of farmers/ranchers and must have a majority farmer representation on their governing board. For detailed information on how to apply for a Producer Grant, download the current Producer Grant Call for Proposals.
Southern SARE On-Farm Research Grants are now open!
The Calls for Proposals for the 2013 On-Farm Research Grants, intended for agricultural professionals throughout the Southern region, have been released by the Southern Region Sustainable Agriculture Research & Education (SSARE) program. Proposal submission deadline is November 18, 2013. Announcement of funded grants will take place in late February 2014. Agriculture professionals in Cooperative Extension, Natural Resources Conservation Service, universities, NGOs, and government and non-government organizations who regularly work with farmers/ranchers are invited to apply for a grant that affords them the opportunity to conduct on-farm research in sustainable agriculture. Applicants must work with at least one farmer/rancher on the project to conduct on-farm research in sustainable agriculture.
The On-Farm Research Grants are not intended for farmers/ranchers. On-Farm Research Grants may be funded up to two years for a project maximum of $15,000. For detailed information about how to apply for an On-Farm Research Grant, download the Call for Proposals.
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
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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
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