Weekly Harvest, May 14, 2014

Weekly Harvest Newsletter Sustainable Agriculture News Briefs - May 14, 2014 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 USDA Announces $78 Million Available for Local Food Enterprises Harvard Study Strengthens Link Between Insecticides and Honey Bee Colony Collapse Manual Focuses on Co-operatives' Role in Food Systems National Climate Assessment Explores Climate Impacts on Agriculture Michigan State University Receives Grants to Advance Local and Regional Food Systems Ohio Farm Tour and Workshop Series Set Funding Opportunities Western SARE Research & Education Grants Southern SARE Research & Education Grants Annie's Grants for Gardens Coming Events Revisioning Sustainability Conference Organic Stone Fruit Jubilee Beyond Season Extension News & Resources USDA Announces $78 Million Available for Local Food Enterprises The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is making a $78 million investment in local and regional food systems, including food hubs, farmers markets, aggregation and processing facilities, distribution services, and other local food business enterprises. Specifically, $48 million in loan guarantees for local food projects is now available through USDA Rural Development's Business and Industry Guaranteed Loan Program, and $30 million is available through competitive grants via the Agricultural Marketing Service's Farmers Market and Local Foods Promotion Program. Under this program, $15 million is available for marketing and promotional support specifically for local food businesses, including food hubs, delivery and aggregation businesses, and processing and storage facilities along the local food supply chain, while $15 million is for marketing support for farmers markets and other direct-to-consumer outlets. Applications for the grants are due by June 20, 2014. Harvard Study Strengthens Link Between Insecticides and Honey Bee Colony Collapse Two widely used neonicotinoids appear to significantly harm honey bee colonies over the winter, particularly during colder winters, according to a new study from Harvard School of Public Health. The study replicated 2012 research that found a link between low doses of imidacloprid and Colony Collapse Disorder. The new study also found that low doses of a second neonicotinoid, clothianidin, had the same negative effect. Manual Focuses on Co-operatives' Role in Food Systems New England Farmers Union (NEFU) has released Growing a Food System for the Future: A Manual for Co-operative Enterprise Development . NEFU developed this manual for those who want to understand more about the role co-ops play in the food system, for those looking to form a co-operative, and for co-operatives looking to expand. National Climate Assessment Explores Climate Impacts on Agriculture The U.S. Global Change Research Program has released the Third National Climate Assessment. According to the online report, climate disruptions to agriculture have increased. Many regions will experience declines in crop and livestock production from increased stress due to weeds, diseases, insect pests, and other climate-change-induced stresses. Michigan State University Receives Grants to Advance Local and Regional Food Systems Researchers with the MSU Center for Regional Food Systems have been awarded four grants, totaling $1.95 million, from USDA's National Institute of Food and Agriculture. One statewide project will manage the development of a public-private workgroup model to increase the viability of small and mid-sized livestock producers in Michigan. Another project will identify economically feasible grass-finished beef production strategies. A third project will create an incubator farm, and the final project will examine collective entrepreneurial action by small and mid-sized farms. Ohio Farm Tour and Workshop Series Set The Ohio Ecological Food and Farm Association (OEFFA) has announced the farm tours and workshops included in the 2014 Ohio Sustainable Farm Tour and Workshop Series. Fifteen tours, six workshops, and a farm to table dinner are being sponsored by OEFFA between June 7 and November 14. Most events are free. >> More Breaking News Back to top Funding Opportunities Western SARE Research & Education Grants Western Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE) is accepting pre-proposals for the Research & Education Grants. This grant funds projects that obtain data, develop conclusions, demonstrate technologies, and lead educational programs that promote the Western SARE goals. Participants must include a minimum of three separate producers. Pre-proposals are due by June 4, 2014. Southern SARE Research & Education Grants The Southern Region SARE is requesting pre-proposals for systems research and education activities that address issues of sustainable agriculture of current and potential importance to the region and nation. The deadline for submitting pre-proposals is June 2, 2014. Annie's Grants for Gardens Annie's offers Grants for Gardens donations to schools and other educational programs that help build school gardens. Grants of $500 are available for starting a garden, or grants of $1,500 for deepening a school garden program. Applications are due by June 2, 2014. >> More Funding Opportunities Back to top Coming Events Revisioning Sustainability Conference June 22-25, 2014 Amherst, Massachusetts The Revisioning Sustainability Conference at the University of Massachusetts Amherst explores real-world examples of innovative food sustainability programs that embody whole-systems regeneration in practice. Organic Stone Fruit Jubilee June 21, 2014 Clovis, California This fun-filled evening presented by the Ecological Farming Association includes fruit tasting and sales of over 60 varieties of peaches, plums, pluots, nectarines, and apricots. Beyond Season Extension June 20, 2014 The Plains, Ohio Extension Educators, NRCS personnel, and other agriculture professionals throughout Ohio are encouraged to attend this professional development event that will offer training on the site-specific adaptation and use of high-tunnel structures at small farms. >> 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. © 2014 NCAT Back to top	New ATTRA Publication Marketing Manure: A Value-Added Product for Small Operations Question of the Week Would using seed from a friend's stand of "superior" black walnut clones result in a stand as good as the original clones? Ask a Sustainable Agriculture Expert Submit questions to our professional staff online ATTRA Webinar Now available online, our most recent webinar "Urban Farms: Commercial Farms or Socially Minded Operations?" ATTRA Spanish Newsletter Subscribe to Cosecha Mensual (Monthly Harvest), ATTRA's Spanish-language e-newsletter ATTRA is on Facebook! 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