Weekly Harvest Newsletter
Sustainable Agriculture News Briefs - June 6, 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.
News & Resources
- USDA to Appoint Socially Disadvantaged Farmer Representatives to County Committees
- Food Alliance Introduces Sustainability Standard for Nursery and Greenhouse Operations
- Streamlined Trade of Organic Products between United States and European Union Begins
- Small-scale Slaughterhouses a Key Component of Local Meat
- National Young Farmers Conference Accepting Workshop Proposals
- Farm to School Documentary Film Online
Funding Opportunities
- Technical Assistance for Specialty Crops (TASC) Program
-
Kentucky Farmers' Markets Infrastructure Competitive Grant Program
-
Wisconsin Cheesemaker Scholarships
Coming Events
- Cows and Quail Workshop
- Scaling Up Your Vegetable Operation
- Alternative Meat Markets & Halal Production
News & Resources
USDA to Appoint Socially Disadvantaged Farmer Representatives to County Committees
Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced that he intends to appoint voting members from socially disadvantaged (SDA) communities to serve on county committees in county jurisdictions that lack fair SDA representation. USDA's Farm Service Agency published an interim rule in the Federal Register that is open for public comment for 60 days.
Food Alliance Introduces Sustainability Standard for Nursery and Greenhouse Operations
Food Alliance has introduced a sustainability standard for greenhouse and nursery producers who are committed to managing for operational, environmental, and social excellence. Greenhouse and nursery operators who achieve the standard can apply for certification under the Food Alliance Sustainability Certification Program. Food Alliance is also making available an evaluation tool that allows growers to self-assess current sustainability performance.
Streamlined Trade of Organic Products between United States and European Union Begins
Organic products certified in the United States or European Union may now be sold as organic in either market, as trade opened June 1 under a new U.S.-EU equivalency partnership. Previously, producers and companies wanting to trade products on both sides of the Atlantic had to obtain separate certifications to two standards, which resulted in a double set of fees, inspections, and paperwork.
Small-scale Slaughterhouses a Key Component of Local Meat
According to an NPR blog entry, livestock producers are finding innovative ways to deal with the lack of local slaughterhouses, ranging from building a producer-owned slaughterhouse in Washington to an on-farm processing facility in Vermont. In New York, a rural county is developing a slaughterhouse to serve local producers.
Related ATTRA Publication: Natural Livestock Feasibility Study
National Young Farmers Conference Accepting Workshop Proposals
The Growing Farmers Initiative at Stone Barns Center for Food and Agriculture is now accepting workshop proposals for the 5th annual National Young Farmers Conference, to be held December 12-14, 2012. A planning committee will review proposals based on content and programming needs. Proposals can be submitted online until July 6, 2012.
Farm to School Documentary Film Online
Farm to School: Growing Our Future is a documentary from University of Minnesota Extension that explores the economic advantages and challenges for businesses, farms, schools, and communities as they work together to improve children's health and education. The documentary is available for viewing online in the full 30-minute version or in a 12-minute version.
>> More Breaking News
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Funding Opportunities
Technical Assistance for Specialty Crops (TASC) Program
USDA Foreign Agricultural Service is accepting fiscal year 2012 applications for the Technical Assistance for Specialty Crops (TASC) Program. TASC provides funding for projects that address sanitary, phytosanitary, and technical barriers that prohibit or threaten the export of U.S. specialty crops.
Proposals received by June 22, 2012, will be reviewed concurrently by FAS.
Kentucky Farmers' Markets Infrastructure Competitive Grant Program
The Farmers' Markets Infrastructure Competitive Grant Program offers matching grants of up to $25,000 for the construction of a new farmers' market facility or expansion of existing facilities. A total of $250,000 in state funds is available through this program.
Applications are due by June 29, 2012.
Wisconsin Cheesemaker Scholarships
To help continue the growth of artisan, farmstead, and specialty cheese in Wisconsin, the Dairy Business Innovation Center is offering five $1,000 scholarships to help beginning cheesemakers earn their Wisconsin Cheesemaker's License.
Applications are due June 15, 2012.
>> More Funding Opportunities
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Coming Events
Cows and Quail Workshop: Creating healthy environments for land, people, wildlife, and livestock
July
13-14, 2012
Van Horn, Texas
Holistic Management International presents a two-day workshop for anyone interested in learning how to manage land for a healthy, diverse landscape that supports both wildlife and livestock.
Scaling Up Your Vegetable Operation
July 1, 2012
Grayslake, Illinois
At this free MOSES Organic Field Day, Alex Needham and Alison Parker of Radical Root Farm will lead a tour of their fields, reviewing equipment and providing tips for larger-scale production. Harriet Behar will give a presentation on selling to wholesale accounts.
Alternative Meat Markets & Halal Production
June 30, 2012
Norwich, New York
PASA & NOFA-NY present an opportunity to learn more about on-farm processing and alternative meat marketing. Participants will tour Norwich Meadows Farm and learn the basics of Halal processing and securing alternative meat markets.
>> More Events
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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.
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