Weekly Harvest Newsletter
Sustainable Agriculture News Briefs - July 20, 2011
Weekly sustainable agriculture news and resources gleaned from the Internet by NCAT staff for the NCAT Sustainable Agriculture Project website. The Weekly Harvest Newsletter is also available online.
| The national sustainable agriculture information service, also known as the ATTRA project, was cut from the federal budget for fiscal 2011 as part of the budget reductions in Congress. Despite the elimination of federal funding for the project, the National Center for Appropriate Technology (NCAT) has maintained basic project services such as this weekly e-newsletter for sustainable agriculture producers.
We are now at the point that we must find other revenue sources to help cover operating expenses for the project. After exploring our options, we have decided to charge modest fees for some of our publications. Click here www.attra.ncat.org to read more about the changes.
This e-newsletter will continue to be offered free of charge. We promise to provide you the same high-quality information and technical advice that helped us achieve national prominence.
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News & Resources
- USDA Launches Food Hub Web Page
- Research Shows Biofuel Grasses Superior to Corn in Ethanol Production
- USDA Publishes First Farm to School Report
- Apple Scab Developing Resistance to Common Fungicides
- Beginning Farmer Agricultural Alliance Launching in Massachusetts
- Agricultural Marketing System Grant Awards Announced
Funding Opportunities
- USDA Small Business Innovation Research Program
- Illinois Conservation 2000 Sustainable Agriculture Grant Program
- New Hampshire Integrated Pest Management (IPM) Program
Coming Events
- World Kitchen Garden Day
- Carbon Economy Series Workshop: Joel Salatin
- Pollinator Conservation Planning Short Course in Nebraska
News & Resources
USDA Launches Food Hub Web Page
With USDA's new Food Hub Web page, producers, buyers, and others can access a central clearinghouse for resources, news and information related to food hubs and similar enterprises that provide infrastructure support for small and mid-size producers.
Research Shows Biofuel Grasses Superior to Corn in Ethanol Production
Scientists from Colorado State University now say that biofuel grasses have the potential to replace corn-based ethanol in a way that is both environmentally and economically beneficial.
Related ATTRA Publication: Switchgrass as a Bioenergy Crop
USDA Publishes First Farm to School Report
This report summarizes the observations of USDA Farm to School Team district visits across the country, and provides suggestions for further action by USDA to support schools in obtaining fresh and healthy food from their local and regional food systems. Additionally, USDA's National Agricultural Library has published a new resource titled Farm to School: A Selected and Annotated Bibliography.
Apple Scab Developing Resistance to Common Fungicides
Orchard growers have started finding that four of the most commonly used fungicides are no longer effective at controlling apple scab, according to a Purdue University study.
Related ATTRA Publication: Apples: Organic Production Guide
Beginning Farmer Agricultural Alliance Launching in Massachusetts
A listening session is set for August 22, to hear from stakeholders on what the new Beginning Farmer Agricultural Alliance (BFAA) for Massachusetts should be. BFAA will be a statewide collaboration to expand use of educational and technical assistance resources, and to focus on farmland access and livestock
production.
Agricultural Marketing System Grant Awards Announced
The Federal-State Marketing Improvement Program is matching $1.3 million worth of state grants to assist in exploring new market opportunities for U.S. food and
agricultural products and to encourage research and innovation aimed at
improving the marketing system. Project descriptions appear online.
>> More Breakng News
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Funding Opportunities
USDA Small Business Innovation Research Program
The purpose of the USDA SBIR program is to provide an opportunity for US-owned, for-profit small business firms to submit innovative, applied, research and development projects that address important problems facing American agriculture and have the potential to lead to significant public benefit if the research is successful. Phase I involves grants up to $100,000.
Applications are due by September 1, 2011.
Illinois Conservation 2000 Sustainable Agriculture Grant Program
The Illinois Department of Agriculture is seeking proposals to carry out research, education, and on-farm demonstration projects. Competitive grants may be awarded to individuals for up to $10,000 and units of government, non-profit groups, institutions or organizations may apply for up to $20,000 per project.
Applications are due by October 15, 2011.
New Hampshire Integrated Pest Management (IPM) Program
The purpose of the Program is to encourage the principles and practices of integrated pest management in all areas where pesticides are used. The application process is open to all residents of the state, including citizens, extension offices, trade organizations, corporate organizations, and government agencies.
Grant applications are due by November 1, 2011.
>> More Funding Opportunities
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Coming Events
World Kitchen Garden Day
August 28, 2011
International
Kitchen Garden Day is an annual, decentralized celebration of food
produced on a human-scale: an opportunity for people around the world to gather
in their gardens with friends, family, and members of their local
community to celebrate the multiple pleasures and benefits of
home-grown, hand-made foods.
Carbon Economy Series Workshop: Joel Salatin
August 26-27, 2011
Santa Fe, New Mexico
Two information-packed days cover Joel's entire family
farm operation and the relationship marketing approach his family business has developed that has made Polyface Farm the internationally recognized and strictly local farm it is today.
Pollinator Conservation Planning Short Course in Nebraska
August 23, 2011
Ithaca, Nebraska
This day-long short course will equip conservationists, land managers,
farm educators, and agricultural professionals with the latest
science-based approaches to increasing crop security and reversing the
trend of pollinator decline, especially in heavily managed agricultural
landscapes.
>> More Events
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