Weekly Harvest Newsletter
Sustainable Agriculture News Briefs - August 3, 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.
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News & Resources
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New Brochure Addresses Farming for Food Safety and Conservation
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Four Additional Biomass Crop Assistance Program Areas Announced
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Dairy Processing Workbook Online
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ERS Releases Organic Apple Report
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Designs for Two Vegetable Wash Stations Published Online
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USDA Reopens Comment Period on Genetically Engineered Drought Tolerant Corn
Funding Opportunities
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People's Garden Grant Program
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Vermont GAPs Capital Improvement Grant Program
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NRCS Missouri Project
Coming Events
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The National Heirloom Exposition
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International Green Schoolyard Conference: Engaging Our Grounds
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Eastern Triangle Farm Tour
News & Resources
New Brochure Addresses Farming for Food Safety and Conservation
Wild Farm Alliance has released Farming With Food Safety and Conservation in Mind, providing a helpful, science-based overview, outlining the low prevalence of foodborne pathogens in wildlife, addressing conservation practices that can improve food safety, and offering a conservation-minded risk assessment strategy.
Related ATTRA Publication: An Illustrated Guide to Growing Safe Produce on Your Farm
Four Additional Biomass Crop Assistance Program Areas Announced
Four additional Biomass Crop Assistance Program have set aside acres in California, Kansas, Montana, Oklahoma, Oregon and Washington for the production of renewable energy crops. The deadline to sign up for help with start-up costs for energy crops is September 16, 2011.
Dairy Processing Workbook Online
American Livestock Breeds Conservancy is making available Dairy Processing 101: An online workbook for the beginning dairy farmer or dairy processor. The workbook includes sections on business planning, heritage dairy animals, dairy products, legalities, and infrastructure.
Related ATTRA Publication: Value-added Dairy Options
ERS Releases Organic Apple Report
A report by USDA's Economic Research Service examinse trends in the U.S. apple sector and compares production and marketing characteristics under organic and conventional farming systems.
Related ATTRA Publication: Apples: Organic Production Guide
Designs for Two Vegetable Wash Stations Published Online
The Fruit and Vegetable Working Group has developed a new online tool to help vegetable growers construct efficient wash stations. Detailed instructions, material lists and 3-D drawings for both an open-air and enclosed wash station are available on the Leopold Center for Sustainable Agriculture’s website.
USDA Reopens Comment Period on Genetically Engineered Drought Tolerant Corn
The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service has reopened until August 12 the comment period for a petition received from the Monsanto Company seeking a determination of nonregulated status for corn that has been genetically engineered for drought tolerance.
>> More Breaking News
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Funding Opportunities
People's Garden Grant Program
The National Institute of Food and Agriculture requests applications for the People's Garden Grant Program to facilitate the creation of produce, recreation, and/or wildlife gardens in urban and rural areas, which will provide opportunities for science-based informal education. Successful applicants will provide micro-subgrant support to smaller local projects.
Applications are due August 26, 2011.
Vermont GAPs Capital Improvement Grant Program
The Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food and Markets is now accepting applications for the new Good Agricultural Practices Capital Improvement Grant Program that offers matching grants of up to $10,000 per farm for capital improvements that will support Vermont agricultural producers in obtaining GAP certification.
The first grant round is open until September 30, 2011.
NRCS Missouri Project
Conservation partners are invited to apply for NRCS assistance to perform restoration projects, vegetation data collection and analysis and soil analysis. A total of $450,000 in funding is available.
Applications are due by August 26, 2011.
>> More Funding Opportunities
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Coming Events
The National Heirloom Exposition
September 13-15, 2011
Santa Rosa, California
Enjoy the largest exhibition of heirloom produce in history, from farms and gardens across the country. Speakers, a trade show, and heritage livestock show are included.
International Green Schoolyard Conference: Engaging Our Grounds
September 16-18, 2011
Berkeley and San Francisco, California
Participate in this exciting conference to hear about cutting-edge schoolyards and school gardens, meet like-minded colleagues from the United States and abroad, share ideas, tour fantastic local school grounds, and get inspired to bring these ideas back to your own community.
Eastern Triangle Farm Tour
September 10, 2011
Raleigh, Durham, Chapel Hill North Carolina
Carolina Farm Stewardship Association presents this annual self-guided tour of regional farms.
>> More Events
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The NCAT Sustainable Agriculture Project was developed and is managed by the National Center for Appropriate Technology (NCAT). Visit the NCAT website for more information on our other sustainable agriculture and energy projects.
© 2011 NCAT
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