Weekly Harvest Newsletter
Sustainable Agriculture News Briefs - September 21, 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.
Attend a Free AGR-Lite Webinar
The National Center for Appropriate Technology will host a free webinar September 28th at 11:00 a.m. Mountain Daylight Time on a whole farm revenue product called Adjusted Gross Revenue Lite (AGR-Lite). AGR-Lite can assist diversified and specialty crop and livestock farmers with whole farm revenue insurance.
The webinar will demonstrate the new online version of a tool that helps farmers assess the potential benefits of AGR-Lite, a whole farm revenue insurance product supported by the Risk Management Agency (RMA) of the United States Department of Agriculture. The webinar will provide real world examples of the potential of the insurance product to lower risks for the whole farm.
Register for the webinar at http://www.ncat.org/agrlite |
News & Resources
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Rodale Institute Releases 30-Year Results of Farming Systems Trial
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USDA Announces Renewable Energy Grants and Loans
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Survey Assesses Sustainable Agriculture Discrimination by Lenders
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Glyphosate Found in Mississippi Watershed Rain and Rivers
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Research Reveals Portrait of Central California CSAs
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TEDxFruitvale To Celebrate Farmworkers
Funding Opportunities
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Southern SARE On-Farm Research Grants
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Vermont Farm to School Grant
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OCIA Research & Education Micro Grants
Coming Events
- Small Farm Trade Show & Conference
- Farm-Based Education Conference
- California Agritourism Summit
News & Resources
Rodale Institute Releases 30-Year Results of Farming Systems Trial
Rodale Institute has announced the latest results of the Farming Systems
Trial, America's longest-running side-by-side comparison of organic and
conventional farming practices.
After 30 years of a rigorous side-by-side comparison, the Rodale Institute confidently
concludes that organic methods are improving the quality of our food, the health of our soils and water, and the conditions of our nation's rural areas. The trial is slated to continue with a new focus on nutrition and human health.
USDA Announces Renewable Energy Grants and Loans
USDA has announced more than $27 million in loans and grants through the Rural Energy for America
Program (REAP) for more than 500 agricultural producers and rural small
businesses across the country to implement renewable energy and energy
efficiency measures in their operations.
Survey Assesses Sustainable Agriculture Discrimination by Lenders
The Center for Rural Affairs, and the Iowa Farmers Union, with financial
support from the Leopold Center, recently released results of a survey
of Iowa producers, agricultural lenders and crop insurance agents. "This analysis reveals real disparities between how conventional
operations and sustainable farms and ranches are treated by lenders and
insurance companies," said Traci Bruckner, Assistant Policy Director at the Center for Rural Affairs and an author of the report.
Glyphosate Found in Mississippi Watershed Rain and Rivers
Glyphosate, also known by its tradename Roundup, is commonly found in
rain and rivers in agricultural areas in the Mississippi River
watershed, according to two USGS studies. The consistent occurrence of glyphosate in streams and air indicates its
transport from its point of use into the broader environment.
Research Reveals Portrait of Central California CSAs
The University of California Davis has released Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) in and around California’s Central Valley: Farm and Farmer Characteristics, Farm-Member Relationships, Economic Viability, Information Sources, and Emerging Issues. The report is the first published result of a research project in progress since 2009, and is intended to provide a description of important characteristics of CSA — social, economic, and environmental — within California’s Central Valley and surrounding foothills, and to briefly share farmers’ reflections on their experiences.
TEDxFruitvale To Celebrate Farmworkers
On Friday, October 14, 2011, at Mills College in Oakland, California,
TEDxFruitvale will bring together farmworkers, farmers, activists,
artists, students, professors, filmmakers, and entrepreneurs to
celebrate the people upon whom we depend to harvest our food.
>> More Breaking News
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Funding Opportunities
Southern SARE On-Farm Research Grants
Ag professionals in Cooperative Extension, universities, NGOs and
government and non-government organizations who collaborate with
farmers/ranchers in their research have the opportunity to apply for a
grant that affords them the opportunity to conduct research in
sustainable agriculture.
Proposal submission deadline is November 15, 2011.
Vermont Farm to School Grant
A school, a school district, a consortium of schools or school districts
may apply for this competitive grant to purchase equipment, products,
or instructional materials, or to provide for technical assistance,
farmer stipends, transportation or professional development.
Application deadline is October 20, 2011.
OCIA Research & Education Micro Grants
OCIA International (Organic Crop Improvement Association) offers grants
in the range of $300 to $1,500 for organic research, organic education,
and other ideas supporting organic agriculture.
>> More Funding Opportunities
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Coming Events
Small Farm Trade Show & Conference
November 3-5, 2011
Columbia, Missouri
Touted as the largest annual small farm show in the country, this event
features short courses, seminars, farmers forum talks, and a major
indoor trade show.
Farm-Based Education Conference
November 3-5, 2011
Shelburne, Vermont
The 5th Farm-Based Education Conference will bring together nearly 200
farm-based education practitioners, partners, and community leaders
for three days of
field trips, workshops, panel discussions, networking time with friends
and colleagues, inspiring success stories, and new knowledge.
California Agritourism Summit
November 4, 2011
Stockton, California
The first California statewide agritourism summit will be a chance for farm trails groups and everyone else involved in
California agritourism to share tools and strategies for supporting
California farmers and ranchers in developing successful agritourism
operations to meet the growing demand for local food and authentic
agricultural experiences.
>> 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.
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