Weekly Harvest Newsletter
Sustainable Agriculture News Briefs - October 5, 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.
Is Whole Farm Revenue Insurance Right for your Farm?
A video rendering of our latest webinar is now available online! In this tutorial we demonstrate the new online version of a tool that helps farmers assess the potential benefits of AGR-Lite, a whole farm revenue insurance product. The hour-long video provides real-world examples of the potential of the insurance product to lower risks for the whole farm. |
News & Resources
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National Farm to School Month Begins
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Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program Grants Announced
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ERS Report Explores Nitrogen Use and Conservation Policy
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Raw Milk Institute Launched
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First Animal Welfare Approved Restaurant Announced
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Ohio Livestock Care Standards Take Effect
Funding Opportunities
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Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program
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IR-4 Biopesticide and Organic Support Program
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Western IPM Center 2012 Competitive Grant Programs
Coming Events
- American Livestock Breeds Conservancy Annual Conference
- Organic Dairy and Field Crop Conference
- Tri-State Farm and Food Conference
News & Resources
National Farm to School Month Begins
October is National Farm to School Month, a time to celebrate the
connections that are happening all over the country between schools and
local food. National Farm to School Network has developed a range of resources that
can be downloaded and used by any organization or individual seeking to
promote Farm to School Month. National Farm to School Network also has
farm to school state leaders who can help schools coordinate classroom
visits from chefs and farmers.
Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program Grants Announced
Under its Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program, USDA has awarded 36 grants totaling $18 million to organizations that
will provide training and assistance to beginning farmers and ranchers
to help them run successful and sustainable farms. Another $18 million will be made available in fiscal year 2012. A full list of awardees can be found online.
ERS Report Explores Nitrogen Use and Conservation Policy
In this report, USDA Economic Research Service explores the use of nitrogen
in U.S. agriculture, assesses changes in farm nutrient practices that
could improve its efficiency, and reviews several policy approaches for
improving nitrogen management.
Raw Milk Institute Launched
Food Safety News reports on the launch of the Raw Milk Institute, which seeks to responsibly lead the emerging raw milk market. According to its website, the Raw Milk Institute mentors and assists farmers in the production of safe raw milk, by utilizing scale-appropriate conditions-based food safety plans and standards.
First Animal Welfare Approved Restaurant Announced
Animal Welfare Approved announces the October 1, 2011 opening of the
first Animal Welfare Approved Restaurant, Grazin', in Hudson, New York; the first restaurant in the U.S. using only Animal Welfare Approved meat, eggs and dairy products.
Ohio Livestock Care Standards Take Effect
Ohio's first-in-the-nation comprehensive livestock care standards became effective September 29, 2011. Rules affecting the care of dairy, beef, swine, turkeys, broilers,
sheep, goats, alpacas, llamas, and equine standards have been approved,
and educational guides to these approved standards are available online
from the Ohio Department of Agriculture.
>> More Breaking News
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Funding Opportunities
Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program
NIFA requests applications for the Beginning Farmer and Rancher
Development Program (BFRDP) for fiscal year 2012. The BFRDP provides
resources to support the development of educational outreach curricula,
workshops, educational teams, training, and technical assistance
programs to assist beginning farmers and ranchers in the United States
and its territories with entering, establishing, building and managing
successful farm and ranch enterprises. NIFA anticipates that the amount available for support of this program in FY 2012 will be approximately $19 million.
Applications are due by November 22, 2011.
IR-4 Biopesticide and Organic Support Program
The IR-4 Biopesticide and Organic Support Program announces a request
for grant proposals for funding of efficacy research in 2012. IR-4 is
especially interested in proposals containing biopesticides as
resistance management tools, rotated with conventional products and for
use as a part of organic production systems.
Deadline for proposals is November 7, 2011.
Western IPM Center 2012 Competitive Grant Programs
The Western IPM Center has approximately $200,000 available to fund
submitted proposals that identify IPM priorities, extend IPM
information, or develop IPM methods. Programs available in this RFA
include (A) IPM Work Groups, (B) Outreach and/or Publications, and (C)
Surveys/Crop Profiles/Pest Management Strategic Plans.
Proposals must be received by November 18, 2011.
>> More Funding Opportunities
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Coming Events
American Livestock Breeds Conservancy Annual Conference
November 11-12, 2011
Wichita, Kansas
This year’s two-day conference, themed "Taking Stock – Knowledge, Economics, and Rare Breeds", will explore the many facets of rare breed conservation, from rare breed censusing, to animal husbandry, to product marketing.
Organic Dairy and Field Crop Conference
November 4, 2011
Syracuse, New York
NOFA-NY encourages veteran farmers, new farmers and farmers interested
in transitioning to organic management to attend for a day of networking
and information exchange. Keynote speakers are Ed Maltby and
Mary-Howell Martens. Separate workshop tracks are scheduled for dairy
and field crops.
Tri-State Farm and Food Conference
November 4-5, 2011
Huntington, West Virginia
West Virginia University Extension Service Small Farm Center presents
"Eat Local, Spend Local", a conference on revolutionary ways to keep both local foods and local food dollars in West Virginia communities.
>> 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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