Ag Opportunities Volume 17, Number 5 May 2006 Getting Grants: Ten Things You Gotta Do To Get Money By Dr. Mark R. Bailey USDA - CSREES Washington, DC Foreword: The information presented here was prepared to assist those who have not had much experience and/or success in preparing and submitting proposals to various competitive programs, be they government sponsored, non-governmental organization sponsored, or other entities who may sponsor such programs. This information is generic in the sense that it lays out a number of principles, recommendations and "hints" that are based on common sense and over 20 years of experience in research, research administration, integrated program leadership and extension competitive programs. The hints and recommendations are useful regardless of the type of grant program being considered or sponsoring organization. It goes without saying that there is no guarantee of successfully submitting and receiving a grant if all the principles, hints and suggestions are followed, but at the same time, the information presented should not be cause for any proposal to be rejected. MRB Ten Things You Gotta Do To Get Money: The following recommendations provide a logical approach to organize one’s activities and thoughts while going about the process of preparing a proposal for submission to a grant program. 1 Find the program right for you and your idea. 2 Become a "student" of the RFA/RFP/NOFA (Request for applications; Request for Proposals; Notice of Funds Availability). 3 Develop a calendar of key proposal preparation and submission events. 4 Understand criteria used to evaluate your proposal. 5 Write the proposal logically and clearly. 6 Develop a plan by which you will evaluate your project against expected outcomes. 7 Prepare budget with strong justification-a budget narrative. 8 Know about the review process and your reviewers. 9 Fill out forms completely and correctly. 10 Schedule enough time when you are "finished" for others to provide an honest and objective critique and for administrative requirements. Send to arrive on time. General Rules of the Game: Before getting into the things you need to do to get money, it is important that anyone contemplating preparing and submitting a proposal ensure that their idea incorporated the following before they begin preparing a proposal. Can you meet the following tests with regard to your proposal? * Is your idea appropriate to the program to which you wish to apply to? * Is your idea relevant to the purposes of the funding program? * Are you and your organization eligible to even apply (some programs are limited to particular target groups or organizations)? * Have you obtained and read program materials (if not, how will you answer these questions)? * Have in your mind an exciting and informative project description for the program manager and reviewers. * Are you aware of what forms and other paperwork is required as part of your proposal? * Do you know what the deadlines and time frames are of the program? Can you get everything done in time? * Do you feel comfortable calling the program manager or director with questions? Finding the Right Program: Many Federal and State agencies and other organizations may have an array of various programs? The National Science Foundation, the National Institutes of Health, and the National Research Initiative have numerous programs they sponsor. The Cooperative State Research, Education and Extension Service also has a number of other programs that are not research based, such as the Community Food Projects Program, Agricultural Risk Management Education Program, the SARE Program, and others. The USDA with its many agencies has many funding opportunities. Does your idea fit the aim of the program you are thinking about applying to? * National Research Initiative (NRI-CSREES) * Federal-State Marketing Improvement Program (FSMIP-AMS) * Capacity Building (CSREES Higher Education Programs) * Community Food Projects (CSREES) * Challenge Grants (CSREES Higher Education Programs) * Integrated Programs (CSREES-research, extension or combinations thereof) * Small Business Innovation Research Program (Government-wide, including CSREES * Outreach and Assistance for Socially Disadvantaged Farmers and Ranchers (CSREES-often referred to as the "2501 Program") * Multicultural Scholars Program (CSREES-Higher Education Programs) Agricultural * Risk Management Education Program (CSREES and the Risk Management Agency, USDA) Finding the Right Program for You and Your Idea: How do you find out about all of these programs? * Network--talk to friends, colleagues, university folks--Ask them what they know about available funding programs and if your idea fits. * Examine some RFA’s even if they are a year or two old. Programs rarely change significantly year-to-year. Does your idea fit somewhere? * When you think you’ve found the right program for your idea or project, get the most recent Request for Applications. * In the RFA - Check on eligibility...BUT not totally critical; doesn’t matter who gets the grant as long as you get some bucks, right? Partnering goes a long way here and actually many programs have partnerships and collaborators as important parts of their evaluation criteria; If you or your organization are not eligible, then work with someone who is eligible. * Outline main purposes of the program--determine where your idea fits in; Mainstream? Or is it on the fringe? This increases the challenges! * Find out where the abstracts of previously funded projects are. A great source of information (most are now on line somewhere). * Call the program contact and discuss your ideas relative to the program in which you think it fits. * If your idea is covered but does not appear mainstream, you’ve got a big challenge--competition is tough and tight, and being on the periphery of a central theme or major program goal does not help you. * Eligibility--do not waist your time if you are not eligible? Your proposal will be sent back or trashed. Call the program contact if you are not sure. * Deadline Dates: receive date vs. transmittal (postmark) date (most programs now use receipt dates). If your proposal is late without any mitigating circumstances, it will be sent back or trashed. * Indirect Costs--allowed? Limits? Talk to your office of sponsored programs or call the program contact and discuss. * Is a Funding Match Required? Critical--if a match is required and you have none, guess what? * Major Goal of Purpose(s) of the Program - will you be addressing it? Become a "student" of the RFA: The Request for Applications (RFA; Notice of Funds Availability - NOFA; Request for Proposals - RFP) is the key document that provides all the information you need to develop, organize, and prepare your proposal. Most include a format outline as well as evaluation criteria. * You gotta understand the main purposes of the program BEFORE you begin your proposal--that is usually upfront in the RFA! * Does your idea fit within the main purposes? * Do not waste time applying to the wrong program. Square pegs do not fit in round holes. * Never hesitate to call the program contact--there is always a point of contact in every RFA; if the program contact says your idea fits, then it is up to you to properly represent that idea in your proposal. * Once you are pretty sure your idea fits, then the fun begins, the drudgery, the toil, the work, the boredom, the challenge! * The RFA holds the info you need to prepare a competitive proposal. * Directions, outline, evaluation criteria, deadlines. * Know the RFA forward and backward. If something is confusing, who do you call? The program contact. * Most RFAs contain directions as to how to prepare a proposal, often times including a topical outline. * Use this topical outline also for your Table of Contents format. * If no outline, look at the evaluation criteria, for these often give good hints as to what folks are looking for and their relative importance. * By becoming a student of the RFA you become seeped with understanding the key components of the program--its goals and areas of emphasis. * Your proposal will (better) reflect the key components in a logical, coherent way. Reviewers first read the proposal summary to see if the proposal fits within the program; so your project summary is one of the most important paragraph(s) you will write. A Calendar of Events is your Friend: A calendar can help you organize your work schedule. Note the following: * Deadlines ARE NOT MADE to be broken. * A deadline is a deadline is a deadline--no flexibility here! * "Back plan" two-three weeks from the deadline noted in the RFA--that is when your proposal writing needs to be done. * Establish a non-revocable "I am finished" deadlines for various sections of your proposal. * Allow 2-3 weeks for review by calloused, insensitive experts who could care less whether they hurt your feelings. Also allow time for administrative review at your university or organization. * Develop a detailed outline of your proposal and establish time periods for each major section; crosscheck your outline with RFA instructions and evaluation criteria. If you hurry a proposal, reviewers will see this and will raise questions about your scheduling and organizational skills. If they raise questions on these issues, they will not be kind Criteria Used by Reviewers - Must Know: Nearly all RFAs contain the criteria by which proposals will be judged. It is imperative that you understand and are familiar with the criteria, and their weights if they are so noted. * RFA’s ordinarily contain a section on the criteria that will be used by reviewers to evaluate your proposal. If you don’t see such criteria, call the program contact. * Understand these criteria BEFORE you begin preparing your proposal. * Write them down; put them on mirrors, windows, desktops...get ‘em down good--these are a major guide for you. * Criteria often come with "weights" or percentages, or some other means of measure. * Provides you with great understanding as to where you really need to put your efforts. Put yourself in the shoes of a reviewer, contemplating the evaluation criteria, and then reading your proposal. Writing the Proposal - Logic and Clarity: Easy to say, hard to do. This is hard and difficult work. Every word counts. Each sentence counts. * Most Important 250 words (or other limitations as provided by the RFA you are working with) in the entire proposal: THE SUMMARY or ABSTRACT. * The summary or abstract captures the essence of your proposal--must be clear, concise, well articulated and logical-- usually limited to half of what you "need" to write! * Write the summary after everything else is completed. Make sure it does what you need it to do--EXCITE YOUR REVIEWERS! * The summary is often the only item read by all reviewers. * The summary sets the tone for your proposal. * Organize the proposals around the RFA provided outline or evaluation criteria whichever is most logical. * Reviewers will at least know you read the RFA (in some proposal evaluation panels or sessions, the author has heard reviewers wonder out loud as to whether the applicant had actually read the RFA). * Following the prescribed format makes reviewers happy and more generous: an easier to read proposal when compared to others gives the former a significant advantage (assuming of course the idea has relevance and legitimacy). Making reviewers work hard is like shooting one’s own foot and that hurts! REMEMBER THIS: * You make reviewers work hard by not following directions and formats and that gives rise to one of many of Bailey’s idioms: The degree to which you make a reviewer work hard decreases the probability of success exponentially. * Be logical in proposal construction. * Your background description establishes the need for your project and that it fits the program. * The need can be readily identified with the purposes of the program. Make sure you tell them that in the proposal--Be Explicit. * Follow Directions--it is amazing how many proposals do NOT follow directions! * Have your proposal flow logically * Goals * Objectives * Methodologies with associated timelines * Expected Outcomes and Impacts * Evaluation-how you will measure expected outcomes * Your proposal’s mission is to make sure reviewers are convinced that: * The proposal goal(s) reflect major purposes of programs. * That if you accomplish your stated objectives, you will attain the goal(s). * That if methodology is followed, objectives will be attained. * That the expected results are directly related to overall goals and purposes of program. * That you can do the job! * Reviewers must be convinced: * The evaluation plan you present will keep you on track and will identify problems that are subject to solutions. * That the probability of your project success is acceptable --reviewers think the project can be successfully accomplished, thereby making it a contributor to the programs purposes and goals. * That the proposal needs to be funded (relative to other proposals) * And another Bailey idiom: If, through your proposal you create a reviewer champion(s), the probability of success increases exponentially! The Budget and Narrative: Many proposal submitters have a hard time with this part of a proposal. Budgets vary by type of proposal, region of the country the proposal comes from, and myriad other variables and factors. The test usually followed is the "test of reasonableness!" Is your budget, given what you propose to do, and the people and supplies, travel, etc, included, is it reasonable? Many programs do not use budgets as an evaluation factor, but a poorly justified budget or an inadequate narrative raises questions that go far beyond the budget per se. So look at previous funded projects. What did they get? Is your budget over that maximum specified in the RFA? Often your office of sponsored programs or the equivalent will have some sound advice! * Use the timelines to compute amount of time various people will spend in carrying out the project (person months, for example). * While usually not part of the evaluation, unreasonable budgets kill proposals for they create skeptics within reviewer ranks. * Keep budgets within guidelines as provided in the RFA; budgets are judged on the degree of reasonableness given the proposed amount of work. * Understand what you are allowed to spend on and what you are not allowed to spend on. * Use the budget form provided and then provide detailed justification for each line item in a budget narrative; FOLLOW the budget line order found on the form (do not make reviewers work hard). * The Narrative, or justification, should spell out how you compute each line item. * Salary: hourly rate times number of hours times days; or on a monthly basis. * Provide percentage of benefits if not computed in indirect costs. * Make sure the numbers add up. * Talk to program contact about summer salaries--are they allowed? * Put yourself in the shoes of a reviewer who has read about 25 proposals and their accompanying budgets. Understand the Review Process - Who are the Reviewers: In various competitive programs, proposals may be reviewed using many different techniques. CSREES’ National Research Initiative, for example, as does the National Science Foundation and the National Institutes of Health use peer panels to review proposals. In programs where relatively few proposals are received, the program may use a system of merit reviews, in house with usually an independent, out-of-house reviewer or two. It is important to understand how your proposal will be reviewed. * Reviewers depending on programs are provided guidance on evaluating proposals using evaluation criteria as published in the RFA. Most times, you have what the reviewers have. * Reviewers discuss each proposal-strengths, weakness, qualifications, probability of success, etc. * Remember, you can fool some of the people some times, but you can’t fool reviewers! * Reviewers give individual scores and then when they meet as a group, they discuss the proposal and arrive at a "consensus score". * Reviewers are looking for proposals they can champion and those they can dismiss--make it hard for them to dismiss yours. * By following directions found in the RFA, you help the reviewers review. They really like that! * Not following directions makes them work hard, they get angry, cheap, and unforgiving, mean and cranky! * Proposals in any given year are judged against all other proposals reviewed in the program in that year. * For the most part, reviewers are people like you and me. Always busy, no time for extras. * They take on the additional burden of reviewing proposals gratis, thereby making great contributions to the professions. * Your goal is to have your proposal make at least one reviewer champion, so think like one. For the most part (and I really mean most part) reviewers are fair and objective; in panel situations, they police each other. Dumb but Important Stuff: Filling out the Forms: Often a proposal will be accepted for review, but certain information is missing, or the forms are filled out incorrectly. When this happens, questions are raised that go far further than the form being reviewed. If the abstract or summary guidance says 250 words, and you provide 500 words, that is not looked on very positively! * Fill out all the required forms completely. If you have questions who do you call? The program contact! * When the form asks for telephone numbers, provide the telephone numbers and not FAX numbers and vice versa. * Make sure email addresses are complete; exceedingly important in the e-GOV/e-GRANTS world! * The amount requested on the Coversheet should be the amount you computed for your total budget. Make sure the numbers are the same and consistent throughout your proposal. * Make sure the Project Director signs the Proposal Cover Page. * Make sure the Authorized Organizational Representative (he or she who can approve expenditures) signs as well. * Make sure the Summary Page (or equivalent) is filled out completely. The Summary is the most important words you will write as part of the proposal. Again, if have questions, call the National Program Leader or the program contact. Critique and Submission: Most proposals that receive in-house critical reviews are often those that fare the best when evaluated. Most of us have experienced the situation where we become "too close" to that which we are doing, and fail to see some pretty stupid stuff. Stuff that the conscientious reviewer will invariably see. SO: * Make sure you allow time for an in-house critique before submission. Send it to someone who is not your good friend. Someone WHO: * talks frankly, bluntly and clearly; You do not want someone who beats around the bush * has little sympathy for you or your ego * is smart, crafty and wise * is insensitive to your sensitivities * has had success in obtaining grants in the past * Incorporate relevant critique comments as appropriate. * eGOV/eGRANTS proposal system will be implemented by all government agencies in the relatively near future. Make sure you submit proposal using correct media (paper? Electronically?). * DO NOT MISS the DEADLINE--and make sure you understand when that is. If an "Act of God" occurs resulting in you being unable to make the deadline, call the program contact immediately. You must document the circumstances if you are to receive an extension. Final Proposal Preparation Words: Some final words... * Always assume luck is on your side, for luck never hurts. * If at first you don’t succeed, don’t take it personally; be persistent and try and try again. * If have any questions, who do you call? The program contact, of course! Leveraging Your Grant Dollars: When resources are constrained, which they most often are, it makes sense to leverage any grant dollars you may receive. One project in one program can lead to another project in another program. The proposal that can show some leveraging of funds, when compared to an equal quality proposal without leveraged funds, usually wins the tie-breaker. Often, your proposal discusses an idea that may have application in other programs. So learn the differences, and submit another proposal to that program. Do not send the same proposal to two different programs without informing both programs that you have done so. This should not prejudice either proposal but not informing both programs can pose great problems in the future. Most funding agencies are precluded from funding the same proposal that has or is being funded by another agency or program. The following may prove useful as you go about the process of developing, writing, and submitting a proposal: * Learn the details of as many programs as you can--do not limit yourself to one agency or one program, per se. * One program may fund an initial study or project that leads to funding a continued project by another program. * If you find two similar programs in one or more agencies, use your basic idea and develop two related but not duplicate proposals and submit to both programs. * Make sure you tell each program what you are doing. Proposals are judged similar relative to the similarity of their objectives. Different objectives basically mean different proposals. * Be an entrepreneur--market you’re your idea or proposals to other programs. * Call and discuss basic ideas with the program contact--the key is to find out whether your idea is main stream. * Work the program contact hard--pump for hints for success; ask specific questions relative to your proposal or similar, previously submitted proposals. * Partner with those who have similar projects, thoughts, or ideas. * Use collaborations to bring in missing expertise--adds credibility to proposal (get specific letters of commitment; make sure it is part of your budget and budget narrative). * Be persistent. In most competitive programs, funding is not available to fund all the proposal that reviewers recommend funding; hence you may have a very good proposal but because of limited funds, your proposal ends up falling below the funding loan. Use the reviewer comments to improve your proposal and resubmit during the next solicitation period. * Do not limit yourself to just one source of funding; go after multiple sources! * Pester non-governmental organizations--Ford, Kellogg, Aspen, and other foundations/grant-making entities with your thoughts and ideas. * Use results of one study to bolster the need for an additional study. * Documented outcomes and impacts of those outcomes from previous grants provide your best credibility; if just starting, make sure reviewers know that (your vitae). ************************************************************************ What’s the Buzz About Risk Management? Farmers are risk takers by nature, but at the same time, their livelihood depends on finding an acceptable level of risk in their operations. The term risk management is showing up more frequently in conversations and grant proposals so the time seems right to mention the different kinds of risk. Risks comes in the form of weather, pests, poor soil quality, capricious markets, government regulations, knowledge gaps and even producers’ personalities. Risk Management spelled with upper case "R" and "M" refers to USDA’s Risk Management Agency, which helps producers manage business risk through market-based programs such as the Federal Crop Insurance Corporation, research and development partnerships and risk compliance education. When spelled with lower case letters, risk management can involve anything from sitting in your chicken yard at night with a shotgun to installing row covers for frost protection early in the growing season. SARE (sustainable agriculture research and education) grants offer funding to evaluate risk management techniques or to educate about proven risk management strategies. The announcement for the North Central SARE Farmer and Rancher Grant Program will come late summer or early fall so be on the lookout. (Common Ground, Spring 2006) ************************************************************************ Sheep and Goat Herbal Deworming Research Project Objective: This project is designed to control internal parasites in sheep and goats using herbs compared to ivomec, a commercial dewormer and a control Summary of Work: We are currently collecting data from the feces of hair sheep (Katahdin breed), wooled sheep (Dorset breed) and Boer meat goats (the fastest growing commodity in the nation). The ova are being counted under the microscope after processing to determine how many eggs (ova) were laid by adult nematodes. The hoemonchus contortus genus and specie are the main culprit in the summertime when it is hot and humid and causes the demise of sheep and goats with goats being more susceptible than sheep. Since these are blood-sucking parasites, the blood volume is lowered resulting in anemia in the animals and can result in death. As a result, we are also collecting packed cell volumes in these animals to determine the hematocrit and the status of the blood levels in all animals; i.e., 1) controls, 2) those treated with ivomec and 3) those treated with herbs. After our final collection we will then perform a statistical analysis of the data and publish our results for use by small animal producers. For more info, Contact: Helen Swartz, PhD, Professor / State Specialist / Principal Investigator Lincoln Univ Cooperative Extension 305 Allen Hall Jefferson City, MO 65102-0029 swartzh@lincolnu.edu ************************************************************************ *** In Print/On-Line *** *The 2006 Directory of Flower & Herb Buyers* lists 35 companies seeking 300+ species of floral and herbal botanicals. These companies want to buy directly from North American growers and wild crafters in large and small amounts. Send $15.95 to Prairie Oak Publishing; 221 S Saunders St, Maryville MO 64468. *The Farmers Market Resource Guide* The Guide list grants, programs and other financial and information resources available from public and private organizations and gives details about more than 100 projects and grants available to help start or improve farmers markets. Online at www.ams.usda.gov/farmersmarkets/Consortium/ResourceGuide.htm or get a printed copy from the AMS, Marketing Services Branch, 1400 Independence Ave, SW, Room 2646, South Bldg, Washington, DC 20250, 202-720-8317. *Local Food Directories* A number of organizations and agencies throughout the US are trying to help agricultural producers connect with customers by compiling directories of local food sources that help buyers find goods and growers find markets. This resource offers listings for local food directories and promotional programs, searchable by state. www.attra.ncat.org/attra-pub/localfood_dir.php *Dairy Your Way* is a free, 100-page book that profiles a variety of dairy housing and production systems suitable for the Upper Midwest. Producers, university researchers, extension educators and industry experts from MN, WI and MI and Michigan contributed to the book. Each chapter profiles a different aspect of dairy production and includes profiles of farmers from all three states who are all dairy farming successfully in different ways. Available from MN Dept of Ag at 651-201-6012. *Organic Dairy Farming: A Resource for Farmers* The basics of production and certification for organic dairy. Chapters on herd health, dairy nutrition, milk quality, calves, pasture, soils, organic crop management and more. $14.95. AND *Raising Poultry on Pasture: Ten Years of Success* A compilation of articles from the American Pastured Poultry Producers Association newsletter. Numerous authors offering diverse perspectives, success stories and best practices. Chapters on brooding, shelter designs, day-range, genetics, turkeys, processing, marketing, record-keeping and more. $39.95. AND *Alternative Treatments for Ruminant Animals* By Paul Dettloff, DVM. Hands-on reference by a large animal veterinarian with nearly four decades of experience. How to move from conventional practice to a holistic and sustainable approach to animal health; provides farmers with methods of care that are practical, acceptable for organic operations and have been proven to work. $28.00. All three are available from Midwest Organic & Sustainable Education Service, 715-772-3153, www.mosesorganic.org/mosesgeneral/booklist.htm ************************************************************************ *** IN THE NEWS *** A venture that could add to your livestock farm: Raising alpacas. The U.S. herd will surge by up to 20% annually to meet foreign demand for the animal's fine fleece. The adults typically cost $15,000-$20,000. Most produce from three to five pounds of fleece a year, at a price of about $175 a pound. Raising alpacas is a long-term investment. The llamalike animals fit well with other livestock operations. They eat common ruminant feed and can be raised with other livestock. (Kiplinger Ag Newsletter, Vol 77, No 7) Look for more farmers to grow grass as a crop to produce fuel to generate electric power or to provide ethanol feedstock in coming years. Burning switchgrass and other grasses for fuel can be cheaper and more environmentally friendly than fossil fuels. Congress is mulling tax breaks and mandates to ramp up output of biofuels from grasses as well as from crop waste and other biomass. The incentives, which could come in the next few years, would help to make grass fuel a much larger business, as it already is in Europe. Farmers are evaluating many grasses: Switchgrass, which yields up to 10 tons per acre on light soil. Big bluestem, which grows 10 feet high, Johnson grass, Indian grass and others. The best place to begin research is county soils surveys in your local USDA office. For info online, click "Alternative Crops" and "biomass" under "Plant Topics" at www.plants.usda.gov. A quick primer on major prairie grasses and biofuels can be found at www.okprairie.com/grasses.htm (Kiplinger Ag Newsletter, Vol 77, No 8) Native Plant Field Day at UMC-Bradford Farm The University of Missouri’s Bradford Research and Extension Center in Columbia will be hosting a Native Plant Field Day on Friday, June 23 from 9 am to noon. Some activities included are educational walking and wagon tours to demonstrate uses of native plants such as landscaping, wildlife habitat, ground cover, prairie restoration, soil conservation, and seed production. There will be native seed and seedlings for sale and the Hawthorn Chapter of the Native Plant Society will have nature books for sale. For info, call Tim Reinbott or Thresa Chism 573-884-7945. Directions to Bradford Farm aes.missouri.edu/bradford/bfdir.stm. ************************************************************************ *** ON THE CALENDAR *** May 11 - Compost and Green Manure Workshop, Mountain Grove, MO. Call 417-547-7513. May 20-12th - Fiber Fair, Marshfield, MO. Call 417-859-7840, helengrace1@netzero.net. May 22 - From Recipe to Reality Seminar, Lincoln, NE. Call 402-472-2819. May 23 - Growing Your Group Tour Market, Jefferson City, MO. Call 1-866-466-8283. May 24 - Small Food Processors Entrepreneur Workshop, Jefferson City, MO. Call 417-895-6932. June 1, 8, 15 - Annie’s Project 2: Women Marketing Grain, Palmyra, MO. Call 573-633-2640. June 2-4 - Heart of America Sheep Show & Fiber Festival, Sedalia, MO. Call 816-632-4310;, vhfarm@cameron.net, www.moncwga.com June 5-9 - Artificial Insemination Goat Clinic, Jefferson City, MO. Call 573-681-5551. June 8 - Viticulture Field Day, Mountain Gove, MO. Call 417-547-7500. June 19-21 - Midwest Katahdin Hair Sheep Assn Meeting, Sedalia, MO. Call 618-669-2440, jgeiler@hotmail.com. June 28-30 - Grant I Writing Workshop, Springfield, MO. Call 417-732-6485. July 6-8 - MO Dairy Grazing Conference, Mt. Vernon, MO. Call 417-466-2148. July 12-14 - Grant II Writing Workshop, Springfield, MO. Call 417-732-6485. July 12-13 - Greening St Louis: Sustainable Landscape Development, St Louis, MO. Call 573-522-4170. July 20-22 - Grazing America: The American Grassfed Assn’s Annual Conference, Colorado Springs, CO. Call 303-243-4300, www.americangrassfed.org/index.html July 28-29 - MO Christmas Tree Assn Summer Meeting, Holt, MO. Call 660-457-3834. July 28-Aug 9 - Ozark Empire Fair, Springfield, MO. Call 417-833-2660, www.ozarkempirefair.com Jul 29-30 - Ozark Renewable Energy & Sustainable Living Expo, Hermann, MO. Call 314-993-9047, http://ozarkre.org. July 30 - MO Young Farmers/Young Farm Wives Annual Summer Tour, Chillicothe, MO. Call 573/751-8467. Aug 3 - Alternative Fruit Crops Field Day, Mountain Grove, MO. Call 417-547-7513. Aug 4-6 - Camelid Community, Kansas City, MO. Call 715-246-5837, bsfugina@pressenter.com Aug 9-11 - Grant III Writing Workshop, Springfield, MO. Call 417-732-6485. Aug 10-20 - 2006 MO State Fair, Sedalia, MO Aug 15-17 - 5th National SARE Conference, Oconomowoc, WI. Go to www.sare.org/ Sept 22-23 - Native Plant School, Kingsville, MO. Call 573-522-4170. Oct 14 - 4th Annual Missouri Chestnut Roast, New Franklin, MO. Call 573-882-3234, rhoadsj@missouri.edu; www.centerforagroforestry.org Aug 18 - From Recipe to Reality, Lincoln, NE. Call 402-472-2819. Oct 27-28 - MO State Beekeepers Assn Fall Meeting, Jefferson City. MO. Oct 30 - From Recipe to Reality, Lincoln, NE. Call 402-472-2819. Nov 2-4 - National Small Farm Conference and Trade Show, Columbia, MO Call 1-800-633-2535. Dec 1-2 - MO Livestock Symposium, Kirksville, MO. Call 660-665-9866 or http://missourilivestock.com Dec 10-13 - 3rd National Conference on Grazing Lands, St Louis, MO. Call 303-986-3309, www.glci.org/3NCGLindex.htm Jan 12-13 - Landscape Design with Missouri in Mind, Springfield, MO. Call 573-522-4170. MU Ag Experiment Station Field Days June 15-16 - Grazing School, Wurdack Farm, Cook Station, MO. Call 573-882-4450 June 23 - Native Plant Field Day, Bradford Research and Extension Center, Columbia, MO. Call 573-884-7945 July 11 - Turfgrass & Ornamental Field Day, South Farm, Columbia, MO. Call 573-442-4893 July 12 - Weed/Integrated Pest Management Field Day, Bradford Center, Columbia, MO. Call 573-884-7945 July 25-28 - Crop Injury and Diagnostic Clinic, Bradford Center, Columbia, MO. Call 573884-7945 Aug. 3 - Greenley Memorial Research Center Field Day, Novelty, MO. Call 660-739-4410 Aug. 22 - Graves-Chapple Farm Field Day, Corning, MO. Call 660-744-6231 Aug. 26 - Bobwhite Quail Management Workshop and Field Day, Bradford Center, Columbia, MO. Call 573-884-7945 Aug 31 - Delta Research Center Field Day, Portageville, MO. Call 573-379-5431 Sept 6 - Hundley-Whaley Center Field Day, Albany, MO. Call 660-726-5610 Sept. 8 - Southwest Center Field Day, Mount Vernon, MO. Call 417-466-2148 Sept 16 - South Farm Showcase, South Farm, Columbia, MO. Call 573-882-7488 Sept 26-28 - Beginning Grazing School,Forage Systems Research Center, Linneus, MO. Call 660-895-5121 Oct. 5 - Wurdack Farm Field Day, Cook Station, MO. Call 573-882-4450 Oct. 14 - Chestnut Roast, Horticulture and Agroforestry Research Center, New Franklin, MO. Call 573-882-3234. Nov 10-12 - Raising Vegetables and Civic Values : CSA in the 21st Century, Tustin, MI. Call 877-526-1441, or www.csafarms.org Artificial Insemination Goat Clinic June 8-9, 2006 George Washington Carver Farm Lincoln University Jefferson City, Mo 65102-0029 Instructor: Teresa Wade, Salmon, Idaho Biogenics, Ltd. First Day-Classroom-Second Day, Classroom and AI Hands-On Artificial Insemination-Afternoon With Producers Learn how the effects of management, stress and environment influence AI success Learn how proper feed and management of AI candidates effect success An overview of semen abnormalities and stress related conditions of cells Basic instruction on the doe’s hormonal processes during estrus and "rut" in the buck Basic anatomy of both the female and male reproductive tract How fertilization occurs Selection of AI candidates in the male and female Proper storage and thawing techniques of frozen semen Available AI equipment and its use Bring two goats to artificially inseminate with semen from superior bucks Instructor: Teresa Wade, BIOGENICS, LTD. Salmon, ID web site: biogenicsltd.com Registration Fee: $50-Send to: Helen A. Swartz, Box 29, Lincoln University, Jefferson City, MO 65102-0029, ph: 573-681-5540 Ext. 30 Green Hills Farm Project 2006 Farm Walk Schedule May 20-3 pm Ray & Susan Stropes, Chilhowee, MO 816-653-4467 We always enjoy visiting the Stropes Farm. Their lovely home sits right on a small lake where one can look over the vast pastures and cattle. Come see how Ray & Susan manage their cattle. Ray always has a new idea he is working on. Bring a covered dish and lawn chairs. June 15-5 pm, John & Jackie Woods, Smithville, MO, 816-532-3795 This farm has been in the family for many generations. Raising Cattle and goats using a MIG, the Woods continue to farm despite the growing urban sprawl around them. Having a farm so close to the urban area presents great opportunities and challenges. Bring lawn chairs and a covered dish. July 20-5 pm, Matt & Tina Reichert, Brunswick, MO, 660-548-3283 Using MIG methods to manage their cattle and goats, the Reichert family has worked hard these past years to convert brushy hill ground into great grazing pastures. The Bed and Breakfast and youth camps are continuing to grow. Bring lawn chairs and a covered dish. Aug 17-5 pm John & Rose Blaszak, Polo, MO, 660-354-3438 John & Rose and their growing family are like many of us who pursue careers off the farm and have that dream of a farm on a little acreage. Raising chickens for meat and a garden is a great way to bring that dream to reality. Bring lawn chairs and a covered dish. Sept 21-5 pm, Jordan & Anne Bentley, Brookfield, MO, 660-388-6825 City Slickers think'n they're going to homestead!? Jordan & Anne have bought just less than 40 acres with nothing but a pond on it. They have been raising chickens, turkeys and lambs for the past six years on rented ground. They will begin raising the same this spring on the new home place. All pastured meats are direct marketed locally or in Kansas City. They have not built a home as of the first of the year, but they will be living there this spring. This is a dream come true for the Bentleys! Contact them early this spring for directions or call Barb Buchmayer. Their contact information will change this spring! Bring lawn chairs and covered dish. Oct 19-4 pm, Doug & Diane Peterson, Ridgeway, MO, 660-824-4276 Doug and Diane raise cattle and use MIG methods. "We have a cattle only operation at this time. We have expanded quite a bit in the last few years and are still trying to get everything figured out. We will try and look at one or two different grazing systems. One will be fairly large with 200 cows being run together as one herd. This large of a herd have some very unique benefits and problems. Because we expanded our grass base faster than we wanted to purchase cows we run a combination of our own cows plus some contract cows for other people. We have also started selling a limited amount of grass fed all natural beef to customers in the Kansas City/St. Joe area. We are a family operation." Bring lawn chairs and covered dish. Nov-Workshop/Seminar will be announced 2006 Market Gardening Workshops Growing Growers Program For more information on each of these workshops, call 913-488-1270, growers@ksu.edu May 8 - Equipment and Safety Workshop, Olathe, KS. June 5 - Harvesting and Post-Harvest Handling Workshop, TBA. July 10 - The Taste and Nutrition of Local Vegetables Workshop, Lawrence, KS. Aug 27 - Pests, Diseases and Weeds, Independence, MO. Sept 25 - An Integrated Farm, Higginsville, MO. Oct 21 - Business Management for Small Farms, TBA. ************************************************************************