Ag Opportunities Volume 20, Number 10 October 2009 17th National Small Farm Trade Show & Conference November 5-7, 2009 Boone County Fairgrounds, Columbia, Missouri Show Hours Thurs, Nov 6: 9 am-5 pm Fri, Nov 7: 8 am-5 pm Sat, Nov 8: 8 am-5 pm Cost: Entrance to Seminars, Exhibits, Demonstrations and Assn Meetings One day $7/after Oct 27-$10 Two day $12/after Oct 27-$15 Three day $15/after Oct 27-$20 Short Courses Preregistration One course $25 Two course $45 Three course $65 Four course $80 Regular Registration One course $35 Two course $65 Three course $90 Four course $115 For more information or to register call 800-633-2535. Stock Dog Clinic Conducted by Danny Shilling Wednesday, November 4, 2009 All Day, beginning at 9:00 am, at the fairgrounds before the trade show 15-dog limit $25 each (through Oct 27) $50 each (from Oct 28) To register, call 800-633-2535 Thursday Seminars: *Welcome *Poultry 301 *Alternative Crops *TBA *Water Quality on the Farm *Farm Issues Farmers Forum: *Native Plant Propagation from Seed and Vegetatively *Costs & Returns on Fall Bearing Raspberries vs. High Tunnel Tomatoes *Overall Yields & Costs of Greenhouse Raspberry Production *The Stream Team *Planting & Growing Miscanthus giganteus as a Bioenergy Crop *Forestry for Small Land Owners *Future Farming Families *Bio-Control of Leafy Spurge Using Angora Goats *Eliminating Invasive Buckthorn with Goats, an Ecological and Habitat Restoration Study *Growing Future Farmers, Connecting Kids to Farms & Agricultural Careers *Growing and Marketing Blueberries Grown on Mine Reclamation Land *Pasture Raised Heritage Breed Turkeys *Christmas Tree Study In Northern Minnesota *Update on River Hills Purebred Poultry Marketing Alliance Friday Seminars: *Raspberries and Blackberries for the Small Farm *Soil Fertility *Keynote Address: Farmers & the Government *Conservation Planning *Alternative Energy *Marketing Short Courses: *Hogs *Soil Fertility Farmers Forum: *Part I: Establishing A Beekeeping Enterprise on the Small Farm *Part II: Expanding the Small Farm Apiary *Culinary and Ornamental Herbs: Adding to a Grain and Livestock Family Farming Operation *On place, partnerships and saskatoons: Assessing the sustainability of growing non-traditional fruit tree crops: a collaborative agroforestry approach *Developing a Saskatoon Berry Market in the Upper Midwest *Study to Reduce Parasitic Infestations of Yellow Perch *Chicamore: The Healing Egg Project *Wintergreen Farm: Cool-season Greens & Vegetables for the Other Half of the Year *Aronia Berry: A Sustainable Crop for a Sustainable Future *Innovative Field to Market Processes for Small Produce Farms *A New Mycrorrhiza to Reduce Fertilizer Inputs in Ericaceous Crop Productions *Not Just Chicken *High Tunnel Agriculture-A Farmer's Dream Saturday Seminars: *Marketing *Beginning a Farm *Who Owns the Organic Label? *Opportunities for Small- and Mid-Sized Farms to Work Together *Integrating Cover Crops Into Your Farming System Short Courses: *Grants & Grant Writing *Mob Grazing Sheep & Cattle Farmers Forum: *Equine Forestry: Low-Impact Forest Harvesting *Taproot Sustainable Farming Experience for Children *Adding Value to Fiber from Rabbits, Sheep, Goats, Alpaca & More *Little Horses/Big World Sustainable Agriculture *Can We Grow Ginger Without Crop Rotations? *The Expansion of the Goosemobile Project to include Beef, Lamb and Pork *Continuing Egg Production; A More Natural Way *Hmong Farm Pesticide Safety Project: Reducing Pesticide and Other Farm Chemical Use Among Hmong Farmers *Indoor Culitvation of Mushrooms *Sustainable Backyard Egg Production: a 9-year-old's Perspective *Seed to Seed: Riverway Learning Community Gardening Project ************************************************************************* Ag Opportunities Volume 20, Number 10 October 2009 Pesticide-Sensitive Crop Registry and Locator The Pesticide-Sensitive Crop Registry and Locator is a new, voluntary online service from the Missouri Department of Agriculture that provides a place for producers of pesticide-sensitive crops to list their crop locations. Pesticide applicators can search the registry for locations in their work areas so they can be aware of where crops sensitive to pesticide drift are located. Registrations from producer locations are being accepted as of April 2009; the site will be fully functional for pesticide applicators in September 2009. Sensitive Crops Examples of some specialty crops that are known to be sensitive to some pesticides are grapes, apples, strawberries, cane fruits, melons, tomatoes, broadleaf vegetables, some nursery crops and crops certified in an organic or naturally grown program. This is not a complete listing. To be listed on the registry, the crops: * Must be for commercial use. * Must meet minimum total acreage requirements of: o half an acre for fruits and vegetables o one acre for vineyards, orchards or acres in a certification program o to list crops as being organic or naturally grown, they must be currently certified or in transition. Non-certified crops can still be listed in the registry if they meet the commercial use and total minimum acreage requirements. Getting Crop Locations Listed on the Registry Producers can join this registry by contacting Anastasia Becker, Missouri Department of Agriculture, Plant Industries Division, PO Box 630, Jefferson City, MO, 65102, Anastasia.Becker@mda.mo.gov. Multiple locations can be listed for a single producer. If you grow several sensitive crops at the same location you only need to list the primary crop. Including field location maps for your crops is optional but they will make the Pesticide-Sensitive Crop Registry and Locator easier to use by pesticide applicators. This visual element conveys information more accurately compared to legal descriptions with section, township, range or even GPS readings. If you don’t have a farm map, contact the IPM Program at (573) 526-0837 and we will assist in making a map for you to review for accuracy. To keep the registry current, you will be notified annually to confirm registration and provide updates in January. For assistance, contact the Integrated Pest Management Program at (573) 526-0837. *********************************************************************** Ag Opportunities Volume 20, Number 10 October 2009 Grants and Assistance SARE Farmer/Rancher Grants The NCR-SARE program of the USDA has allocated about $400,000 for the 2009 Farmer/Rancher Grant Program. Competitive grants of up to $6,000 are available for individual farmers and ranchers, and grants up to $18,000 are available for groups of three or more farmers from separate operations who are interested in exploring sustainable agriculture. NCR-SARE Farmer Rancher Grants provide opportunities for farmers and ranchers to use Sustainable Agriculture practices and their own innovative ideas to solve problems on the farm or ranch, and to share their ideas with others. Sustainable Agriculture is farming and ranching that is ecologically sound, profitable, and socially responsible. Sustainable Agriculture practices may include but are not limited to: * Integrated Pest Management (IPM) * Rotational Grazing (including Management-intensive Grazing & Mob Grazing) * Soil Erosion Control * Soil Quality Improvement * Water Quality Improvement/Wetlands * Cover Crops * Crop/Landscape Diversity * Nutrient Management * Agroforestry * Value-Added & Direct Marketing * Wildlife Preservation * Beneficial Insects * Poultry & Small-Scale Livestock Production * Holistic/Systems Approaches to Farming & Ranching * Organic Agriculture * Alternative Weed Control During the past 17 years of the Farmer/Rancher Grant Program, over 700 grants were awarded to farmers and ranchers studying topics such as holistic management, rotational grazing, livestock and crop production systems, waste management, weed control, alternative uses for CRP land, biological weed and pest control, organic farming, marketing, quality of life issues, water quality, and soil conservation. Farmer/Rancher Grants are for sustainable agriculture research, demonstration, and education projects; they are NOT for everyday farming expenses. * Applicants must identify specific problems and potential solutions to those problems. * Maximum duration for grant projects is 24 months. * Projects that involve whole farm systems and/or a youth component are encouraged. * Livestock projects need to comply with reasonable animal care requirements to insure that animals are properly cared for. Any farmer/rancher or group of farmers/ranchers who farm or operate a ranch in the North Central Region may apply. The North Central Region consists of 12 states: Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota, and Wisconsin. Farmers and rancher submitting grant proposals may be just beginning the transition to a more sustainable operation or may already be using sustainable practices and want to implement additional changes. (Grants to applicants under 21 will need to be signed by a parent or guardian over 21. Youth may also apply to the NCR-SARE Youth Grant Program. Contact NCR-SARE for more information at ncrsare@umn.edu or 1-800-529-1342.) To qualify for a group project, there must be at least three farmers/ranchers involved who come from separate, independent operations. Groups submitting proposals must designate one individual farmer/rancher as group leader. The group leader will submit and sign the proposal, be responsible for reporting, and assume any tax liability associated with the grant. Grant recipients are limited to one grant annually. Previous farmer/rancher grant recipients are eligible to apply if reports from previous grant projects are up to date. Proposals from previous grant recipients will be evaluated on a competitive basis with all other proposals. The 2009 Grant Cycle August 27, 2009 Farmer/Rancher grant proposals available December 3, 2009 Farmer/Rancher grant proposals due Spring, 2010 Administrative Council recommends Farmer/Rancher grant recipients Budgets are reviewed by University accountants for Spring, 2010 compliance with USDA guidelines and grant contracts are sent out Early summer 2010 Approximate date of first payment of grant funds (50%) Progress report due. Grant recipients are eligible for March 1, 2011 a 2nd grant payment (35%) once their progress reports are approved. December 31, 2011 Project end date Deadline for submitting final report. Grant recipients March 1, 2012 are eligible for a final payment (15%) once their final reports are approved. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ The Organic Farming Research Foundation (OFRF) OFRF will accept organic research and educational proposals through November 16, 2009. OFRF has awarded 290 grants totaling more than $2.3 million in support of organic farming research and education projects since 1990. OFRF seeks to fund research projects that address production challenges in organic systems. Farmer/rancher participation, taking a systems approach, and using a valid experimental design are high priorities to the OFRF board in selecting research projects. Educational projects should be directed toward developing educational opportunities or materials for organic and/or transitioning farmers and ranchers. For more information on applying for a grant, refer to OFRF’s Requests for Applications online at apply to OFRF. If you have additional questions, you may contact OFRF Organic Research Specialist Jane Sooby by e-mail at jane@ofrf.org, or phone 831-426-6606. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ FARRM Grants This grant can be used for a variety of projects or expenses, but should be directly related to the farming operation, including but not limited to: fencing, computers, seed, irrigation, equipment, etc. The program is available to farms that are certified organic or actively transitioning into organic production; Non-certified projects on the organic farm – for example a free range poultry operation that isn't certified; Growers whose gross sales are under $5000 who meet the NOP organic rule but do not need to be certified. For more information to to http://www.farrms.org/prog.html ------------------------------------------------------------------------ The Community Food Projects (CFP) The Community Food Projects (CFP) Competitive Grants Program is the major funding source for community-based food and agriculture projects in the U.S. The Fiscal Year 2010 Request for Applications (RFA) was released September 23, with a deadline of November 19. The CFP Request for Applications describes what is funded and how to apply: http://www.csrees.usda.gov/funding/rfas/community_food.html. There is no Letter of Intent process, so all applicants must submit a full proposal to be considered for funding. All proposals must be submitted electronically. If you plan to apply this year and are not already registered with grants.gov, it is important to start that process immediately, since it can take up to two months. More information and technical support contacts are available at: http://www.csrees.usda.gov/funding/electronic.html. Free Assistance Available to CFP Applicants - The Community Food Security Coalition (CFSC) sponsor technical assistance (TA) specialists who can provide you with free assistance with your CFP proposal. They can clarify CFP program guidelines, help you decide whether or not to apply for a grant, provide feedback on project plans, review draft proposals, and/or help you develop an evaluation plan. CFSC will sponsor up to 60 minutes of one-on-one assistance per grant applicant at no cost. Additional time may be available at an hourly rate. See http://www.foodsecurity.org/cfp_help.html for details on how to access this service. Starting early is important to ensure that you will be able to receive timely assistance. Community Food Projects Planning Guide and Other Materials - CFSC offers a written planning guide with a wealth of information about the CFP program guidelines and how to develop a strong proposal. It is available for free at http://www.foodsecurity.org/cfp_help.html (scroll down to bottom of page). The CFSC website also includes examples of successful CFP grant proposals, a guide to developing Planning Project proposals, and other information helpful to CFP applicants. Community Food Projects Program Goals - The primary goals of the CFP Program are to: * Meet the food needs of low-income individuals; * Increase the self-reliance of communities in providing for the food needs of the communities; * Promote comprehensive responses to local food, farm, and nutrition issues; and * Meet specific state, local, or neighborhood food and agricultural needs including needs relating to 1.) Infrastructure improvement and development; 2.) Planning for long-term solutions; 3.) The creation of innovative marketing activities that mutually benefit agricultural producers and low-income consumers. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Value Added Producer Grants Program Fact Sheet (Reprinted from - http://www.cfra.org/resources/vapg/fact_sheet) What is the Value Added Producer Grant Program? The Value-Added Producer Grant Program (VAPG) is a competitive grants program administered by the Rural Business Cooperative Service at USDA to help producers move into value-added agricultural enterprises. The program was first created under the Agricultural Risk Protection Act of 2000. It was then expanded and improved under the 2002 Farm Bill and has now been improved even further under the 2008 Farm Bill. This program aims to provide planning and/or capital investment for value adding enterprises started by farmers and ranchers. To be eligible for grant funding, applicants for a Value-Added Producer Grant program must meet fairly strict requirements that will be outlined in the Notice of Funds Available (NOFA). If you are an independent producer, a farmer or rancher cooperative, agricultural producer group, or a majority-controlled producer-based business venture, you are eligible to apply for a value-added grant. The NOSA will provide definitions for each of these categories, along with other requirements of the program. A new NOSA is published each fiscal year and includes any information relating to any particular emphasis they are considering. Types of grants: When applying for a grant, applicants must choose between two different types of activities for funding. Funding is available for: 1. Developing feasibility studies or business plans, which include marketing plans, or; 2. Working capital to operate a value-added business or alliance. Applicants are eligible to apply for only one of these two types of grants each grant cycle. Grant funds may not be used for repair, acquisition, or construction of a building or facility or to purchase, rent or install fixed equipment. Cash and/or in-kind matching funds are required, must be at least equal to the amount of Federal funds awarded, and must be expended in advance, such that for each grant dollar advanced, an equal amount of match shall have been expended first. New Program Features and Priorities The 2008 Farm Bill made some positive changes to this program. Those changes include: * An expanded definition of value-added to include locally-produced agricultural food product. * New priorities for awarding grants to projects that focus on increasing opportunities for the following: Small and mid-size family farmers and ranchers; Beginning farmers and ranchers; Socially disadvantaged farmers and ranchers. * Grants for projects that help farmers and ranchers establish marketing partnerships that are equitable for all parties involved. This is called "mid-tier value chains." This will help those mid-size farms that are too large to market directly but too small to be profitable selling raw commodities. 20% of the total funding (10% for each) will be set-aside for projects from the following: Beginning or socially disadvantaged farmers and ranchers; and mid-tier value chains. USDA will now be offering a simplified application form and process for small projects requesting less than $50,000. Many of the smaller grants are single farmer projects or lower cost feasibility studies, for which larger-scale working capital applications are unnecessarily complex. Status of the Program USDA issued a proposed rule for this program in October of 2008 and public comments were due in December of 2008. The proposed rule fell short in addressing some of the changes made to the program in the 2008 Farm Bill. Hopefully, the public comments will encourage them to revise the rule to better reflect the farm bill changes. Once the department finalizes the rule, they will publish a NOSA for the 2009 funding cycle. Any changes to the program rules will be spelled out in the new NOSA. Matching Funds The program requires a one to one match. A cash match is defined as actual funds dedicated to the project. An in-kind match includes time, equipment, space, staff salaries, etc. Examples of a cash match might be: third party contributions from groups, farm organizations or individuals donating cash towards a project; the salary of a person or persons working on a project (cash transaction); travel expenses to attend meetings or participate in training sessions; state appropriations or non-federal funds that have not been spent; bank financing; revolving loan funds; or county financing. Examples of in-kind contributions include: space; equipment; supplies, copies, telephone and other expenses which are dedicated to the project; volunteer time/unpaid services provided to a recipient by an individual or employee working on a project ( non cash transaction); value of hours of non-federally funded personnel assisting with project, e.g. State Dept. of Agriculture, local economic development agencies, volunteer board members, etc; donation of office space or meeting rooms; or donation of inventory including equipment or buildings. Types of Valued-Added Activities Eligible for Grants Commodity Market Commodity On-Farm Local Food Mid-Tier Processing Differentiation Segregation Renewable Value Chain Energy ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Increasing Increasing value Increasing Realizing Increasing Increasing value by by marketing the value by value by value by value by changing commodity’s keeping the transforming aggregating linking commodity’s special identity commodity natural and marketing farmers with physical or character physically resources food for local and state apart in into energy local markets regional production on the supply and farmstead networks in distribution which they are equal partners ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Examples: Examples: Examples: Examples: Examples: buy Examples: wine, flour, organic, GMO-free, wind, solar, local - buy farm to cheese, jam, grass-fed, no-rBGH, geothermal, fresh, institution, biodiesel humane, state Varietal on-farm community farm to food branding purity biodiesel based food service or enterprises, restaurant , supplying value chain local using a procurement consumer seal preferences ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Planning or Planning or Planning or Planning or Planning or Planning or working working capital working working working working capital capital capital capital capital ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Examples of Past Grant Recipients Nebraska Small Farms Cooperative, Oneill, Nebraska The Nebraska Small Farms Cooperative received a $250,000 grant in 2004 to expand its product line and market overseas. The coop has grown from 29 farmers/members in 2004 to over 90 today. It markets pre-cooked, USDA verified, non-hormone treated meat to businesses in the U.S. and Europe. Not only has the coop passed value-added profits back to farmers, but its success has also spilled over to a local meat processing plant as annual processing contracts were signed to benefit both parties. Pinn-Oak Ridge Farm, Delavan, Wisconsin (www.wisconsinlamb.com/) In 2005, Steve and Darlene Pinnow received a $150,000 grant to brand and direct market their pasture-raised lamb. It has allowed them to expand their market from 40 restaurants and grocery stores to 60 retailers in Wisconsin and Illinois. The Pinnows are now working with a distributor in Chicago who learned about their pastured lamb from the USDA announcement of their VAPG grant. Ives Cream, Norwich, New York (www.ivescream.biz/ivesstory.htm) The Ives family operates a sustainable dairy farm that has been handed down through six generations. With the help of a $47,550 VAPG grant in 2004, they planned and executed a successful marketing campaign for their premium ice cream. Today, they operate a seasonal retail ice cream parlor in downtown Norwich, NY where great locally-produced ice cream, customer service, and a community focus have proven to be a winning business combination. Prairie Pride, Inc., Deerfield, Missouri (www.prairieprideinc.us) This new-generation, producer cooperative that will be converting soybean oil into bio-diesel fuel with the help of a $300,000 working capital grant in 2006. The new facility will ultimately crush 21,000,000 bushels of soy beans per year to obtain soy oil. The refinery will then convert that soy oil into 30,000,000 gallons of bio-diesel. How Do I Start? We strongly recommend that you locate a resource person in your county, state or region that can give you some professional advice on your grant application, as well as your business ideas. We have provided some contacts in our resource guide that are organized by state. The most recent information on funding availability and applications is available through your state USDA Rural Development Office. Now is a good time to check with your state office or your state’s Department of Agriculture about recent news or upcoming workshops about the program. They can provide information, applications and guidance on when and how to apply for a grant. Set up a meeting with your USDA Rural Development office and educate them about your project and ask them for information about the program. Other sources for information regarding value-added enterprises or how to apply for a VAPG can be found at: 1. The Agriculture Marketing Resource Center website: www.agMRC.org. This website offers a broad range of information on value-added, direct marketing initiatives. Through links to Innovation Centers around the country at the state level, the website makes available information on a broad range of issues. 2. The University of Nebraska offers a template of the grant proposal, which is helpful in completing the financial reporting requirements in the application. That template is available at: http://fpc.unl.edu/marketing/grant.htm. USDA Contact Information and Online Resources USDA website for the VAPG Program: www.rurdev.usda.gov/rbs/coops/vadg.htm. An online assessment tool is available at www.rurdev.usda.gov/rbs/coops/vapgea.htm that will assist you in determining whether or not you are eligible to apply for a VAPG grant. Gail Thuner, USDA VAPG Program Manager, gail.thuner@wdc.usda.gov, 202-690-2426 *************************************************************************** Ag Opportunities Volume 20, Number 10 October 2009 In Print/On-Line/In The News *Leadership for Healthy Communities Action Strategy Toolkit* is a new resource created by Leadership for Healthy Communities, a program of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. The toolkit highlights many opportunities for community food security projects including farm to school initiatives, community and school gardens, increasing access to healthy foods in under-served communities, and farmers; market development. Go to http://www.leadershipforhealthycommunities.org/index.php?option=content&tas k=view&id=355. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- USDA Expected to Rolled Out Local Food Initiative: Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack has announced a new major initiative called "Know Your Farmer, Know Your Food" to be launched by the administration before the end of the summer. According to Vilsack, the program will link local food producers with consumers "so the wealth that in the past has been leaving the community may stay in the community." Expanding local food processing, marketing, infrastructure, storage, and transportation facilities will help to create jobs and revitalize rural communities, according to the Secretary. Helping institutions purchase food locally and expanding community and urban gardens will also be a part of the “Know Your Farmer, Know Your Food” program. In a first step towards this local foods initiative, Deputy Secretary Kathleen Merrigan released a memo this week highlighting existing USDA programs that can be tapped into for local foods. The memo can found at http://www.foodsecurity.org/policy/USDA_local_food_memo.pdf. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- *Farm Made: A Guide to On-Farm Processing for Organic Producers* The Kerr Center for Sustainable Agriculture has just published a full-color guide to on-farm processing for organic producers. Authored by George Kuepper, Holly Born and Anne Fanatico, the guide is specifically geared toward small and middle-sized organic family farm operations. It provides detailed information on producing sorghum syrup, salad mix, jams, jellies, and spreads, and table eggs. The project was funded by an Organic Farming Research Foundation educational grant. Read it online at http://www.kerrcenter.com/publications/FarmMadeReport09.pdf. For a printed copy, contact the Kerr Center by email, mailbox@kerrcenter.com, or by phone, 918-647-9123. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- The following are a list of new publications from ATTRA which can be found at http://www.attra.org/updated_pubs/: * *Comparing energy use in conventional and organic cropping systems* -by Holly Hill * *Potatoes: organic production and marketing* -by Rex Dufour, Tammy Hinman, and Jeff Schahczenski * *Organic system plans: market farms and greenhouses* -by George Kuepper, re-release from 2006 * *Organic system plans: field and row crops and pasture and range systems* -by George Kuepper, re-release from 2006 * *Farmer's Guide to the Conservation Stewardship Program* is now available online! The seventeen-page guide gives farmers the basic eligibility requirements, an overview of the enrollment process, and application steps. The guide also includes answers to frequently asked questions with information specific to beginning farmers, organic farmers, farmers participating in the EQIP organic initiative, and tips for all farmers on how to maximize their points and payments. Go to http://sustainableagriculture.net/wp-content/uploads/2008/08/CSP_FarmersGui de_final_September_2009.pdf. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- SARE National Continuing Education Program in Sustainable Agriculture This continuing education program is designed primarily for Cooperative Extension and Natural Resource Conservation Service personnel (particularly new staff members), and other agricultural, natural resource and community development professionals. It emphasizes core concepts and a basic understanding of sustainable agriculture, its goals and its relevance to every farming and ranching operation – large or small. The program includes five courses, available free of charge. Courses 1 and 2 are offered now through the eXtension online campus. The remaining courses are in development. * Sustainable Agriculture: Basic Principles and Concept Overview (Course 1 info) * Strategic Farm/Ranch Planning and Marketing (Course 2 info) * Agroecology (in development) * Participatory Research and Education Skills (in development) * Program Planning Skills and Professional Development (in development) * Courses are presented online in an interactive, Web-based format and include a variety of activities, real-life examples and links to other Web sites that offer information, resources, and assistance to help you in your work. Courses will be self-guided and self-paced so you can complete them on your own schedule. Go to http://www.sare.org/coreinfo/ceprogram.htm ************************************************************************** Ag Opportunities Volume 20, Number 10 October 2009 On the Calendar Oct 2 - 4 - Ozark Fall Farmfest, Springfield, MO. Call 417-833-2660. Oct 3 - 2nd Annual "In Touch with Nature" Field Day at Lincoln University’s Busby Farm, Jefferson City, MO. Call 573-681-5392, navarrete-tindalln@lincolnu.edu, http://www.lincolnu.edu/pages/2526.asp Oct 3 - From Field to Recipe Seminar, Lincoln, NE. Call 402-472-2819 or jgifford1@unl.edu Oct 10 - Growing Green in the Garden, Springfield, MO. Call 417-862-9284. Oct 17 - 7th Annual Missouri Chestnut Roast, New Franklin, MO. Email rhoadsj@missouri.edu Oct 30 - 31 - MO State Beekeeper’s Assn’s Fall Meeting Preview, Jefferson City, MO. Call 636-394-5395 or sgibbs314@earthlink.net Nov 5 - 7 - National Small Farm Trade Show and Conference, Columbia, MO. Call 800-633-2535. Nov 6 - MO Vegetable Growers Association Meeting, Columbia, MO. Call 660-287-2400, errolahlers@juno.com Nov 11 - Grow Native! Plant Propagation Workshop, Powell Gardens, MO. Contact 573-522-4170, http://www.grownative.org Nov 12 - Cut Flower Workshop, Mountain Grove, MO. Go to http://mtngrv.missouristate.edu/commercial/CutFlower.htm Dec 4 - 5 - Missouri Livestock Symposium, Kirksville, MO. Call 660-665-9866, www.missourilivestock.com Jan 7 - Great Plains Vegetable Growers Pre-Conference Workshops: High Tunnel Production, CSA Mini School and Pricing & Profits, St Joseph, MO. Go to http://extension.missouri.edu/buchanan/GPVGC.shtml Jan 8 - 9 - Great Plains Vegetable Growers Conference, St Joseph, MO. Go to http://extension.missouri.edu/buchanan/GPVGC.shtml Jan 7 - 9 - Missouri Governor’s Conference on Agriculture Feb 5 - 6 - Missouri Organic Association’s Annual Conference, Jefferson City, MO. Feb 5 - 6 - Missouri Nut Growers Association Annual Nut Show Evaluation and Annual Meeting, Nevada, MO. Call 417-436-2351. Feb 5 - 12 - North American Farmers Direct Marketing Conference, Lancaster, PA. Feb 25 - 26 - 21st Annual Organic Farming Conference and Organic University, La Crosse, WI. Go to http://www.mosesorganic.org/conference.html ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Green Hills Farm Project Farm Walks Green Hills Farm Project welcomes all families to our open farm walks. Always bring your children! Please call ahead to advise the host family of the number attending and to get directions. The host family provides main meat course and drinks. Please bring lawn chairs and covered dish. Come on out and join us for a great time of fellowship and sharing on our farms! Oct 15 - 4pm Mac & Pat Scottt, New Cambria, MO, 660-226-5351 Nov 19 - 4pm Ben & Nancy Coleman, Callao, MO, 660-768-5743 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ 2009 Growing Growers Workshops Workshops are open to the general public for a fee. Proceeds help to pay program costs, including apprentice costs and speaker fees. Scholarships are available in case of financial need. Contact Ted Carey, 913-645-0007, tcarey@ksu.edu or Laura Christensen, 816-805-0362, growers@ksu.edu Oct 17 - New Farms - First steps in planning a farm business, K-State Research and Extension Station, Olathe, KS Nov and Dec - Farm business planning and management course. In conjunction with Growing Growers, The Kauffman Foundation FastTrac program will be holding a multi-week course designed for both current growers looking to refocus and people who are ready to begin their own sustainable farm business within the next few years. Enrollment is limited and Growing Growers apprentices, past and present, will be given priority. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ 2009 MU Field Days Ag Experiment Stations Date Description Location Oct 1 Ag Education Day Wurdack Farm, Cook Station Oct 2 Wurdack Field Day Wurdack Farm, Cook Station Oct 17 Chestnut Roast Horticulture and Agroforestry Center, New Franklin ------------------------------------------------------------------------