Farm Beginnings Program in Nebraska begins May 25, 2013

The Midwest Producer reports the University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension will begin its first Farm Beginnings Program on May 25 at the Lincoln-Logan-McPherson Extension Office meeting room in North Platte.

The program is a training and support program for people who want assistance evaluating and planning their farm enterprise. Beginning farmers are offered mentoring opportunities and are able to network with successful and experienced farmers. While all beginning farmers could benefit from attending the training sessions offered by the program, most farmers that offer their experience and expertise are from small- to medium-size operations that tend to operate diversified farms.

The program includes 10 sessions that run from May-October. The total cost is $500 and scholarships are available.

For more information, contact extension educator Randy Saner at rsaner2@unl.edu or 800-200-1381. A brochure and application are available for download at lincolnmcpherson.unl.edu or here.

2013 NOFA Summer Conference Workshops Announced

Join NOFA for a weekend of learning, networking, and fun with people who are transforming the food system in the Northeast.

Conference registration is now open, with early bird rates through July 9th 

In addition to hundreds of practical skills and farming workshops, the conference features live entertainment, children’s and teen conferences, a country fair, organic meals, 100 exhibitors and much more. The conference will take place August 9-11 on the University of Massachusetts, Amherst campus.

Complete Workshop list now available

Eight workshop tracks: Beginning Farmer, Community Supported Agriculture, Grazing, Nutrient Density, Organic Land Care Track, Permaculture, Cooperatives, Winter Growing and Season Extension

Five half-day pre-conferences on Friday, August 9^th, including: “Farming Smarter, Not Harder” with Richard Wiswall, “Honeybee Hive Products” with Ross Conrad, “Growing with the Biological System” with Dan Kittredge, “Homestead Poultry Flock” with Jim Adkins, “Growing and Marketing Cut Flowers” with Diana Doll

Affordable Registration & Creative Financing: Camping and dorm housing are available, as are creative financing options like work exchange and the Farming Education Fund.

Group discounts of $100 per person are available to groups of 5+ adults with an organization, college/institution, or farm. Bring the whole farm crew to the conference affordably!

www.nofasummerconference.org

Sustainable Agriculture News Mid-May 2013: Grant Opportunities, Crop Insurance, etc.

USDA Taking Rural Business Opportunity Grant Applications: USDA has issued a notice that the Rural Development Agency is taking applications for Rural Business Opportunity Grants (RBOG).  RBOG funds feasibility studies, strategic planning, leadership training and other services and activities that can foster the creation of businesses and jobs in rural areas.  Eligible applicants include public entities, non-profit organizations, institutions of higher education, Indian tribes and rural cooperatives with members that are primarily rural residents.  Read more…

USDA Announces Improvements to Organic Crop Insurance: This week, USDA Secretary Vilsack announced additional crop insurance options for organic farmers available in 2014.  Earlier this year,USDA made progress on organic crop insurance options by removing the premium surcharge for organic producers and making other adjustments.  In this week’s announcement, Vilsack discussed plans for releasing additional organic price elections as well as a contract price option for a number of crops.  Read more...

More Time and More Funding for Farm Energy Grants and Loans: USDA has announced that the deadline for applying for FY2013 Rural Energy for America Program (REAP) grants, loans, and feasibility studies has been extended to May 31, 2013.  Read more…

The Soybean Patent Controversy

In the case of Bowman v. Monsanto Company, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled on Monday May 13 that Vernon Hugh Bowman, an Indiana farmer, had violated patent law after buying seeds from a grain elevator filled with a mix of seeds, planting them out, spraying them with glyphosate, and hoping some of the seeds contained Monsanto’s patented genes (so the soybeans would survive).

Many of the plants survived. Monsanto sued. And an Indiana judge ordered Bowman to pay more than $84,000 to Monsanto, an order that was upheld by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit. The U.S. Supreme Court ruled against Bowman as well.

Bowman thought he had found a loophole in Monsanto’s patent. Farmers who buy Monsanto’s patented seeds must sign a contract when they buy seeds from Monsanto. But of course, Bowman never signed a contract, because he bought seeds, legally, from the elevator (where seeds are usually sold for animal feed, food processing or industrial uses). The court’s ruling closed this seeming loophole.

Read more »

Job: Internship with American Micro-Dairies

American Micro-Dairies (AMD) is seeking an intern for 10 weeks (mid-June through end of August) to help expand daily operations. The intern position would focus on both building our website and making connections in northern New England with both small farmers and local non-profits. We have several projects this summer to help connect small dairy farmers to each other and to information that would help someone establish and sustain a farm. The intern position would be a good opportunity to study small-scale dairies across the country and to meet farmers from across the region. We will also cover full expenses for the 2013 NOFA Summer Conference in Massachusetts in mid-August. We are located in South Royalton, Vermont, which is the home of Vermont Law School, and we are 20 minutes from Hanover, New Hampshire.

The stipend is $2500 for 10 weeks or $3000 for 12 weeks. There would be an expectation of 20 hours per week. Approximately half of the hours would be connecting with farmers and half would be spent in the office. Experience with social media and web development strongly preferred.

To apply, please send a letter of interest and resume by May 31 to Phoebe Judge, Program Director. Phoebe’s email is amdairies@gmail.com. Please visit our website for full details about what we do.  (http://americanmicrodairies.org/).

House Farm Bill Markup

The National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition (NSAC) reports that late on Wednesday May 15, 2013, the House Agriculture Committee voted a new five-year farm bill out of committee; it now heads to the floor of the House for further debate.

The House bill restores funding for the Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program and the Organic Agriculture Research and Extension Initiative and increases funding for the Farmer Market and Local Food Promotion Program. Funding for all three programs is higher in the new House bill than in the bill reported by the Senate Agriculture Committee earlier this week. 

You can find comments and analysis on the House markup from NSAC here. And you can watch a video recording of the House Bill markup on CSPAN.

Comments on Senate Farm Bill Markup

On May 14, 2013, the National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition (NSAC) released comments on the farm bill, as revised by the Senate Agriculture Committee. The committee voted the bill out of committee by a vote of 15-5; the revised bill now heads to the floor of the Senate for further debate. NSAC commented on many aspects of the revised Senate bill, including how this bill impacts legislation related to beginning farmers.

“The Committee today renewed its commitment to investing in economic development and job-creation programs that provide opportunities for farmers and rural communities,” said Hoefner.  “Some of the funding levels for beginning and minority farmer programs, value-added agriculture, and rural development are lower than we would like, but nonetheless represent strong steps in the right direction that hopefully will be improved upon as the farm bill process moves forward.”

For the entire press release, please follow this link.

Agriculture Secretary Vilsack Announces Organic Crop Insurance and Other Measures

If you’re a beginning farmer currently involved with or interested in organic production, the following announcement from U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Tom Vilsack will be of interest.

Vilsack spoke to the Organic Trade Association on May 14, 2013, during which he announced changes and new initiatives to support the continued growth of organic agriculture. Specifically, the USDA’s Risk Management Agency’s (RMA) federal crop insurance program will increase coverage options for organic producers in 2013 and provide more options in 2014. The Secretary also said USDA will provide new guidance on organic production to all USDA agencies; the USDA is now asking each agency to address needs specific to the organic sector in their programs and services where appropriate.

“Organic agriculture is one of the fastest growing segments of American agriculture and helps farmers receive a higher price for their product as they strive to meet growing consumer demand,” said Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack. “These new options will extend the safety net provided by crop insurance and provide fair and flexible solutions to organic producers. Coupled with the new guidance for agencies to support this growing sector, USDA recognizes that organics are gaining market share and is helping boost this emerging segment.”

Find the entire press release here.

USDA Announces Conservation Reserve Program Sign-Up

Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack announced today that the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) will conduct a Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) general sign-up beginning May 20 and ending June 14. In addition to general sign-up, the Secretary also announced the restart of sign-up for continuous CRP, including the Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program, State Acres for Wildlife Enhancement Initiative, the Highly Erodible Land Initiative, the Grassland Restoration Initiative, the Pollinator Habitat Initiative and other related initiatives. Sign-up for continuous CRP began on May 13 and will continue through Sept. 30, 2013.

Producers enrolled in CRP plant cover crops and take other measures to improve water quality, control soil erosion and develop wildlife habitat. In return, the USDA provides participants with rental payments and cost-share assistance.

You can read the full USDA press release here. To learn more about the CRP visit a local FSA service center or www.fsa.usda.gov. And be sure to visit our recent blog post announcing webinars about the CRP.

Online Sustainable Food and Farming Classes Start May 20, 2013.

The University of Massachusetts Division of Continuing and Professional Education offers sustainable food and farming classes for this summer. Session One starts May 20^th. Click on the links to the classes you are interested in (below) for more information about course content and registration.

Online Summer Session One -  May 20- Friday, June 28th Classes:

STOCKSCH 100 – Botany for Gardeners – GenEd (BS) – 4cr

STOCKSCH 120 – Organic Farming and Gardening – GenEd (BS) – 4 cr

PLSOILIN 290C – Land Use Policies & Sustainable Farming (3cr)

STOCKSCH 397C – Community Food Systems (3cr)