If you’re interested in learning more about Farm to School, Food System Economic Partnership (FSEP) in conjunction with Monroe County MSU Extension will be hosting the workshop for growers that will discuss how farmers can get involved in selling to schools directly.

The workshop will be held Tuesday, February 24^th, 2008 from 1:00-4:00pm at 963 S. Raisinville Rd, Monroe, MI (Monroe County MSU Extension Office). The workshop is free of charge. For more information contact Jennifer Fike(Executive Director Food System Economic Partnership) 734-222-6859 or check out the web www.fsepmichigan.org

2009 MOFFA Conference

Local Organic Food:  Sustainable Prosperity for Michigan

The Kellogg Center, East Lansing MI

March 6-7, 2009

Keynote Speakers:
Michael Phillips, author of The Apple Grower: A Guide for the Organic Orchardist.
Michael Sligh, Leader of the National Organic Action Plan, Director of Just Foods/RAFI, Int-USA
Chris Bedford, Award winning Film Maker, President, Center for Economic Security

Register at www.moffa.org

ANIMAL OWNERS AND TAXPAYERS
NAIS ALERT!  Protect your right to farm and the food supply!

The USDA has proposed a rule to require all farms where animals are raised to be
registered in a federal database under the National Animal Identification System (NAIS)
for existing disease control programs.  The draft rule covers programs for cattle,
sheep, goats, and swine.  It also sets the stage for the entire NAIS program to be
mandated for everyone, including anyone who owns even one livestock animal, for example,
a single chicken or a horse.

It is CRITICAL that the USDA and Congress hear from the hundreds of thousands of people
who will be adversely affected by the NAIS program. This includes not only animal
owners, but also consumers who care about local and sustainable foods, taxpayers who
object to wasteful government programs, and advocates for a safer local food system.

STEP 1:  Submit comments to USDA online or by mail.  The comments must be received by
USDA by March 16, 2009.

Submit comments online at:
http://www.regulations.gov/fdmspublic/component/main?main=DocumentDetail&o=090000648081c664
Click on the yellow balloon next to “add comments.”

Or mail two copies of your comments to USDA:  Docket No. APHIS-2007-0096, Regulatory
Analysis and Development, PPD, APHIS, Station 3A-03.8, 4700 River Road Unit 118,
Riverdale, MD 20737-1238.  Clearly state that your comments refer to Docket No.
APHIS-2007-0096.

You can download sample comments at
www.farmandranchfreedom.org/content/files/090202_sample_comments.doc  or see the sample
comments at the end of this alert
Read more »

A one-day workshop for aspiring and veteran farmers, with particular emphasis on women.

9 a.m. to 4 p.m., March 14, 2009, NW Michigan Horticultural Research Station

6686 S. Center Hwy (County Rd 633)

Three miles north of Crain Hill Rd, 4 miles north of Traverse City on M-22

For an accurate lunch count, please register now by calling the Michigan Land Use Institute at 231-941-6584. For more information, contact Nikki Rothwell at 231-946-1510 and rothwel3@msu.edu, Jim Sluyter at 231-889-0199 and jimsluyter@mlui.org), or visit www.localdifference.org/get farming

All farmers face challenges, but women face some special ones. Spend a day networking with successful growers, researchers, and others in agribusiness to learn how your new or existing farm can thrive.

Topics will include women’s perspectives on farming, leadership skills, marketing and business planning, and more. We will have panels offering viewpoints from both experienced and new farmers.

Presenters include Dr. Nikki Rothwell and Erin Lizotte, NW Michigan Horticultural Research Station; Dr. Dorothy Sirrine, UC Santa Cruz Environmental Studies Graduate; Cindy Dutcher, Dutcher Farms; Wendy Wieland, Northern Lakes Economic Alliance; Dr. Susan Smalley, Director of the C.S. Mott Group for Sustainable Food Systems.

registration ( for couples) includes lunch.

Other Educational Opportunities:

Value-Added Agriculture

A free workshop about food processing and value-added agriculture

March 18, 3-5 p.m., Food for Thought, 10704 Oviatt Road, Honor

Timothy Young of Food for Thought, a processing facility in Honor, and Bernie Ware of Ware Farm share their experiences in processing and adding value to farm products at this free workshop. Space is limited to 15 people, so please pre-register at 231-941-6584

Grant Writing for Agribusiness

A free workshop about grant writing for anyone in agribusiness

March 25, 7 to 9 p.m. Michigan Works, 1209 Garfield, Suite C Traverse City

Learn tips, tools and techniques for writing successful agricultural grant applications. Space is limited so please pre-register at 231-941-6584

Presenters include Rob Sirrine, Leelanau County Extension; Nikki Rothwell, NW Michigan Horticultural Research Station; and Tom Rorabaugh, USDA SARE.

For more information on any of these events contact:

Jim Sluyter, 231-889-0199 and jimsluyter@mlui.org

Keep up to date with our workshops at www.localdifference.org/getfarming

Get Farming! is part of the Michigan Land Use Institute’s Taste the Local Difference program and is produced in collaboration with USDA Risk Management Agency, Michigan State University Extension, Telamon Corporation, NW Michigan Horticultural Research Station,

NW Michigan Council of Governments

Taste the Local Difference is part of the Michigan Land Use Institute’s Entrepreneurial Agriculture Program, which works to grow jobs, save farmland, and build healthier communities with food that’s thousands of miles fresher.