From The National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition (NSAC):

Thanks to the leadership of Senators Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) and Max Baucus (D-MT), and to calls and visits by NSAC members and supporters, a group of senators has delivered a letter to the Senate Agriculture Appropriations Subcommittee in support of funding for beginning farmers and ranchers.

Last Wednesday, Senators Klobuchar and Baucus and 12 other Senate colleagues delivered a “Dear Colleague” letter to urge the Senate ag appropriations subcommittee to fully fund the Beginning Farmer and Rancher Individual Development Account (BFRIDA) program at $5 million in 2011.

The  IDA program was a major focus of meetings during the beginning farmer fly-in, organized by NSAC in early March. Created in the 2008 Farm Bill, the program would fund matched savings accounts and financial training for beginning farmers and ranchers in 15 pilot states, filling a serious gap in access to credit that poses a barrier to many beginning farmers. Thus far, the program has not been funded.

Monday, March 29, 2010; By Leslie Parsons: The Middletown Press

DURHAM — Dozens of farmers met with public officials at Greenbacker Farms on Wallingford Road Saturday morning. Agriculture Deputy Secretary Kathleen Merrigan discussed issues concerning farmers, which ranged from the price of milk to the public perception of the humanity of animal slaughter.

The discussants were first led on a tour of the facilities by Melissa Greenbacker, who took the group on a tour of the farm’s cow barn and milking parlor.

“There are more politicians here than we thought there was going to be,” said part-owner Ricky Greenbacker. “But that’s a good thing,” he said, adding that it was good to have “someone from Washington to listen to you.”

Before Merrigan fielded queries in a question-and-answer session moderated by Executive Director of the Connecticut Farm Bureau Association Steve Reviczky, she was welcomed by Reps. Rosa DeLauro, D-3, and Joe Courtney, D-2.

“Your presence is exactly what we need at this time,” Courtney said.

“It’s wonderful to have someone in your position who understands that there is agriculture (here),” Delauro said. “We have someone in the deputy secretary who knows all about these various areas.”

“I understand the importance of having agriculture in a close-knit community,” said Merrigan, who is from Greenfield, Mass.

In her opening remarks, Merrigan was quick to address the concern about dairy prices that were on the minds of many of the farmers who attended. Dairy prices are set by a national formula.

“Things are going downhill again,” she said, adding that the Dairy Adjustment committee will soon be meeting to discuss the issue.

“We have a short-term problem, and we need long-term fixes as well,” she said.

Her focus, however, wasn’t only on dairy farming.

To read the entire article go to: http://www.middletownpress.com/articles/2010/03/29/news/doc4bb0142e16d7c586679640.txt

Steven McFadden: THE CALL OF THE LAND

An Agrarian Primer for the 21st Century

http://www.thecalloftheland.info
http://www.thecalloftheland.com

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Montgomery Countryside Alliance, Sugarloaf Citizens Association, and The Menare Foudation present on Sunday April 18th, 1-3pm At the Lodge at Little Seneca Creek:

A Conversation with Author Steven McFadden

Steven’s most recent book, The Call of the Land: An Agrarian Primer for the 21st Century was voted among the ‘Best Books of 2009’ by Food Systems Network NYC, a local food advocacy group.

Mr. McFadden has been reporting on CSA since its inceptions in 1986. He co-authored the first two books about Community Sponsored Agriculture (CSA) and sustainable farming. His book Farms of Tomorrow (1990) had a significant impact On the development of CSA, as did the follow up, Farms of Tomorrow Revisited (1998).

His newest book is broader in scope and provides a road map for communities seeking food security and sustainability and highlights the connections between
our food, the economy, our health and our shared environment.

This event is free, but space is limited. For tickets: info@mocoalliance.org
Support provided by NE SARE

On Tuesday, April  6 at 7 p.m. WXXI will present its second of four Community Cinema screenings, Dirt! The Movie a film by Bill Benenson and Gene Rosow at it’s studios (280 State St., Rochester) with a panel discussion to follow

Inspired by William Bryant Logan’s acclaimed book Dirt: The Ecstatic Skin of the Earth, find out how industrial farming, mining and urban development have led us toward cataclysmic droughts, starvation, floods and climate change. Dirt is a part of everything we eat, drink and breathe. Which is why we should stop treating it like, well…dirt.

For more information contact Rochester Roots at: 585-232-1463 or satnam4all@msn.com

Trailer: http://www.dirtthemovie.org/

Panelists include: Jan McDonald, Director, Rochester Roots; Elizabeth Henderson, Organic Farmer, Peacework Organic Farm; Brian Eshenaur, Integrated Pest Management Associate, Cornell Cooperative Extension; Rosita Caridi-Miller, Cooking Instructor, Cornell Cooperative Extension

Cover Crops or Forages?

Meet farmers, educators and beginners like yourself. Great way to see and learn!
Join us on April 14 as we discuss how fertilizer-saving and soil quality-enhancing cover crops can also be an excellent source of high-quality forage from mid-summer late into the fall and extremely early in the spring! This event begins at 3:00 p.m. just east of the intersection of Plains Road and Tuttle Road in Mason, MI. We will have an interactive tour of a replicated cover crop research plot that was established in wheat stubble in August of 2009. Species in these plots include:
Radish
Annual ryegrass
Crimson clover
Fall rye
Oats
Austrian winter peas
Field (spring) peas
Spring and fall triticale
Grass pea
Turnips
& Various combinations of the above
Cost: $5 per person or $10 per farm, whichever is less. RSVP!

To register, please call Connie at 517-676-7207 or e-mail cvernon@ingham.org
Presented by Ingham County MSU Extension

An Excellent Op Ed piece in the San Francisco Chronicle this week by Rebecca King, a young farmer from California, in support of federal funding for the Beginning Farmer and Rancher Individual Development Account Program (BFRIDA).

Market Farm Forms is by Marcie Rosenzweig.

If you produce vegetables for sale to retail consumers or CSA members (or if you are about to start!) and you are serious about being successful you need this manual/CD combination. Market Farm Forms contains computer spreadsheet templates for planning and organizing information on diversified market farms. This software program will help you in planning crops and budgets, order seed and soil amendments, grow transplants, project yields and income, and then track what really happens against your projections. It will take your record keeping (record keeping) to new heights. If you don’t use a computer you can copy the forms in the spiral bound manual and do the calculations by hand. If you have a computer and a spreadsheet program you can use the electronic forms and the program will do the work for you. As a former market gardener myself (HBC) I can vouch for the need for a program such as this. If you are even considering a CSA this program will save you untold hours of guessing and agonizing. Considering the work that went into this application it is a steal. Spreadsheet Software Set contains: 8.5″ x 11″ 100 page manual and CD. For Windows or Mac.Market Farm Forms at Back 40 Books  http://www.back40books.com/get_item_mr-1_market-farm-forms.htm (A short video about the software is available at this location).

866.596.9982   University Purchase orders and Credit Cards Accepted
www.Back40Books.com
www.Back40Forums.com
www.ResilienceOnLine.org

The Xerces Society’s Pollinator Conservation Planning Short Course will be offered in 36 states over the next three years. Funding for this effort has been provided through three grants from the Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education’s (SARE) Professional Development Program.

The current Farm Bill makes pollinators and their habitat a conservation priority for USDA land managers and conservationists. The Pollinator Conservation Planning Short Course is a first- of-its-kind training on those Farm Bill provisions. It also provides instruction on how to translate these provisions into real world conservation efforts.

The Short Course is an intensive, day-long training designed to equip conservationists, land managers, farm educators, and agricultural professionals with the latest science-based approaches to increasing crop security and reversing the trend of pollinator decline, especially in heavily managed agricultural landscapes. It has already been conducted in Wisconsin, Minnesota, Oregon, and Missouri.

Short Course topics include the basic principles of pollinator biology, the economics of insect pollination, recognizing native bee species, and assessment of pollinator habitat. Advanced modules will cover farm management practices for pollinator protection, the development of habitat enhancements (including selecting appropriate plants) and using Farm Bill conservation programs to help farmers restore habitat. An overview of additional funding sources and technical support available to land managers will also be provided. Throughout the workshop these training modules are
illustrated by real case studies of pollinator conservation efforts across the country, and will be supported by field observations. Read more »

If you have top-notch customer service skills, are highly motivated, and have a passion for organic food and where it comes from, we’d like to talk with you.

Frog Hollow Farm, one of the Bay area’s first, oldest, and finest organic orchards is seeking an Administrative Assistant to support our eCommerce, Mail Order, and Order Fulfillment divisions.  The right applicant will be organized with a strong work ethic and ability to learn fast.  Must be able to manage multiple priorities and projects, meet deadlines, and pay close attention to details.   Must be proficient in MS Excel, Word, and Publisher and familiar with QuickBooks.  Bi-Lingual (Spanish) is a plus.

Please email resume and cover letter to jobs@froghollow.com.   In the coverletter, please answer the following questions:
1)      What is your favorite stone fruit?
2)      Do you personally shop for organic produce?  If so, why?
3)      Do you have an attachment to local farms?  If so, please explain.
4)      Are you a regular at your farmer’s market?
5)      What are three of your favorite restaurants?

Thank you for taking the time to answer these questions. For more information please contact us at jobs@froghollow.com

NEW HAVEN, Conn., March 27, 2010 – Agriculture Deputy Secretary Kathleen Merrigan today announced financial support intended to spur economic development and protect natural resources in the Quinebaug and Shetucket River Valley in Connecticut.

“USDA is helping the people of Connecticut preserve this area’s natural and cultural resources while promoting sustainable economic growth opportunities,” said Merrigan. “The funding support the Obama Administration is announcing today will further local efforts to save and create jobs in this region while also protecting what local residents call ‘the Last Green Valley.’”

At the Working Lands Alliance’s Tenth Anniversary Conference, held at Yale University, Merrigan announced that a total of $207,000 in funds from the Rural Business Enterprise Grant program (RBEG) will be provided to several organizations around Connecticut to improve economic opportunities in the area.

About an hour’s drive from three of New England’s largest urban areas, “the Last Green Valley” is an area of fields, forests and rugged hills. Forest and farmland make up 78 percent of its 695,000 acres.

The Last Green Valley, Inc., a non-profit organization Congress designated to manage this nationally recognized area, has been selected to receive a $28,000 RBEG to create a website to help farmers locate educational information, business assistance and marketing opportunities. The organization was also selected to receive a second $28,000 RBEG to create a “mastering the business of agriculture” educational program where farmers will receive classroom instruction on how to create effective business plans.

USDA also selected the Northwest Connecticut Chamber Education Foundation to receive a $30,000 grant to renovate a historic diner in Torrington, Conn. The building will be converted into a tourism and business center for the Northwest Connecticut Chamber of Commerce. An additional $308,000 will be leveraged from other sources for the renovation project.

Two additional Connecticut organizations were selected for funding: Read more »

The Real Food Challenge is national organization of youth and students uniting for a just and sustainable food system.  We’re building a movement on college campuses across the country–working to shift $1 billion of college food purchases to “real food” by 2020–food that is community based, fair, ecologically sound, and humane.  The RFC is a diverse community of young changemakers–through these positions you’ll develop many important leadership skills, get connected to a wide network of inspiring food activists, and support the growing Student food Movement.  All positions below are volunteer (stipended) and one year in length.

Whether you’re a veteran student organizer or completely new to the Real Food Challenge, apply today! The deadline is fast approaching. Read more »

By KATIE ZEZIMA;  Published: March 26, 2010

According to the United States Department of Agriculture, the number of slaughterhouses nationwide declined to 809 in 2008 from 1,211 in 1992, while the number of small farmers has increased by 108,000 in the past five years.

Fewer slaughterhouses to process local meat means less of it in butcher shops, grocery stores and restaurants. Chefs throughout the Northeast are partnering with farms to add locally-raised meat to their menus, satisfying a customer demand. But it is not always easy.

“There are a lot of people out there who raise great animals for us to use, and they don’t have the opportunity to get them to us because the slaughterhouses are going away,” said Bill Telepan, chef and owner of Telepan, a high-end restaurant in New York.

Mr. Telepan’s veal supplier, Duane Merrill of Walton, N.Y., said there was no slaughterhouse in Delaware County, “and it’s the size of Rhode Island.” Mr. Merrill said he also had difficulty finding adequate transport for veal cattle down to New York City.

Brian Moyer, director of Rural Vermont, a nonprofit farm advocacy group, uses the image of an hourglass. “At the top of the hourglass we’ve got the farmers,” he said, “the bottom part is consumers and in the middle, what’s straining those grains of sand, is the infrastructure that’s lacking.”

Vermont, a locavore’s paradise, is seeing increased demand for the facilities from both small-scale meat producers and dairy farmers, who are facing some of the lowest milk prices in years and are trying to diversify with beef cattle.

“People are trying to figure out how to get a little more money out of their herds,” said Randy Quenneville, program chief for the Vermont meat inspection service. “And with the interest in stuff being local, wanting to know where their food is coming from and how it was raised, there are more people looking to do this.”

To read the entire article go to: http://www.nytimes.com/2010/03/28/us/28slaughter.html?pagewanted=1&hpw

The April 2010 issue of Ag Opportunities is now available online at http://agebb.missouri.edu/mac/agopp/index.htm

• Goats Require Minimal Investment But Extension Specialist Says Several Factors Can Impact Profits
• 2010 Southwest Missouri Goat Conference
• Green Hills Farm Project
• Growing Growers
• 2010 Regional Grazing Schools
• Grants and Assistance
• IN PRINT/ON-LINE/IN THE NEWS
• ON THE CALENDAR

On a recent Friday morning, Wheatberry Bakery in Amherst, Massachusetts, was humming with activity. Behind hand-built wooden counters set with delicate French tiles, co-owner Adrie Lester dealt a brisk business in organic scones and muffins, loaves of fragrant artisanal bread, soups, and sandwiches. In the bakery’s kitchen, her husband, Ben, kneaded a batch of dough, then paused to slip a tray of sourdough baguettes into the oven.

The Lesters opened their business in 2005 and quickly established themselves as a neighborhood fixture. But in early 2008, everything changed. Commodity crop prices went haywire, sending the cost of flour soaring. “It was catastrophic,” Ben said. The Lesters decided that basing their products on an ingredient produced thousands of miles away in the Midwest no longer made good business sense, and they began to ask what it would take to source grain from local growers.

Two years later, an estimated 10 percent of the grains they use are locally grown, a number they hope to increase over time. In the meantime, the Lesters have poured their energies into a related endeavor: organizing the region’s first grain CSA, which in 2009 had approximately 115 members, with a waiting list to match. Last October, Ben and Adrie installed an electric mill in their bakery; now, a day rarely passes without a member stopping by to say hello and grind some grain into flour. The Lesters offer a remarkable example of the creative, community-focused thinking that has driven the local foods movement for the past decade, and they are not alone. From Maine and Vermont to New York and Pennsylvania, a growing number of farmers, bakers, brewers, distillers, and food educators are working to create a regional grain network throughout the Northeast.

To read the entire article, go to: http://www.theatlantic.com/food/archive/2010/03/the-breadbasket-of-america-new-england/37830/

LECTURE BY DR. TON BAARS, PROFESSOR OF BIODYNAMIC AGRICULTURE AT KASSEL UNIVERSITY IN GERMANY

Monday, April 5, 2010, 11 am; Hawthorne Valley School, Harlemville, Columbia County, New York; admission $10

Dr. Baars will speak about his research on the effect of different farming systems and practices on the quality of raw milk, and the relation of these quality differences to asthma and atopic allergies in humans. What are the challenges for organic dairy farming?

Dr. Anthonie (Ton) Baars holds a masters degree in biology with a specialization in ecology from University of Utrecht and received his doctorate from Wageningen University. His nearly 30-year teaching career spans a diversity of topics in biodynamics – grassland, animal health and welfare, animal breeding, cheese processing and system development.  The focus of his research at Kassel University include: milk quality and allergies, animal self-medication, biodynamic preparations, human decision making and biodynamic animal breeding.

For a list of Dr. Baars’ publications, see: http://www.agrar.uni-kassel.de/bdl/?c=26;  For more information, contact Malcolm Gardner, 518-828-1797, malcolm9@verizon.net