Sustainable agriculture news for the third week of December, 2011 from the National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition:

CONGRESSIONAL NEWS

Healthy Food Financing Initiative FY 2012 Appropriations Funding: As we reported in an earlier blog post, in mid-December Congress passed a “megabus” appropriations bill that included FY 2012 appropriations funding for numerous departments including Defense, Education, Health and Human Services, and the Environmental Protection Agency.  Included in this package is $32 million in funding for the Healthy Food Financing Initiative.  HFFI aims to fund food retail outlets in food deserts, which are low-income communities lacking access to healthy foods.  Read more…

USDA NEWS

USDA Wraps Up FY2011 Rural Energy for America Program Grants and Loans: USDA has announced the final FY2011 loan and grant awards for the Rural Energy for America Program (REAP).  The program funds renewable energy and energy efficiency projects for farmers, ranchers and rural small businesses. REAP grants can fund up to 25-percent of a project’s costs, up to $500,000 for renewable energy systems and $250,000 for energy efficiency improvements.  Read more…

NRCS Updates Nutrient Management Standard: Last week, USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) released an updated version of its nutrient management standard, also known as conservation practice standard 590 (CPS 590).  NRCS practice standards delineate the steps that a producer may or must take in order to receive payments for a particular conservation practice under NRCS conservation programs.  Read more…

EPA NEWS

EPA Extends Comment Period for Proposed CAFO Reporting Rule: On Monday, December 19, the EPA announced that it is extending the comment period on a proposed rule with requirements for Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations (CAFOs) to report specific information about the their operations to the agency.  Comments are now due January 19, 2012.  EPA has issued a fact sheet with information on submitting comments.  Read more…

OTHER NEWS

Generations Bookend Rural Great Plains and Midwest: A new Center for Rural Affairs report released finds that rural areas in the Great Plains and Midwest continue to lose population and are caught between “bookend generations” – the youngest and the oldest – with a demographic valley in between.  Read more…

Photo by Grant Kessler

Harvest Moon Farms a small, certified organic vegetable farm 90 miles west of Madison in Viroqua, Wisconsin is offering field crew jobs for 2012. They operate a fun, energetic, yet professional business operation and are looking for upbeat, positive, fun (and funny) people, especially those interested in culinary pursuits.

Seasonal Field Crew Jobs Description: Seeking individuals for our 2012 Field Crew (May through October). Duties include seeding, transplanting, cultivation, harvest, and post harvest cleaning/packing. Crew members will also assist with CSA box packing as necessary. Experience preferred but will consider individuals without experience who have the right combination of other desired skills; strong work ethic, great attitude, timeliness, dependability, and desire to learn organic farming techniques. Must be able to lift 50# and willing to work in all weather conditions. Please email a resume and cover letter to info@harvestmoon-farms.com.

Field Crew Supervisor Job: Ploughshare Farm, a 400 member CSA in Alexandria Minnesota, is hiring a Field Crew Supervisor for 2012.

Primary duties include harvest management and field crew supervision. A minimum of three seasons on a diversified vegetable farm is required. Supervisory experience strongly preferred.

Compensation: A competitive hourly wage (based upon experience), housing in a 3 bedroom, split-logged home. Long-term management opportunities are a possibility after a trial period of one year.   Couples and families are welcome. For more information, contact Gary Brever, gjbrever@midwestinfo.net

And to learn more specifics about this job click “read more” Read more »

Cameron Place CSA Farm in Colorado is offering Garden and CSA Membership Manager Jobs for 2012.

Cameron Place CSA was established in 2005 as a diversification of Rancho Durazno, and an individually owned organic peach orchard in Palisade, Colorado.  The CSA grows fresh vegetables on 3-5 acres, primarily for 100 CSA shares plus sales at 2-4 farmers’ markets and local restaurants.

Garden and CSA membership managers are needed beginning February, 2012.

Position Description:

Garden manager is responsible for all phases from planning to seeding through harvest of fresh vegetables.  CSA membership manager assists Garden manager and supervises vegetable and fruit share distributions and communication with members and community via newsletter, email, website etc.  Experience in required tasks is essential, as is demonstrated management capability.

For more detailed information and to find out how to apply, click “read more” Read more »

CT NOFA GETTING STARTED IN ORGANIC FARMING CONFERENCE January 28, 8:30am – 4:00pm, 2012.

At the Connecticut Forest and Park Association Meeting Space – 16 Meriden Road, Rockfall, CT

This conference is targeted to beginning farmers who choose to farm organically and established farmers who are converting their operations to organic.

Speakers and topics include: Dina Brewster, The Hickories in Ridgefield, CT – Marketing Models; Duncan Cox, Baystate Organic Certifiers – Organic Certification; Shannon Raider, Common Ground High School, New Haven, CT – Greenhouses; Bryan O’Hara, Tobacco Road Farm, Lebanon, CT – TBA; Jiff Martin & Jennifer McTiernan – Land Access and Leasing.

Registration is $30 for CT NOFA members, $40 for non-members. Scholarships are also available for new farmers – view the application here: http://ctnofa.org/events/Getting%20Started/2012_getting_started_scholarship.html. Lunch will be potluck, so attendees are encouraged to bring along their favorite dish to prepare. Co-sponsored by CT NOFA, UConn & RMA. For more information please visit: http://ctnofa.org/events/Getting%20Started/2012_getting_started_conference_page.html and call the office at 203-888-5146 to register.

Lowcountry Local First (LLF), a non-profit organization and farm located in North Charleston, South Carolina is currently accepting applications for farm jobs, and offering land for new farmers through their farm incubator program for 2012.

The mission of LLF is to advocate the benefits of a local living economy by strengthening community support of our local independent businesses and farmers. LLF’s Eat Local Initiative is our sustainable agricultural initiative designed to grow and support local food systems by connecting local farms, producers, and apprentices to the local restaurants, institutions, and people with a hunger for farm fresh food and goods. (www.lowcountrylocalfirst.org)

They are currently accepting applications for 3 positions:

-Apprentices (Full-time and Part-time)

-Incubated Farmers

-Mentors for Incubator Farms

To see descriptions of these positions, and do find out how to apply, click “read more”. Read more »

The following guest post “Do farmers need to incorporate?” was written for beginningfarmers.org by our good friend Jason Foscolo.

Jason has over 10 years of experience as an attorney, and is passionate about assisting farmers and food entrepreneurs in developing sustainable agriculture businesses. He specializes in assisting with market access, cooperative development, direct marketing, food safety rules, product liability, certification programs, product labeling, grant funding, and more. You can find more great posts like this, and can contact him through his Food Law Blog.

Here’s what he had to say in response to a question I asked him about about the importance of farm incorporation:

“My advice is to always treat a farm as a business. The first step any business owner should take is to ensure that his or her personal assets are kept separate from company assets. A beginning farmer can do this by adopting one of several appropriate business formats that will grant you this type of protection. These formats, generally, are the limited liability company, the c-corporation, or the s-corporation.

Any one of these business forms, if properly maintained, will protect your personal assets from the legal obligations of the company. Corporate legal obligations are debts and civil judgments incurred during the ordinary course of business. Debts at least have a known amount, which is a satisfactory risk management tool in itself – do not borrow more than you know you can repay. But businesses and farms fail all the time, so it is important to keep corporate financial obligations distinct from your personal property.

On the other hand, civil liability for illness caused by food products is a potentially limitless source of risk for any farming operation. It is difficult to over-state the need for limited liability in the food production business. In most states, anyone who makes food and sells it to customers is held strictly liable in civil court for the illness or harm caused by their food products. Strict liability essentially means that a farmer or food processor is liable without regard to negligence. Therefore, if a food product causes an illness, it is no defense that the farmer washed the product thoroughly, checked the temperature repeatedly during preparation, or adhered to the most modern HACCP plan available. If someone gets sick from your product, there is almost no way to avoid financial responsibility for the full amount of harm it caused. Unlike financial debts, product liability risks cannot be easily assessed because civil judgments can vary wildly. The only way to manage the risk is to adopt a corporate form.

In farming, land is livelihood. Land is also a very valuable asset which will entice creditors and judgement holders to pursue their claims. Protecting land and livelihood begins with the appropriate corporate form to limit personal liability for corporate actions.”

Organic Farm Manager Job now available in in Dartmouth Massachusetts

Eva’s Garden, located in coastal southeastern Massachusetts (Dartmouth), is looking for a farm manager to coordinate the production, harvest and sales of greens, culinary herbs, and flowers beginning in 2012. Eva’s Garden is a small certified organic farm that has supplied Boston and Providence chefs, as well as Whole Foods Markets, for over 30 years.

Responsibilities include planning, implementing, and tracking farm production, in collaboration with the farm owner and other team leaders – from ordering seed to growing and harvesting through delivery. The farm manager will provide advice on the farm’s business strategy and production processes, so that labor, equipment, and materials are used efficiently to create high-quality and profitable produce. Ideal candidates have at least 3 years of experience in organic farming (or equivalent), with strong organizational, communication, management and business skills. Pay will be competitive and based on experience, productivity, and reliability. Please send a cover letter and resume to evasgarden.applications@gmail.com

The Greenbank Farm Ag Training Center (GFATC) in Washington State is accepting applications for its 2012 New Farmer program.

This program focuses on training aspiring farmers to run successful, ecological and community-focused farms and uses its ten acre organic farm as a real-world example and outdoor classroom. During the seven-month program, students live on-site and manage the gardens and livestock, market the produce (through a CSA program, farmers market, and local retailers and restaurants), study a university-developed farming and marketing curriculum and engage in independent research projects including the writing of a personal business plan. Through this balance of academic and experiential studies, program participants learn and experience all aspects of starting and running a small scale organic farm, from goal setting and business planning to planting, harvesting, and marketing. Our goal is to offer them the skills and knowledge they need to confidently enter the growing field of sustainable agricultural producers.  For more information please visit our website at http://greenbankfarm.net/training-center

Montalbano Farms, a diversified organic farm in Sandwich, Illinois, about 60 miles west of Chicago is offering two farm manager jobs for the 2012 Growing Seasion. They have a medium-sized (and growing) CSA program as well as farmers market stands. They are working with their organic certifier and will be a certified organic farm in 2013. Learn more about their operation and growing practices at www.montalbanofarms.com.

Managers for the 2012 growing season will oversee harvest for their markets, csa, and wholesale accounts as well as general field work (includes crop planning, planting, cultivating, and irrigating). These are full time, year round positions. Pay is based on qualifications and previous experience. All employees receive produce from our farm.  3 years of previous experience working on vegetable and csa farms is required.

Responsibilities for the field manager include: developing a yearly fruit/vegetable growing plan; planting, weeding, watering, and harvesting produce; and overseeing work of volunteers and seasonal employees.

Harvest manager responsibilities include: harvesting produce to provide our CSA, markets, and wholesale accounts with high quality, fresh vegetables; accurate and timely recordkeeping; helping with field duties on the farm as required; and overseeing work of volunteers and seasonal employees.

To apply, please send a cover letter and resume to rob@montalbanofarms.com by February 1, 2012 (the sooner, the better).

It is convention season for many Farmers Union states and regions. NFU staff members have been traveling around the country to update Farmers Union members on the upcoming 2012 farm bill. They also discussed Farmers Union initiatives, such as the organization’s partnership with Feeding America.

Check with your state Farmers Union for for details on your upcoming convention. State conventions are the most important part of Farmers Union’s grassroots foundation, because this is where you have an opportunity to voice your opinion on the issues that your state advocates for in the coming year. Click here for a calendar of events.

Conservation Stewardship Program Applications Due by January 1, 2012

USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) today announced that the ranking period cut-off date for the Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP) is January 13, 2012. Producers interested in CSP should submit applications to their local NRCS office by the deadline so that their applications can be considered during the first ranking period of 2012.

“CSP is one of our most popular conservation programs, and we expect to receive many applications,” NRCS Chief Dave White said. “I encourage all farmers and ranchers who are interested in applying to contact their local NRCS office as soon as possible so they can meet the deadline.”

CSP is offered in all 50 states, and the Pacific and Caribbean areas through continuous sign-ups. The program provides many conservation benefits including improvement of water and soil quality, wildlife habitat enhancements and adoption of conservation activities that address the effects of climate change. Eligible lands include cropland, pastureland, rangeland, nonindustrial private forest land and agricultural land under the jurisdiction of an Indian tribe.

A CSP self-screening checklist is available to help potential applicants determine if CSP is suitable for their operation. The checklist highlights basic information about CSP eligibility requirements, contract obligations and potential payments. It is available from local NRCS offices and on the CSP Web page.

As part of the CSP application process, applicants will work with NRCS field personnel to complete the resource inventory using a Conservation Measurement Tool (CMT). The CMT determines the conservation performance for existing and new conservation activities.  The applicant’s conservation performance will be used to determine eligibility, ranking and payments. In 2010 alone, nearly 21,000 applicants enrolled in CSP, putting additional conservation on 25.2 million acres, about the size of the state of Kentucky, to improve water and soil quality, enhance wildlife habitat and address the effects of climate change.

Visit the NRCS National Web site, and connect with an NRCS office near you.

Learn more on the NSAC Website: http://sustainableagriculture.net/blog/fy12-csp-ranking-cutoff/

Equinox Community Farm and CSA in Madison, Wisconsin offers internships for 2012 a small market farm and CSA located in Waunakee, WI just a twenty minute drive from downtown Madison. They raise a wide variety of vegetables as well as a number of herbs, strawberries, raspberries, blueberries, and blackberries.  They will have approximately ten acres under cultivation during the 2012 season.  They are in our organic transition period so all growing practices meet or exceed organic certification requirements.  They also keep laying hens, raise a handful of pigs, and make maple syrup.  Our primary market for our produce is our CSA which will have approximately 120 shares this season; we also sell at the Northside Farmer’s Market in Madison.

The farm is almost entirely run by John Binkley, with whom the interns would work closely and be involved in all aspects of the farm providing a great opportunity to learn about everything involved in running a farm of this type.

Preferred Start Date: March – Early May 2012, flexible; Preferred End Date: October 2012 – Mid November 2012

Number of positions: 2 interns, 2 hourly employees

Hours: Generally 40-50 per week including some weekend hours – will vary depending on time of year.

Wage: $200 per week for interns, plus room and board – $8 per hour for hourly employees

Expected Duties:  Interns will be involved with all aspects of production including greenhouse work, planting, transplanting, cultivation & weeding, harvesting, washing & packing, and working at the Farmer’s Market.

Skills Desired: Prior gardening/farming experience is preferred but not essential. The intern must show a strong interest in and enthusiasm for local, sustainable agriculture, a strong work ethic, ability to do physically demanding work, and ability to work well alone and with others.

Housing: On-farm housing is available.  If you would need housing do not hesitate to apply – this can be discussed during the interview process.

If interested please see www.equinoxcommunityfarm.com/employment for much more detailed info.

To apply email letter of interest and resume to John Binkley at john@equinoxcommunityfarm.com or feel free to call John with questions at 608-577-9313.

Plow Creek Farm in Illinois is hiring for the job of co-manager for the 2012 growing season and subsequent years to come. Established over 30 years ago, Plow Creek Farm is an established, diversified, organic farm operation that is connected with an intentional Christian Community (www.plowcreek.org).

The farm is seeking an individual to help in the management of day-to-day operations which include two acres of strawberries, two acres of blueberries, smaller plantings of blackberries and raspberries, 5 acres of mixed vegetables and a small herd of grass-fed cattle. The co-manger will assist in all aspects of crop production and business management including: development of yearly crop plans, soil and fertility management, equipment use and maintenance, supervision of staff/interns, pest and disease management, and marketing and selling of crops. In addition to management roles, the co-manager will be involved with all the hands-on work of planting, hand weeding, harvesting, and post-harvest handling. The farm runs a u-pick operation in the summer for strawberries and blueberries, sells at farmers’ markets, and has had a CSA program of about 50 members.

For a full job description please visit their website at www.plowcreek.org/farm/farm-manager_needed.htm

Qualifications and Skills of the ideal candidate:

• Knowledge of organic farming techniques and a minimum of 2 years working on a vegetable/berry farm
• Ability and interest in working in a community setting and with a team of workers, as well as the ability to work independently
• Strong mechanical skills and knowledge; ability to maintain and repair tractors and other farm equipment
• Must be in good physical condition
• Demonstration of initiative and innovation, especially in supporting more efficient farm production developing new enterprises for the farm
• Interest or background in teaching sustainable agriculture and horticulture skills is a plus
• Valid driver’s license

Compensation the first year would be an hourly wage and food from the farm. If after one year this is a good fit both for the farm and individual, subsequent years would be compensated with a share of the income. Work weeks during the peak growing season are typically 50 to 60 hours, with off season work closer to half-time. We are looking for someone to begin working in February of 2012.

How to apply: Send a letter of interest and resume to farm@plowcreek.org. Please feel free send any questions about the farm or community to the same address.  Applications are due by January 20.

Sustainable Farm internship in Maryland, 2012
592 McCauley Road
Conowingo, MD 21918
410-658-9731
Contact: Robin Way
Email: rumblewayfarm@hotmail.com

Website: http://www.rumblewayfarm.com

General Description: A 62-acre grass-based sustainable family farm located near the Chesapeake Bay that raises broiler chickens, laying hens, turkeys, rabbits, and beef cattle.

They have a commercial kitchen and a USDA-certified processing facility. We also have an on-farm store where we sell direct to customers.

Internship Starts: April -May 2012; Internship Ends: Oct- Nov; App Deadline: March 1, 2012; Minimum Length of Stay: Negotiable, 6 months preferred

Meals: Provided: you can eat with our family or cook for yourself.

Skills Desired: – Ability to lift 50 pounds – Driver’s license; tractor driving experience a plus – Reliable, self motivated, independent, and passionate about farming – Enjoys working outdoors No farming experience required; we will train

Educational Opportunities: We are entering our second year of mob grazing our beef cattle, so you will be learning this technique along with us. We cut and rake hay, so you can learn to drive a tractor and maintain the equipment. Our poultry is free range on pasture; learn care and maintenance of pastured flocks. Our farm offers a USDA-certified processing facility and we process and package our own birds. We have an on-farm store: learn retail sales of products, and interact with our customers. The Commercial kitchen offers canning, preserving, and catering -so you can learn to cook! Dry-stone masonry is a new fun project that is ongoing here. We can help you focus your interests and provide you with learning opportunities that you are interested in.

Stipend: $300-$400/month

Housing: Full housing provided. Secluded 30-foot trailer with heat, a/c, water, and full kitchen.
Preferred method Of Contact: phone 410-658-9731, or email: RumblewayFarm@hotmail.com