Virginia Vegetable Production Workshop - November 13, 2012, 8:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m. Houff Community Center, Bridgewater

This program for the day will include: Overview of market opportunities in vegetable produce (Tom Stanley, VCE-Rockbridge); Update of specific production issues experienced this past growing season (Amber Vallotton, VCE-Rockingham); Break-out sessions for 1. greenhouse/high tunnel and 2. field production including: General management (Joyce Latimer, Greenhouse Crops Extension Specialist, VT); Nutrition/fertility (Allen Straw, Horticulture, Small Fruit, and Specialty Crops Specialist, VT); Disease Management (Steve Rideout, Vegetable Crop Disease Specialist, VT); Insect Management (Janet Spencer, VCE-Isle of Wight; Discussion about post harvest handling issues (Kate Fiedler, Virginia Tech PhD candidate); Heat treatment of seeds (Andy Wyenandt and Kris Holmstrom, Rutgers) – Of particular interest to those growing and saving tomato seed (or other non-cucurbit veggie crops) and/or growing in high tunnels or greenhouses, or who have had canker in their fields/GHs: Growers will treat seed to provide practical hands-on experience with this method; Combined grower/speaker Panel Discussion; Vendor Booths; For participants desiring it, Category 90 and 91 Private Applicator Recertification credit will be available.

Sign-in will run from 8:00-8:30 a.m., with the program starting promptly at 8:30 a.m.

 Cost of this special workshop is $20 and includes refreshments, lunch, and any handouts

PRE-REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED by calling Virginia Cooperative Extension-Rockingham County at 540-564- 3080.

Please contact Amber Vallotton at avallott@vt.edu should you have any questions. DON’T MISS THIS EVENT!!! Call to pre-register today!!!

Directions: From I-81, take exit 240 (Bridgewater/Mt. Crawford) and proceed on VA-257 West towards Bridgewater. Proceed for 3.1 miles, crossing through the intersection at Rt. 11 (the White Wave Milk Plant will be on the right), entering the Town of Bridgewater, and passing the Bridgewater College campus. After passing five college crosswalks, take the first right onto North Second Street. Houff Community Center/Maple Terrace Apartments are straight ahead. Parking is available in the lots behind Maple Terrace.

Farm Job: Cibola Farms in Culpeper, Virginia is Hiring a Farm Manager, a Livestock Manager

Cibola Farms operates with a Farm Manager that oversees all operations and is heavily consumed in the multi-year farm development, expansion and improvement plan (coral, fencing, workshop, roads, etc.).  The Livestock Manager coordinates all assets in conjunction with the Farm Manager and maintains production goals, records, reporting and assists in the development of improvements.

Skills required: Communication must be top notch.  This must include a keyboarding speed of at least 40 WPM; Computer: Basic working knowledge of Excel and Word; Organization; Investigative curiosity; Integrity, honesty, creative problem solving; Skills / experience with tractor, ATV, truck, trailer towing; Capable of conducting research.; Basic math skills – minor algebra; Reading & comprehension skills. After hours reading on trade journals, sustainability books and other associated materials required.; Animal skills that support humane and sustainable handling methods – Temple Grandin style.; Willing to sit at a computer for hours as well as work outside for hours.

Duties (sample items): Record keeping coordination & maintenance.  Breeding planning, records and tracking.; Hay and grain supplement management.; Livestock project management.; Labor resource coordination with Farm Manager.; Continuing education.; Maintain production systems managed for maximum production and minimal costs.; Animal processing and sales planning, tracking and management.; Testing / monitoring / reporting – soil, water, grass & hay.; Livestock health / parasite management. Read more »

Market Manager Job at Independence Farmers Market in Virginia for 2013

This is a part time position requiring approximately 10 hours per week for a total of up to 520 hours per year. He/she must have a flexible schedule to be able to work irregular hours and be available via phone and email. The Market Manager establishes the reputation of the market and sets the tone in our interactions with participants, customers, local business, educational and community outreach programs and thus should be passionate about the community and local agriculture. The successful candidate must be computer literate, have adept communication, creative conflict and problem solving, and strong administrative and interpersonal skills. He/she must be able to lift up to 40 pounds. This is a contract position paying $14/hr with a stipend for benefits. The Market Manager reports to the Independence Farmers Market Steering Committee. Estimated starting date is 15 December 2012. Read more »

The Virginia Beginning Farmer & Rancher Coalition Project Announces YouTube Channel          

Want to see Virginia beginning farmers in action?

Want to learn from folks working in agriculture every day?

Want to learn at your own pace and time?

If the answer is yes, visit the new YouTube Channel: www.youtube.com/user/VABeginningFarmers

FARM SCHOOL – A Virginia Whole Farm Planning Educational Program for Farm Start-up and Development
Monday evenings 6:00 – 9:00 pm, Oct. 22 – Nov. 26, 2012 plus farm tours 1:00 – 5:00 pm Sunday Nov. 11 and Networking Event 2:00 – 4:00 pm Sunday, Goochland, VA

VABF is pleased to announce that registration is now open for our six-week Farm School for Beginners.  Classes will be held at the Goochland Campus of J. Sargent Reynolds Community College on Dickenson Road in Goochland, VA.  The Farm School is based on four Modules of the Curriculum developed by the Virginia Beginning Farmer and Rancher Coalition Project (www.vabeginningfarmer.org), in which VABF is a partner.  The modules are: Introduction to Whole Farm Planning (October 22 and 29); Marketing (November 5); Sustainable Farming Practices (November 12 and 19); Holistic Business Management (November 26) Read more »

On Thursday, August 23 a Forage Field Day will be held at Triple Creek Ranch – The Poore Family Farm, in Virgilina, VA.

Participants can hear and see how innovative forage management techniques are impacting their production system. The Field Day will involve rotating between various stations to view and discuss specific management techniques.

Some of the highlighted topics include: converting to novel endophyte tall fescue using summer annuals, managing what you have to extend the grazing season and low stress handling of cattle. Other supporting topics include fencing and watering to make it all work, grazing summer forages for yield and quality, stockpiling for winter grazing, conservation practices that are helping to make the system sustainable, and technical and financial assistance that is available to support improved pasture management. The event will finish with an evening meal featuring locally produced beef from Farmhand Marketing Cooperative, and an after dinner presentation on the opportunities and challenges for pasture based beef production in the southeastern United States by North Carolina Cattlemen, Johnny Rogers.

This event is being hosted by the Virginia Forage and North Carolina Forage and Grassland Councils and Virginia and North Carolina Cooperative Extension. A variety of speakers will be making presentations on the topics mentioned. The Field Day starts at 2:30 PM and will end about 6:30 PM after dinner. The registration for this event is FREE and includes dinner. Triple Creek Ranch is located about 1 mile east of Virgilina on Route 49. There is NO cost to attend this event provided that you preregister by August 10 by calling Margaret Kenny at 434-292-5331. A $10 registration fee will be charged at the door for those NOT preregistering.

Check out this article by Virginia Agriculture Commissioner Matt Lohr.  It highlights the Certified Farm Seeker (CFS) program, one of 7 Virginia Beginning Farmer and Rancher Coalition Project programs that put whole farm planning curriculum into practice.  The CFS program is led by Virginia Farm Bureau and Young Farmer and the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (VDACS).  They will be using the whole farm planning curriculum to help provide individuals seeking farming opportunities with the tools needed to successfully demonstrate their farming commitment and vision to interested landowners.

For more information about the Certified Farm Seeker Program, please visit:  vdacs.virginia.gov/preservation/seeker.shtml.

To learn about other Virginia Beginning Farmer and Rancher Coalition Project programs, visit:  www.vabeginningfarmer.org.

A recently published Farm Bureau You Tube Video featuring Bob Harris, VFBF Young Farmers Committee chairman, the Virginia Farm Link program, and one of Virginia’s Whole Farm Planning groups: the Northern Piedmont Beginning Farmer Program with Jim Hilleary, Ray Pickering, and VCE team! The Virginia Beginning Farmer & Rancher Coalition is also featured!

Cage Aquaculture Forum at Virginia State University

Small farmers, landowners with farm ponds, and others interested in learning how to use ponds to grow fish in cages for sale to local markets are invited to attend a two-day Cage Aquaculture Forum sponsored by Virginia State University’s Aquaculture Program.  Free and open to the public, the forum will be held beginning Wednesday, April 11 through Thursday, April 12, 2012 at VSU’s Cooperative Extension Pavilion located on River Road, Ettrick.

Keynote speaker David Cline, Auburn University aquaculture extension specialist, will discuss “The Future of Cage Aquaculture.”  Participants will hear about cage aquaculture from both the farmer’s and extension agent’s viewpoint; learn cage design techniques and fish health principles; and delve into marketing and profit.

Special program features include a site visit to a local farm where fish are being raised in cages, and a caged-trout farm pond demonstration.   Since space is limited, interested persons are strongly encouraged to register before or by April 2.

Register by contacting Debra B. Jones, VSU administrative assistant, at (804) 524-5496 or e-mail dbjones@vsu.edu.  For forum details, contact Dr. David Crosby, VSU fish health specialist, at (804) 524-5620 or e-mail dcrosby@vsu.edu.

Greenstone Fields, a Loudoun County, Virginia market farm, is offering jobs for the 2012 season.

This is a Certified Naturally Grown farm specializing in cut flowers, as well as berries, shiitake mushrooms and select vegetables (tomatoes, asparagus, garlic).  They grow on just under three acres and sell at farmers markets, to local restaurants and floral designers; and also through two very accomplished CSAs. Their farm is one of four market farms within a 400-acre farming community.  They are in our 6th year of production, and have established a reputation for producing high-quality product, e.g. flowers with long vase life and particularly tasty berries.

These positions are for the entire season, starting in April and running through October. They understand some applicants may be finishing college so we can be flexible about a May start date.

To learn about the two positions and how to apply click “read more”. Read more »