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5. Grant opportunity of organic gardens in schools by FFA FYI from the National FFA. Randy Dr. Randy Showerman Associate Professor, CARRS 302 Natural Resources Building Michigan State University East Lansing, MI 48824 - 1222 Phone: 517-353-3562 Fax: 517-432-5632 [log in to unmask] www.agriscience.msu.edu From: Gossen, Larry [mailto:[log in to unmask]] Sent: Friday, August 11, 2006 11:51 AM To: Iowa - Dale Gruis; Minnesota - Joel Larsen; Wisconsin - Jeff Hicken; Ohio - Dr. Ike Kershaw; Kentucky - Curt Lucas; Missouri - Dr. Terry W. Heiman; Randy Showerman; Indiana - Robert E. Juncker Subject: Grant opportunity follows Good Day to All; Anna Melodia found a grant opportunity I wanted to pass along. Below is the link to the grant website. This is a grant opportunity for schools who plant organic gardens as learning tools as an opportunity to obtain funds to plant a garden. Please share as needed. Thanks for the help. http://foundationcenter.org/pnd/rfp/rfp_item.jhtml?id=152900036 <http://foundationcenter.org/pnd/rfp/rfp_item.jhtml?id=152900036> Larry Gossen Local Program Success Specialist National FFA Organization 6060 FFA Drive, PO Box 68960 Indianapolis, IN 46268-1370 Voice: 317-802-4352 Cell: 785-230-0899 Fax: 317-802-5352 [log in to unmask] <mailto:[log in to unmask]> www.ffa.org <http://www.ffa.org> 6. National Farmers Union Giving Voice to Rural Americans <mip://030ec938/default.html#c4> : Rural Americans can voice their opinions about the drafting of the 2007 Farm Bill at National Farmers Union listening sessions:on August 5th in Point, TX; August 14th in Springfield, IL and Parker, SD; August 16th in Columbus, OH; August 19th in Chippewa Falls, WI and Aberdeen, SD; August 22nd in Tremonton, UT; August 23rd in Fresno, CA; August 25th in Lansing, MI; August 27th in Columbia, MO; August 30 in Lincoln, NE; and September 2 in Huron, SD. For details, see http://www.nfu.org/join/farm-bill-listening-sessions/ <http://www.nfu.org/join/farm-bill-listening-sessions/> See also NFU Returns to Rural Roots with Farm Bill Listening Sessions,Southwest Nebraska News, 7/31/06, posted at http://www.swnebr.net/newspaper/cgi-bin/articles/articlearchiver.pl?1588 67 <http://www.swnebr.net/newspaper/cgi-bin/articles/articlearchiver.pl?158 867> 7. U.S. Ag Official To Speak In Lansing U.S. Under Secretary for Rural Development Thomas DORR will speak at the inaugural Michigan Bio-Economy Summit Sept. 20-21 in Lansing. Sworn into office in July 2005, Dorr oversees the U.S. Department of Agriculture's rural development policies and program, which is responsible for $14 billion in loans, grants and technical assistance. The summit also will feature remarks from Gov. Jennifer GRANHOLM <http://www.mirsnews.com/lob_bio.php?cid=532> ; Michigan State University President Lou Anna SIMON; Kris BERGLUND, with DNP Technologies; and Bruce DALE, an internationally recognized ethanol production scientist. The Summit will focus on biotech issues and the promise of future developments. Representatives of major biotech companies will explain their research priorities and pending developments, according to Jim BYRUM, president of the Bio-Economy Consortium. Much of this new technology is being billed as improving the efficiency of ethanol and biodiesel production. 8. Opportunities in Organic Dairy Production Wednesday, September 13, 2006 Town and Country Restaurant, Clare, MI 1395 North McEwan Street, Clare, MI 48617 (989) 386-5434 8:30 am Welcome, social time 9:00 Opportunities in Organic Dairy Production Lowell Rheinheimer, Organic Valley regional coordinator * "7 reasons why Michigan is a great location for organic dairy production" * Three common misconceptions about organic dairy production * How to get $28/cwt for your milk * Introduction to Organic Valley / CROPP Cooperative 10:00 Organic Certification for Dairy Farms * The organic certification process * Questions and answers about certification 12:00 Dinner (provided by Organic Valley) 1:00 Organic seed, fertilizer, & feed Leon Hershberger, Cushman Creek Seeds * Availability, prices, organic certification of products * How products are used in organic dairy production * Introduction to Crystal Creek products (organic herd health) 1:30 Open discussion, questions and answers 2:00 End of Meeting Please feel free to invite any interested fellow farmers For more information: Organic Valley, 888-444-6455 ext 515 or Cushman Creek Seeds, 231-924-7014 9. Organic Valley/CROPP Cooperative Stands 800 Farmers Strong Tuesday August 15, 10:00 am ET Represents 40% of U.S. Organic Dairy Farmers, 10% of Nation's Total Organic Farmers LAFARGE, Wis., Aug. 15 /PRNewswire/ -- 800 organic farmers in 25 states -- a record number -- are now members of the Organic Valley/CROPP Cooperative, it was announced today by George Siemon, CEO and a founding farmer of the pioneering co-op. This solidifies Organic Valley/CROPP's position as the largest cooperative of organic farmers in North America. Siemon announced two additional membership benchmarks for Organic Valley/CROPP-600 organic dairy farmers and 100 organic produce farmers-the highest levels in the history of the cooperative. "Our steady growth shows that the marriage of organic agriculture and the cooperative model is a winning formula for family farmers who want to stay on the land, consumers who want delicious organic food, and future generations who want a healthy environment," said Siemon. "Organic Valley is grateful to everyone whose hard work and support over the years have enabled us to stay true to our mission." Organized in 1988 by a half dozen organic farmers who shared a love of the land and a belief in sustainable agriculture, Organic Valley/CROPP grew to nearly 200 farmers and $28 million in sales by the end of their first decade. By the end of 2005, its number of farmer-owners had risen to 723 farmers in 22 states, and sales had increased nearly tenfold to $245 million. Projections for 2006 continue this upward trend with an anticipated sales increase of $100 million and a 10 percent increase in farmer-owners. Organic Valley/CROPP Announces $2 Million Farmers Transition Fund In order to meet mounting consumer demand while guaranteeing a sustainable pay price to its farmer-owners, Organic Valley/CROPP Cooperative pioneered a full-service membership support program specifically designed to assist its membership and help new farmers come into organic. A key feature of the Organic Valley/CROPP Membership Services Program is a new $2 Million Transition Fund. "The $2 Million Transition Fund is dedicated to providing critical financial assistance to dairy farmers who join the co-op during their transition to organic methods," explained Siemon. The Membership Services Program also includes educational workshops, educational literature, support of existing farmer training programs, mentoring and internship opportunities. It offers certification assistance, technical support for farmers transitioning to organic, counseling by the co- op's nationally renowned staff veterinarian, a farmer speakers bureau, a farmer hotline, web resources at http://www.farmers.coop <http://www.farmers.coop> and other services. In addition, to further support rural communities, the Organic Valley co-op gives a portion of profits back into the communities in which the farmers reside. Organic Valley/CROPP Welcomes 600th Dairy Farmer Marlin Sauder, the first dairy farmer to be certified organic in the state of Kentucky, became the 600th dairy farmer to join Organic Valley/CROPP cooperative on August 1st, the day his certification became effective. Sauder, 34, lives with his wife, Alma, and their seven children in Sharon Grove, KY near the north central Tennessee border. Sauder recently began mentoring Irvin Ramer, 28, whose farm is nearby. He became the state's second certified dairy farmer and the cooperative's 601st dairy member. Sauder and Ramer represent "Generation Organic," Organic Valley's term for a new generation of organic family farmers who are taking the lead in producing high-quality food to meet America's growing demand for organics. Organic Valley started "Gen-O" in 2004 to nurture a new generation of organic farmers who are the heart of family farming. America lost 4.7 million farmers since 1935 and most of the 2.1 million who remain are over 55 years old. Organic Valley offers a variety of Gen-O educational initiatives. For further information visit http://www.farmers.coop/gen-o <http://www.farmers.coop/gen-o> . Organic Valley/CROPP Celebrates 100 Produce Farmers This month also marks the addition of the 100th produce farmer in the co- op. The first farmer group, or "pool," in the cooperative, the produce pool now represents more than 100 farmers in 8 states (Colorado, Iowa, Illinois, Michigan, Minnesota, Oregon, Washington and Wisconsin). The farmers produce more than 50 products on small family farms that average 5 - 15 acres. The products are sold nationwide to distributors, natural food cooperatives and some mainstream grocery retailers. "Our Produce Pool is realizing 100 percent sales growth annually. It is poised to expand to year-round sales adding growers outside of the Midwest and Pacific Northwest regions," noted David Bruce, Pools Director. "We're proud to be able to provide small producers with access to the marketplace." Organic Valley/CROPP: Independent and Farmer Owned Organic Valley/CROPP is America's largest cooperative of organic farmers and is one of the nation's leading organic brands. Organized in 1988, it represents more than 800 farmers in 25 states and realized a record $245 million in 2005 sales. Focused on its founding mission of keeping small and mid-sized farmers farming, the co-op produces 200 organic foods, including organic milk, soy, cheese, butter, spreads, creams, eggs, produce, juice and meats which are sold in supermarkets, natural foods stores and food cooperatives nationwide. For more information, call 1-888-444-MILK or visit http://www.organicvalley.coop <http://www.organicvalley.coop> and its new farmers' website, http://www.farmers.coop . ________________________________ Source: Organic Valley Vicki Morrone Organic Vegetable and Crop Outreach Specialist Michigan State University C.S. Mott Sustainable Food Systems 303 Natural Resources Bldg. East Lansing, MI 48824 517-353-3542 517-282-3557 (cell) 517-353-3834 (fax) If you would like to access previous postings to the Mich-Organic listserv you can copy and paste the following URL into your browser address bar http://list.msu.edu/archives/mich-organic.html