14. Farm It Forward- Keeping the "Family Farm" in business

For registration form go to: http://www.msu.edu/user/steind/farm%20it%20forward.html

 

Keeping the "Family Farm" in business, especially across the generations, can be a real challenge.  It can be an enormous challenge for you and your farm to meet.  If you are hoping to pass the farm to the next generation or are hoping that someday you will have the opportunity to take over the farm from your parents, then we have the program for you.  Communication can be a huge barrier for multi-generational farm families so you may find that some outside assistance with the process can be of value.  Families that have a next generation looking to become part of the farm business are encouraged to take part in this program series.  Set up as 2, two-day sessions, this program will give participants the opportunity to work through the process of planning a farm business transition. Discover how to address major issues that can lead to failure in a multiple generation farm business.  Dates for the sessions have been set for the 5 & 6 of January and the 2 & 3 of February, 2007.  The workshop sessions will be held at the Kellogg Biological Station located in Hickory Corners, Michigan.

A group of resource professionals that work with farm transitions have been recruited to facilitate the program and provide a positive environment for building a solid plan of action.  During the workshop participants will discuss: Setting the guideposts; Multiple generation farm families: living and working together; Strategic business planning; Farm business planning and some Basic estate planning issues. 

Putting together an informed plan of action can greatly improve the future outcome of the transition process.  The transition of knowledge and management is no small task to be undertaken without some outside assistance.  During this program, we hope to provide general information necessary to plan the entry of the next generation into existing farm operations.  Find out whether an existing operation is large enough to support an additional partner.  A wealth of resources will be provided from worksheets to hands-on exercises that will help participants develop there own pertinent transition plan information.  Participants will be offered an opportunity for each generation of their families to discuss issues related to their farm’s transfer.

Uncover alternatives that have helped others over the years, in the transfer of farm assets and resources between generations, in ways that have helped to limit the impact on cash flows and avoid taxation expenses when possible.

 

15.VEGETABLE PRODUCTION: From Greenhouse to Market

A Three-Day Farmer-to-Farmer Workshop for Vegetable Farmers

 

December 11, 12 & 13, 2006 United Methodist Church; Corner Henning & 5th Avenue; Saratoga Springs, NY Presented by the Sustainable Farmers Network with assistance from Washington County Cooperative Extension and the Cornell Small Farms Program

 

You are invited to join us for three days of presentations and group discussions by four highly experienced and successful vegetable farmers.

Dan Kaplan will be joining us for only one day; the other three farmers will be with us all three!  The workshop will focus on all aspects of greenhouse production, crop varieties, field production (including soil management, tillage, cultivation,& rotations), insect & disease management, recordkeeping for profitability, harvesting techniques, post-harvest handling/storage, and marketing. The presentations will consist of detailed, valuable information with PowerPoint pictures. Come and enjoy great food prepared with lots of local organic products, the company of friends old and new, and a lively and engaging learning environment. This workshop is designed for all levels of farmers with any size farm and any type system (conventional, organic, sustainable, etc.).

This workshop will also offer special 20 minute “Earn Your Meal”

presentations by other successful farmers attending the workshop, and there will be extensive networking/group discussion time.

 

Presenters:

Dan Kaplan; Brookfield Farm; Amherst, Massachusetts Since 1994, Dan and his family have managed this 120-acre mixed farm, with beef cows, hay, and 27 acres of biodynamic vegetable production, all of which are marketed through a successful 520-share CSA.  The farm is owned by a non-profit 501©3 corporation, whose mission is to promote all aspects of sustainable agriculture which is met primarily by training three apprentices each year and engaging in community education on many levels.

Dan’s expertise lies in his ability to manage labor, simplify record keeping, and balance good business practices with quality of life concerns.

 

Paul Bucciaglia, Fort Hill Farm; New Milford, Connecticut Paul has had a lifelong interest in farming and was a plant scientist after graduating from Penn State's College of Agriculture. Paul then spent

5 years working as a farm worker, apprentice, and farm manager before starting his own business at Fort Hill Farm in 2002. Paul rents 20 acres of land from the Nature Conservancy and has about 15 acres of that in organic production with a diverse mix of 40 vegetable crops. He runs a successful 300 share CSA and also sells at two farmers’ markets. Some of Paul’s strengths in operating a farm are in soil and weed management and in managing plant growth and development.

 

Jim Crawford; New Morning Farm; Pennsylvania The Crawfords have been family-scale vegetable farmers in central Pennsylvania since 1972 and their 95 acres have been certified organic since 1987. They grow about 50 different crops, which are uniquely marketed direct to consumers in the D.C. area and through the Tuscarora Organic Growers Cooperative. The Crawfords have trained hundreds of people, and many of the apprentices have gone on to farms of their own.

Jim has a great interest in the whole farm design and is enthusiastic about how to operate a successful farm.

 

Jack Hedin; Featherstone Farm; Rushford, MN Jack Hedin worked on organic vegetable farms from Maine to California for

6 years before founding Featherstone Farm with his partner, Jenni, in 1996.  Featherstone Fruits and Vegetables now produces a dozen crops for fresh market wholesale (food Co-ops and wholesalers from Minneapolis to

Chicago) and smaller plantings of many others for a 200 member CSA.

Located in the varied topography of southeast Minnesota (high bluffs and river valleys), Featherstone manages 120 acres of cropland on seven separate rented sites.  Diverse successful farming techniques will be highlighted.

 

Registration:

Participants MUST pre-register.  Please register early – space is limited.

  Registration costs $175 per person, and includes an informative conference binder, morning refreshments, and lunches & dinners during the conference.  Early registration (postmarked by November 15th) is $150. A second person from the same farm will receive a $25 discount.  For anyone chosen to do an “Earn Your Meal” presentation, they will receive $25 back at the workshop.  Overnight accommodations can be arranged for nearby hotels and homestays.

 

To register: Email [log in to unmask] to get a registration form. Then send check and registration form to: Sustainable Farmers Network, c/o Sandy Arnold, 118 South Valley Road, Argyle, NY 12809. Please make checks payable to “Sustainable Farmers Network”.  For more information or to receive a registration form, call Sandy at 518-638-6501, or (preferably) send an email to [log in to unmask] The full agenda will be available November 5, 2006.

 

Erica Frenay

Small Farms Program

Cornell University

162 Plant Science

Ithaca, NY 14853

607-255-9911

www.smallfarms.cornell.edu

 

16. Choices: Take it Slow-The conference that celebrates food and health!

The 2007 Choices Conference will be held on Tuesday evening, March 6 and all day Wednesday, March 7 at the Kellogg Hotel and Conference Center East Lansing, MI.  The general public will be invited to the Tuesday evening event and workshops.

 

Food is central to our daily life. Slowing down to really focus on food allows us to re-connect with the people who produce, prepare, serve and consume our food and with those with whom we share our meals. The 2007 Choices Conference will teach us how a slower-paced life, including slower paced meals, can benefit our personal health, families and friends, schools and communities. The latest research, best practices and novel approaches to food, nutrition and health topics will be featured to help all of us take it slow!

 

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The Choices conference is presented by the C.S. Mott Group for Sustainable Food Systems at Michigan State University with support from the USDA’s Food Stamp Program.  For more information about the conference the save the date flier can be viewed at www.mottgroup.msu.edu.  Contact  Diane Drago, Conference Coordinator  [log in to unmask] (517)663-5147 for more information on registration, sponsorship, and exhibiting.

 

17. Request for Applications: Vegetable/Strawberry IPM Educator Exchange Program

This message forwarded on behalf of Joe Kovach, OSU IPM Program Director.

 

Would you like to learn more about integrated pest management for vegetables or strawberries, but can't afford to travel to a meeting? Do you have an interest in sharing what you know with others? The Northeast Vegetable IPM Working Group, funded by the Northeastern IPM Center, is launching an Educator Exchange Program that will pay up to $800 for qualified expenses to help agricultural professionals in the Northeast learn about and share integrated pest management practices in vegetables and strawberries.

 

The program is open to vegetable and/or strawberry specialists, Cooperative Extension educators or county agents, growers, crop consultants, government agency staff, agricultural professionals in nonprofit organizations, or anyone who will be in contact with many vegetable or strawberry growers. All applicants must reside in a northeastern state.

 

For complete information about the application process, download the Request for Applications at http://northeastipm.org/work_vegetable.cfm.

 

 

18. “Building a Local Organic Grain Market”-Plans & Possibilities for Western Michigan

 

Starting Block, 1535 Industrial Park Dr., Hart, MI

Monday, November 6^th, 7:00pm

Dessert & Beverage provided

 

The growing organic farming movement in Western Michigan is in need of local access to organic grains for animal feed. Please plan to join us for a discussion about what might be possible for building a local market. Local organic farmers, feed mill operators and others will be attending.

 

Leading the discussion will be Chris Bedford, President of Sweetwater Local Foods Market, Inc. Joining us will be Vicki Morrone, MSU Organic Crop Outreach Specialist, and Matthew Birbeck, Supply Specialist from MSU’s Product Center. Matt & Vicki will share their wealth of knowledge and give up-to-date information about what others in the state are doing, and what we may be able to do.

 

Please join us – your input is critical!

 

Directions to the Starting Block: From US 31/Hart Exit at Polk Rd: East on Polk Rd for 1 mile. Turn right on Industrial Pk Dr.

 

Sponsored by: Sweetwater Local Foods Market, Inc.

19.  2007 RFP: "Diversifying Public Markets and Farmers Markets"

Project for Public Spaces, Inc. (PPS) is pleased to release its second Request for Proposals (RFP) to support individual farmers markets as part of its "Diversifying Public Markets and Farmers Markets" program. This round, PPS will be awarding approximately $400,000 in funding from the W.K. Kellogg Foundation. Grants resulting from this RFP will be awarded in early 2007 and will be for one year. The 2007 public markets grant program aims to strategically support markets, especially in low- to moderate-income communities, to become more economically sustainable and community-centered.

Application and Request for Proposals can be found at: http://www.pps.org/markets/info/regranting/rfp_2007

20. Southern Sustainable Agriculture Working Group (SSAAWG) annual conference

I know for us that the networking we do at conferences is invaluable, and one of the best in the country, the Southern Sustainable Agriculture Working Group (SSAAWG) annual conference is returning to Louisville, KY, January 25-28, 2007. Last year we had over 900 participants.  The over 50 sessions run the gamut from organic agriculture, pastured livestock of all types, and farm business planning to ag policy and community food systems.  Add to that 6 field trips, 8 short courses (one on cut flowers taught by Pam and Frank Arnosky), the best minds in the southeast on sustainable ag and the beauty of a riverside location and who wouldn’t want to attend?

 

 

Come to Louisville for a conference you won’t soon forget and tools to help you in your ag endeavors.  We’re looking forward to meeting you!

 

21. Opportunity for a Dairy Grazer in Pennsylvania

Dairy Grazier Wanted for Start-Up Operation in northeast Pennsylvania

 

The Lands at Hillside Farms, a new, not-for-profit conservation organization formed to promote organic and sustainable agriculture, is seeking an experienced dairy grazier to develop and operate a 40-50 cow grass-based dairy at its historic farm property located in Shavertown, PA . 

Facility renovation currently in the planning stages with first milking scheduled for sometime in 2007.  Established processing plant and dairy store located on-site.  Transition to organic production possible within 2-3 years.

 

This is a position that will require lots of public contact and cooperation with a team of staff and volunteers dedicated to environmental stewardship.  Potential opportunity for the right person to start as a =

 

Salaried employee and transition to an independent producer selling milk to Hillside Farms within 1-3 years.

 

For more information, visit www.thelandsathillsidefarms.org.  To apply, send letter of interest with description of your dairy background/experience to [log in to unmask]

 

 

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)

http://safs.msu.edu/

http://www.mottgroup.msu.edu/