13.  Agriculture Events-What is Happening?

May-August, 2007:
Monthly Farm walks at the MSU Student Organic Farm, including a one hour tour and discussion of what MSU-SOF is and how it works. There is no cost to attend, but please register with Adam Montri at (517) 432-3381 or [log in to unmask]

• June 20 4-5 p.m.
• July 18 4-5 p.m.
• August 15 4-5 p.m.

June 5-6, 2007:
“Urban Agriculture Ventures Training: Reinventing Food Production and Distribution in Cities,” with Will Allen of Growing Power, MSU Extension-Genesee County office, Flint, MI. Read more...

June 12-13, 2007:
"Southwest Michigan Agri-Tourism Bus Tour," sponsored by Michigan Farm Marketing & Agri-Tourism Association (MI-FMAT), The Fruit Growers News and The Vegetable Growers News. Read more...

June 19, 2007:
"Organic Farming" Bus Tour, through Ingham County MSU Extension. View the brochure...

June 22, 2007:
Hoophouse Workshop at MSU Student Organic Farm, East Lansing, MI, from 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Registration fee is $15 and includes materials and lunch. Contact Adam Montri at (517) 432-3381 or [log in to unmask] for more information or to register.

June 22-24, 2007:
2007 Michigan Energy Fair, Manistee County Fairgrounds, Onekama, MI. Read more at their website!

July 17-19, 2007:
Ag Expo at Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI. Learn more...

14.  Organic Farm Tour in Central Michigan

 

Ingham County MSUE Dan Hudson will be hosting a tour of several organic farms in Central Michigan On June 19 we will be hosting a bus tour focused on organic livestock and field crop production.

 

 

Organic Farming Bus Tour

June 19, 2007

8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

 

Strong demand for organic food has fueled interest in organic

production throughout the United States and the rest of the world.  But

how do organic farms operate?  Ingham County MSU Extension will be

hosting a program for those interested in beginning or transitioning to

organic or other forms of non-conventional production.    Please join us

as we visit several organic farms and learn about:

● Management of weeds, insects, and disease

● Soil fertility

● Equipment

● Prices

● Marketing

● Certification

● Transitioning

● Who should consider transitioning?    

                       

This will be an excellent opportunity to network with other producers

and potential buyers

 

Schedule

 

8:00 a.m.

Depart from the Meijer’s Store in Mason, located on Hull Rd.  Meet

the bus at the west end of the parking lot by the Garden Center.

 

9:00 - 9:45 a.m.

Cook Dairy

Pewamo, MI                                    

Transitioning to organic production

 

10:00 - 10:45 a.m.                                                    

                                                                       

    

Havengreen Organic Dairy                                               

                                                               

Fowler, MI                       

                                                                      

               

11:30 - 12:15

The Martin Farm                             

Carson City, MI                 

Raising 12,000 certified organic pastured broilers for sale this

summer

 

12:00 - 2:00 p.m.

LUNCH (provided)              

Crystal Lake Park

Representatives of Organic Valley Family of Farms and Herbruck’s

Chicken Ranch will be making presentations during lunch

 

2:45 - 3:15 p.m.

Eric Anderson Farm                             

Ithaca, MI                                       

800 acres of organic field crops

 

3:30 - 4:15 p.m.

Other stops pending

 

5:00 p.m.

Return to Mason

 

 

Registration

 

Make checks payable to: Ingham County MSU Extension

 

Name: ____________________________

 

Address: __________________________

 

City: _____________________________

 

Phone: ____________________________

 

Cell: _____________________________

 

Email: ____________________________

 

Cost:

 

Before June 1: $22 X _______=________

 

After June 1:   $25 X _______=________

 

Return Registration to:

Organic Farming Bus Tour

Ingham County MSU Extension

P.O. Box 319

Mason, MI  48854

 

Phone: 517-676-7207

Fax: 517-676-7288

E-mail: [log in to unmask]

 

Please let me know if you have any questions.

 

Sincerely,

Dan Hudson

 

Daniel Hudson

Agriculture and Natural Resources Educator

Ingham County MSU Extension

121 E. Maple Street

P.O. Box 319

15.  Accepting Bridge Cards at Your Farmers' Market: EBT Training and Workshop

When:  June 13, 2007, 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

Where:  The workshop will take place in the Lansing area with an afternoon visit to the Allen Street Farmers’ Market

Many Michigan farmers markets already accept Project FRESH coupons which allow WIC recipients and low-income senior citizens to purchase Michigan-grown fruits and vegetables.  Some markets are also turning to Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT), an electronic system that allows a recipient to authorize transfer of their Food Stamp benefits from a Federal account to a retailer account to pay for food products received.  Adding a Food Stamp/EBT option can allow many current Project FRESH customers to buy more products at your farmers' market and will help open your market to others who cannot currently shop there.

The Michigan Farmers’ Market Association (MIFMA), in conjunction with many partners, is offering a workshop to help farmers’ markets learn more about accepting Bridge Cards and using EBT in the marketplace.

When:  June 13, 2007, 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

Where:  The workshop will take place in the Lansing area with an afternoon visit to the Allen Street Farmers’ Market

The morning session will focus on all of the aspects a farmers' market needs to consider to be able to accept EBT:

    * Electronic Benefits Transfer: What it is and how it works
    * Alternative redemption system (voucher and tokens) and how it works
    * Using the point of sale machine
    * Accounting, management, advertising and outreach
    * Debit and credit opportunities

The afternoon session will take place at the Allen Street Farmers’ Market where participants can see the farmers’ market and EBT in action.

The workshop cost is $5 for MIFMA members and $15 for non-members and includes lunch.  Participants must register by June 8, 2007.  To register, contact Jana at Michigan Food & Farming Systems – MIFFS at (517) 432-0712.

Partners in this workshop include MIFFS, Michigan State University, Michigan Food Policy Council, the Allen Street Farmers’ Market, the Allen Neighborhood Center, Michigan Department of Community Health, Michigan Department of Human Services, United States Department of Agriculture Food and Nutrition Service and ACS Governmental Solutions. 

This project is funded through a grant from the Marquette County Health Department-Active Living Task Force, Michigan Department of Community Health and the Michigan Food Policy Council.

To learn more about MIFMA or EBT, visit www.farmersmarkets.msu.edu.

 

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://www.MichiganOrganic.msu.edu/

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

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