What’s new in Mi Organic Sept 14-24, 2007
1.
Seeking fields for on-farm research with native plants
2.
Fulbright Applications in Agriculture being accepted now.
3. Eating Local in Kalamazoo Programs
4.
Master Composter Training Workshop October 12 & 13 in Paw
Paw, MI
5.
Update on 2007 Farm Bill
1. Seeking fields for on-farm research with native plants
Here is an opportunity to participate in on-farm research, to
look at the impact of using native wildflowers to attract and over-winter lady
bird beetles. This opportunity if for farmers who grow corn and soybean in
rotation.
******Site selection will start very soon (deadline is Sept
28, 2007), so please help us get the word out!!******
FIELD RESEARCH SITES NEEDED
Soybean
aphid populations are decreased by natural enemy insects such as lady beetles.
Native Michigan wildflowers could support natural enemies and help them to
control soybean aphids. In order to test this, we need sites with adjacent fields that will be in a corn/soybean rotation for the next 5 years,
where we can plant a native wildflower strip between these fields.
RESEARCH ACTIVITIES
What we plan to do on the selected sites: At each selected
farm, we want to establish a 600 x 12 ft native wildflower strip at the
junction of the corn and soybean fields. We will plant the wildflower strip in
either fall 2007or spring 2008. Planting will be done by MSU personnel using
plants that we know are attractive to pollinating insects and to natural
enemies of soybean pests. The wildflowers that we will use are not weedy in
crop fields and are not attractive to pest insects.
What we will measure over the next 5 years: During
2008-2011 we will measure the number soybean aphids and their natural enemies
in fields near the native wildflower strips and in cages placed over selected
soybean plants in the field. Potted plants will be placed in field edges for a
few days each summer to measure pollination and bee populations.
LooNew MSU Insect Research
If you
are interested in participating, or know of others who fit our criteria,
please
contact Julianna Tuell in the
Department of Entomology at MSU.
202
CIPS Building, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824
Email: [log in to unmask] Phone: (517) 432-9554 [log in to unmask]
2. Fulbright Applications in Agriculture being
accepted now.
Applications continue to be accepted for some Fulbright Scholar
awards
for lecturing, research or combined lecturing/research awards in
agriculture during the 2008-2009 academic year. Faculty in agriculture
may apply not only for awards specifically in their field, but also for one of
the many "All Discipline" awards open
to any field.
Visit our website at www.cies.org <http://www.cies.org/>
for
descriptions of available awards and new eligibility requirements.
Awards are closing daily, so please consult the relevant program
officer before applying.
EVENTS
3. Eating Local in
Kalamazoo Programs
Monday, September 24,
8:00 PM
Towards a Just
World: Eating Locally
Journalist Alisa Smith and J.B. MacKinnon, co-authors of PLENTY: One Man, One Woman, and a
Raucous Year of Eating Locally (creators of The 100 Mile
Diet), will appear at Kalamazoo College's Recital Hall to discuss the ways the
local food movement connects to social justice. The Recital Hall is located in
the Light Fine Arts Building on the corner of Academy and Thompson - 1200
Academy Street, Kalamazoo, Michigan 49006
Tuesday, September 25,
5:30 PM - 7:00 PM
Kalamazoo Green
Drinks
Dr. Amelia Katanski, Ali McCubbrey, and Alison Geist will talk about the Farms
to K program. Farms to K is an organization working to increase the amount of
locally-grown food served in the Kalamazoo College cafeteria and to develop and
support the local food system while fostering sustainable agricultural
practices and safe and fair working conditions. Green Drinks meets at the
Kraftbrau Brewery, 402 East Kalamazoo Avenue, Kalamazoo, Michigan 49007.
Tuesday, September 25,
7:00 PM
Meet the Authors:
Alisa Smith and J.B. MacKinnon, authors of PLENTY: One Man, One Woman, and a
Raucous Year of Eating Locally (creators
of The 100 Mile Diet)
Authors will give a public talk about the book with a book sale and signing to
follow at Kalamazoo Public Library Central Branch - Van Deusen Room - 315 S.
Rose Street, Kalamazoo, Michigan 49007
Wednesday, September 26,
7:00-8:30 PM
Why Local Still
Matters in a Global Economy
While much of today's discussion about the economy focuses on the importance of
a global economy, community experts will discuss the impact of shopping locally
and using local resources to address community needs in our local economy.
Panelists include: David Anderson (Kalamazoo City Commission), Jill Bland
(Southwest Michigan First), Chris Lampen-Crowell (Gazelle Sports), and John
Patten (WMU Engineering Program). The panel discussion will take place at
Kalamazoo Valley Museum - Mary Jane Stryker Theater, 230 N. Rose Street,
Kalamazoo, Michigan 49007
Thursday, September 27,
7:00-9:00 PM
At Home in the World: Insights from Student Studies Abroad - Local Foods Around
the Globe at Kalamazoo Public Library Central Branch - Van Deusen Room - 315 S.
Rose Street, Kalamazoo, Michigan 49007.
For
more information: www.eatlocalkalamazoo.org
*************************************************************************************
4. Master Composter Training
Workshop October 12 & 13 in Paw Paw, MI
Van Buren County MSU Extension is offering Master Composter Training as an
intensive two-day training workshop on October 12 & 13 at the Van Buren
County Human Services Building East Conference Rooms in Paw Paw. The
Master Composter Workshop focuses on backyard composting and will introduce you
to the basic science of composting, as well as, the rewards and satisfaction of
creating an immediately usable organic soil product. The cost for the
Master Composter Certification Workshop is $65, which includes materials and
meals. A registration brochure is available at http://web1.msue.msu.edu/vanburen/07compostbrochure.pdf.
Call 269-657-8213 or e-mail: [log in to unmask] for local lodging
information. This workshop will allow you to become a certified Master
Composter with the fulfillment of some additional requirements or can be used
as Continuing education credits for Master Gardener Volunteers.
Please feel free to pass this on.
Beth Clawson
Extension Educator
Natural Resources/Resource Recovery
Van Buren County MSU Extension
219 Paw Paw St., Suite 201
Paw Paw, MI 49079
Phone: 269-657-8213 Ext. 81617
Fax: 269-657-6678
[log in to unmask]
www.msue.msu.edu/vanburen
5. Update on 2007 Farm Bill
As many
of you already know, this is a critical time for the 2007 Farm Bill as the
Senate version is up for consideration soon. Below are a few websites and
resources that you might find useful if interested in learning more about the
Farm Bill, a number of perspectives about what is or is not included, and ideas
for how to get involved. Please note that there are many, many other sites
highlighting the Farm Bill and that these are not the only resources you should
look to. A simple Google search yields 20 million results. With that being
said, there are many perspectives out there. I encourage you to do you own
research, form your own opinions and act accordingly. These links are just
meant to get you thinking and acting.
http://www.healthyfarmbill.org <http://www.healthyfarmbill.org/>
http://www.foodsecurity.org/policy.html#current
http://www.sustainableagriculturecoalition.org/
http://www.environmentaldefense.org/page.cfm?tagID=118
http://www.usda.gov/wps/portal/!ut/p/_s.7_0_A/7_0_1UH?navid=FARM_BILL_FO
RUMS
Dru
Montri
Project
Manager
Michigan
Farmers Market Association - MIFMA
www.farmersmarkets.msu.edu
<http://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)
For information on organic
agriculture produciton please visit:
http://www.MichiganOrganic.msu.edu/
P Please
consider the environment before printing this email