Note please....while the notice below indicates my farm is certified, it is not at the moment. I continue to follow all organic principles and practices, however can not afford the expense of certification at this time. I earn most of my income off farm and support my farm with this income. (letter P messed up on my keyboard and is missed sometimes.) Don Dunklee >> >> mber 14, 2010) Consumer Trends featuring Allen Williams, >> Tallgrass Beef and Kerry Smith, USDA Ag Marketing Services. >> >> Session 2: (January 11, 2011) Meat Inspection, Beef Carcass >> Breakdown, and Value Beef Cuts featuring Jeannine Schweihofer, MSUE. >> >> Session 3: (February 8, 2011) Introduction to Beef Quality >> Terminology & Beef Pricing featuring Jeannine Schweihofer, Kevin >> Gould, and Jerry Lindquist MSUE. What are they looking for? >> Michigan Packer Panel >> >> Session 4: (March 15, 2011) Producer Success Stories: >> >> Kentucky Cooperative – Bob Perry, University of Kentucky >> Michigan Beef Producers Selling Direct – PanelResources for >> Producers: An Introduction to the MSU Product Center - Brenda >> Reau, MSUE >> Host Sites Include (For more details http://beef.msu.edu/): >> >> Lapeer County MSUE >> St. Joseph County MSUE >> Gladwin County MSUE >> Lake City MSU Experiment Station >> Ionia Interm School District >> Monroe County MSUE >> Delta County MSUE >> Ontanogan County >> Personal Computer - Your Location >> How to Register: Registrations due December 7, 2010. Cost: $15/ >> session or all 4 sessions for $50. No refunds available after >> December 7. Print off registration form at http://beef.msu.edu/. >> Send Registrations to: Carla McLachlan1290 Anthony Hall, East >> Lansing, MI 48824. >> >> >> >> Creating Michigan Culinary Destinations, Michigan's First >> Conference on Culinary Tourism >> >> >> When: January 10, 2011 >> >> >> >> Where: Kellogg Hotel and Conference Center, East Lansing, MI >> >> >> >> Why: "Foodies" often plan their travel experiences around >> authentic, educational and entertaining food and beverage >> experiences. Come learn how you can tap into the growing Culinary >> Tourism segment of the travel market. The conference will provide >> opportunities to interact and form partnerships among food >> producers, chefs, restaurateurs, visitor bureaus, wineries, >> breweries, tour operators, hotels, and others wanting to market >> their business as a culinary destination. Lunch speaker: Ari >> Weinzweig, CEO and co-founding partner of Zingerman’s in Ann >> Arbor, MI. >> >> >> >> How: Early Registration Rate is $50 ($75 after Dec. 22) and >> includes continental breakfast, lunch and a closing reception. >> Registration is limited to 150 registrants. Visit http:// >> www.michiganwines.com/CulinaryTourism for conference details and >> online registration.) 677-0503, F >> >> ax: (734) 677-2407 >> >> >> Midwest Fruit IPM Course for consultants, extension agents and >> NRCS staff >> >> In-depth course offered to train new Fruit IPM coaches and >> consultants to fill a growing need in the Midwest. Please read the >> brochure for the Midwest Fruit IPM Course scheduled to begin >> January 2011 for more information. Seeking participants who can >> attend four sessions. >> >> Schedule >> Part 1, held in Madison, WI from January 10-14, will cover the >> basics of Fruit IPM in the Midwest, business planning, and the >> NRCS conservation programs requiring IPM plans. During Part 2 >> participants will attend the Michigan State Tree Fruit School; >> held from January 24-26 in Hickory Corners, Michigan. In Part 3, >> held at various farms in Wisconsin June 22-24, participants will >> gain experience in the field with growers and learn about >> biocontrols; effective use of spray equipment, and early season >> pests and diseases. Part 4, held at various farms in Wisconsin >> July 13-15, will provide participants with more field experiences >> with late season pests and diseases as well as extensive work on >> writing IPM plans for both growers and NRCS. >> >> Candidates >> Seeking candidates with flexible schedules that will allow them to >> fully participate in all sessions. Candidates should be >> professionals with crop consulting experience. Candidates should >> be interested in gaining knowledge that they will then apply in >> the field. This knowledge will include the skills necessary to >> assist farmers in implementing IPM on their farms as well as the >> ability to write IPM plans for farmers and NRCS Conservation >> Programs (EQIP and CAP). Interested in individuals who are crop >> consultants interested in expanding their services to include >> fruit; new Fruit IPM consultants, County Conservationists; and >> Extension and NRCS field staff. >> >> How to register: Cost: $100, some meals, lodging, and course >> material is provided depending on the session (see the brochure >> for more details). Course is limited to 20 participants on a first >> come, first served basis. No on-site registration permitted. Print >> off registration brochure at http://www.new-ag.msu.edu/ >> LinkClick.aspx?fileticket=EV%2bnFFcGNWE%3d&tabid=37. >> >> For more information contact Jane Kleven 608-262-5200, >> [log in to unmask] >> or Regina Hirsch 608-265-3637, [log in to unmask] >> >> Event announcement found at the New Agriculture Network web site >> http://www.new-ag.msu.edu/. >> >> >> Educational Resources >> >> >> GrowingProduce.com a Great Educational Resource >> >> >> >> Check out GrowingProduce.com for: >> >> >> >> News on: >> >> Industry >> Fruit >> Vegetables >> Production Information on: >> >> Crop Protection >> Organic >> Nutrition >> Food Safety >> Irrigation >> Traceability >> Marketing on: >> Farmers Market >> Wholesale >> Also Featuring: Events, Growers Reorganization and an Opinion column. >> >> >> >> >> >> JOB OPPORTUNITIES >> >> >> >> >> >> Part-time Organic Educator for the Ohio Ecological Farm Association >> >> >> >> Location: Columbus, OH (may involve occasional travel) >> >> Position Description: The Ohio Ecological Food and Farm >> Association are seeking a part-time (25 hours/week) Organic >> Educator beginning in February of 2011. The Organic Educator will >> be responsible for providing direct technical assistance to >> organic farmers with various levels of experience and for >> developing and implementing educational programming work >> (workshops, webinars, field days) focusing on organic production. >> The Organic Educator reports to the Education Program Director. >> >> Salary: $15-$16/hr (depending on qualifications). Benefits include >> health insurance, sick leave, and paid time off. . >> >> Responsibilities of the position include: >> Help organic and aspiring organic farmers by answering questions >> and providing informational resources >> Design and implement various organic education programs, including >> workshops and webinars >> Design and administer OEFFA’s summer farm tours series >> Facilitate a farmer-to-farmer knowledge network to connect farmers >> with information needs to those who can help them >> Serve as liaison between OEFFA and various other organizations, >> including OSU-Extension’s Sustainable Agriculture Team, NRCS, >> OPGMA, and others >> Coordinate OEFFA’s apprenticeship program >> Provide occasional contributions to OEFFA’s newsletter >> Assist with publicity of OEFFA’s programs >> Oversee organic production content on the OEFFA website >> As needed, assist in writing grants for organic education programs >> Qualifications: Seeking someone with both the education and the >> experience to outstandingly perform the duties of this position. >> Interested in an individual who has deep personal knowledge of >> organic production, is adept at locating appropriate information >> resources, has an appreciation both for farmer knowledge and a >> respect for scientific research, and who also has the >> administrative and organizational skills to successfully develop, >> promote, and implement formal educational programs. >> >> >> >> Qualifications include: >> >> Background and experience in organic crop or horticultural >> production is essential; additional background in organic >> livestock production highly desirable. >> Minimally, a B.S. or B.A. in natural sciences, environmental >> education, agriculture, or related area. >> A highly dependable understanding of the National Organic standards. >> Proven excellent oral and written communication skills. >> Previous experience in a non-profit setting. >> Previous experience working with farmers. >> The ability to work well with OEFFA personnel, members, and the >> public. >> Flexibility and openness in dealing with changing events and >> priorities. >> Organization, planning, and project management skills. >> How to Apply: Applications consist of cover letter, resume, and >> names of three references (indicate relationship). Electronically >> submitted applications (preferred) should be addressed to Carol >> Goland, Executive Director, and submitted to [log in to unmask], >> or mail your application to Carol Goland, OEFFA, 41 Croswell, >> Columbus, OH 43214. For questions, contact Carol Goland at >> 614.421‐2022. Review of applications will begin on Dec. 28, with >> interviews to be held early January. Candidates should be >> prepared to begin by February 10, 2011. >> >> >> >> GRADUATE STUDENT EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES >> >> >> >> >> >> Graduate Assistantship in Department of Horticulture at Purdue >> University >> >> A graduate assistantship (Ph.D.) is available for a student >> interested in studying organic vegetable production in the >> Department of Horticulture at Purdue University. Research will >> focus on the relationship between soil-improving management >> practices and tomato varieties on plant health and productivity. >> The research is part of a larger multidisciplinary project, so the >> selected student should be prepared to interact with a diverse >> group of faculty and students from multiple departments within the >> College of Agriculture. Applicants should have a strong academic >> record, prior field and lab experience, and a demonstrated >> interest in organic and sustainable agriculture. >> >> >> For more information about this opportunity, contact Lori >> Hoagland, via e-mail ([log in to unmask]). Please provide a cover >> letter outlining research interests, professional goals and prior >> experience; a resume or CV, contact information for least 3 >> references. If you would like to access a searchable archive of >> the all the previous Mich-Organic listserv postings copy this URL >> and paste in your browser address field http://list.msu.edu/ >> archives/mich-organic.html > > If you would like to access a searchable archive of the all the > previous Mich-Organic listserv postings copy this URL and paste in > your browser address field http://list.msu.edu/archives/mich- > organic.html 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