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Michigan Organic Agriculture Listserv
Aug 8, 2011
The news included in this listserv is supported only by the individual author and affiliated instituted and not Michigan State University.
Agriculture Production News
Hot and sunny days promote sunscald in peppers and other vegetables
High light and rapid growth of peppers cause sunscald if the fruit is not shaded.
Published August 2, 2011
Mathieu Ngouajio, Michigan State University Extension, Department of Horticulture
Bell pepper is a crop that requires high temperatures (65 to 95°F) for growth. Therefore, the hot weather and sunny days observed over the last couple of days have been very beneficial for bell
peppers growth and development. Unfortunately, the fruit is very susceptible to sunburn (sunscald) under conditions of high irradiance. Fruit exposed to the sun become extremely hot, in contrast to fruit protected by a dense canopy. The combination of hot
weather and recent rain events increased the rate of fruit expansion, making fruit even more susceptible to sunburn. Additionally, sun damage makes the fruit vulnerable to plant pathogens; therefore, growers will likely see significant crop losses from sunscald
in peppers over the next couple of harvests if they have plants with exposed fruit. Losses in excess of 30 percent could easily be observed, in some situations, if we continue to have hot and sunny days. We have observed about 10 to 20 percent losses in some
of our research plots this week. We are also finding damage in other crops like slicing cucumbers and early tomatoes.
To read the entire story visit on line (copy and paste)
http://news.msue.msu.edu/news/article/hot_and_sunny_days_promote_sunscald_in_peppers_and_other_vegetables
Confused about what is causing problems in your crop? MSUE offers a cite to discuss how unusual weather that occurs impacts the crops, animals, fruit and vegetables. This cite will
be available on Aug 8th and updated regularly to reflect weather occurances.
When it comes to weather, 2011 has not been kind to Michigan farmers. Experts say the heavy spring rains that delayed planting, the recent heat wave and high feed prices will have a long-lasting
effect. That’s why Michigan State University (MSU)
Extension (MSUE) educators and specialists have pulled together to give livestock and crop farmers
quick access to key information that can help them deal with new challenges.
Visit
http://news.msue.msu.edu/news/article/feed_resources_index to find information related to your agri-business type/
Educational Events & Conferences
Morgan Compost Field Day-
Save Money, Environment and You! One input at a time.
Aug 11, 9:00-4:00 then bonfire discussion at 6
Held at Morgan Compost, Rt 10, Sears, Mich
Keynote speaker: Bob Yanda, Midwest Biosystems will speak on Overuse of nitrogen. Programs throughout the day will offer information
on compost and cover crop use to provide crop nutrients, season extension, compost
See the full program and Register-online by visiting web site:
http://www.dairydoo.com/Morgan_Composting/Open_House.html
Seeking A Fair Farm Bill-2012
Come and learn What the Farm Bill can do for farms of all sizes and locations, and HOW YOU can help make that happen in the 2012 USDA Farm Bill.
Saturday August 13, 5:00-7:00 p.m.
Held at the Majestic Café
4120 Woodward Ave, Detroit MI
Sponsored by the Food and Water Watch
(313) 486-1356
www.foodandwaterwatch.org
Woodward Avenue –
An entrepreneurial farm tour to Southeast Michigan
This MSUE coordinated event will take place
August 31 & September 1, 2011. You are invited. So are farm family members, NRCS staff, and others who may be interested. Please spread the word.
This two day tour will showcase farm families who have successfully explored and seized opportunities to enhance the profitability of their operations. Stops will feature farms with value-added ventures that
are excellent examples of how family farmers are finding ways to be more profitable and sustainable while enjoying it as well. The tour will highlight a variety of farm operations and ventures including cheese making, CSA vegetables, large commercial potato
and diversified vegetable operation, organic operations , bakery/flour milling, hoop houses, ag tourism, the Eastern Market in Detroit, corn chip processing, pastured poultry, natural beef, milking sheep, farm stores, farm stands, and many more.
A fee of $100 includes the two full days of farm visits, travel by charter bus as well as evening accommodations. Great meals are also included. Group sharing of farm ventures and other presentations will be in the evening. The starting point for this venture
is US-127 & M-57 at the Northwest Park & Ride near Pompeii. Sponsors
to help offset the cost are North Central Region SARE and
SunOpta Grains and Food Group.
Encourage neighbors & friends to attend. Multiple family participants are encouraged. Family discounts &individual scholarships are available. If you are interested please call the
Gratiot MSU Extension office at 989-875-5233 for details and to register (space is limited).
Detroit
Making It In Michigan Conference
Oct 19, 2011
Lansing Center, Lansing Mich
Program and On-line registration can be found at http://www.makingitinmichigan.msu.edu/
This is the one day that every entrepreneur, producer, buyer and processor in food and agricultural businesses needs to attend. Learn how to bring your dreams and goals to reality.
2011 Making it in Michigan MSU Product Center Conference will offer…
2011
Marketplace
Trade Show
If you are a new or existing business trying to find the right customers and expand your markets, the 2011 Marketplace Trade Show is a must for your business success. With the overwhelming
success of previous years, we had a record number of vendors, more than 130 this fall.
Grant Opportunities
The People's Garden Grant Program
The National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) is pleased to
announce the release of the FY 2011 Request for Applications (RFA) for
the People's Garden Grant Program (PPGP). The program is designed to
facilitate the creation of produce, recreation, and/or wildlife gardens
in urban and rural areas, which will provide opportunities for
science-based informal education. This program is a joint initiative
supported by USDA's Agricultural Marketing Service, Animal and Plant
Health Inspection Service, Food and Nutrition Service, Forest Service,
and Natural Resources Conservation Service, in addition to NIFA.
Successful applicants will provide micro-subgrant support to smaller
local projects. Please feel free to forward this announcement to those that might be
interested in applying.
Deadline: Applications must be received by Grants.gov by 5 p.m.
Eastern Time on Friday, August 26, 2011.
Interested potential applicants can participate on a teleconference to
get details about the People¹s Garden Grant Program on Aug. 4, 2011 at
1 p.m., EDT. To participate, call toll-free (888) 858-2144; the access
code is 1059897. For those unable to participate in the call, NIFA will
post a summary of the questions and information provided to our
website. Dr. Tom Bewick is directing the program and can be reached at
[log in to unmask]">[log in to unmask]<mailto:[log in to unmask]
or by telephone at
(202) 401-3356.
Funding Opportunity Number: USDA-NIFA-OP-003503
Coo
NIFA Funding Opportunity Page
http://www.nifa.usda.gov/fo/peoplesgardengrantprogram.cfm.
This page
includes links to the request for applications (RFA), the NIFA
Grants.gov Application Guide, the application package, and abstracts of
funded projects.
Grants.gov Synopsis Page:
http://www.grants.gov/search/search.do;jsessionid=KzYXTv7Q09w7VLvlxsh43vTs
qnhLDwp10CGNxXsTQ1PGVLxSF4RX!751481409oppId=108453&mode=VIEW
This page includes a synopsis of the funding opportunity, a link to the
full announcement (RFA) and the application package.
Grants.gov Application Package:
http://apply07.grants.gov/apply/GetGrantFromFedgrants;jsessionid=tQ4bTv7Tj
w2LQp8J2TwDlywV98z2McbzpGVmyF11K2xNr2pLxb2T!751481409?opportunity=USDA-NIF A-OP-003503&agencycode=USDA-NIFA
This page links to the application instructions and the application package.
If you have questions regarding the RFA, please contact: Dr. Tom
Bewick,
[log in to unmask]">[log in to unmask]<mailto:[log in to unmask]
or
(202) 401-3356.
If you have any questions related to Grants.gov content, contact the
Grants.gov Contact Center:
Email:
[log in to unmask]">[log in to unmask]<mailto:[log in to unmask],
Phone: Toll Free:
1-800-518-4726, 24 hour support, excluding Federal holidays.
Useful Links:
NIFA Grant Application Information:
www.nifa.usda.gov/funding/application_info.html<http://www.nifa.usda.go
v/funding/application_info.html
Grants.gov Help:
www.grants.gov/help/help.jsp<http://www.grants.gov/help/help.jsp.
Vicki Morrone
C. S. Mott Group for Sustainable Food Systems
Outreach Specialist for Organic Vegetable and Field Crops
303 Natural Resources
East Lansing, MI 48824
517-353-3542/517-282-3557 (cell)
517-353-3834 (Fax)