Michigan Organic Listserv
Brought to you by MSU Center for Reginal Food Systems
Vicki Morrone ([log in to unmask]<mailto:[log in to unmask]>)
December 16, 2020
Wishing all of you and your families a Happy and Healthy Holiday Season. It is difficult to not be in large groups with our loved ones during this season, but this may be necessary to maintain our health. Take care of yourselves and one another and I hope you are able to reach out to those special in your lives safely. Be well my friends and let us look to the near future when we can join hands- and not virtually.
This information in this newsletter is to inform you and not serve as a promotion to any product.
Educational Events<applewebdata://F605113B-CC81-4017-BEF7-C527C20C7B5E#edu>
Important Notices for Organic Farmers<applewebdata://F605113B-CC81-4017-BEF7-C527C20C7B5E#Not>
Employment Opportunities<applewebdata://F605113B-CC81-4017-BEF7-C527C20C7B5E#employ>
Service Opportunities<applewebdata://F605113B-CC81-4017-BEF7-C527C20C7B5E#service>
Just-in-Time Soil Health<https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__t.e2ma.net_click_c5tvyd_cppxog7_kntx8n&d=DwMFaQ&c=Cu5g146wZdoqVuKpTNsYHeFX_rg6kWhlkLF8Eft-wwo&r=BhdtDVZ_gpPewkZ-mKI4thj6qPUAPMnxiO6wYl4C_qY&m=muQvWVeTb69HlTtVrN7GKAdAJfGu-EsaMTGIPZ_Pg6o&s=_SrYCNMHsnChTIqQqwTz8pMUdfZDesu49NJCRBHG5mU&e=>
TODAY at 2 pm EST (Dec 16,2020)
There is a lot of focus on soil organic matter levels, but what if the flow of carbon through the soil is just as important for soil health? What if this flow is more important? Building and maintaining soil organic matter levels can be a long, slow process. Similarly, maintaining large warehouse inventory is expensive. In manufacturing, a cost-cutting concept called just-in-time production allows smaller inventory levels and has been widely adopted. Could the same concept be applied to soil management for just-in-time soil health? Tune in to hear from Dr. Andrew McGuire of Washington State University who will discuss this notion.
*The previous link mistakenly noted that registration had closed. Registration is still open! The correct link is now listed below.
Register Here<https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__t.e2ma.net_click_c5tvyd_cppxog7_0fux8n&d=DwMFaQ&c=Cu5g146wZdoqVuKpTNsYHeFX_rg6kWhlkLF8Eft-wwo&r=BhdtDVZ_gpPewkZ-mKI4thj6qPUAPMnxiO6wYl4C_qY&m=muQvWVeTb69HlTtVrN7GKAdAJfGu-EsaMTGIPZ_Pg6o&s=C_m5lz9_x0CtFF8Cw0GmqU-UhORuzdtN-6dyu1t8UAU&e=>
This webinar is part of the Soil Health Digital Cafe Series featuring Extension soil health experts and researchers discussing the latest soil health research, resources, and news. The webinars will take place monthly; they are an hour in length with 20-minute presentation, followed by 10-minutes of Q&A and then a casual 30-minute Digital Cafe where attendees can continue to discuss the topic in more depth with Soil Health Nexus members.
Great Lakes Fruit and Vegetable Expo! It’s over but not…
You get a 2nd chance!!
As we get the shovel out readying for winter, we also are keeping our thoughts looking forward to spring. The seed catalogs are arriving and these cold, blustery days are perfect for planning next year’s gardens for our families and markets. If you missed the live presentations offered during The Great Lakes Fruit and Vegetable Expo you may want to consider watching some of the sessions as they are all recorded. You can register for the virtual program until January 8 at GLEXPO.org. This year, in addition to the great line up of tracts for vegetable and fruit crops, markets and food safety there was a new track offered: Beginning Farmers. The program hosted two tracks. The first one featured 3 Michigan Farmers who are beginners and each with their unique story of how they got started and how they are learning the ropes. The presenters included Iythiyel Zurishadai from D-Town Farm in Detroit, working and growing on the non-profit organization’s urban farm, Carole Caplan-Sosin, owner and farmer of The Farm on Jennings, LLC in Ann Arbor, Michigan and Mikayla Rowden, Still Wind Farm in Muskegon, Michigan who is looking forward to engaging in markets this next year, first time selling produce from her own farm, all presented at the GLEXPO Beginning Farmer 1 Program. To continue the flow of information, The Beginning Farmer 2 Program featured 3 sessions presented by researchers providing information that offered guidance particularly relevant to beginning farmers. The topics included cover crops to build the soil’s health and added benefits, by Dr. Julie Grossman from University of Minnesota then Ron Goldy, from our own MSUE, gave valuable guidance to first time marketers of how to choose varieties to fit their markets and farms, then Jen Silveri from Michigan Farm and Farming Systems gave guidance and tips how to apply to and engage in the USDA EQIP program, a cost sharing program to enhance your farm’s sustainability, especially with regard to water and soil conservation. If you missed these sessions, it’s not too late to watch them. They will be online until January 30, 2021 at the GLEXPO site (GLEXPO.org). There you can choose any of the topics from the entire conferences to watch at a time at your convenience! The recording includes the Q&A and discussion so you can listen to that portion of the program as well.
In addition to Beginning Farmer Educational Sessions, you can also listen to the Organic Production Track that includes organic vegetable production and management, organic fruit pest management, soil health, and large scale organic production of vegetables. All this for the low price of $45. Visit GLEXPO.org to learn more.
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Michigan State University Student Organic Farm Gears up for 2021 Training Program!
[A picture containing text, produce Description automatically generated]In-person, on-farm learning for beginning farmers amidst COVID-19
The 2021 MSU Organic Farmer Training Program<https://urldefense.com/v3/__http:/www.msuorganicfarm.org/organic-farmer-training-program.html__;!!HXCxUKc!mvfJ1DQBIX2TijqEHgvufwLkUyP99Euo462cKdeJMkos54LdYJy1yHk5n-5eJ3s$> (OFTP) is now accepting registrations and will be a 50/50 mix of field and online learning, including 11 hands-on days at the MSU Student Organic Farm, 6 field trip days and 16 interactive online class days. Check out the full schedule<https://tinyurl.com/y5u6zfty> and OFTP's COVID-19 protocols<https://documentcloud.adobe.com/link/track?uri=urn:aaid:scds:US:cad9991c-94fa-438b-be1f-3b9b873b822f>for masking, distancing and other precautions to see the plan for safe, on-farm learning. Join the 2021 cohort of aspiring and beginning farmers, farmworkers, homesteaders and educational gardeners to make your farm vision a reality! 2019 graduate Heather Fuson says “Before OFTP I had a vision, but when I left I had a plan.” Email [log in to unmask]<mailto:[log in to unmask]> or call/text Katie Brandt at 616-885-7776.
Please share this opportunity with beginning farmers in your circle.
42nd Annual OEFFA Virtual Conference
(Ohio Ecological Food and Farm Association)
Feb. 10-15, 2021
For sustainable and organic growers
https://oeffa.org<https://urldefense.com/v3/__https:/oeffa.org__;!!HXCxUKc!iRXoIMrkp8Uz5PV2crUi1rQuJS8vKHWwILOpJlqPRLyh5h5xw5YD3FtCPH-1OQ$>
Look at the line up for keynotes!
Will Harris; Regenerating Land with Livestock and Elaine Ingham; Soil vs Dirt; Connecting Plant and Human Microbiomes and Navina Khanna; Rooted, Reay and Resilient: Cultivating a Movement for Crisis-Proof Food Systems.
Registration cost is $150 to members and $175 to non-members but there are several opportunities to make your dollar count and to apply for a scholarship. Visit: https://conference.oeffa.org/
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Building Farm Profit Into the Picture
Have you been struggling to make your farm operation profitable without driving yourself into the ground? Our financial planning course will help you with the delicate balancing act that all farmers must succeed in: balancing healthy profits with healthy land and a healthy farm family and personal life. Take our Holistic Financial Planning<https://urldefense.com/v3/__https:/click.convertkit-mail.com/mvuw2opkg9h5hv4p3gim/wnh2hghr54xn9nc7/aHR0cHM6Ly9zbWFsbGZhcm1jb3Vyc2VzLmNvbS9wL2JmLTIwMy1ob2xpc3RpYy1maW5hbmNpYWwtcGxhbm5pbmcv__;!!HXCxUKc!gIwPV7IqtGaayRrWDmJpgkn-PfO49yZJt1cHSIqpLMPP0LnCtAA4J9OJp0OHdQ$> online course and learn how to make financial decisions toward farm and family values and goals.
Register Now: Holistic Financial Planning<https://urldefense.com/v3/__https:/click.convertkit-mail.com/mvuw2opkg9h5hv4p3gim/wnh2hghr54xn9nc7/aHR0cHM6Ly9zbWFsbGZhcm1jb3Vyc2VzLmNvbS9wL2JmLTIwMy1ob2xpc3RpYy1maW5hbmNpYWwtcGxhbm5pbmcv__;!!HXCxUKc!gIwPV7IqtGaayRrWDmJpgkn-PfO49yZJt1cHSIqpLMPP0LnCtAA4J9OJp0OHdQ$>
You can learn:
* How to make financial decisions toward farm and family values and goals
* Build profit into your plans up front
* Help you focus in on your goals and get clear on your numbers.
The bulk of the course happens on your own time, with discussions, readings, and assignments in Teachable, our online course platform. To add to the experience, live webinars will be held during the live instruction period — from January 11 to February 15, 2021, on 6 Monday evenings at 7 p.m. ET. These webinars allow you to meet on a weekly basis to learn from presenters and ask questions in real-time. If you miss one, they are always recorded and posted for later viewing.
This course is intended for farmers with at least one season of management experience and some record of their farm’s income and expenses (even if this information is stored on scraps of paper in a shoebox).
This course will move at an intense pace, with time to catch up at the end. If you have not yet started farming, you are welcome to take the course but you may need to do extra legwork to research realistic potential expenses and income for your planned enterprises.
Through the 6-week course, students will:
* Have a written statement of your family’s values and vision and know how to use it to guide financial and overall farm decision-making.
* Have a written Annual Financial Plan mapping out your planned profit, income streams, and expenses
* This plan doubles as a cash-flow statement in your business plan, and is one of the main documents a lender will want to see.
* Understand that all expenses are not created equally, and now how to prioritize and cut them.
* Know how to monitor your plan so that you can correct your course when you start to go off-plan.
Meet the Instructors:
Phil Metzger is a farm & natural resources development consultant, retired from a 31-year career as a resource conservationist with the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service. Phil instructs on various topics including: farm, personal & business financial planning, goal setting, improved decision making, business & land planning, biological monitoring, and reading the land. He is a certified educator of Holistic Management (HM) and has practiced HM, including Holistic Financial Planning, for over 15 years.
Allyson Angelini has a degree in Sustainable Agriculture from UMass Amherst and has worked on dozens of farms in New England and Italy. She owns and operates Full Heart Farm, which she purchased in 2012 at the age of 24. She serves as a mentor for Holistic Management International and is a member of the National Young Farmers Coalition. Allyson was named one of CT Magazine’s 40 Under 40 in 2015, as well as eWomen Network’s Emerging Leader of the Year for 2015. In BF 203, Allyson shares the details of how she plans and manages her farm’s finances using Holistic Financial Planning.
Join us for this virtual interactive series on home vegetable gardening
Are you interested in starting a vegetable garden for the first time or are you an experienced veggie gardener looking to explore new ideas? All levels of experience are welcome at this new series designed to encourage and support home vegetable gardeners!
Sessions
Feb. 13 - Home Vegetable Gardening 101
March 13 - Seed-Starting for Everyone
April 10 - Vegetable Gardening in Small Spaces
May 8 - Growing Fun with Kids
June 12 - Taking Growing to New Heights
July 10 - Season Extension for the Home Garden
Aug. 14 - Companion Planting
Sept. 11 - Veggie Harvest and Storage
$10 per session for one household, $75 for all eight sessions
Preregistration required. Recorded lectures available to paid registrants.
A link will be sent prior to the session.
Series will be virtual. If in-person programming resumes, some sessions may take place at the farm and virtually.
MSU Tollgate Farm and Education Center
28115 Meadowbrook Rd., Novi, MI 48377
Registration HERE<https://events.anr.msu.edu/register.cfm?eventID=B6C9838386CA36EAAC3C3075B32A274A68CEA6CAC466CF326CD372C671E13105®isProcessID=4CFAC1005C294DE1FA1A2A14674879E9283710A1569931C73A61951C8D2EDB32> for MSU Tollgate Farm HomeGrown Gardening Series 2021.
Registration closes at 11:59 p.m. on September 10, 2021.
Important Notices for Organic Farmers
Notice: If you use a fertilizer product called AgriGold WS and are organic you need to stop!
www.Agri-Pulse.com<http://www.Agri-Pulse.com>.
An organic fertilizer known as Agro Gold WS has been contaminated with conventional herbicides, the California Department of Food and Agriculture said in issuing a quarantine order<https://www.cdfa.ca.gov/is/ffldrs/pdfs/SOP_Notice_to_Organic_Operations_Agro_Gold_WS_FINAL_20201204.pdf> on the product.
A state lab analysis detected the presence of glyphosate and diquat, which are prohibited by the USDA National Organic Program, in samples of Agro Gold WS. The product, which is sold under the trade name Weed Slayer, is marketed as a herbicide made from eugenol, an essential oil of cloves, and molasses. Growers could jeopardize their organic status through continued use.
Registered organic operations in possession of the product must immediately discontinue its use and are directed to hold onto it and contact the Fertilizing Materials Inspection Program; CDFA will aid operations on how to handle product in their possession.
Those in possession of the product who wish to appeal the presence of diquat and glyphosate have 15 days to do so under state law. Appeals can be submitted to the appeal to the Fertilizing Materials Inspection Program at [log in to unmask]
Join in a Listening Session on Excluded Methods in Organic Production
National Center for Appropriate Technology (NCAT) and Organic Seed Alliance (OSA), is hosting a listening session. Hear from farmers, seed growers, seed companies, plant breeders, and other food and farming stakeholders about the issue of excluded methods in organic production. The event will be Dec 16, 2020 @ 3 pm Eastern Time. Click here to register<https://seedalliance.org/events/excluded-methods-listening-session/> for the event.
In particular, the conversation will focus on methods used in plant breeding and crop improvement in the United States. The National Organic Standards Board (NOSB) has been working to provide clarity on excluded methods for more than five years. In 2016, the NOSB passed a policy proposal that provides a framework for evaluating whether a method should be allowed or excluded. Since that time, the NOSB has provided clarity on a dozen methods.
Jason Cavatorta with EarthWork Seeds Inc. will provide a short overview of the NOSB’s work to date and a description of a handful of methods still in question, including double haploid technology, induced mutagenesis, protoplast fusion, tilling, and transposons.
Listening session hosts invite participants to weigh in on these methods being discussed, and to share ideas on how to address this complicated area of organic policy. Some questions that will be asked during the event include:
-Which of these methods are already being used to develop seed used by organic growers (certified organic and untreated conventional)? If so, would excluding any of these methods in question leave organic farmers in a lurch?
-Which of these methods can be tested for and which cannot easily be traced? Is there a better way to approach this topic that emphasizes the philosophies of the organic movement?
Input gathered will directly inform future educational events and policy recommendations in 2021.
Registration is required. Click here <https://urldefense.com/v3/__http:/out02.thedatabank.com/?r=MTAwMw0KSjQ0MDYzNC1DNDI3LU0yNzM0NTQtLW5jYXRhZG1pbg0KMzc1NTY0MjcxNTI5NTg2MTA5MzA4Mjc5NjI3MzQ1NDE0NQ0KMTQwMDAwMDAwMjcwZDY3DQpodHRwczovL3NlZWRhbGxpYW5jZS5vcmcvZXZlbnRzL2V4Y2x1ZGVkLW1ldGhvZHMtbGlzdGVuaW5nLXNlc3Npb24vDQpyZWdpc3Rlcg0Kc29ycm9uZUBtc3UuZWR1__;!!HXCxUKc!kr7NLkhP7uFHv-aSx9-lzruYkRQD0W_4DEws-s0WmX1CYe3S6SlAsdvhLuXV7A$> to reserve your place.
For more information, contact Kristina Hubbard at the Organic Seed Alliance, [log in to unmask]<mailto:[log in to unmask]> or (406) 544-8946.
Service Opportunities
Service Opportunity for USDA North Central SARE
The North Central Region - Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education Program (NCR-SARE) is seeking applications* for two vacancies on its Administrative Council (AC):
* Farmer or rancher representative (NCR-SARE defines a farmer/rancher as someone who raises crops or livestock, especially as a business)
* Land Grant University Agriculture Experiment Station representative**
*Council members must live and work in one of the 12 states that comprise the North Central SARE region. Those states are IL, IN, IA, KS, MI, MN, MO, ND, NE, OH, SD, and WI.
**An ag experiment state representative can be an ag researcher who is a faculty member at an 1862 Land Grant University in the North Central Region, or an ag experiment station administrator.
NCR-SARE’s Administrative Council represents various agricultural sectors, states, and organizations. It sets program priorities and makes granting decisions for the region. A collection of farm and non-farm residents, the Administrative Council includes a diverse mix of agricultural stakeholders in our 12 states. Council members come from regional farms and ranches, university extension and research programs, and nonprofits. In addition, the Administrative Council includes regional representatives of the U.S. Geological Survey, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the Natural Resources Conservation Service, state agencies, and agribusinesses.
The term for each of these SARE Administrative Council slots is three years. Council members attend two meetings a year, typically 2-3 day meetings in July and February at various Midwest locations, and participate in a few conference calls each year (recent meetings have been virtual). Travel expenses are fully covered for travel to Administrative Council meetings. Applicants should have a basic understanding of sustainable agriculture and be comfortable with reviewing grant proposals and participating in a group decision-making process. Please note that members of the Administrative Council are not eligible to apply for SARE funding during their time on the Administrative Council. More information about NCR-SARE and the Administrative Council is online at https://northcentral.sare.org/about/ncr-sare-leadership-and-policies/<https://urldefense.com/v3/__https:/northcentralsare.us12.list-manage.com/track/click?u=59ae25c06b13f96d86e8dac2a&id=6af57dc96b&e=1d673eb569__;!!HXCxUKc!kYI-frXyPl5uaDGgCzC3w55rTtuF0SNblq0eBVjPnXZq-08nLe6MqQFG3n4Bng$>
To apply for a seat on the NCR-SARE Administrative Council, submit the following information by Friday, January 15th using our online form at: https://tinyurl.com/SAREACform<https://urldefense.com/v3/__https:/northcentralsare.us12.list-manage.com/track/click?u=59ae25c06b13f96d86e8dac2a&id=4393ba5d85&e=1d673eb569__;!!HXCxUKc!kYI-frXyPl5uaDGgCzC3w55rTtuF0SNblq0eBVjPnXZq-08nLe6MqQFYv_j5Ew$>
• your areas of interest or focus in sustainable agriculture
• why you are interested in serving on NCR-SARE's Administrative Council
• a short bio or cv/resume covering your experience, affiliations and/or qualifications
NCR-SARE is one of four regional offices that run the Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE<https://urldefense.com/v3/__https:/northcentralsare.us12.list-manage.com/track/click?u=59ae25c06b13f96d86e8dac2a&id=1d813dd65f&e=1d673eb569__;!!HXCxUKc!kYI-frXyPl5uaDGgCzC3w55rTtuF0SNblq0eBVjPnXZq-08nLe6MqQHRiutceQ$>)<https://urldefense.com/v3/__https:/northcentralsare.us12.list-manage.com/track/click?u=59ae25c06b13f96d86e8dac2a&id=7e836b3658&e=1d673eb569__;!!HXCxUKc!kYI-frXyPl5uaDGgCzC3w55rTtuF0SNblq0eBVjPnXZq-08nLe6MqQEwYTJXXA$> program, a nationwide grants and education program to advance sustainable innovation to American agriculture. Since 1988, NCR-SARE has awarded more than $80 million worth of competitive grants to farmers and ranchers, researchers, educators, public and private institutions, nonprofit groups, and others in 12 states. The SARE program is funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture National Institute of Food and Agriculture (USDA-NIFA).
Seeking participants of survey to determine value of soil health by growers
Dear grower:
Implementing conservation practices costs money, while benefits are not immediately tangible. It would be helpful if we can articulate the benefits in dollar terms. To this end, we have developed an online experimental survey which is expected to take about 15-20 minutes of your time. By you completing the survey and "playing" our game, we can analyze the responses to estimate how much you and others value improvements in your soil health. The results from the survey will inform agencies and policymakers on how to adapt existing programs or design a new program, so that incentives for adopting conservation are more effective. Participants will receive a $20 gift card electronically for project participation funded by the USDA OREI.
The link to the online survey is:
https://z.umn.edu/valuesoil6<https://urldefense.com/v3/__https:/z.umn.edu/valuesoil6__;!!HXCxUKc!kf2FQSp79vdujR0mW8EL36mhnCAks_1igfG77X4qLB5ZGLd5LcoatGKiyGOFjQ$>
If you have any questions about the study, you are encouraged to contact Dojin Park, [log in to unmask]<mailto:[log in to unmask]>.
Thank you for your time!
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Do Jin Park
University of Minnesota
Department of Applied Economics
phone: +1-651-964-8321
e-mail: [log in to unmask]<mailto:[log in to unmask]>
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Employment Opportunities
Seeking Edible Flint Program Director
Organizational description
Edible Flint formed in 2009 following a number of community conversations around healthy food access and community vitality after years of economic decline. Edible Flint is now a non-profit organization working together with individuals and institutional partners to support Flint residents in growing and accessing healthy food. Edible Flint’s mission is to support residents in growing and accessing healthy food in order to reconnect with the land and each other. Edible Flint
has community work groups and a Leadership Board who are responsible for carrying out the work of the organization by addressing specific issues and opportunities in our local food system.
Job Summary
The Edible Flint Program Director is a full-time, salaried position. The Program Director will manage and support both the internal and external programming and communications of Edible Flint. This individual will also be responsible for grant writing and fundraising to ensure Edible Flint programming is sustained. This position will manage AmeriCorps service member(s), community volunteers, and future Edible Flint staff and will work collaboratively with work groups to promote and support programming and events. The Program Director will be located in Flint, MI and will report to the Leadership Board of Edible Flint.
Responsibilities and Duties
* Manage all Edible Flint programs collaboratively with work group leaders and participants, including the Educational Farm, Garden Starters Kits and Trainings, Access and Education, and the Food Garden Tour
* Supervise AmeriCorps member(s), community volunteers, other Edible Flint staff
* Participate in the development of vision with the Leadership Board
* Lead organizational fund development efforts, grant writing, and planning for organizational growth and sustainability
* Manage existing and emerging community partnerships
* Maintain organizational records, forms, and policies including financial record keeping
* Guide public relations and communication, including social media
* Participate in and model Strategic Leadership and implementation of board directed initiatives
* Perform other duties as assigned
Required
* Knowledge of Food Systems and Flint community and have a commitment to urban gardening
* Strong verbal and written communication skills including media training and public speaking
* Demonstrated experience and success with grant and proposal writing
* Strong project management skills and experience in managing grant-funded programs and budgets
* Self-motivated, able to handle multiple tasks and deadlines
* Ability to work with diverse groups of people
* Proficiency with computer programs and software systems, specifically word processing and illustration/design
* Have a flexible schedule for seasonal deadlines
Preferred Qualifications
* Associates or Bachelor’s Degree in public health, food science, agriculture, non-profit management public administration, or related field with significant coursework/experience in communications, public relations, or journalism. Will consider upper-level students and/or professional experience in lieu of degree.
Compensation: Starting at $44,000
To apply: Applicant must submit cover letter and résumé indicating relevant experience to [log in to unmask]<mailto:[log in to unmask]> or mail to: Edible Flint, P. O. Box 45, Flint, Michigan 48501 prior to January 15, 2021
Application Deadline: January 15, 2021 Position start date: Immediate
For information about Edible Flint, visit our website: www.edibleflint.org<https://urldefense.com/v3/__http:/www.edibleflint.org__;!!HXCxUKc!mQy-dZi2EYzNfojBMIDSCf1qW8dti7GPTSKZxiuc0iVTPZoJ9ubB81hLxA_w2A$>
Julia Darnton (Julie)
Interim District Director
Michigan State University Extension
District 4 – Serving the Counties of Alcona, Arenac, Crawford, Iosco, Ogemaw, Oscoda and Roscommon
Cell Phone (810) 922-6483
[log in to unmask]<mailto:[log in to unmask]>
https://www.canr.msu.edu/outreach/
Practical Farmers of Iowa is Hiring!
Come work with one of the most innovative teams working on agriculture today! For 35 years, Practical Farmers of Iowa has worked to equip farmers to build resilient farms and communities. The strategic initiatives team works creatively to accomplish the goals of our farmer-members on the broader Iowa and Midwestern landscape.
This team is now seeking an experienced professional to serve as the strategic initiatives’ manager! This person in this position <https://urldefense.com/v3/__https:/bit.ly/3fUOuTj__;!!HXCxUKc!jwUSLaETSi3cT3D5qlBPOBanEhdm859FbVDRSMbgk5YLua45WOvmiU0lr__D_g$> will manage program delivery with a $1.5 million operating budget; fundraise; lead grant management and reporting; and manage staff and contractors. Examples of projects this manager will oversee include cost share programs, farmer-to-farmer education networks, and development of farmer decision support and service tools for the use of cover crops and small-grain crops.
Full position duties, desired qualifications and salary and benefits information for this position are available on PFI’s employment webpage<https://urldefense.com/v3/__https:/bit.ly/3fUOuTj__;!!HXCxUKc!jwUSLaETSi3cT3D5qlBPOBanEhdm859FbVDRSMbgk5YLua45WOvmiU0lr__D_g$>.
If you have additional questions don't hesitate to reach out.
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Sarah Carlson
Practical Farmers of Iowa
Strategic Initiatives Director
Check out: www.practicalfarmers.org<https://urldefense.com/v3/__http:/www.practicalfarmers.org__;!!HXCxUKc!jwUSLaETSi3cT3D5qlBPOBanEhdm859FbVDRSMbgk5YLua45WOvmiU1-UogGhQ$>
@practicalfarmer
515-232-5661
Weed Science Post-Doc Position for Integrated Weed Management
UD Job No. 496078
Description:
A unique opportunity for a Post-Doctoral Researcher to join a dynamic research project associated with the University of Delaware and USDA-Beltsville for integrated weed management. This project involves cover crops, tillage, and harvest-time weed seed control on weed communities across a range of environments.
Duties and responsibilities:
Coordinating and conducting field experiments focused on multi-tactic approaches for Integrated Weed Management (cover crops, herbicide use, tillage, and harvest-time weed seed control). Coordinating and conducting laboratory and greenhouse experiments (plant-soil interactions, soil physical and chemical properties, nutrient uptake and allocation), organizing and analyzing data, writing and presenting research results in scholarly peer-reviewed journals and extension publications, presenting results at meetings with producers, farmers and industry representatives, and supervising and training of undergraduate and graduate students. The responsibilities will also include integrating and managing large agronomic data sets from several sites for the USDA area-wide project. The successful candidate will have opportunities for the development of independent but related lines of research.
Background and Qualifications:
Experience with conducting field-based research is required. Experience with laboratory- and greenhouse-based research is expected. We are looking for candidates with excellent organizational and quantitative skills, demonstrated record of research documented with peer-reviewed publications, and expertise in the following areas: weed ecology/biology, population dynamics, multi-tactic weed management, and statistics. Experience as supervisor, instructor or mentor of undergraduate and graduate students is desired.
* PhD required in Ecology, Weed Science, Soil Science, Agronomy, Environmental Sciences or related fields.
* Excellent writing and presentation skills.
* Strong background in statistics.
* Special requirements: Valid driver’s license.
* Must pass a background check.
Location: USDA-ARS-BARC Sustainable Agricultural Systems Laboratory, Beltsville, MD.
Provide: Resume (CV), letter of interest, and names and contact information of three references. Applications must be made through the University of Delaware portal at: https://careers.udel.edu/cw/en-us/job/496078/post-doctoral-researcher-plant-soil-science
Review of Applicants: Review will begin February 1 and will remain open until a suitable candidate is identified.
Starting Date: Negotiable, Spring 2021 preferred. Position open until suitable candidate found.
Salary: Competitive starting salary. The position comes with an extensive benefits package.
Questions regarding this position may be directed to:
Dr. Steven Mirsky, USDA-ARS Sustainable Agricultural Systems Laboratory, Beltsville, MD, [log in to unmask]<mailto:[log in to unmask]>, 301-504-5324
Dr. Mark VanGessel, University of Delaware, Carvel Research and Education Center, Georgetown, DE, [log in to unmask]<mailto:[log in to unmask]>, 302-542-8160
[signature_1509675810]
Vicki Morrone
Organic Farming Specialist
Center for Regional Food Systems at Michigan State University
480 Wilson Rd
East Lansing, MI 48824
517-282-3557 (cell)
[log in to unmask]<mailto:[log in to unmask]>
www.MichiganOrganic.msu.edu<http://www.MichiganOrganic.msu.edu>
sorrone11 (skype)
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