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Michigan Organic Listserv
January 5, 2022
From the Desk of Vicki Morrone, Organic and Beginning Farmer Educator
Department of Community Sustainability
Note the info enclosed is for your information, it is not promoting products or companies.
Educational Events upcoming very soon!
There is still a chance to sign up for Annual Organic intensives,
hosted by MOFFA, Michigan Organic food and farm alliance
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The Organic Intensives are
THIS SATURDAY!!
Have you chosen a topic yet?
Scholarships
Several scholarships are
still available!
Funding from the SARE Program provides full scholarships for anyone involved in education. For the past 3 years we have also had a scholarship funded by Lifetime MOFFA members, George
and Anne Bird. Additionally, a generous donation from the Maynard Kaufman
Estate will cover several more scholarships for OI 2022. Finally, but first in our hearts, a donation from Decatur Human Resources will allow us to fund a scholarship in memory of our dear, departed friend Julia Christianson,
who helped make the Organic Intensives what they are today.
Please contact us if you would like to apply for one of these scholarships.
For 2022, MOFFA is proud to host a mix of local experts, farmers and growers presenting the following frequently requested topics:
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Farm Ecosystem: Managing for Pollinators, Beneficials, and Pests
Whether you are looking to keep the bad bugs out or invite the good ones in, this is the session for you. Many times it is the entire farm ecosystem that allows
one population or another to dominate. Come learn how soil health affects insects, how plantings for beneficials can be added into your landscape and hear how other growers have managed these problems.
Organic
Mushroom Cultivation and Management
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Description automatically generated" v:shapes="Picture_x0020_9">Are
you looking for another revenue stream? Do you just love to grow things? Is your kitchen full of cookbooks about mushrooms? If you have ever considered filling this void by growing your own mushrooms this session will answer all your questions, starting with
the basics and proceeding through organic production methods that can be used on a small scale or ramped up for increased production.
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Description automatically generated with medium confidence" v:shapes="Picture_x0020_8">In-Row
Weed Control Strategies: Fine Tuning Equipment . . . The Details for Success
It happens every summer. You get one of your crops weeded and three days later they are back with 2 million friends. Let us help you solve this problem by presenting research,
evaluations, and effectiveness of several different cultivators; having growers discuss their experience with various cultivators and other physical methods of control; and finally giving all presenters and attendees a chance to ask and discuss specific questions
about their own crops and weed pressure issues.
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When: Saturday, January 8, 2022.
Registration begins at 8 a.m. Sessions from 9 a.m. EST - 5 p.m. EST. All food will be catered by Teff-riffic of Lansing.
Where: Plant
and Soil Sciences Building, Michigan State University, 1066 Bogue Street, East Lansing, MI
Become a member for 2022 to save $30 over the non-member rate!
MOFFA's Organic
Intensives, and our other educational activities, are made possible by our members. Half of us are farmers growing with ecologically principled practices; some certified and some not. The rest are people who are involved
with the food system through their employment (30%), and people who just plain care about what they eat (20%). If you are not already a member, we invite you to join
us in working to achieve our vision of a vibrant and diverse community working together for healthy food that is available to everyone and for agricultural practices that support the long-term viability of our ecosystem.
Additional Cost
share funds for organic producers are NOW available!
The U.S. Department of Agriculture will provide pandemic assistance to cover certification and education expenses to agricultural producers who are certified organic or transitioning to organic.
Signup for 2020 and 2021 OTECP began Monday, Nov. 8, and will continue through
Jan. 7, 2022.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, certified organic and transitional operations faced challenges due to loss of markets, and increased costs and labor shortages, in addition to costs related to obtaining
or renewing their organic certification, which producers and handlers of conventionally grown commodities do not incur. Transitional operations also faced the financial challenge of implementing practices required to obtain organic certification without being
able to obtain the premium prices normally received for certified organic commodities.
OTECP funding is provided through the CARES Act. Certified operations and transitional operations may apply for eligible expenses paid during the 2020, 2021 and 2022 fiscal years. For each year, OTECP
covers 25% of a certified operation’s eligible certification expenses, up to $250 per certification category — crop, livestock, wild crop, handling, and State Organic Program fee. This includes application and inspection fees, USDA organic certification costs,
etc.
Crop and livestock operations transitioning to organic production may be eligible for 75% of a transitional operation’s eligible expenses, up to $750, for each year. This includes fees for certifying
agents or consultants for pre-certification inspections, and development of an organic system plan.
To learn more about USDA’s assistance for organic producers, visit usda.gov/organic. For additional information, contact the Lincoln-Franklin County FSA Office at 601-833-9321 ext. 2.
Jamie Rahrig, MPH, RDN
MSU Center for Regional Food Systems
MSU Product Center
517.881.5897
Jonathan LaPorte,
Michigan State University Extension - December 2, 2021
Whether you are new to farming or new to the decision-maker role, the future can look both exciting and daunting. This new series can help prepare you for this future and give you the
freedom to enjoy the fruits of your labor.
Whether you’re taking on new responsibilities or starting a new farm business, this series will have something for you! Image from Pexels.
Every year, inspired individuals enter the world of farming with passion, creativity, and drive. These beginning farmers face a number of challenges as they start their new careers as farm managers. Those challenges
can become roadblocks that reduce profitability. They may even restrict their farm’s ability to grow. To navigate these roadblocks requires understanding of financial and business aspects of farming.
The Beginning Farmers DEMaND webinar series offers aid to new decision-makers in understanding basic components of managing a farm. Whether you’re taking on new responsibilities or starting a new farm business,
this series will have something for you!
Series begins on Wednesday, Jan. 12, 2022, at 7 p.m. and continues each Wednesday night through Feb. 9. Sessions will be presented by members of the MSU Extension farm business management team. Topics to include:
What types of information should be tracked in farm records? Florencia Colella will discuss important details needed in farm records and best practices on how to track them. This will include a review of basic
accounting concepts and types of record keeping systems available to producers.
What are balance sheets and cash flow statements? Frank Wardynski will provide a basic overview of these important documents and how to use your farm records to create them. This session will also provide insight
into why tax returns are not a good measure of farm profitability.
What is a farm financial analysis? Roger Betz will answer this question and provide insight into its uses for your farm. Session will also review what information is needed and resources available to help complete
an analysis.
When is revenue considered income versus capital gains? What is depreciation and what questions does it set up after capital purchases? Answers to these questions and more will be offered in an overview and introduction
to tax concepts by Corey Clark.
How significant are these topics to my farm and the industry? Jon LaPorte will host a panel of industry experts who will discuss the importance of topics presented in earlier sessions. Experts will offer insight
into their uses beyond the farm and additional resources available to producers.
The program is free to anyone. To register for the Beginning Farmers DEMaND Webinar Series, visit: https://events.anr.msu.edu/demandbeginningfarmers/ For
more information, please contact Jon LaPorte at
[log in to unmask].
Do you have good ideas for a farm business you'd like to start, or for expanding or diversifying your existing farm business? Do you have access to all the funding you'll need to bring your ideas to fruition?
It can be very difficult to navigate the process of getting grants or loans, especially if you did not come to farming with a background in finance. Our new Access
to Capital online course will teach you what funding opportunities are available to food- and farm-related businesses, and how to apply.
This course will start by emphasizing the importance of a business plan to this process, including cash flow projections. Once we have created a baseline understanding of what work needs to be done before
seeking funding, we will have guest speakers talk about funding from a bank’s perspective, from Farm Credit East, from USDA's various grant programs, and from economic development agencies. We will also highlight funding streams that are particular to different
groups such as minority- and women-owned businesses or veterans.
This course is for anyone who is seeking funding for a farm enterprise. Participants will get the most out of the course if they already have familiarity with basic business and financial concepts and
terms, but the instructor will also explain these as the course progresses. By the end of this 6-week course, all active participants will:
·
Have a better understanding of how they can prepare their business for funding
·
Find funding that is out there and available
·
Put in an application that has the potential to be approved
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 10 to February 14, 2022, on Monday evenings at 6:30 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.
Meet the Instructor:
Myron Thurston is
the Food Supply Chain Marketing Specialist for Cornell Cooperative Extension of Oneida County and is a Senior Resource Educator in the Cornell System. His most recent position was in Agriculture Economic Development at Cornell Cooperative Extension of Madison
County and he worked with farmers there to help them prepare for expansion, diversification, and financial protection for their agribusinesses. He also is a grant reviewer for the USDA. Myron has a significant background in grant research and grant writing
as he was in nonprofit fundraising and development for over a decade before coming to Cornell. He also served as the head of marketing for two nonprofits in Central New York. Myron grew up on a 100-year-old family dairy farm that milked around 350 cows and
farmed on 2,000 acres in Oneida County, NY. He currently resides in Sherrill, NY with his wife, two children, a dog that loves to run with him, and a cat that is not very friendly.
Exploring
Markets and Profits
Thursdays: January 13 – February 17, 2022
Have an idea for a farm enterprise but not sure if it’s feasible? This course will help you explore the potential markets and profitability of your ideas, picking up where BF
101: Starting at Square One (not a prerequisite) left
off.
Getting
Started with Pastured Pigs
Mondays: January 10 – February 14, 2022
Pigs can be a profitable stand-alone enterprise, or can be integrated into an existing farm structure, as they provide a variety of products and are also ideal for turning agricultural wastes into valuable products. This course will guide you through the production
and marketing of pigs raised in pasture settings.
Holistic
Financial Planning
Tuesdays: January 11 – February 15, 2022
If you’ve been struggling to make your farm operation profitable without driving yourself into the ground, this financial planning course is for you. You will learn how to make financial decisions toward farm and family values and goals.
Introduction
to Beekeeping
Thursdays: January 13 – March 3, 2022
Whether you are currently keeping honey bees or are considering them for your farm, a basic knowledge of bee biology, diseases, pests, and setting up your colony are essential for success. This 8-week course will give you real-world experiences paired with
academic concepts.
Season
Extension with High Tunnels
Tuesdays: January 11 – February 15, 2022
Adding weeks to your growing season can mean attaining a premium for having products available well before (or long after) other local growers. This course will introduce you to unheated plastic-covered “high tunnels,” covering cost, management and more.
Sheep
Production
Thursdays: January 13 – February 17, 2022
Have sheep or thinking about getting a flock? Producers of all experience levels will find something for them in this lively, wide-ranging course. There is no one right way to raise sheep — this course covers many of these different options.
Social
Media & Online Marketing
Thursdays: January 13 – February 17, 2022
Are you struggling with questions like what do hashtags do, how to start selling online, are webpages still useful, and more? This new, 5-week course is designed to improve your understanding of social media, online marketing ideas, and tools that may increase
sales and increase awareness about your business.
Vegetable
Production II
Wednesdays: January 12 – February 16, 2022
This course continues where BF
120: Vegetable Production I (not a prerequisite) ends,
covering vegetable production from transplanting to harvest, including: in-season fertility, integrated pest management, weed control, harvesting, and marketing.
Woodland
Mushroom Cultivation
Tuesdays: January 11 – February 15, 2022
With a bit of practice, mushrooms can be easily grown in the woods on many products. This course trains new and experienced farmers in the background, techniques, and economics of farm-scale woodland mushroom production.
Writing
a Business Plan
Mondays: January 10 – February 14, 2022
Arm yourself with a business plan and you will have a guide to aid your farm decision-making and demonstrate to yourself and your family that your ideas are feasible. This course is designed to help you build your plan, including developing financial statements.
Our program offers more than two dozen online courses. These courses cover a range of topics any farmer needs to succeed, such as farm
business taxes, soil
health, grazing
management, indoor
mushroom production, and so much more. Experienced farmers and extension educators guide students through course content, including weekly live webinars, videos, and resources.
New additions to our online course suite this year include “Access
to Capital” for anyone seeking funding for a farm enterprise, and “Cut
Flower Production” which offers an introduction to the business of flower farming. Last year we had also added a 4-week intensive in how “Reading
the Land” can help you monitor its health, a course on “Beef
Cattle Management,” and a primer on “Social
Media & Online Marketing” for your farm business.
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, webinars will be woven into the interface
of the course for a dedicated time slot each year to 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.
You can browse all of our course
offerings on our website. You can learn more about our courses, including answers to common questions, on our course
FAQ.
Agricultural Employment and Volunteer Opportunities
Join Greater Lansing Food Bank this spring!
VOLUNTEER POSITION AVAILABLE
Application Deadline Approaching
Garden Project, here in Lansing, has a great volunteer position available this spring semester and we would greatly appreciate your help getting the word out. This is a fun role,
in a beautiful greenhouse in south Lansing, growing vegetable transplants for low-income home and community gardeners through Greater Lansing Food Bank’s Garden Project. We are hoping to find a quality volunteer who is interested in the intersection between
horticulture and community development. This position comes with a $500 stipend and academic course credit may be available!
Will you please share the position below with interested students? Please feel free to reach out to me with any questions.
Thank you!
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Greenhouse Volunteer Position Available
Allen Street Neighborhood Garden Project seeking a candidate for the following winter/spring position: Greenhouse Propagation Volunteer
Responsible for greenhouse production of vegetable transplants, this 3-month volunteer role comes with a $500 stipend and the opportunity to earn college credit (if approved in conjunction
with your educational institution requirements).
Click
this link for more information and application instructions.
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Vicki Morrone
Organic Farming Specialist and Beginning Farmer Educator
Center for Regional Food Systems at Michigan State University
480 Wilson Rd
East Lansing, MI 48824
517-282-3557 (cell)
sorrone11 (skype)
Diversity is having a seat at the table, inclusion is having a voice, and belonging is having that voice be heard.