Michigan Organic Listserv

September 6, 2022

From Desk of Vicki Morrone, Dept of Community Sustainability

[log in to unmask]

This information is to assist you in your production and processing of organic food and products.

There is no intention to promote products or services.

******************

New about USDA NOP

 

 

USDA NOP Organic Cost Share Program Open for Reimbursement

Note there are additional cost share expenses offered for educational programs and soil testing

For the fine details visit: https://www.farmers.gov/pandemic-assistance/otecp

Are you an organic farmer certified by a USDA NOP agency?

OR

Are you a farmer in transition-using organic practices in year 1, 2, or 3 with the intent to become certified as a NOP organic farmer?

Then you can apply for cost share from the USDA Farm Bill. You can receive partial reimbursement for:

• Organic certification inspection fees and certification fees (25% of fees up to $250 per certificate)
• Soil testing required by NOP ($100 up to 75% of cost)
• Educational fees for registration educational programs. (75% up to $200)

This cost share program deadline Oct 31, 2022.

You apply through your local FSA office.

Steps to getting your cost share refund

1. To locate YOUR FSA office visit: https://offices.sc.egov.usda.gov/locator/app?state=mi&agency=fsa  and click on your county in Michigan.

 

2. Call to make an appointment with your local FSA office. The application process typically takes 15-20 minutes but at the most 30 minutes. You will be handed receipts for the process and your original documents during your appointment.

 

3. Bring receipts of payments and most recent organic certificate(s) (even if certificate is not this year’s).

 

4. Bring all certificates for each system you have that are NOP certified (crop, livestock, wild crop, and handling)!

 

5. Bring a voided check with you to appointment so they can set up for direct deposit of your refund to your checking account.

Eligible Expenses for Reimbursement through USDA NOP Cost Share

 

For Certified Organic Operations (USDA NOP) 

§  Certification application fees 

§  NOP organic inspection costs 

§  Fees related to equivalency agreement/arrangement requirements 

§  Travel/per diem for inspectors 

§  User fees 

§  Certifier sales assessments 

§  Postage 

§  Soil testing for micronutrients

§  Educational event registration fees. 

 

For Transitional Operations : (Year 1, 2 or 3 on any parts of your farm)

 

§  Fees charged by a certifying agent or consultant for pre-certification inspections 

§  Fees charged for the development of an organic system plan 

§  Soil testing for micronutrients

§  Educational events’ registration fees 

 

Expenses Not Allowed for Cost Share

§  Inspections necessary to address National Organic Program regulatory violations 

§  Expenses related to non-USDA organic certifications 

§  Expenses related to any other labeling program 

§  Expenses related to materials/supplies/equipment 

§  Late fees 

§  Membership fees charged by certification agency

§  Consultant fees (except as described above for transitional operations)

§  Expenses related to educational event attendance other than registration fees 

§  Expenses for tests other than soil testing for micronutrient deficiencies 

 

 

Note: Expenses that have been incurred during the program year but not paid during this time-period are not eligible for cost share assistance.

 

If you have questions call your local FSA office or you can email Vicki Morrone ([log in to unmask]).

 

Educational Opportunities

 

 

Last Chance To REGISTER for the

MIDWEST MECHANICAL CULTIVATION FIELD DAY

 

The Midwest Mechanical Weed Control Field Day is the nation’s largest field day focused on mechanical weed control. The Land Connection is partnering with Michigan State University Extension to host the event Wednesday, Sept. 14, 2022, at Michigan State University’s Southwest Michigan Research and Extension Center in Benton Harbor, Michigan.

The morning expo period provides opportunities to see weeding tools from many companies and to meet the farmers in attendance from all over the U.S. and Canada. University weed scientists from surrounding states and farmer-experts will share their experiences. Walk-Behind Alley will feature demonstrations of walk-behind tractors and implements. You can also visit the exhibit booths for other companies in allied trades such as farm-service and soil amendments.

At noon, the field day will break for lunch, which is an opportunity for farmers to break bread together or to continue looking at equipment and speaking with exhibitors. In the afternoon, attendees will follow the tractors out to the demonstration field, where corn, beets and cabbage have been planted especially for the demonstrations. Myriad cultivators and cultivating tractors will be demonstrated in the field and explained by manufacturers. These demonstrations will show how the machines should be mounted and properly adjusted, and will help farmers visualize how the implements can work on their own farms to increase efficiency and productivity.

Row-crop tools in the demonstration include the Treffler Harrow, Einbock Harrow and several types of camera-guided cultivators with finger weeders. Demonstrations will be held in 5-inch corn.

Vegetable tools include the Tilmor Tractor and their basket weeder, parallel-unit cultivator and other tools, Steketee parallel units of side-knives and finger weeders mounted on the Franken-G, Treffler harrow, a variety of KULT-Kress belly-mounted and rear-mounted steerable tools, Mechanical Transplanter with their planting machine and plastic layer, and cultivators from Japan.

Registration for this day of learning and networking on mechanical weed control is $50.  Registration includes breakfast, lunch and all the demos you can handle. It is recommended that everyone register early as space runs out each year.

Click here to: Registration for Midwest Mechanical Field Day

For more information on the event and registration, contact Cassidy at [log in to unmask] or 217-840-2128.

If you would like to bring a cultivator to the field day, that would be wonderful. Please call or text Sam Oschwald Tilton at 414-213-5337 or email at [log in to unmask].

*****************************

 

Do you want to attend the GREAT LAKES FRUIT AND VEGETABLE EXPO but need a li$$le help!

 

The 2022 GLEXPO will be Dec 6-8 in Grand Rapids Michigan. It is a great conference and tradeshow with technical information on fruit and vegetable systems and markets. We offer sessions on soil health to food safety and organic production (vegetables and fruit).  For a full view of the program go to www.GLEXPO.org

Now, the Michigan Vegetable Industry has a scholarship to help defray the cost of registration. Check it out…

 

www.michiganvegetablecouncil.org/scholarships.html

At the above link choose the 2022 Vegetable Industry Application Form button. 

 

Application deadline to apply for this scholarship is September 30, 2022.

 

 

Look forward to seeing you there!! 

Greg Bird

Michigan Vegetable Council

[log in to unmask]

Employment Opportunities

 

Job Posting

 

Development Manager Job Description

Location: Ypsilanti, MI (in-person work required)

Salary: $37,000-$42,000 based on experience, paid time off and health insurance (medical, dental, vision, short term disability, and life insurance) after 90 days

Additional Perks: Free produce, flowers, and seedlings from our Urban Farm

Start Date: October 03, 2022

Schedule: Salaried, average 40 hours/week. Normally Monday-Friday, with some weekend/evening responsibilities

 

Organizational Description:

Growing Hope is a 19-year-old non-profit organization rooted in Ypsilanti, Michigan whose mission is to foster an equitable and sustainable local food system that empowers all people to grow, buy, sell, prepare, and eatm nourishing food. We envision a community where all people--particularly those with barriers due to race, class, culture, language, ability, and mobility--have access to nourishing local food that is culturally appropriate and affordable. People can grow and prepare their own harvests, and may earn a living as a food grower, producer, or entrepreneur.

 

We work with Youth & Schools, Farm & Garden, Farmers Markets, and Food Entrepreneurship, primarily with The Growing Hope Urban Farm and the Ypsilanti Farmers MarketPlace. The Urban Farm is a multi-purpose space used for organic-practice production, garden demonstration, youth and adult education, and events.

 

The Ypsilanti Farmers MarketPlace hosts the Ypsilanti Downtown Farmers Market, the Ypsi Area Online Market, and the Growing Hope Incubator Kitchen.  Our work culture is rooted in our values: Transformation, Education, Justice & Equity, Placemaking, and Integrity.

 

We commit to upholding inclusive practices and policies while creating space for courageous conversations as staff and within our community. Our aim is to leverage the vast resources already within our community in order to empower and partner with participants and customers. We believe that community members have the ability to

make their own decisions about their health and wellness goals and that Growing Hope acts as a conduit, bridging the gap between our community and its goals.

 

Position Summary:

The Development Manager is responsible for supporting Growing Hope’s annual fund, coordinating annual fundraising events, and growing a donor base with meaningful connections. The Development Manager is an integral member of Growing Hope’s team, who will help to ensure the organization achieves its mission of fostering

an equitable and sustainable local food system where all people are empowered to grow, sell, buy, prepare, and eat nourishing food.

 

The successful candidate will have the opportunity to help advance the organization and shape the evolution of Growing Hope’s community-centric development program by helping craft new narratives to support equity-focused programming and diversifying the organization’s donor base. Applicants should demonstrate a fundraising ethos grounded in equity and social justice and have experience working to create a more inclusive philanthropic sector.

They will be joining the organization at a critical inflection point as our organization pursues deep, internal transformation through intentional diversification of staff and board, and lasting programmatic commitments to justice and equity within our local food system.

 

This is a full-time position that reports to the Executive Director and requires close collaboration with staff across the organization, as well as external consultants and contractors. We are seeking a thought partner who approaches this work with compassion, vulnerability, empathy, curiosity, and humility. We are eager to have a

successful candidate to join our team as soon as possible.

 

Responsibilities:

● Annual Fund Management (50%): Plan and execute annual fund activities with a focus on donor engagement, retention, and acquisition, author and edit donor correspondence, communicate organizational gratitude toward board, staff, volunteers and donors, process donations with assistance from the Finance Manager, conduct research on prospective individual donors and funders as needed, maintain

processes to ensure thorough and informative data management to establish and deepen supporter relationships, lead sponsorship and corporate engagement opportunities.

● Special Events Management (40%): Plan and lead Growing Hope’s annual fundraising events and all logistics, initiate event-related communications with attendees, monitor and evaluate the impact of events on donor engagement; recommend adjustments and new strategies as needed

● Revenue Generation & Budgeting (5%): Assist with budgeting, cash flow & accounting processes as relates to development and event budgets, diversify revenue, and provide input and support as needed for grant proposals and reporting.

● Organizational Support (5%): Support general programming. Participate in anti-racism and food sovereignty discussions and training, development committee meetings, administrative activities (i.e timesheets, expense reports), professional development, weekly staff meetings, fundraisers and community events.

 

Desired Qualifications:

● Deep commitment to our mission and helping the organization develop and implement a community-centric fundraising model

● Kind, calm, and open demeanor and attitude towards work, colleagues, and community. Strong conflict management skills

● Experience with or ability to quickly learn data management software including Google Suite, Slack, and social media tools

● Energetic approach to difficult tasks and ideas

● Skilled oral and written communicator. Comfortable communicating in person, by phone, email, in front of groups, and to a variety of audiences

● Experience managing events, preferably in the non-profit sector

● Comfort managing multiple projects simultaneously, working within and across team

● Strong attention to detail

 

Qualities that will enhance the application:

● Farming or food business experience

● Experience drafting successful fundraising appeals and/or funding proposals

● Proficient in prospect research; willingness and ability to continue learning

● Experience managing membership-based fundraising drives

● Previous experience with Growing Hope’s programs

● High level of proficiency with the Network 4 Good or other similar CRM database; administrative aptitude

and/or desire to develop it preferred

● Experience drafting or contributing to grant proposals

● Preference given to Ypsilanti-area residents or those willing to relocate to and engage in the Ypsilanti Community

 

To Apply: Submit a resume and cover letter to [log in to unmask]. Preference given to applications received by September 12, 2022, but the position will remain open until filled. Letters can be submitted in the form of a written document, video or audio format.

 

Growing Hope encourages people of color and individuals who possess an in-depth understanding of poverty or economic hardship to apply. We welcome a diverse pool of applicants and make employment decisions on the basis of merit. We do not discriminate potential employees based on race, creed, age, physical ability, national

origin, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, or marital status.

 

Accommodations will be made so that the application process and position is made accessible for qualified applicants.

 

******************

Practical Farmers of Iowa field crops viability coordinator

is seeking a diligent, respectful, and passionate person to serve as a field crops viability coordinator within our expanding farm viability department and field crops team. For more than 35 years, Practical Farmers has worked to equip farmers to build resilient farms and communities. The farm viability department is tasked with driving institutional changes and providing personal, direct support to assist farmers and farmland owners in achieving their goals.

The field crops viability team manages PFI’s flagship financial incentive program, which in 2021 supported over 700 farmers adopting cover crops, diverse rotations and fertilizer management. The team works closely with major supply chain partners such as PepsiCo and Unilever to drive large-scale landscape change. The field crops coordinator will support this work by: 

1.      Leading farmer recruitment efforts for PFI’s cover crop, small-grain and fertilizer reduction cost-shares that provide financial incentives and one-on-one coaching to farmers and landowners

2.      Engaging with partner organizations and media outlets to drive awareness of PFI’s field crops cost-share and related opportunities

3.      Providing one-on-one consultation and technical advice to farmers and landowners for cover crops and diversified crop rotations

4.      Implementing cost-share verification and validation protocols 

 

To view a full job description, desired qualifications, summary of benefits and instructions to apply visit PFI’s employment page: https://bit.ly/3cbgZhQ

 

-- 

Alisha Bower 

(she/her) 

 

Senior Operations Director

Practical Farmers of Iowa 

1615 Golden Aspen Dr. Suite 101 

Ames, IA 50010

 

****************** 

Field Specialist/Specialty Crops Production Systems Assistant/Associate Professor. Starting salary ~$75,000

Department:  FAES | South Centers Piketon

 

The (Field Specialist, Specialty Crops Production Systems) faculty position provides overall leadership for developing and implementing a comprehensive and balanced teaching and applied research agenda for Agriculture and Natural Resources and South Centers within the Department of Extension in the College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences at The Ohio State University.  Specialty crops as defined by USDA include fruits, vegetables, nuts, nursery crops, flowers and other horticultural crops.   Specialty crop production issues including pest control, disease management, production methods, organic systems and breeding and varietal trials of new cultivars are expected to be priority areas to be addressed.  Working collaboratively the position is expected to co-lead the specialty crop team of OSU professionals within OSU Extension as well as with cross-disciplinary department and colleges, the faculty member functions as a subject matter  expert in collaboration with stakeholder clientele to address statewide issues as expertise is needed; provides unbiased research-based alternatives; evaluates and responds to large scale statewide opportunities and needs vs. individual requests; and secures resources (grants, contracts, user fees) to focus on these issues.  The faculty member will seek courtesy faculty status within the appropriate department to maintain an integrated connection with CFAES academic departments.

 

• Plan, teach, and evaluate educational programs including development of relevant curricula; conduct applied research; make creative and scholarly contributions, and contribute in-service to the profession and university in the field of specialty horticultural crops.
• Employ innovative educational methods and technology to expand delivery of educational programs and resources.
• Secure extramural funding support through grants, contracts, industry supported partnerships, user fees, and cost recovery to support mission critical programming.
• Document and communicate program impact.
• Conduct applied research; translate and integrate applied research into curriculum and educational programs for stakeholders and producer audiences; publish in clientele media outlets; meet faculty expectations of creative and scholarly work.  Collaborate with academic department faculty on research agendas.
• Serve as a team leader and education advisor and liaison for the Ohio State University Extension and the University to appropriate public issue and program organizations.  Represent OSU Extension and the University with federal, state and local agencies and educational institutions at the regional level.
• Engage in development opportunities aligned with professional development goals and relevant subject matter.
• Minimum Education Required: Master's degree, doctoral degree preferred, with at least one degree in horticulture or related discipline required.  Strong written and oral communication skills and experience in working with diverse clientele and organizations.  Candidate must demonstrate success in working as part of a team and in initiating collaborative partnerships.  Leadership ability, and strong teaching, and subject matter expertise in specialty horticultural crops is necessary.  Must be willing to work flexible  hours, including evenings/weekends when necessary, with minimum supervision.  Certified Crop Advisor or other appropriate board certified credentials preferred.

 

Additional Education Desired: Entrepreneurial spirit; skilled communicator; superior teacher; technologically savvy; problem solving orientation; self-directed; adaptable and flexible.  External applicants for positions are also required to to accurately self-disclose all criminal convictions when they apply.  Background checks will be conducted on internal and external final candidates.  Final candidate offer is contingent upon the university's verification of credentials and other information required by law and/or university policies or practices based upon the criminal background check.

Major: Horticulture or Plant Pathology/Entomology

Required Experience: Applied Research, Extension and Teaching

Desired Experience: Specialty Crops Industry Experience 

Salary Competitive and commensurate with education and experience. 

 

·         COMMITMENT TO DIVERSITY

The Ohio State University is committed to establishing a culturally and intellectually diverse environment; and encouraging all members of our learning community to reach their full potential. We are responsive to dual-career families and strongly promote work-life balance to support our community members through a suite of institutionalized policies. 

 

Our college’s Principles of Community https://brand.cfaes.ohio-state.edu/campaigns/principles-community affirms our conviction that racism has no place in College of Food, Agricultural and Environmental Sciences (CFAES).  We are an NSF Advance Institution and a member of the Ohio/Western Pennsylvania/West Virginia Higher Education Recruitment Consortium.

Application deadline: Position open until filled with priority given to applications received by 09/30/2022.

Application Instructions: Candidates should submit a letter of intent stating professional goals and interests, a comprehensive curriculum vitae and a discussion that includes: 

•    Evidence of a capacity to work with teams in a collegial manner.
•    A statement of outreach and research interests.
•    A statement on the ways the applicant approaches diversity and inclusion.
•    Names of three individuals and contact information to serve as references
•    All application materials must be received before an application will be considered.

Application and materials should be submitted with application. (PDF format):  https://hr.osu.edu/careers/ 

Refer to job opening R57476

Questions should be directed to:

 

Jim Jasinski
Professor, Department of Extension
Integrated Pest Management Program Coordinator

(O) Skype: 937-772-6014
[log in to unmask]
http://ipm.osu.edu

@OSU_IPM

 

Ohio State University Extension is the community-based outreach unit of the College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences at Ohio State. Extension "empowers through education," and we're all about helping all Ohioans build better lives, better businesses and better communities.

OSU Extension delivers knowledge from Ohio State to every county in Ohio, and we work with people right where they live to strengthen their own lives and communities. Extension connects with people in all stages of life – from young children to older adults – from families and children to farmers and business owners, community leaders and elected officials.

 

Additional Information:

Vaccine Requirement

Ohio State is focused on enhancing the health and safety of our community. Therefore, the university is requiring every student, faculty and staff member to be compliant with Ohio State’s COVID-19 vaccine requirement.

By the start of employment, all newly hired employees must receive at least the first dose of a two-dose series or a single dose of a one-dose series COVID-19 vaccination. Individuals who choose a two-dose series vaccination must receive the second dose within 45 days of their start date. Proof of vaccination will be required at time of hire.

Candidates may request a medical or religious exemption from the vaccination requirement. Campus employees may also request an exemption for personal reasons. Ohio State Wexner Medical Center, College of Medicine or OSUP Employees are not eligible for personal exemptions. All exemptions are subject to Ohio State’s approval and subject to change, including revocation, due to legal and regulatory requirements.

 

 

Jim Jasinski
Ohio State University 

Professor, Department of Extension
Integrated Pest Management Program Coordinator
1512 S. US Highway 68, Suite B100
Urbana, OH 43078
(O) Skype: 937-772-6014 

 

----END----