Weekly Harvest Newsletter

Sustainable Agriculture News Briefs - April 27, 2005

Weekly sustainable agriculture news and resources gleaned from the Internet by NCAT staff for the ATTRA - National Sustainable Agriculture Information Service Web site.

News & Resources
* Beyond the Organic Label
* Reports Say Energy Savings Can Help Small Farms and Ranches
* UC Study Shows Farmworkers Not Addressed by Organic Agriculture
* Organic Market Offers Opportunities, Challenges to Consider
* Report Looks at Field Testing of Genetically Engineered Plants
* School Lunches Fresh from the Farm Please Students

Funding Opportunities
* Support for Environmental Programs in Rural Areas
* New Hampshire Farm Bureau Federation Agricultural Grant Program
* Kentucky Horticulture Advertising Cost-Share Program

Coming Events
* Hydroponic Enterprise Start-Up Training Seminar
* Upper Midwest Organic Tree Fruit Network Field Day
* Sustainable Agriculture & Organic Farming Course

News & Resources

Beyond the Organic Label
The rapid growth of the "organic" label has brought a backlash among farmers who practiced organic methods of production long before the U.S. Department of Agriculture developed federal standards for "organic certification," reports the Contra Costa Times. Several farmers and activists are embracing new terminology to distinguish their production methods, including "biodynamic," "local," and "Food Alliance Certified." Such terms often describe practices not covered by the organic label. The label of the nonprofit group Food Alliance, for example, indicates that food was grown according to specific standards that address pesticide use, wildlife habitat, and the treatment of farmworkers. Food Alliance has already certified 220 farms, an increase of 33 percent since last year.
URL: http://www.contracostatimes.com/mld/cctimes/11440261.htm (Registration required)

Reports Say Energy Savings Can Help Small Farms and Ranches
Three major reports have been released by the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy, addressing energy use in agriculture. The reports cover how major energy sources are used on farms, estimate the potential savings available from energy efficiency, and review a total of 52 energy efficiency programs nationwide that are implementing savings in the agricultural sector. On-Farm Energy Use Characterizations highlights significant regional variation in both the mix of farm-type and in the use of energy found from state to state. According to Potential Energy Efficiency Savings in the Agriculture Sector, energy savings potential is more than 10% of total energy expenses nationwide and 35% of savings based on energy end-use. The third report, Energy Efficiency Programs in Agriculture: Design, Success, and Lessons Learned, profiles models for energy efficiency programs. All three reports can be viewed online as PDF files.
URL: http://aceee.org/press/0504agreports.htm

UC Study Shows Farmworkers Not Addressed by Organic Agriculture
A University of California study shows that, except for reduced exposure to pesticides, the boom in organic agriculture has not resulted in better working conditions for farmworkers. Because organic agriculture rules prohibit many toxic pesticides, and organic producers are perceived as social activists, consumers may assume that farmworkers get more benefits from organic production than conventional agriculture. However, organic certification doesn't specify working conditions for farm labor. Based on surveys of almost 200 small- and mid-sized organic farmers in California, the study finds that less than half of surveyed growers wanted mandatory agricultural certification programs, in part because they feared such requirements would be too hard on them financially. The authors concluded that to create production conditions that are favorable to a broader view of “socially sustainable,” change is needed in the entire food system. Details of the study are available online.
URL: http://news.ucanr.org/newsstorymain.cfm?story=658

Organic Market Offers Opportunities, Challenges to Consider
Entering organic production can bring farmers price premiums, says an article in the Hillsboro Free Press, but making the switch can require time, patience, and willingness to learn new practices. The Kansas Organic Producers Association is a cooperative that is helping farmers consider whether they should make the transition and connecting them with markets for organic produce. While organic production may require less costly inputs, it often requires more management and different skills to build soil and manage pests. Finding a market can be another challenge, and tenant farmers may need to develop new arrangements with landowners, to reflect different practices and costs.
URL: http://www.zwire.com/site/news.cfm?BRD=1163&dept_id=
97662&newsid=14382992&PAG=461&rfi=9
Related ATTRA Publication: Organic Farm Certification & the National Organic Program

Report Looks at Field Testing of Genetically Engineered Plants
A new report released by Environment Maine Research & Policy Center and Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners Association documents more than 47,000 field tests of genetically engineered crops authorized between 1987 and 2004, and highlights potential risks associated with the release of genetically engineered plants. As of January 2005, the states that have hosted the greatest number of field test sites are: Hawaii (5,413), Illinois (5,092), and Iowa (4,659).
URL: http://www.mofga.org/news20050415.html

School Lunches Fresh from the Farm Please Students
Public school lunch programs across the country are offering meals with fresh local produce, which not only helps local farmers but inspires kids to eat more fruits and vegetables. A feature posted by Michigan Land Use Institute offers examples of how school food program personnel overcame concerns about buying and using local foods, and how pleased their students are with the results. From apples in Michigan to collard greens in Florida, local foods are finding their way into school lunches. More food service personnel are interested in introducing local foods, but concerns about price, safety and necessary processing and logistics may be daunting. The National Farm to Cafeteria Conference set for June in Gambier, Ohio, can help both farmers and food service personnel overcome some of the barriers to increasing local food supplies in schools.
URL: http://mlui.org/growthmanagement/fullarticle.asp?fileid=16845
Related ATTRA Publication: Bringing Local Food to Local Institutions

For more news and resources, visit the National Sustainable Agriculture Information Service Web site's Breaking News section: http://attra.ncat.org/management/geninfo.html.

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Funding Opportunities

Support for Environmental Programs in Rural Areas
The Laura Jane Musser Fund proposes to assist public or not-for-profit entities to initiate or implement projects in rural areas to undertake consensus-based activities in environmental stewardship or dispute resolution. The Fund is most interested in new programs and is willing to fund planning or implementation. Grants of up to $35,000 are available. Applications are due October 1, 2005.
URL: http://www.musserfund.org/environmental.htm

New Hampshire Farm Bureau Federation Agricultural Grant Program
The New Hampshire Farm Bureau Federation offers the Agricultural Grant Program, established to provide monies for innovative projects that create a positive connection between the general public and agriculture. These matching funds are intended to help groups or organizations with the implementation of projects in education, production, or marketing and promotion of New Hampshire agriculture and its products. $10,000 in total grant money is available and applicants may request up to this amount. Projects must be completed within twelve months. The application deadline is May 27, 2005.
URL: http://www.nhfarmbureau.org/

Kentucky Horticulture Advertising Cost-Share Program
This program, funded through the Kentucky Horticulture Council, promotes the sale of Kentucky-grown horticulture products. Successful applicants may receive a 50 percent cash match of up to $4,000 per calendar year if they follow all the guidelines for promoting and advertising Kentucky Proud products. Applications are accepted from Nov. 1, 2004, until Sept. 30, 2005, as funds allow.
URL: http://www.kyagr.com/mkt_promo/hort/programs/hort/Adcostshare.htm

For additional funding opportunities, visit: http://attra.ncat.org/management/financl.html.

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Coming Events

Hydroponic Enterprise Start-Up Training Seminar
May 7, 2005
LaGrande, Oregon
Microfarm Sustainable Research and Education presents this seminar, sponsored by the U.S. Department of Agriculture Risk Management Agency. The session will teach the basics of hydroponic growing, developing a business and marketing plan, risk management, and how to put together a low-cost, low-tech system for producing high-value, legal crops.
URL: http://www.microfarmsustainable.org/events.html

Upper Midwest Organic Tree Fruit Network Field Day
June 21, 2005
La Crescent, Minnesota
This is the second of three summer field days planned by the Upper Midwest Organic Tree Fruit Growers Network. It will be hosted by Hoch Orchard, with a speaker from Michigan State University on "Orchard Ecological Assessment."
URL: http://www.mosesorganic.org/treefruit/events.htm

Sustainable Agriculture & Organic Farming Course
June 27 - August 18, 2005
Davis, California
The Student Farm at the University of California-Davis is offering a course in the Principles and Practices of Sustainable Agriculture and Organic Farming. Thirteen hours of field activities per week are combined with lectures, discussions and field trips to provide an in-depth introduction to sustainable agriculture and organic farming practices, with a focus on annual crop production.
URL: http://studentfarm.ucdavis.edu/Courses/SustAgCourse.htm

More events at: http://attra.ncat.org/calendar/index.php.

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Weekly Harvest and ATTRAnews Archives Available Online
Digital versions of recent Weekly Harvest and ATTRAnews newsletters are now available online. ATTRAnews is the bi-monthly newsletter of ATTRA, the National Sustainable Agriculture Information Service.
URL: http://attra.ncat.org/newsletter/archives.html

The National Sustainable Agriculture Information Service is the Web site of the ATTRA project created and managed by the National Center for Appropriate Technology (NCAT), and funded under a grant from the United States Department of Agriculture's Rural Business-Cooperative Service. Visit the NCAT Web site for more information on our sustainable agriculture projects.

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