Weekly Harvest Newsletter

Sustainable Agriculture News Briefs - July 14, 2004

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
* Soil Association Fact Sheet Considers Nutrition of Organic Food
* SARE Unveils Revamped Web Site
* Michigan Organic Advisory Committee Seeks Members
* Small Farmers Opt for Direct Marketing Niche
* Agronomist Advises Against Unnecessary Tillage
* Study Shows Organic Cover Crop Mulch Promotes Plant Health

Funding Opportunities
* Leopold Center Marketing and Food Systems Initiative
* Kentucky Grazing Land Demonstration Grants
* New York 2004 Food and Agriculture Industry Development RFP

Coming Events
* Weaning Lambs Beginning Farmer Workshop
* Niche Marketing and Natural Parasite Control for Small Ruminants
* Permaculture Design Certification Course

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News & Resources

Soil Association Fact Sheet Considers Nutrition of Organic Food
The United Kingdom's Soil Association has recently released a fact sheet on health and nutrition-related implications of consuming organic food. The fact sheet is based on an article that appeared in Coronary and Diabetic Care in the UK 2004. The online fact sheet concludes that an organic diet: reduces the amount of toxic chemicals ingested; totally avoids GMOs; reduces the amount of food additives and colourings; increases the amount of beneficial vitamins, minerals, EFAs [essential fatty acids] and antioxidants consumed; and appears to have the potential to lower the incidence of common conditions such as cancer, coronary heart disease, allergies and hyperactivity in children.
URL: http://www.soilassociation.org/web/sa/saweb.nsf/f201148200f2e8af
80256dbf005202e4/4156cfcc00a84e8c80256e6800584151%21OpenDocument

SARE Unveils Revamped Web Site
The Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE) program recently unveiled a redesigned Web site crafted to help farmers and ranchers increase profitability, protect the environment, and improve rural communities. The site offers topical indexes that allow the user to browse a variety of subjects, including animal production, crop production, and economics and marketing. The new site is also sorted by audience, giving farmers, ranchers, consumers, researchers, and educators a fast track to the information that's most useful to them. The site makes available information on the content and results of years of SARE project research conducted in partnership with the nation's most innovative producers.
URL: http://www.sare.org/

Michigan Organic Advisory Committee Seeks Members
Michigan's Organic Advisory Committee has vacancies for four positions, according to the Michigan Department of Agriculture (MDA). Members are appointed by the MDA Director to serve a four-year term, advising the Department on issues affecting organic production and processing in Michigan. Specific vacancies are for one producer of organic food, one individual who is either involved in organic retail food sales, is an organic processor, or is an input supplier of organic food or fiber; and two consumers of organic products who are not associated with the commercial production or handling of organic food or fiber. For more information on or to apply for the available posts, interested parties are encouraged to contact Colleen Collier in the Department's Pesticide and Plant Pest Management Division at 517-373-0280.
URL: http://www.michigan.gov/mda/0,1607,7-125-1572_3628-96965--,00.html

Small Farmers Opt for Direct Marketing Niche
As mega-producers and a global market dominate grocery shelves, small and mid-size farmers are finding a niche in direct marketing specialty crops, reports the Times-Picayune. While competition in the commodity market has grown fierce, and prices are low, some small producers have found they can command a premium by direct marketing goods to a segment of the population that is willing to pay a premium. These producers offer specialized goods and cater to their customers' wants. Some have also found success by supplying raw ingredients to other small-producers who make value-added goods.
URL: http://www.nola.com/business/t-p/index.ssf?/base/money-
0/1089533121204480.xml

Agronomist Advises Against Unnecessary Tillage
Mahdi Al-Kaisi, agronomist with Iowa State University Extension, warns that frequent tillage has a negative effect on soil quality, particularly in drought years. In an article on Iowa Ag Connection Al-Kaisi says, "Without a break from tillage, a total breakdown of soil structure is possible. The number of beneficial soil organisms decline, bringing microbial activity to a minimum and degrading soil structure, which results in severe limitations of water infiltration, increasing surface runoff." Al-Kaisi says that improving soil quality and sustainability should be a main priority for Iowa farmers, and suggests adopting no-till or reduced tillage systems if conditions warrant.
URL: http://www.iowaagconnection.com/story-state.cfm?Id=581&yr=2004
Related ATTRA publication: Sustainable Soil Management

Study Shows Organic Cover Crop Mulch Promotes Plant Health
Scientific American reported on the results of a USDA study published by the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, which showed that tomato plants mulched with hairy vetch cover crop residue were healthier over time than those grown with a black plastic mulch. The scientists also found five types of genes more highly expressed in the organically mulched tomatoes, a finding that they credited to the nutrients released by the legume cover.
URL: http://www.sciam.com/article.cfm?chanID=sa003&articleID=000056CA-
8E2A-10E5-8E2A83414B7F0000

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

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Funding Opportunities

Leopold Center Marketing and Food Systems Initiative
The Leopold Center for Sustainable Agriculture has issued an RFP for the Center's Marketing and Food Systems Initiative (PDF / 43 kb). The initiative will: Research and test new marketing strategies and business structures that allow Iowa's small and midsize producers to retain more of the value for food, fiber, or energy produced with high standards of environmental and community stewardship; conduct research and education to address challenges that impede farmers from fully sharing in the risks and rewards of food, fiber, or energy-based value chains; and research and document economic, environmental, and community impacts of local and regional food, fiber, and energy value chains and determine best how farmers and other groups can use this information in their market messages. Organizations, agencies and educational institutions are eligible to apply. Pre-proposals must be received by August 24, 2004.

Kentucky Grazing Land Demonstration Grants
The USDA's Natural Resource Conservation Service office in Kentucky announces the availability of up to $60,000 for Grazing Land Demonstration Grants in fiscal year 2004. The purpose of the Grants is to implement and transfer grazing land conservation technologies and approaches for adoption in Kentucky. Demonstrations may be focused on improvements to fencing systems, watering developments, forage resources and management styles. The project must include provisions to demonstrate the project work to farmers and others who may use the technologies and approaches on their grazing lands. Up to three grants will be awarded throughout the State of Kentucky, through a competitive grants process. State and local governmental entities, non-governmental organizations, individuals, and others may apply. Applications must be received by August 6, 2004.
URL: http://www.fedgrants.gov/Applicants/USDA/NRCS/40503/NRCS-27-KY-
04/listing.html

New York 2004 Food and Agriculture Industry Development RFP
The New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets invites proposals for implementing innovative and low risk approaches to the research, development, production, processing, and distribution of agricultural products and foods that capitalize on the State’s unique resources and strategic location near significant markets. Public and private agencies and organizations, business and industry, educational institutions, local governments, and individuals are eligible to submit proposals for funding under this RFP. Proposals for funding in fiscal year 2004-2005 must be received by the Department before 4:30 p.m. on August 31, 2004.
URL: http://www.agmkt.state.ny.us/RFPS.html

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

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Coming Events

Weaning Lambs Beginning Farmer Workshop
August 11, 2004
Fredricktown, Ohio
One of a series of Beginning Farmer Workshops offered by Innovative Farmers of Ohio. Lamb handling is the focus of the day, though other topics could include pasture lambing, intensive grazing, laying hens, cattle, and homesteading operations.
URL: http://www.ifoh.org/UpcomingEvents.html

Niche Marketing and Natural Parasite Control for Small Ruminants
August 25, 2004
Trout Run, Pennsylvania
This August farm field day sponsored by PASA will center around two small ruminant topics: Niche Marketing for Fiber Animals and Natural Parasite Control. Our discussion of niche marketing will cover raising livestock for fiber and how to sell it. Discussion of natural parasite control will explore the various methods Steam Valley has used in reducing parasites in their livestock. Currently, the farm is experimenting with a free choice mineral system to enhance livestock health and parasite resistance.
URL: http://www.pasafarming.org/programs/2004_nicheMarket.html

Permaculture Design Certification Course
September 11-26, 2004
Nevada City, California
In this course, you will learn every facet of Permaculture and ecological agriculture from the best in the field. The entire group will practice their new skills through the creation of a group Permaculture design on-site. This course is rich enough in material for professionals, yet presented in an easily comprehended format for the lay student.
URL: http://www.permaculture.com/permaculture/courses/woolman.htm

More events at http://attra.ncat.org/cgi-bin/event/calendar.cgi.

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The digital version of the latest ATTRAnews is 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.