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Weekly Harvest Newsletter
Sustainable Agriculture News Briefs - June 6, 2007
Weekly sustainable agriculture news and resources gleaned from the Internet by NCAT staff for the ATTRA - National Sustainable Agriculture Information Service Web site. The Weekly Harvest Newsletter is also available online.
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Share The Harvest: Please forward this newsletter to friends and colleagues who might be interested in the latest sustainable agriculture news, funding opportunities, and events.
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News & Resources
* ATTRA Project Turns 20!
* MSU Extension Releases Bulletin on Ecological Farming
* New Jersey Department of Ag to Offer Organic Certification
* Food Alliance Introduces National Pork Standard
* British Supermarket Chain to Launch Carbon Labels
* UC Santa Cruz Sustainable Ag Program Celebrates 40 Years
Funding Opportunities
* Small Minority Producer Grant Program
* Farm Aid Grant Program
* Water Conservation Field Services Program
Coming Events
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Leopold Center 20th Anniversary Celebration
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Northern Plains Sustainable Agriculture Society Summer Symposium
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Fueling the Farm: Managing energy risks, reducing energy costs and exploring alternative energy sources
News & Resources
ATTRA Project Turns 20!
June 1, 2007 marked the 20th anniversary of the ATTRA project. In 1987 Congress first approved the project's funding through the USDA. ATTRA—the National Sustainable Agriculture Information Service—serves farmers, ranchers, and others who are interested in reducing farm chemical use; conserving soil, water and energy; or diversifying their agriculture enterprises and markets.
MSU Extension Releases Bulletin on Ecological Farming
Michigan State University has released a new publication, "Building a Sustainable Future: Ecologically Based Farming Systems". This publication explains how it is possible to support farm productivity while benefiting the environment and the community. The new bulletin focuses on topics such as agricultural landscapes, integrated pest management, community-based food systems and managed intensive grazing, and provides holistic approaches for field crop production and Michigan potato and tart cherry systems. It also has a chapter on organic farming.
New Jersey Department of Ag to Offer Organic Certification
New Jersey Department of Agriculture has gained accreditation by the United States Department of Agriculture to offer in-state certification services to farmers and processors who want to enter the organic market in the Garden State. The Department had to endure a rigorous process to receive its accreditation, which allows the Department to certify crops, wild crops, livestock and handling operations to the National Organic Standards. For more information visit New Jersey’s Organic Certification Program
Food Alliance Introduces National Pork Standard
The Food Alliance, a nonprofit organization that operates the most comprehensive third-party certification program in North America for sustainably produced food, has posted its new national standard for pork production. The 28-page Inspection Tool for Pork Production (PDF / 235K) may be downloaded, and includes both fixed and scored standards addressing issues such as humane treatment, manure management, and food safety.
British Supermarket Chain to Launch Carbon Labels
A news item in Orion magazine reports that Tesco, Britain's largest supermarket chain, will introduce a carbon label to show the total amount of carbon dioxide created from the production, transport, and consumption of each of the 70,000 goods the chain carries. The project will begin with a large academic research study on how to calculate the carbon value of retail goods, taking into account all the complex energy inputs that go into making them and transporting them.
UC Santa Cruz Sustainable Ag Program Celebrates 40 Years
The University of California at Santa Cruz is celebrating 40 years of involvement and leadership in sustainable and organic agriculture this year, marking the anniversary of the date when students first began creating an organic garden on campus. Today the UCSC's Center for Agroecology & Sustainable Food Systems is a recognized leader in sustainable agriculture research and training. The University details some of its contributions to the field in a news story, and offers an online timeline of its program's evolution.
> More Breaking News
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Funding Opportunities
Small Minority Producer Grant Program
The Rural Business-Cooperative Service announces the availability of approximately $1.1 million competitive grant funds for fiscal year (FY) 2007 for cooperatives and associations of cooperatives to assist small, minority agricultural producers. USDA Rural Development Cooperative Programs hereby requests proposals from eligible cooperatives and associations of cooperatives interested in a competitively awarded grant. The cooperatives and associations of cooperatives will use the grant money to fund technical assistance to small, minority agricultural producers in rural areas. The maximum award per grant is $175,000.
Proposals are due July 30, 2007.
Farm Aid Grant Program
The mission of Farm Aid is to keep farmers on their land and to bring together family farmers, citizens, and consumers to restore family farm-centered agriculture. The Farm Aid grant program supports organizations that work to maintain a family farm system of agriculture and that promote solutions to the challenges facing rural communities. Farm Aid grants are awarded in the following categories: Farm Resources, Farm Action, Food Systems, and Farm Policy. Grants range from $1,000-$40,000, with most being from $3,000-$7,500.
Proposals are due August 31, 2007.
Water Conservation Field Services Program
The Bureau of Reclamation-Upper Columbia Area Office has issued a Request for Proposals seeking partners with whom Reclamation can partner in implementing improved water management/water conservation activities. Funds will be directed first to irrigation districts that have contracts to use Bureau of Reclamation Project water or use Reclamation Project facilities. Applicants may request any amount in Federal funding, however agreements are generally limited to a maximum of $100,000.
Proposals are due July 31, 2007.
> More Funding Opportunities
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Coming Events
Leopold Center 20th Anniversary Celebration
July 10-11, 2007
Ames, Iowa
Please join in celebrating the first two decades of the Leopold Center and, more importantly, planning for the challenges in the next two decades.
The event will begin July 10 with a selection of five pre-conference tours. Keynote speaker Mark Ritchie will open the July 11 conference conversation, and discussions will continue throughout the day in more than 20 breakout sessions. The conference will include a midday outdoor festival with demonstrations, interactive displays, and a locally sourced meal.
Northern Plains Sustainable Agriculture Society Summer Symposium
July 11, 2007
Wimbledon, North Dakota
This event will be held at the Bethany Prairie Farm near Wimbledon, ND. The day includes tours of this farm and bed & breakfast that is transitioning to organic, plus programs on beef, poultry, potatoes, and Making the Farm a Tourist Destination. For more information contact NPSAS at 701-883-4304, or go to www.npsas.org.
Fueling the Farm: Managing energy risks, reducing energy costs and exploring alternative energy sources
July 12, 2007
Goldsboro, North Carolina
This day-long workshop co-sponsored by the Center for Environmental Farming Systems, NCAT, and others will provide farmers with an overview of current and future energy use. The workshop will also supply the necessary tools to evaluate alternative energy production and to reduce on farm energy use. Hands-on demonstrations and instruction will be emphasized.
> More Events
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Harvest and ATTRAnews Archives Available Online
Digital versions of recent Weekly Harvest and ATTRAnews newsletters
are available online. ATTRAnews is the newsletter
of ATTRA - National Sustainable Agriculture Information Service.
 ATTRA - National Sustainable Agriculture Information Service is managed by the National Center for Appropriate Technology (NCAT) and is 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.
© Copyright 2007 NCAT
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