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Weekly Harvest Newsletter
Sustainable Agriculture News Briefs - November 28, 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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News & Resources
* UN Says Paying Farmers Could Protect Environment
* EPA Seeks Advisory Committee Nominations
* Management-Intensive Grazing Guide Released
* Organic Farming 101 Course Taking Place in North Dakota
Funding Opportunities
* EPA Region 8 Regional Priorities Grant Program
* Wisconsin Dairy 2020 Early Planning Grant
* Water Conservation Field Services Program—Southern California Area
Coming Events
* Midwest Organic Production & Marketing Conference & Trade Show
* Vermont Grazing Conference
* Texas Conference on Organic Production Systems
News & Resources
UN Says Paying Farmers Could Protect Environment
Carefully targeted payments to farmers could serve as an approach to protect the environment and to address growing concerns about climate change, biodiversity loss and water supply, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations said recently in its annual publication The State of Food and Agriculture. The report suggests that incentive payments should reward farmers for beneficial services they can provide, such as carbon storage, flood control, clean water provision or biodiversity conservation.
EPA Seeks Advisory Committee Nominations
The EPA has announced a request for member nominations to the first-ever Farm, Ranch and Rural Communities Federal Advisory Committee. The committee is being formed under the guidelines of EPA's National Strategy for Agriculture, and it will advise the EPA Administrator on environmental policy issues impacting farms, ranches and rural communities. USAgNet reports that the committee will consist of approximately 25 members representing: (1) large and small farmers, ranchers and rural communities; (2) rural suppliers, marketers and processors; (3) academics and researchers who study environmental issues impacting agriculture; (4) tribal agricultural groups; and (5) environmental and conservation groups.
Management-Intensive Grazing Guide Released
A new publication from Purdue University Extension, Management-Intensive Grazing in Indiana, covers the decision-making processes and physical components of grazing systems, as well as providing firsthand experiences from livestock producers. The 60-page publication addresses a wide variety of grazing issues, ranging from planning paddocks to identifying grazing-related animal disorders to streamside grazing. A downloadable PDF version is available online.
Related ATTRA Publication: Rotational Grazing
Organic Farming 101 Course Taking Place in North Dakota
A course for beginning organic farmers is being offered in North Dakota for the first time, according to an Associated Press article on In-Forum News. The Foundation for Agricultural and Rural Resources Management and Sustainability is sponsoring the ten-session course, which is based on the Farm Beginnings project that originated in Minnesota. The course is designed for farmers moving into organic production. Eighteen students are enrolled in the course, which began in October.
> More Breaking News
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Funding Opportunities
EPA Region 8 Regional Priorities Grant Program
U.S. EPA Region 8’s Fiscal Year 2008 Regional Priorities Grant Program announces the availability of funding from five Region 8 grant programs for projects that are to be conducted within the boundaries of Region 8. The region serves Colorado, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Utah, Wyoming and 27 Tribal Nations. The five funding programs are: 1) Regional Geographic Initiatives 2) Indoor Environments 3) Source Reduction Assistance (Pollution Prevention) 4) Strategic Agriculture Initiative and 5) Resource Conservation Challenge (RCC) Grant Initiative. Region 8 is competitively seeking project proposals that will achieve measurable environmental and public health results within the following priority areas:
1) Energy and Climate Change
2) Agriculture
3) Mercury
4) Enhancing State or Tribal Capacity to Provide Public Health and Environmental Protection in Region 8
Proposals are due January 18, 2008.
Wisconsin Dairy 2020 Early Planning Grant
The goal of the Dairy 2020 Early Planning Grant program is to encourage and stimulate the start-up, modernization, and expansion of Wisconsin dairy farms. Eligible applicants for the Dairy 2020 Early Planning Grant program include existing and start-up Wisconsin dairy producers whose farms are, or will be located in a city, town or village with a population less than 6,000. Proceeds from an award may be used only to cover the cost of having a qualified, independent third party provide the professional services necessary to assist the applicant in the start-up, modernization, or expansion of a dairy farm. Before applying, interested applicants must first talk with the Director of the Dairy 2020 Program.
Water Conservation Field Services Program—Southern California Area
The objective of this Notice of Funding Opportunity from the Bureau of Reclamation, Lower Colorado Region is to invite agricultural and municipal and industrial water user entities, States, local governments, universities, and non-profit organizations that have a connection with a Reclamation Project; and tribes supported by the Southern California Area Office (SCAO) in order to leverage their money and resources, by cost sharing with Reclamation, on projects/activities that make more efficient use of existing water supplies through water conservation and efficiency throughout the geographic area served by the SCAO.
Proposals are due February 29, 2008.
> More Funding Opportunities
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Coming Events
Midwest Organic Production & Marketing Conference & Trade Show
January 17-18, 2008
Urbana, Illinois
The Midwest Organic Production and Marketing Conference and Trade Show will offer practical, science- and farmer-based information and extensive networking opportunities for anyone interested in organic food and farming. The two-day conference will cover topics including economics, developing markets, livestock, agronomic and horticulture crops, aquaculture, and organic management.
Vermont Grazing Conference
January 19, 2008
Randolph Center, Vermont
The 12th Annual Vermont Grazing Conference will feature Missouri grazier Greg Judy as keynote speaker. The schedule includes themed tracks for dairy, meat, poultry, diversified farming, animal management, soil and forages, consumer interests, and grazing partnerships. The conference is co-organized by the Vermont Grass Farmers Association and the UVM Center for Sustainable Agriculture.
Texas Conference on Organic Production Systems
February 1-3, 2008
College Station, Texas
This conference, "Nourishing Agriculture," will feature a trade show, seminars, farm tours, workshops, and more. It offers an opportunity to learn about small family farming in Texas from those doing it, and to learn about nutrition and the local food movement.
> More Events
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 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.
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