NCAT News Archive for 2006

NCAT Staff Members Give to Their Communities

Targeted Grazing Handbook Released

NCAT Wins Award for Reducing Waste

NCAT Collaborates with Southern Consortium for Small Ruminant Parasite Control

NCAT Staff Member Presents at Terra Madre Conference

Montana's Public Institutions a Growing Market for Locally Grown Food

NCAT Announces Biodiesel/Oilseed Innovation Grants for Montana Farmers

NCAT Helping Farmers and Ranchers Manage Energy Risks

NCAT Participates in Natural State Expo

Sustainable Agriculture Coalition Releases Farm Bill Platform

NCAT Co-Sponsors Successful Montana Climate Change Conference

Increasing Renewable Energy Production

NCAT Continues Efforts in Hurricane-Affected Gulf South

How Do We Fill'er Up? Answering Questions about Biofuel Production

NCAT SustainabilityFEST Finds Enthusiastic Reception

NCAT Opens Sustainability Week with Computer Recycling Program

Nation's First 'Food Corps' Helps School Cafeterias Serve Montana-Grown Foods

NCAT Staffers Join Congressman Boozman for Farm Constituent Visits

Montana Ag Director to Address SustainabilityFEST

Montana Climate Challenge Conference and Workshop Planned

Pecan Growers Learn About Organic Production

New NCAT Project to Aid Deep South Farmers and Communities

Leadership Summit for Sustainable Development Focuses on Climate Change

Liberian Immigrant Farmers Learn about Organic Farming at NCAT Workshops

Extension Specialist Looking to Expand Value-added Processing Program to Other States

Summer Interns Gain Experience at NCAT

One-Stop Shopping for Farm Energy Savings Tools

Training the Trainers Who Work with Immigrant Farmers

Montana Biodiesel Production Workshops Scheduled

NCAT Participates in Kellogg Foundation Workshops

New Resources Launch Irrigation Season

NCAT Launches Sustainable Agriculture E-newsletter in Spanish

NCAT Steps Up Farm Energy Activities

NCAT Opens New Iowa Office

NCAT Mourns Passing of Former Board Chair

NCAT Releases New State Irrigator's Pocket Guides

NCAT Staff Members Give to Their Communities

(12/27/06) During this holiday season of giving, NCAT staff members are actively involved in giving to their communities. In the Fayetteville, Arkansas, office, NCAT employees collected donations for the Seven Hills Homeless Shelter, as well as the Fayetteville and Springdale Animal Shelters. In Butte, Montana, NCAT employees have participated for many years in donating to the Mining City Christmas program. And the spirit of giving at NCAT extends throughout the year, as Montana employees participate in workplace giving programs for United Way and for Montana Shares, and numerous employees gave donations to support NCAT itself.

Many individual staff members based in all NCAT offices also give of their own time, as volunteers for numerous worthwhile causes. These include organizations related to NCAT's mission and employee professional development, as well as a wide variety of community service organizations.

Several NCAT staff members serve on Boards of Directors for nonprofit organizations that include The Clark Fork River Technical Assistance Committee, National Wildlife Federation, Montana Conservation Voters Education Fund, Montana Policy Institute, EdTech Credit Union, The George Grant Chapter of Trout Unlimited, Big Hole River Foundation, Independent Organic Inspectors Association, Western Sustainable Agriculture Working Group, Butte Family YMCA, and Montana Organic Association.

Some staff members also donate their time to other groups with missions related to sustainable agriculture and energy, such as the Montana Renewable Energy Association, Montana Native Plant Society, Arkansas Farm Community Alliance, Fayetteville Farmers Market, America in Bloom, Community Alliance with Family Farmers, Ecological Farming Association, Occidental Arts & Ecology Center, and the California Native Plant Society. One staff member helped aid a Louisiana dairy farmer with hurricane recovery.

NCAT employees also volunteer for service organizations in their respective communities, such as Highlands Hospice in Butte, LifeSource International in Fayetteville, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Butte, American Red Cross in Butte, Champs League, the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, the Muscular Distrophy Association, and Seven Hills Homeless Shelter in Fayetteville. Individual staff members also devote time to youth and recreation activities in their respective communities, such as Butte High School Speech and Debate, Butte Central Speech Meet, Butte Soccer Club, Mile High Nordic Ski Club, FFA, 4-H, and Band Boosters.

Some NCAT staff members volunteer on behalf of the environment or their communities in general, for groups including Big Butte Task Force, Arkansas Public Policy Panel, KUAF Public Radio Station, Town Mountain South Neighborhood Association, Fayetteville Council of Neighborhoods, Friends of Animals, Montana Women Vote, Atria Senior Centers, Community Library Project, Peace Action, Plenty, and Cache Creek Conservancy, and by giving blood. Many staff members also volunteer time and effort for the churches they choose to attend.

NCAT takes this opportunity to salute its employees who volunteer to make their communities and their world a better place!

Targeted Grazing Handbook Released

(12/16/06) A new handbook that focuses on using sheep and goats to manage vegetation and enhance landscapes was recently completed by a group of authors including NCAT staff. Targeted Grazing: A natural approach to vegetation management and landscape enhancement covers topics such as using targeted grazing to control invasive species of weeds and using sheep and goats to create fire breaks. It also includes grazing prescriptions that can be used to target specific plant species and examples of how sheep and goats are being used to manage vegetation. This handbook provides land and animal managers the tools they need to:

• Use animal behavior to improve targeted grazing;
• Keep livestock healthy for optimal vegetation control;
• Understand how plant respond to grazing;
• Monitor vegetation to achieve grazing goals; and
• Graze multiple animal species to improve landscapes.

Production of this handbook was a collaborative effort by researchers, educators, and producers from across the United States. NCAT Specialists Linda Coffey and Margo Hale contributed to the Targeted Grazing Handbook. Coffey and Hale completed a section that includes sources for further information about targeted grazing. Coffey also contributed to the chapter on multi-species grazing.

The Targeted Grazing Handbook will soon be available for download from the ATTRA website (www.attra.ncat.org). The Handbook, along with additional information can also be found online at: www.cnr.uidaho.edu/rx-grazing/index.htm. This publication is free to download, but it will also be available for purchase from the American Sheep Industry Association (ASI) (www.sheepusa.org). A print copy of the Handbook along with a CD copy will be $25 per set from ASI.

For more information about the Targeted Grazing Handbook or for further information about using sheep and goats to manage vegetation you can contact NCAT specialists Linda Coffey or Margo Hale at 800-346-9140.

NCAT Wins Award for Reducing Waste

(12/04/06) To celebrate National Pollution Prevention Week earlier this fall, Montana Governor Brian Schweitzer honored NCAT with an EcoStar Award. The citation recognizes groups that minimize waste, maximize efficiency, and create a safer work environment.

NCAT staff in Butte, Montana, have taken many steps to conserve energy and resources. For example, they installed photovoltaic panels on the roof of the organization's headquarters. The system supplies 15 to 18 percent of the building's electricity.

Employees also refitted a greenhouse on the property to make it suitable for growing crops in all seasons. In the kitchen, they no longer use paper plates or cups, but only washable dishes and mugs. When repainting building walls, the staff only apply paints that are free of volatile organic compounds. Whenever possible, the organization buys supplies from local vendors.

NCAT operates an ambitious recycling program that begins with recycling paper, bottles, and cans. The company uses 100 percent recycled paper for its stationery and 30 percent recycled paper for its copying and printing.

In August, NCAT presented a SustainabilityFEST in Butte. Speakers and activities demonstrated various ways to cut energy costs and support local businesses. As part of the celebration, NCAT staff organized the town's first computer and electronic recycling event, with Staples and the Montana Department of Environmental Quality as partners. Amazingly, the citizens of Butte brought in more than nine tons of old computers and equipment. This was enough to fill three large trucks, and earn two Butte public schools $2,080 each from Staples.

Since 1999 Montana State University Extension's Pollution Prevention Program has presented EcoStars to Montanans who conserve the state's water, energy, and air. Awardees must surpass state and federal requirements to reduce solid and hazardous waste.

Mike Vogel, director of the program, said the EcoStar Award "gives us an opportunity to recognize Montanans who are working to preserve and protect our environmental resources." The program helps the state's small businesses and local governments increase productivity, while safeguarding air, water, land, and other natural resources.

Pollution Prevention Program staff provide no-cost, non-regulatory technical assistance to help businesses and government reduce, reuse, and recycle resources in all areas of their operations. The program focuses on finding ways to conserve energy and water, and reduce the use of toxic chemicals.

NCAT Collaborates with Southern Consortium for Small Ruminant Parasite Control

(11/27/06) NCAT Specialist Linda Coffey recently became a member of the Southern Consortium for Small Ruminant Parasite Control (www.scsrpc.org). The Southern Consortium for Small Ruminant Parasite Control (SCSRPC) was formed in response to the critical state of the small ruminant industry associated with the emergence of anthelmintic resistant worms. SCSRPC is a group of scientists, veterinarians, and extension agents devoted to (1) developing novel methods for sustainable control of gastrointestinal nematodes in small ruminants and (2) educating the stakeholders in the small ruminant industry on the most up to date methods and recommendations for control of gastrointestinal nematodes. Members of SCSRPC meet regularly and are in close communication, continuously updating recommendations for parasite control.

The SCSRPC has partnered with NCAT to develop publications and training materials. NCAT Specialists Coffey and Margo Hale are working closely with the SCSPRC to develop producer-friendly publications that discuss new methods of managing internal parasites in sheep and goats. Special emphasis will be placed on organic control methods. They will also be working to develop training materials to train producers and other educators about parasite control. Holly Born, NCAT Specialist, will also be working with the SCSRPC to provide economic analysis of new parasite control methods. This work is part of the ongoing research and projects by the SCSRPC and its members.

For the latest information and research regarding parasite control in sheep and goats visit the Consortium's web site at www.scsrpc.org and the related ATTRA publication Managing Internal Parasites in Sheep and Goats at: www.attra.org/attra-pub/summaries/parasitesheep.html.

NCAT Staff Member Presents at Terra Madre Conference

(11/16/06) NCAT Program Specialist Anne Fanatico attended the 2006 Terra Madre food summit in Turin, Italy, at the end of October. The worldwide event gathered thousands of the world's small-scale food producers to showcase their wares and discuss challenges faced by small local producers in a global marketplace.

This was the second Terra Madre summit. The first, held in Italy in 2004, was attended by NCAT Program Manager Teresa Maurer. The 2006 event drew more than 5000 delegates from around the world, including representatives from 1500 food communities, 1000 chefs, and 400 university researchers and educators. Terra Madre was held in conjunction with the Salone del Gusto, a huge international tradeshow of food vendors from around the world.

Terra Madre 2006 focused on strengthening the network of food communities, cooks and universities, on agro-ecology, and on market access for small-scale producers. The opening session of the summit on October 26 featured presentations by Slow Food President Carlo Petrini, Alice Waters, Michael Pollan, and Italian President Giorgio Napolitano, among other influential political leaders, scientists and experts. The middle portion of the event was devoted a variety of workshops and seminars designed to help food communities promote their wares and improve the quality of their products. Fanatico gave a presentation on Alternative Poultry Production during one of the workshop sessions.

The Slow Foods movement, sponsor of Terra Madre, is planning a Slow Food Nation meeting in May 2008 in San Francisco. The event hopes to attract 50,000 people and showcase American regional food. For more information, visit Slow Food USA at: www.slowfoodusa.org

Montana's Public Institutions a Growing Market for Locally Grown Food

(11/07/06) Food services at Montana's public institutions-which spend nearly $33 million annually on food purchases-have a genuine and growing interest in buying more from the state's food producers and processors, according to two major studies released recently at the annual convention of the Montana Farmers Union.

A statewide coalition, Grow Montana, of which NCAT is a founding member, announced the study results, which document real and potential benefits of Montana's universities and colleges, K-12 schools, state prisons and public hospitals as markets for local food producers. However, the full potential of these markets can be met only through policy changes and public-private partnerships that develop processing capacity.

The Grow Montana project, led by NCAT Program Specialist Nancy Matheson, partnered with independent researchers to carry out the two studies:

• Unlocking the Food Buying Potential of Montana's Public Institutions: Towards a Montana-Based Food Economy, describes the quantities and types of local food purchased by each segment of Montana's public institutions. The study further identifies market opportunities for food produced in Montana. The research assesses Montana agriculture's current and potential capacity to process and distribute food products to the state's public institutional markets.
• The second study is entitled, Tracing the Chain: An In-Depth Look at the University of Montana's Farm to College Program. UM's Farm to College program, created in the spring of 2003, supports the purchase of local and regional foods for use in campus dining halls and retail outlets. The research team looked at the social, economic, and transportation-related benefits and challenges of the program.

"The research found that the state's universities and colleges offer the greatest short-term opportunities for local growers and processors seeking to enter Montana's public institutional market," reports Nancy Matheson, manager of the Grow Montana project. In the longer-term, K-12 schools offer strong potential because they spend more on food than any other public institution segment in the state. "Providing school children with healthy, fresh local food also helps Montana address real concerns about obesity and diabetes," Matheson added.

The University of Montana spent about 13 percent of its annual food budget on local and regional foods in 2005. "Our surveys show that students who eat in the dining halls really appreciate the program," explained Neva Hassanein, manager of the UM study. Yet building on these early successes requires Montana to bridge the gap between the state's raw agricultural commodities and the processed ingredients institutions prefer, explained Hassanein.

"Montana no longer has the vibrant food processing sector we once did," Hassanein said. "In 2004, less than 10 percent of Montana's agricultural exports were in a processed or value-added form. Our neighbors, South Dakota and Idaho, produce eight to nine times more value-added products for export than Montana does."

According to the studies, institutions are using more processed food products, such as frozen hamburger patties, rather than whole carcasses. More value-added processing in Montana could greatly expand the local food market potential to institutions. At the same time, the studies found local processing would create new jobs, while reducing the energy costs associated with shipping. Hassanein added, "Support for local food processing would be a real energy policy."

According to Matheson, Montanans will see policy proposals that boost value-added food processing capacity placed before the 2007 Legislature. Grow Montana will advocate amending Montana's procurement laws to offer public institutions more flexibility to purchase Montana-produced, high quality food. "Current law prohibits using place-of-origin as a bid specification-least-cost is what counts," Matheson explained.

Grow Montana is a coalition of groups working to create the means for more of Montana's food and farm products to be used closer to home, to retain more of the value that's added to the state's agricultural products in Montana communities, and to improve all our citizens' access to healthy, nutritious food. The Grow Montana report Unlocking the Food Buying Potential of Montana's Public Institutions: Towards a Montana-based Food Economy is available online in PDF by going to the Web site: www.growmontana.ncat.org.

Founding partners of Grow Montana, are NCAT, the Alternative Energy Resources Organization (AERO), Artemis Common Ground, Lake County Community Development Corporation, the UM Environmental Studies Program, and Stranie Ventures.

NCAT Announces Biodiesel/Oilseed Innovation Grants for Montana Farmers

(10/31/06) Montana farmers interested in learning more about how to produce and use biodiesel or how to raise oilseed crops now have a new tool. Applications are now being accepted for Innovation Grants from the Oilseeds for Fuel, Feed and the Future Project. Maximum grant size is $3,000, and the deadline for applications is January 19, 2007. Applications for this small grants program are available online or by calling 800-275-6228.

The purpose of the grants program is to increase knowledge in three areas:

• Oilseed crops that can be used for a range of products (such as lubricants, culinary oils or biodiesel)
• On-farm production and/or personal use of biodiesel and its co-products
• Markets and buyers' expectations for oilseed crops

"The grants can be used for a wide range of learning, testing or development activities," said Al Kurki, Project Coordinator, from the National Center for Appropriate Technology (NCAT). "This could range from performance testing biodiesel to feeding oilseed cake to livestock."

The Oilseeds for the Future Project aims to reduce the risk and create new opportunities for Montana farmers that want to participate in, and benefit from, an emerging bio-based economy. The project combines educational opportunities (workshops, farm tours) with incentive grants and farmer feedback to advance knowledge and action.

Project partners at this point are the Montana Farmers Union, Montana Grain Growers Association, the Montana Department of Agriculture, the Alternative Energy Resources Organization, the Department of Environmental Quality's Air, Energy and Pollution Prevention Bureau and NCAT. Project funding is provided by the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) Conservation Innovations Grants program (CIG), Stranie Ventures, the Bullitt Foundation, and other sources of cash and in-kind support provided by the Project partners.

NCAT Helping Farmers and Ranchers Manage Energy Risks

(10/25/06) NCAT has received funding for two new projects that will help farmers and ranchers cope with high energy costs, incorporate renewable energy into their operations, and explore their energy alternatives. Both projects are funded through a cooperative agreement with the USDA Risk Management Agency.

A one-year project called "Managing Farm Energy Risks" will conduct a variety of educational efforts for agricultural producers in Massachusetts, North Carolina, and other eastern states. NCAT will create new energy-related publications, put on a series of energy management workshops, and work closely with two groups that have been longtime friends of NCAT and champions of sustainable agriculture: the New England Small Farm Institute (Belchertown, Maryland) and the Center for Environmental Farming Systems (Goldsboro, North Carolina). An important goal of the project is to build the technical capacity of these organizations to conduct on-site demonstrations, workshops, and other educational efforts related to renewable energy and energy efficiency.

A third key partner, Piedmont Biofuels (Pittsboro, North Carolina), is a national leader in educating farmers and the public about biodiesel. Piedmont will conduct biodiesel workshops and demonstrations throughout North Carolina and other states, and will collaborate with NCAT on a new publication on biofuel quality as well as a curriculum on biofuels for agricultural producers. NCAT engineering staff will develop feasibility studies for all three partner organizations, including recommendations for energy efficiency and renewable energy projects.

A second project, "Building Farm Energy Self-Sufficiency," will assist U.S. agricultural producers in becoming more energy self-sufficient and resilient. By reducing energy use, forming alternative energy supply strategies, and developing their own energy on-site, farmers and ranchers can protect themselves from losses due to high energy costs and energy supply disruptions. The USDA Risk Management Agency funded this two-year project in the category of "encouraging self-protection for production agricultural enterprises vulnerable to losses due to terrorism."

The U.S. food system is highly dependent on fossil-based fuel and electricity distributed from centralized generation facilities, and vulnerable to disruption. High and unpredictable energy costs are already taking a toll on agricultural producers, and energy supply disruptions could have severe consequences for food availability.

For these projects NCAT will create:

• A new state-by-state database, offering current technical and financial resources on wind and solar energy, anaerobic digesters, biodiesel, ethanol, and other topics.
• A new Micro-Irrigator’s Pocket Guide, helping producers take advantage of this highly energy- and water-efficient irrigation method.
• New publications on reducing farm energy consumption, and developing locally owned and renewable sources of electricity and fuel.
• An in-depth study of farm energy audits, with recommendations for making these more available to agricultural producers.
• An in-depth study of on-line farm energy calculators, with recommendations for making these more user-friendly.

NCAT Participates in Natural State Expo

(10/18/06) NCAT recently participated in The Natural State Expo (www.naturalstateexpo.org), a one-day exhibition for green technology, sustainable businesses, community resources and innovation in Arkansas. NCAT Program Manager Teresa Maurer spoke at the event in Little Rock and also talked individually to many people who stopped by to visit the NCAT booth at the Expo.

Maurer was a member of a panel that discussed "Building Sustainable Food Systems." Maurer was able to give examples of NCAT projects that focus on local and sustainable food systems, such as "All Ozark Meals." She used examples from NCAT's "Grow Montana" project to show how a diverse coalition from another state is working on food and farming issues. Maurer also highlighted 6 current Arkansas efforts, including the new statewide farmers market association, and producers who are working together to provide consumers with Arkansas-raised dairy and meat products. Maurer and other panelists were able to explain how consumers can support local food and local farmers, offering these 4 tips:

• Buy a share in a farmer's harvest (often called a CSA-Community Supported Agriculture).
• Meet your local farmers when you shop at Farmers Markets.
• Visit farm stands and U-Pick farms.
• When shopping, keep your eye on the label—look for products grown and processed in your state.

The Expo was organized by the Arkansas Sustainability Network, a new non-profit organization, formed by students and alumni of the University of Arkansas at Little Rock, whose mission is to empower Arkansas to develop sustainable communities. The Expo featured presentations on water, energy, and food. There were also 72 exhibitors, representing environmental, energy, housing, and farm organizations. Over 600 people attended the Expo.

NCAT supports the efforts of this new group and looks forward to possible future collaboration. For more information on the Arkansas Sustainability Network visit their web site at www.arnetwork.org.

Sustainable Agriculture Coalition Releases Farm Bill Platform

(10/11/06) The Sustainable Agriculture Coalition, of which NCAT is a member, today released its comprehensive reform agenda for the upcoming 2007 Farm Bill. "This nationwide coalition representing farm, conservation and rural interests has issued its report,
No Time for Delay, which embraces new reforms, policies and programs that promote economic opportunity, environmental stewardship and rural prosperity" said Kathy Hadley, Executive Director of NCAT.

In No Time for Delay, the Sustainable Agriculture Coalition urges the federal government to adopt a series of key policies that are urgently needed to help new farmers enter agriculture, promote profitable family farms, enhance the environment, and build healthy, diversified rural community economies.

Among these policy recommendations, several critical issues include:

• Build Regional and Local Food Systems--Support expansion of the Farmers Market Promotion Program, eliminate the federal prohibition on interstate sales of meat and poultry products from state-inspected plants, improve and expand community-based healthy food and nutrition programs and initiatives including the Farmers Market Nutrition Programs, Farm to Cafeteria Program, and Community Food Projects Program.

• Support New and Beginning Farmers and Ranchers--Reauthorize and fully fund the Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program and create a new Individual Development Account pilot program for new farmers. Continue and strengthen the Beginning Farmer and Rancher Down Payment Loan Program and other loan fund preferences and incentives for beginning farmers and ranchers.

• New Farm Energy Programs--Bio-energy and bio-refinery programs authorized in the Farm Bill should include a major focus on local ownership to bring energy goals in line with family farm and rural community development objectives, creating win-win situations. Cost share, incentive, and subsidized loan programs should be targeted to facilities that are at least 51% farmer-owned as well as to facilities that utilize feedstock from perennial biomass crops meeting sustainable crop production principles and criteria. In order to determine the ecological and economic feasibility of producing energy from a new array of feedstock crops it will be advantageous to have a focused Sustainable Agricultural Energy Innovation Grants Program. This program should be nationwide and focus on various crop systems, with a priority for diverse systems based on perennial plants

• Support Organic Agriculture--Increase funding to $25 million for the National Organic Certification Cost-Share Program, and create a new National Organic Transition Support Program designed to provide technical and financial assistance for the adoption of organic farming-based conservation practices and systems.

• Support Stewardship of the Land--Retain, streamline and fully fund the Conservation Security Program (CSP) as the primary agriculture stewardship incentive program, available to producers nationwide. Reform the Environmental Quality Incentive Program (EQIP) by seeking reasonable payment limitation of not greater than $150,000 in any 5-year period. Direct attribution of payments to real persons should be continued. This will make greater resources available for this highly demanded conservation program.

• Build Equitable Rural Economies--Reauthorize the Value-Added Producers Grant with mandatory funding of $50 million annually, prioritize projects that strengthen the profitability of small- and medium-sized farms and ranches, and add a new component of the VAPG program to support grants for the development of new value chain with clear and transparent social, environmental, fair labor and fair trade standards. Provide $25 million annually in mandatory funding for the Outreach and Assistance for Socially Disadvantaged Farmers and Ranchers Competitive Grants Program.

The timing of the report coincides with an anticipated election-season break in the debate on the 2007 Farm Bill. That debate is anticipated to accelerate early next year when the new congressional session begins. Both chambers of Congress have already held a series of hearings on the direction of the next farm bill.

The Executive Summary and a Synopsis of Key Recommendations plus the full text of No Time for Delay: A Sustainable Agriculture Agenda for the 2007 Farm Bill are posted at www.msawg.org

NCAT Co-Sponsors Successful Montana Climate Change Conference

(10/04/06) A broad coalition of interests drafted a roadmap to pursue global warming solutions for Montana at "The Climate Challenge: Strategies for Montana's Future," held over the weekend of September 22-24 in the capital, Helena. NCAT co-chaired the conference with the National Wildlife Federation Northern Rockies Natural Resource Center in Missoula. Together, more than 41 corporations, industry trade associations, conservation and labor organizations, science organizations, agricultural organizations, government agencies and universities co-sponsored the conference.

"With global warming happening all around us, Montanans are charting a new course that focuses on resources we have available to solve these problems," said Tom France, of the National Wildlife Federation.

"This conference makes clear that Montanans believe we have a moral responsibility to address global warming, to protect our children's future," said Kathy Hadley, NCAT Executive Director. "In drafting these strategies to address global warming, Montanans are leading - now, our lawmakers need to follow through."

Conference sponsors will now provide Governor Brian Schweitzer and state lawmakers with their roadmap of global warming solutions, to move them forward. The Montana Climate Challenge Conference resolutions provide actionable strategies to address urgent global warming problems specific to agriculture, energy, forestry, recreation/tourism/lifestyles, and fish and wildlife. The conference resolutions include:

• Making Montana the “cleanest and greenest” state in the nation
• Reducing carbon emissions through a market-based system based on a carbon cap and/or carbon sequestration
• Increasing renewable energy consistent with standards set forth by the ‘25X’25 goal,’ to get 25 percent of our energy from renewable sources like wind, solar, and biofuels by the year 2025 (www.25x25.org)
• Labeling energy sources to explain where the power comes from
• Tax credits and energy bonds to encourage biomass heating systems
• Governor Schweitzer elevating his efforts to continue building a robust statewide media campaign that increases public awareness, and educates Montanans about global warming impacts and solutions
• Developing economic incentives to keep agricultural producers on the land
• Preserving fish and wildlife habitat through more efficient water usage and new funding sources
• Creating and funding permanent “Office of Carbon Reduction” government position(s) at the state or local level
• Providing annual state and local report cards on global warming impacts and initiatives
• Including science-based global warming curriculum in public education

The complete set of conference resolutions, and an opportunity to offer input in a discussion forum, as well as the Powerpoint presentations from the event, are available at the website: www.mtclimatechallenge.org

Increasing Renewable Energy Production

(9/28/06) How soon could America's farms, ranches, and forests produce 25 percent of the nation's energy requirements? The leaders of the "25 by '25" Alliance are betting that U.S. renewable energy sources can meet that goal by 2025. They are finding widespread support for their bold strategy.

In the face of rising energy costs, 25x'25 is working to bring a new generation of clean energy to the nation. The coalition — which includes a remarkably broad range of industry and environmental leaders — wants to set a national priority to develop renewable energy from the country's working lands.

The group's vision is to supply a sizable amount of America's energy needs from the country's abundant renewable resources, including wind, solar, biogas, and biomass (agricultural and forestry residues and energy crops).

There are many advantages to increasing the nation's reliance on these sources. Because renewable energy tends to be made from local resources, the industries create local jobs and produce a steady supply of energy at stable prices. Using renewable energy reduces the pollution that contributes to global warming.

Currently the U.S. imports more than half of the petroleum it uses. Given the uncertainty of world politics, it makes sense to replace foreign oil with renewable, locally produced energy. Greater energy independence will be a win-win situation: good for the local communities that produce renewable energy and good for the country as a whole.

An important component of the 25x'25 vision is to increase the energy efficiency of homes, businesses, and communities across the nation. Investing in efficiency improvements will save a tremendous amount of energy and money in the long run. As America reduces its energy consumption, it will reduce its reliance on foreign energy imports.

An extremely diverse group of organizations endorses the 25x'25 Alliance - ranging from NCAT to the Ford Motor Company, General Motors, and DaimlerChrysler, to the American Farm Bureau Federation and the National Farmers Union, to the National Wildlife Federation and the Natural Resources Defense Council. Many universities and a long list of state and local governments have also signed on. In June a bipartisan group of Senators and Representatives introduced congressional resolutions supporting the goals of 25x'25.

The Alliance is looking to increase the number of its partners. If you or your organization are interested in endorsing the 25x'25 vision for a secure, prosperous, and clean America, please visit the website, www.25x25.org.

NCAT Continues Efforts in Hurricane-Affected Gulf South

(9/19/06) NCAT staff member Nana Mejia has been working in the Gulf region to help farmers and producers recover from last year's hurricanes. NCAT's Mejia and Dr. John Braswell of Mississippi State University have been working on Growing Farmers-Small Farm Initiative, a project to help producers in the Deep South. The W.K. Kellogg Foundation (www.wkkf.org) is funding the project, which focuses on helping fruit and vegetable producers and local food systems.

The project includes a series of workshops for producers. Two of three workshops have already occurred, with 30 participants, including both producers and managers of farmer's markets. The focus of these workshops is fruit and vegetable production and marketing in the Deep South. NCAT, Mississippi State, and the Kellogg Foundation have been working to strengthen the local food systems of hurricane ravaged areas.

Two new farmer's markets have recently started in Ocean Springs and Moss Point, Mississippi. The Growing Farmers project is working closely with these markets to help get them established. These are both producer-only markets. They both need vendors, as the demand for local food is greater than what the markets can offer currently. The Growing Farmers workshops are helping producers diversify and get started in market gardening.

At the workshops, NCAT specialist Steve Diver conducted workshop sessions on fruit and vegetable production, including topics such as soils, fertility, crop scheduling, and vegetable planting systems for market sales. NCAT specialist Holly Born conducted sessions on marketing and value-added products.

NCAT's work is helping producers diversify and find new ventures after the devastation of the hurricanes. They are also working to encourage new farmer's markets, so that the producers will have a market for their products. This work helps to strengthen local food systems and the economic status of the producers in the Deep South.

For more information on the Growing Farmers project see www.growingfarmers.ncat.org. Additional resources for producers in the hurricane-affected areas can be found at www.attra.ncat.org/hurricane.html.

How Do We Fill'er Up? Answering Questions about Biofuel Production

(9/12/06) As fuel costs skyrocket, farmers and ranchers are eager to learn about producing crops for biodiesel. They've got a long list of questions. Which crops are best for each region? What's the smartest way to produce biodiesel? Does on-farm production pencil out? Will local production make sense?

This summer NCAT was a co-sponsor of three well-attended Montana workshops about producing oilseeds for biodiesel. Participants heard about such crops as canola, flax, and camelina that can be used in rotation with small grains.

Now NCAT and some other co-sponsors of this summer's workshops have received a Conservation Innovation Grant from the Montana Natural Resources Conservation Service. The grant will be used to educate farmers and ranchers about biodiesel and bioenergy crop production. NCAT is the lead organization of the team, which includes the Montana Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ), Montana Farmers Union, Montana Grain Growers Association, the Montana Department of Agriculture, and the Alternative Energy Resources Organization.

The team will present a series of workshops and tours for farmers and ranchers, and will develop publications and technical resources from what is learned. The project will also provide mini-grants for farmers to do on-farm demonstrations, research, and analysis.

The project activities aim to remove infrastructure barriers and solve the technical problems of biodiesel production. The sponsors hope to spur farm- and community-scale biodiesel production and bioenergy crop production in Montana.

Biofuels seem to present a good opportunity for farmers and rural communities. Biodiesel is 100 percent biodegradable and produces fewer hazardous air pollutants than petroleum fuels. Proper biodiesel production generates little waste. Local biodiesel projects can be small and dispersed, without significant environmental effects.

Ranchers need to know how to safely use and produce biofuels. At one recent biodiesel demonstration, a Montanan claimed he could save money by adding used cooking oil and methanol to his fuel tank as described in a "do-it-yourself" magazine. He was not using biodiesel, but an unsafe mix of oil, fuel, and methanol. He probably did not use such a mix very long. According to Howard Haines of Montana DEQ, "Experience in other states includes having fuel tanks explode in warm weather, and fuel hoses and engine gaskets fail due to the methanol" residues in the fuel. Hopefully, this project will help reduce such mishaps by educating producers as to what biodiesel really is and how to produce it safely.

Al Kurki, NCAT program specialist, is the coordinator of this integrated project, which is called Oilseeds for Fuel, Feed and the Future: Montana Farm Basics. For more information on the project, feel free to contact Al at: alk at ncat dot org or 406-449-0104.

NCAT SustainabilityFEST Finds Enthusiastic Reception

(8/31/06) A crowd turned out to celebrate NCAT's 30th anniversary at the SustainabilityFEST August 24 in Butte, Montana. Lectures on renewable energy and conservation were packed with people eager to learn how to use wind and solar power. Hundreds of children swarmed around the kids' activity tables set up on the front lawn of the NCAT headquarters. Children built and used solar ovens, tried out solar cars, created tiles using recycled glass, and had their faces painted by local artists.

NCAT SustainabilityFEST, August 24, 2006

"We were just thrilled at the amount of community participation," said Shelly Davis, an NCAT manager who helped coordinate the event. Many organizations offered displays and demonstrations to promote energy efficiency. Families could compare a dozen fuel-efficient vehicles, including the Solar Bug, an electric car said to operate for a penny a mile. There were several kinds of solar photovoltaic panels, along with interesting applications such as solar stock-watering systems. Recycling machinery was set up to show how glass, for example, is crushed for re-use.

Exhibitors included groups working to restore Montana's rivers, preserve the state's historical treasures, and conserve natural resources. Other participating organizations are educating people about sustainable agriculture, climate change, and community self-reliance. "We got lots of positive feedback from the vendors, who are encouraging us to do this again next summer," said Davis.

Throughout the day, speakers presented workshops on topics ranging from irrigation, composting, and organic gardening, to green building techniques and the relative merits of biomass, methanol, and other alternative energy sources. Nancy Matheson, a Helena farmer and NCAT staff member, presented information on the Grow Montana program, which aims to increase the amount of locally grown food consumed in the state. The Deputy Director of the Montana Department of Agriculture spoke about the state's interest in sustainable agriculture.

A computer recycling event, sponsored by NCAT with Staples and the Montana Department of Environmental Quality, was extremely successful. The public brought in enough old computer equipment to fill four big trucks. Now the equipment will be recycled rather than sent to the landfill, and the accompanying donations of $4,000 will go to Butte schools.

Live music serenaded festival-goers all day long. Blue grass, ballads, and rock and roll musicians entertained on the front lawn, and a troupe of belly dancers performed. Folks were delighted to watch hang gliders from high up on the East Ridge make a safe landing in the field behind the NCAT building, where exhibits were arrayed.

Toward evening, a representative from the Butte mayor's office formally read a proclamation in honor of NCAT:

Whereas the National Center for Appropriate Technology (NCAT) is celebrating its 30th Anniversary;

And whereas NCAT enjoys a national reputation for helping people help themselves using sustainable technologies through hands on demonstrations, technical training, websites, toll-free hotlines, and publications;

And whereas NCAT is headquartered in Butte and is a living wage employer;

And whereas its employees and former employees are actively involved in all aspects of community life in Butte, contributing their professional expertise and experience to local government, schools, charities and organizations;

And whereas NCAT supports the Butte/Silver Bow economy with its philosophy of buying locally;

And whereas NCAT is celebrating its anniversary by holding a public event for Butte and Southwest Montana citizens celebrating sustainability;

And whereas NCAT is promoting computer and electronic recycling with its partners Montana Department of Environmental Quality and the Butte Staples;

Therefore Butte/ Silver Bow declares Thursday, August 24, 2006 as NCAT Sustainability Day and commends them for their fine work.

NCAT appreciates the communities of Southwest Montana and Butte who turned out to support our first SustainabilityFEST. Thank you to all!

NCAT Opens Sustainability Week with Computer Recycling Program

(8/22/06) NCAT kicks off its 30th Anniversary week by co-sponsoring a computer recycling event in its headquarters city of Butte, Montana on August 24th, the day of its celebratory Sustainability Festival.

NCAT is sponsoring the event with the Montana Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) and Staples, Inc. Small businesses and the public can dispose of computers, television sets, and printers, collectively known in the recycling industry as e-waste.

Staples co-sponsors local e-waste recycling events whenever possible. The Butte recycling event takes place at the Staples parking lot. For a $10 per unit donation, a computer work station will be accepted for responsible recycling. Staples offers a $10 in-store coupon for each unit recycled and makes a commensurate donation to local schools.

NCAT is coordinating the event and negotiating disposal of large amounts of e-waste from local businesses. Larger businesses in the area have been in contact with NCAT to coordinate the disposal of entire fleets of obsolete electronic equipment. All e-waste from the day will be recycled within the United States. Montana's DEQ is offering assistance to publicize the event and is working to cosponsor similar e-waste recycling events in other Montana cities.

According to reports put out by the recycling industry, 80 percent of e-waste collected along the West Coast is sent overseas for recycling. Much of this work takes place in Third World settings with low or nonexistent environmental standards.

You know from moving computer monitors and televisions that they are heavy. Each traditional computer monitor and TV screen projects images using a vacuum cathode ray tube, or CRT as they are known in the recycling business. Each CRT can contain six pounds or more of lead as well as smaller quantities of copper and other metals. Unregulated recyclers often simply smash the glass tube to recover the copper, releasing lead and other heavy metals into the general environment.

Currently, Washington state has the most stringent regulations governing the disposal of e-wastes. Manufacturers marketing in the state must accept free-of-charge and shipping an unwanted computer and monitor for each new unit sold. The state also prohibits the use of prison labor to dismantle e-waste in preparation for recycling, a practice popular in several regions. Furthermore, e-waste recycling must be accomplished in an environmentally responsible manner. Several states have similar legislation.

For its part, NCAT wants to encourage the responsible disposal of all forms of e-waste. Early response from area businesses has been enthusiastic. "Almost all of them have a basement or storeroom just full of old equipment," said Mary Anne Skuletich, NCAT's information services administrator. "They're just jumping at the chance to get rid of it."

The NCAT 30th Anniversary SustainabilityFEST will be Thursday, August 24th at the headquarters building, 3040 Continental Drive, in Butte, Montana.

Nation's First 'Food Corps' Helps School Cafeterias Serve Montana-Grown Foods

(8/18/06) Thanks to the Grow Montana project coordinated by NCAT, three colleges and a county-wide school system in Montana are teaming up with a "Food Corps" of Americorps VISTA volunteers, who will help them increase the amount of Montana-grown or processed food they serve in their cafeterias.

Food Corps is the brainchild of Grow Montana, a coalition working to enable Montana to meet more of its own food needs, of which NCAT is a founding member. The Food Corps is a team of four VISTA volunteers with special training in linking local farmers and food processors with public institutional food services. The Food Corps volunteers started work the last week of July at Montana State University-Bozeman, The University of Montana-Western at Dillon, Salish Kootenai College at Pablo on the Flathead Reservation, and Missoula County Public Schools.

These and Montana's other public institutions spend nearly $33 million on food annually. The Food Corps volunteers' job is to help schools and other institutions steer more of their food dollars toward supporting Montana farmers and ranchers and circulating in local communities.

Such farm-to-cafeteria initiatives are cropping up across the nation. The University of Montana-Missoula started one in 2003 and now spends 13 percent of its food budget on local and regional foods. However, Montana's Food Corps is the first such partnership with Americorps VISTA.

According to Lew Hill, Food Service Director at Montana State University-Bozeman, "We have been supporting a number of Montana food producers for many years and we hope that Food Corps will help us broaden our buying capabilities from Montana producers. At MSU we do have an interest in preserving our cultural and agricultural heritage." Hill went on to explain, "Ideally, the larger volume of demand from multiple institutions will provide an opportunity for Montana's farmers and ranchers to meet our specific needs for regular deliveries and competitive pricing to offer our campus customers quality products at affordable prices."

Cheri McCarthy, who heads UM-Western's food service, points out that "Dillon is cattle country. Even some of my kitchen staff are ranchers. It just makes sense for us to serve Montana beef." McCarthy adds, "We hope our Food Corps member will help us find creative solutions to the challenges that we've faced so far, such as a lack of local processing and delivery."

For more information about Food Corps and farm-to-cafeteria programs, contact Crissie McMullan at (406) 531-5162 or visit the Grow Montana website at www.growmontana.ncat.org.

NCAT Staffers Join Congressman Boozman for Farm Constituent Visits

(8/11/06) Recently NCAT staff members Teresa Maurer, Luci Shepherd, and Margo Hale, and NCAT interns Dana Brandon and Darron Starks, spent a day with U.S. Congressman John Boozman and his staff as they visited Northwest Arkansas constituents. NCAT assisted in hosting meetings with area farmers and producers and a meeting with a local small-business lending organization.

The first stop of the day was a meeting with about thirty farmers. Congressman Boozman (3rd District of Arkansas, http://www.boozman.house.gov/) listened to concerns about the National Animal Identification System (NAIS) and rising fuel costs. Congressman Boozman addressed their concerns and asked what he could do to help. The majority of the conversation was focused on NAIS, with Congressman Boozman giving suggestions as to what the producers should do to let their opinions be heard regarding the subject.

A farm tour with Congressman Boozman and NCAT staffers.

The Congressman and his staff then visited the office of FORGE (Financing Ozarks Rural Growth & Economy, www.forgeonline.com). FORGE is a micro-lending organization, providing funds for small businesses and new ventures. They often provide loans to those who have been turned down by conventional banks and lenders. FORGE focuses on economic and community development, especially in rural communities. FORGE staff members were able to let Congressman Boozman know what programs he could support that would help their organization.

The visit with Congressman Boozman concluded with a farm tour at Dripping Springs Garden (http://www.ssawg.org/cain.html). Mark Cain and Michael Crane, owners and operators of Dripping Springs, led a tour of their Certified Organic cut flower and vegetable operation. They market their products at the Fayetteville Farmer's Market (http://www.fayettevillefarmersmarket.org/). Market Manager Jim Luekens joined the tour to discuss ways Congressman Boozman could help support farmer's markets.

Congressman Boozman expressed his gratitude to NCAT for arranging the meetings and farm tour. He was able to visit directly with farmers and those involved in rural community and economic development and learn what he could do to support them. Congressman Boozman has been a great supporter of NCAT and its National Sustainable Agriculture Information Service project (www.attra.ncat.org).

Montana Ag Director to Address SustainabilityFEST

Nancy K. Peterson Photo courtesy of The Montana Department of Agriculture

(8/02/06) Nancy K. Peterson, Director of Montana's Department of Agriculture, will speak at the NCAT SustainabilityFEST, August 24 in Butte. Ms. Peterson will represent Governor Brian Schweitzer, an advocate of clean-energy development in the state.

Director Peterson has a long-standing interest in renewable energy and biofuel production as well as sustainable agriculture. She was born in Havre, Montana, and raised on the family homestead in Hill County. For more than 30 years she has been a farm & ranch owner/operator, producing livestock and diverse crops, including winter wheat, barley, oats, peas, lentils, canola, chick peas, mustard, flax, and safflower.

A strong supporter of family farms, Peterson believes in the importance of efforts to add value to Montana farm products and to sell more Montana-grown food within the state. At last year's Harvesting Clean Energy Conference in Great Falls, she said that promoting Montana-made products is "an economic development opportunity to keep me - a third generation Montana rancher - and my fourth and fifth generations on the ranch."

Peterson wants to connect the state's consumers with the farmers who grow their food, through farmers' markets, local sales, and agritourism. Under her direction, the Department of Agriculture is looking to develop new crops, products, and services. The staff is encouraging entrepreneurs and groups to add value to Montana's commodity crops and to process food for local consumption.

One such enterprise is Grow Montana, a coalition that helps the state meet more of its own food needs. NCAT is one of the founders of the coalition, whose projects include farm-to-college and farm-to-school programs. Through the University of Montana's Farm-to-College program, for example, the dining service has spent $1 million on local food, a significant infusion of cash into local economies.

Before she was appointed to her present position, Peterson worked with the Farm Service Agency and the Natural Resources Conservation Service. She independently operated a private grain laboratory in Havre for two years and also worked with Montana Grain Growers Association, Montana Farmers Union, and Montana Certified Seed Association.

Under Nancy Peterson's direction, the Department of Agriculture is taking steps to promote sustainable farming practices and safeguard the state food supply. The department is playing a big role in planning the Governor's Food and Agriculture Summit, which will be held in March 2007. NCAT and Grow Montana are both sponsors of the summit.

Montana Climate Challenge Conference and Workshop Planned

(7/25/06) NCAT is joining with numerous other sponsors to present The Climate Challenge: Strategies for Montana's Future. This collaborative conference, implementing a progressive, proactive approach, will address the growing global climate challenge. Under the guidance of experts from agriculture, industry, economics and conservation, participants will use information exchange and interactive break-out sessions to produce a working strategy for delivery to the Montana Legislature. The conference and workshop will be held September 22-24 in Helena, Montana.

The effects of climate change are beginning to be felt across Montana, by farmers, homeowners, businesses and local governments. A diverse group of sponsors, including cities, farm and wood products trade organizations, and numerous non-profit organizations, are joining to present this conference to explore how individuals, groups, and the state as a whole can do to mitigate climate change and its impacts. NCAT is pleased to be among these sponsors.

The first session of the conference will present pertinent information concerning Montana's climate challenges, followed by a session presenting solutions to those challenges. Later, breakout groups will discuss the effect of climate change on Montanans. The outcome of the event will be a final report integrating the work of breakout groups. This Montana Climate Challenge Document will be presented to the state's Climate Challenge Advisory Council, as a step in formulating state policy on climate change.

The Climate Challenge website, www.mtclimatechallenge.org, provides details on the agenda for the event, online registration, and information on the speakers, session leaders, and facilitators. NCAT's Executive Director Kathy Hadley will be one of these leaders.

Pecan Growers Learn About Organic Production

(7/18/06) NCAT Program Specialist Steve Diver recently spoke at the Oklahoma Pecan Growers Association's 76th Annual Conference, with over 100 attendees. Diver presented "Strategies for Organic Pecan Production", which accompanied a presentation on the National Organic Program and certification requirements.

Diver was encouraged by the audience's perception of organic practices. His impression was that the pecan growers and university specialists view organic production as a specialized production system geared to a niche market. Diver felt certain that some of the organic practices he introduced to the producers will be adopted. "The main organic farming practices in a pecan orchard deal with soil fertility, weed control, orchard floor management, and pest management. Otherwise, standard orchard equipment and management practices such as pruning, irrigating, mowing, and harvesting are universally applicable," states Diver.

Diver highlighted practices employed by Frank Bibin, a Georgia organic pecan grower, who uses bats to help control moth insects that damage the pecan nut crop. Diver also highlighted research from Oklahoma State University that showed using legume cover crops in pecan orchards can supply adequate nitrogen to the trees. Both of these practices use natural, biological solutions instead of purchased chemical insecticides or fertilizers. Diver also discussed the use of pelletized poultry litter as an easy-to-use organic fertilizer.

Diver addressed soil fertility, weed control, and pest management in organic pecan production. He also provided the producers with references and resources for organic pecan production.

To receive a copy of "Strategies for Organic Pecan Production," Diver's paper from the conference proceedings, contact Steve Diver at 800-346-9140. NCAT has additional information on sustainable pecan production in the ATTRA publication, Sustainable Pecan Production, available at http://attra.ncat.org/attra-pub/pecan.html or by calling 800-346-9140.

New NCAT Project to Aid Deep South Farmers and Communities

(7/11/06) NCAT has received a grant from the W.K. Kellogg Foundation in support of a two-year project designed to aid in developing a regional food sytem in the Gulf States. The project is descriptively titled "Farmers, Farmers' Markets and Agricultural Communities as Part of a New and Recovering Regional Food System for Disaster-affected Deep South Gulf States."

In this project, NCAT will spearhead an initiative designed to help farmers and strengthen markets in Mississippi, Louisiana, and Alabama. The initiative will link efforts to build a new local food system across the region. Key components of the project are capacity building and networking, developing producers as vendors, supporting development of producer-only farmers' markets, diversifying direct market venues, and offering mini-grants for farmers for on-farm disaster recovery and demonstration plots. Consumer education and involvement, and cooperation with local governments in development of farmers' markets are also important parts of the effort. In one specific aspect of the project, NCAT will work closely with Mississippi State Extension to provide a pilot training program for farmers, on season extension techniques, sustainable production and crop diversification.

One goal of the project is that farmers will be better able to manage future weather risks and withstand disasters by diversifying their crops, extending the growing season, scheduling supply and learning marketing methods that can improve profitability. As a result of this project, at least 50 farmers and extensionists will be trained in production and marketing skills, and 25 growers will be actively selling their produce in markets opened or revitalized by the project.

In addition to NCAT and Mississippi State University Extension, the project includes additional partners in the public, private, non-profit and academic sectors. NCAT Program Specialist Nana Mejia, who is currently on a six-month assignment to the Gulf region to work on sustainable agriculture in disaster recovery, will lead the new project. The project is scheduled to begin in mid-2006 and continue into 2008. NCAT will be establishing a Deep South field office for this project and others to be developed in the region.

Leadership Summit for Sustainable Development Focuses on Climate Change

(7/06/06) Kathy Hadley, NCAT's Executive Director, was recently asked to attend the Leadership Summit for Sustainable Development, a major conference to address a nation-wide approach to sustainability.

The meeting, held at the historic Frank Lloyd Wright-designed Wingspread Conference Center in Racine, Wisconsin, was the first of four scheduled summits. The theme was Energy and Global Climate Change. The summits are co-sponsored by NCAT, the Johnson Foundation, and the Global Energy Center, among others.

According to Hadley, specialists now think that recent forecasts about Global Warming are in error. "We may have even less time than predicted" to address causes of climate change, she said. Hadley noted that the keynote speaker Rosina Bierbaum, dean and professor at the University of Michigan's School of Natural Resources and Environment, cautioned that we leave the next generation "an irreversible problem" if effective action fails over the next twelve years — the revised timeline.

The consensus among most of the summit attendees, according to Hadley, is that the issue of global climate change must take full priority in public policy debates. So strong is the sentiment that the next two summits — Natural Resources and Environment and Sustainable Communities — will be presented in a context that addresses causes of climate change. The fourth and final summit is planned as a forum to draft a five-year action plan, but the overriding theme will almost certainly include climate change, Hadley said.

The summits are envisioned to address the fragmented and uncoordinated nature of the many sustainability movements currently at work in the United States. The last comprehensive national dialogue on sustainable development was the President's Council on Sustainable Development, held from 1993 to 1999. These proceedings produced 140 recommendations for action. The Wingspread summits are designed to revisit and update that work. The next summit meeting, the Natural Resources and Environment segment, is scheduled for the first week of December, 2006.

Liberian Immigrant Farmers Learn about Organic Farming at NCAT Workshops

(6/27/06) Over the last two years, NCAT staff in California have held a dozen workshops to train nearly 270 farmworkers and farmers about organic agriculture and record keeping. Most of these events have been in Spanish for Latino farmers and farmworkers. However, the workshop May 25 and 26 was for a group of recent Liberian immigrants who farmed in their home country. Displaced by the Liberian civil war, the families spent many years as refugees in the Ivory Coast. They are interested in leasing or buying a small farm and raising crops, chickens, and goats organically.

Liberian immigrant farmers tour a California organic farm to learn how crops are grown and marketed.

As they pursue their plans, the Liberians are slowly learning about all the paperwork required in this country. Most of them speak English pretty well, but the language of farmers' market registration, cash-flow budgets, and organic certification in this land of rules and regulations is outside of their usual vocabulary!

NCAT Agriculture Specialist Ann Baier, right, describes the organic certification process to Liberian immigrant farmers attending a May workshop in Davis, California.

In collaboration with California FarmLink, NCAT staff spent the first day of the workshop reviewing and fine-tuning the Liberians' business plan. They discussed organic production and certification as well as how to use contracts, lease land, and keep records. The farmers developed a series of actions - mostly research and information gathering - as first steps toward their goals.

Dru Rivers of Full Belly Farm in Guinda, California, shows Liberian immigrant farmers how she dries garlic for sale.

The second day of the workshop was spent visiting farms in the beautiful Capay Valley, about 50 miles northwest of Sacramento. One farm was a location where this group might lease some land. They also toured Full Belly Farm, which grows more than 80 crops. Farm partner Dru Rivers was kind enough to spend half a day with the Liberians, showing them the operation and answering detailed production and marketing questions.

This series of workshops uses the growing interest in organic farming to attract participants. The meetings focus on the need for good recordkeeping as a requirement of organic certification and also as a way to improve the farm business. "Selling" recordkeeping as a stand-alone topic to potential participants is a difficult task, but the attraction of learning about organic production provides an excellent segue into the need to keep good records on all aspects of the farm operation. To the participating farmers, organic agriculture represents a risk mitigation strategy because of the generally higher demand and price for organic products.

Most of these workshops have drawn on funding from USDA's CSREES/OASDFR (a short way of saying Cooperative State Research, Education and Extension Service/Outreach and Assistance to Socially Disadvantaged Farmers and Ranchers). The Liberian training was presented in partnership with California FarmLink, a nonprofit organization that finds ways for new and retiring farmers to keep farmland in agriculture.

Extension Specialist Looking to Expand Value-added Processing Program to Other States

(6/19/06) Recently, three NCAT staff members in Arkansas attended a meeting about a potential value-added processing program. NCAT program specialist Linda Coffey, and interns Darron Starks and Dana Brandon, learned more about a Kentucky program that offers a model for small-scale food processing in other states. A collaborative effort between the University of Kentucky Cooperative Extension Service, Kentucky Department of Public Health, Kentucky Department of Agriculture, and Kentucky Farm Bureau created the Kentucky Home-based Processing and Microprocessing Program.

Producers can be certified as either a Home-based Processor or a Home-based Microprocessor, which allows growers to legally process their fruits, vegetables, and nuts in home kitchens for sale on site or at farmers markets. Home-based Processors may produce and sell products such as dried fruits, jams, jellies, breads, and pies, which must contain a fruit, vegetable, or nut grown by the processor. No training is required to sell products as a Home-based Processor. Home-based Microprocessors must go through a certification workshop and pass two tests in order to sell products such as salsa, barbecue sauce, pickled fruits and vegetables, and pressure canned vegetables. They must grow, harvest, and process the product for sale.

This program gives producers an option to add value to their goods without adding the expense of a commercial kitchen to their operation. Those selling products as a microprocessor are subject to an initial inspection of their home kitchen, as well as follow-up inspections every two years. The Home-based Processing and Microprocessing program is a source of economic development, as it helps producers with cash flow issues. Producers can sell preserved and processed products during the times they don't have fresh products to sell. Participants in Kentucky have seen a great benefit; some producers have seen revenues greater than $20,000 from their home-processed goods.

Dr. Sandra Bastin, who heads the program in Kentucky, has been working to spread this program to other states. She emphasizes that the work has been done in Kentucky and other states can use their model. Two Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE) grants (ES97-015, ES04-072) led to the development of this program, with House Bill 391 providing the legal foundation. For more information on this program see www.ca.uky.edu/agc/micro. If you are interested in developing a similar program in your state, contact Dr. Sandra Bastin at sbastin@uky.edu.

NCAT has helped many agricultural producers across the country learn more about value-added processing as a means of improving the economic viability of farms. ATTRA-National Sustainable Agriculture Information Service publications on the topic, produced by NCAT, are available online at: http://attra.ncat.org/marketing.html#valueadded or by calling 800-346-9140.

Summer Interns Gain Experience at NCAT

(6/12/06) Each summer brings student interns to NCAT offices across the country, to gain valuable workplace experience. The interns are paid for their work, and some may also receive college credits. NCAT staff serve as combination supervisors and mentors and provide interns with guidance and advice. "The program works because the students and the staff develop a professional and personal relationship that benefits all," says Operations Manager Marcia Brown. "NCAT staff are invaluable in the success of the intern program."

NCAT actively seeks interns each summer, and has a longstanding relationship with the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff that helps match students with internship opportunities. A special NCAT program has aided some minority interns with housing and living expenses, in order to make it possible for them to work at an NCAT office. This summer NCAT is hosting interns in its Butte, Montana, Fayetteville, Arkansas, and Davis, California, offices.

In Fayetteville two interns are working on sustainable agriculture projects. Darron Starks is a Senior majoring in Agricultural Economics at the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff. Dana Brandon is also majoring in Agricultural Economics at UAPB, and is a sophomore.

In Davis an agriculture internship is currently filled by Camille Kustin, who earned her Master of Science in Natural Resources and Environment at the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor. She is a graduate of the University of California at Davis with a B.S. in Environmental Policy Analysis and Planning. In mid-June, that internship position will be filled by Joy Paloutzian, who will graduate in June with a Bachelor of Arts in Communication with a Minor in Science and Society from the University of California-Davis.

NCAT's Butte headquarters office will have four interns this summer. Tiffany Nitschke began an internship as a web formatter during the spring, and will continue through the summer. She earned her degree in Professional and Technical Communications from Montana Tech in May. Accounting intern Craig Tippett is a senior at Montana Tech of the University of Montana with a major in Accounting and Management. Computer Science intern Charles Hersrud is a sophomore majoring in Computer Science and Software Engineering at Montana Tech and has an associates degree from South Puget Sound in Olympia, Washington. Finally, marketing intern Holly Hill has a degree in Art History from Carleton College in Northfield, Minnesota. She also studied at the Sea Education Association in Woods Hole, MA; at the Accredited Colleges of the Midwest in Italy; studied architecture at Columbia University; and completed a Language Experience Program in Mexico.

NCAT has hosted many undergraduate and graduate interns during past years. Many have extended their original internships, and several have even become NCAT employees. All have gained valuable experience on diverse projects in a workplace environment.

One-Stop Shopping for Farm Energy Savings Tools

(6/7/06) Farmers seeking to reduce energy costs can now get helpful tools and information using farm energy calculators available through the NCAT-sponsored Web site for the National Sustainable Agriculture Information Service (ATTRA).

Farm energy calculators are typically used to assess current energy use and costs while forecasting operation expenditures.The computer-based programs calculate direct and indirect energy expenditures according to a wide variety of crop and livestock production scenarios. For example, one lets farmers forecast nitrogen fertilizer costs. Another calculates diesel fuel tillage costs for conventional and alternative tillage systems. In some cases, farmers can determine and reduce energy consumption by changing equipment or practices.

"NCAT's new farm energy calculator Web page is a work in progress," said Al Kurki, NCAT energy and agriculture specialist. "We intend to add more diverse, useful tools to the website as we test more of them and as more farm energy calculators are developed. Calculator users should keep in mind that not all of these tools are created equal. They are quite variable in terms of who they are intended to serve and how well they serve the user," Kurki added.

"This energy calculator page is only the first of many steps that NCAT intends to take in reducing the fossil fuel energy costs for farmers and ranchers,” NCAT Executive Director Kathy Hadley remarked recently. "NCAT is teaming with partners around the country to create useful and affordable farm energy audits, the most current information on how to produce sustainable bioenergy and ways to shorten the distance food travels from producer to consumer. All our efforts are aimed at creating a sustainable food and energy system that keeps farmers on the land and cuts U.S. dependency on oil."

NCAT's farm energy saving efforts are supported in part by a grant from Farm Aid, as well as through the ATTRA project. Farm Aid awarded NCAT a $5,000 grant in late 2005 to assist farmers and ranchers nationwide to better evaluate and forecast energy requirements in their operations. It was one of 57 grants awarded to farm and rural service organizations last year. Farm Aid supports a variety of programs that help farm families stay on the land and build local markets. Funds also support efforts to increase on-farm renewable energy production.

“Last year’s jump in energy costs hit the agricultural sector particularly hard,” NCAT’s Executive Director Kathy Hadley noted. Most producers “felt the immediate hit” of high diesel fuel costs, she said. But other energy costs in agriculture are less obvious. Most fertilizer production, for example, is highly dependent upon natural gas. That commodity’s recent 37 percent increase will further inflate the cost of nitrogen-based fertilizers for this spring’s planting, she said.

Training the Trainers Who Work with Immigrant Farmers

(5/30/06) Many immigrants in the United States come from rural communities where they had significant farming experience. Building on their knowledge of agriculture, immigrants nationwide are contributing to local economies by starting new farm businesses.

NCAT recently participated in a four-day event for 40 trainers who are working with immigrant farmers in 19 states. The trainers work in several languages — such as Spanish, Hmong, Arabic, and Af Maay/Somali — with farmers from Colombia, Ghana, Guatemala, Iraq, Laos, Mexico, Somalia, and other countries. The training was presented in English, Spanish, and Hmong, with simultaneous interpretation.

At the event, NCAT California staff members Martin Guerena and Ann Baier participated in workshop sessions on adult education, organic and sustainable farming, marketing, financial record keeping, animal husbandry, composting, and other production issues. Participants spent one afternoon touring Triple M Farm's pastured poultry and hog operation. The farm sells meat and eggs on the farm and at the local farmers' market at prices that exceed their production costs by a comfortable margin.

The workshops were part of a series organized by the National Immigrant Farming Initiative (NIFI). A project of Heifer International and several immigrant farming projects, NIFI works to strengthen the capacity of immigrants to farm successfully and advance sustainable farming systems. In keeping with Heifer International's motto to "pass on the gift," workshop participants were asked to share with others what they learned in the sessions.

Immigrant farmers play an increasingly important role in the U.S. farm economy. According to the USDA Census of Agriculture, the number of American farms decreased by 4% from 1997 to 2002. But during that same period, the number of Hispanic farmers increased by 50%. In California's Fresno County, the gross value of “oriental vegetables” — largely grown by Hmong immigrants — more than doubled from $7.3 million in 2002 to $15.7 million in 2004.

The number of Latino farmers in California's Monterey County jumped 70% between 1997 and 2002. That growth has resulted in 264 Latino-operated farms in Monterey County, outpacing a strong 44% growth rate statewide.

The workshops took place in mid-May at the Agriculture and Land-Based Training Association (ALBA) near Salinas, California. ALBA is a public benefit organization working to advance economic viability, social equity and ecological land management among limited-resource and aspiring farmers. The event was supported by the USDA Risk Management Agency.

Montana Biodiesel Production Workshops Scheduled

(5/22/06) This summer NCAT is one of the co-sponsors for a series of three Biodiesel Production Workshops to be held in communities across Montana. The Montana Department of Environmental Quality is partnering with the Montana Department of Agriculture, the Montana Agricultural Experiment Station, the University of Idaho, the USDA National Biodiesel Education Program, MSU College of Agriculture Bio-based Products Institute, The Northern Broadcast Radio Network and NCAT to present these workshops designed for potential growers, biodiesel and bio-product producers, and others who wish to help growers and producers succeed.

The workshops are being conducted to help educate Montanans with an overview of what is needed to raise oilseeds, and the basics for a successful biodiesel or bio-product business. The workshops will help determine what assistance is needed in the future by oilseed producers, agencies, and developers, such as more detailed oilseed producer workshops, or biodiesel producer workshops or financing.

Workshops are scheduled for Whitefish on June 13-14, Havre July 13, and Sidney July 19. At each of the three workshops, regional and nationally recognized experts will present the workshop material in two parts. Part 1 will cover the basic agronomic aspects of oilseeds, oil, and co-products. Part 2 will cover the basic production of a quality biodiesel. Each workshop will present material on all crops and biolubricants, but each will have a special focus on crops applicable to the given area. The Whitefish workshop will cover canola and camelina, the Havre workshop canola and safflower, and the Sidney workshop safflower, sunflower, canola, soy and flax.

Workshop registration is $30, and early registration is encouraged, as space is limited. Registration forms are available from the Montana biomass Energy Program website, at http://www.deq.state.mt.us/Energy/bioenergy/biodieselConf/index.asp.

NCAT Participates in Kellogg Foundation Workshops

(5/15/06) In 2005 NCAT received a two-year grant of $200,000 from the W.K. Kellogg Foundation in support of the Grow Montana project. This project aims to make community-based food systems a centerpiece of Montana's economic development policy. In addition to providing grants of financial support, the W.K. Kellogg Foundation also helps its current non-profit grantees develop their organizational capacity and sustainability. The Foundation does this by conducting workshops for organization leaders, and providing opportunities for grantees to learn and network with others working in the same field. Several NCAT staff members have recently participated in two different events sponsored by the W.K. Kellogg Foundation.

Operations Manager Marcia Brown and Chief Financial Officer Shelly Davis attended a Financial and Organizational Sustainability Workshop held in Charlotte, North Carolina, at the end of April. Participants attended interactive workshops on Finances, Marketing and Branding, and Fundraising. "It was a very dynamic conference and we learned a great deal in the short time we were there," said Marcia Brown. "While the workshops were great and we learned what we do well and in what areas we could improve, the best part of the meeting was the opportunity to meet and learn about so many other non-profit organizations." In addition to providing a stipend to purchase library resources identified at the conference, the Foundation also gave NCAT a $4,000 honorarium to enable the organization to put into practice the concepts learned at the workshop.

NCAT program specialists Nancy Matheson and Jeff Schahczenski attended the W.K. Kellogg Foundation's annual Food and Society Networking Meeting, held this year in Asheville, North Carolina, April 25-27. As Schahczenski notes, "The Kellogg FAS meeting is perhaps one of the most important annual events related to the sustainable agriculture and food system movement in the United States. With almost 500 people attending it is one of the best ways to learn what others are doing and to make face-to-face connections with future partners for collaborative projects." This year's meeting, "Building a Just Food System From the Ground Up," focused on integrating three themes: practice, perception, and policy.

New Resources Launch Irrigation Season

(5/7/06) As the 2006 irrigation season moves into full swing across the country, NCAT is offering several new information resources to help irrigators save energy, money, and water.

Agricultural irrigators are facing not only rising energy costs that make irrigation more expensive, but in many areas declining snowpack or drought conditions that limit available water. NCAT has developed several publications to help irrigators apply water more effectively and more efficiently.

The NCAT Guide to Efficient Irrigation is a take-to-the-field reference designed to help irrigators save energy, water and money by providing information on efficient equipment and water management practices. Working with state and federal agencies and organizations, NCAT has produced 15 customized versions of this guide for use in 13 states. Now NCAT is making the 158-page pocket reference available for sale nationally. The national version includes irrigation guidelines for more than 30 common crops, 14 pages of conversions and formulas, and 44 diagrams and tables. Single copies are available from NCAT for $7 each by calling 800-275-6228. Shipping and handling are included in the price, and volume discounts are available.

NCAT is also making two new publications available through its ATTRA - National Sustainable Agriculture Information Service. Measuring and Conserving Irrigation Water and Soil Moisture Monitoring: Low-Cost Tools and Methods are available for download at the ATTRA website. Agricultural educators and farmers and ranchers in commercial production can receive free hard copies of the publications by calling 800-346-9140. Another new publication, Energy Saving Tips for Irrigators, will be released this summer.

The NCAT publications introduce irrigators to tools and strategies that can help them apply the right amount of water to their fields at the right time. This not only prevents problems of overwatering, such as nutrient leaching, but promotes healthy crops and saves on equipment operating costs.

NCAT Launches Sustainable Agriculture E-newsletter in Spanish

(4/24/06) This spring NCAT introduced a new monthly e-newsletter on sustainable agriculture, as part of its ATTRA - National Sustainable Agriculture Information Service project. Cosecha Mensual is a free e-newsletter designed for Spanish-speaking farmers and the agricultural educators who serve them. The newsletter highlights sustainable agriculture resources and news items in Spanish, similar to the Weekly Harvest e-newsletter that NCAT offers English speakers.

Readers can sign up to have the newsletter e-mailed to them each month by completing a simple online form, at www.attra.ncat.org/espanol/boletin.php.

Since its launch just two months ago, the subscriber base for Cosecha Mensual has more than doubled, indicating its timeliness, as well as steadily growing interest in the topic. Cosecha Mensual joins a family of other Spanish-language resources on sustainable agriculture offered by NCAT. These include publications on organic certification, soil management, crops and livestock, as well as the ATTRA - El Servicio Nacional de Informacion de la Agricultura Sostenible website, which features links to sustainable agriculture publications and other resources in Spanish, worldwide. Through the ATTRA project NCAT also maintains a Spanish-language toll-free help line at 800-411-3222 where farmers, ranchers and agricultural educators can obtain help with their questions on sustainable agriculture. The Spanish-language help line is staffed from 8 am to 5 pm Pacific Time on weekdays.

NCAT Steps Up Farm Energy Activities

(3/29/06) With spring planting getting into full swing, farmers are worrying about high fuel prices driving their operating costs out of sight. An increasing number of them are turning to NCAT for advice on farm energy efficiency and renewable energy.

NCAT has been active in the field of farm energy for several years, producing publications and sponsoring programs that focus on ways to save energy through efficiency and generate energy from renewable sources. Rising fuel prices have directed more attention to NCAT's work, and have inspired some new activities at NCAT related to farm energy.

NCAT offers a number of publications related to farm energy through its ATTRA - National Sustainable Agriculture Information Service project. These address topics from energy efficiency in buildings to anaerobic digestion of animal wastes. A new publication considers the sustainability dimensions of biodiesel production. These publications are available online, listed on the Energy in Agriculture page of the ATTRA - National Sustainable Agriculture Information Service website at http://www.attra.ncat.org/energy.html

Rising petroleum costs don't just affect farmers' costs for field work and transportation. About a third of all energy used in U.S. agriculture goes to commercial fertilizer and pesticide production, so rising energy costs have increased costs for these inputs, as well. Farmers who would like to cut their costs are taking a serious look at sustainable agriculture practices that reduce or eliminate the use of commercial fertilizers and pesticides. NCAT publications and other resources that can help them learn more about these sustainable agriculture practices are also listed on the Energy in Agriculture web page.

In addition, NCAT has developed a series of state-specific publications on irrigation, designed to help farmers save both energy and water. For more information on these publications, as well as NCAT's other farm energy activities, contact Farm Energy project leader Mike Morris, in NCAT's California office, at (530) 792-7338.

NCAT Opens New Iowa Office

(2/13/06) NCAT has expanded its national network by opening a new office in Lewis, Iowa. Other NCAT offices are located in Butte, Montana, Fayetteville, Arkansas, and Davis, California.

"Opening a new office in Iowa was a deliberate choice," said NCAT Executive Director Kathy Hadley. "We hope that by being located in Iowa--the Midwest region--we will get more opportunities to get out on the ground with people and organizations working on sustainable agriculture and energy projects. We want to increase our knowledge of local and regional agricultural practices and energy issues, so that we can provide the very best technical information and services to the people and communities who call on NCAT for help."

The new Iowa office is housed at the Wallace Foundation for Rural Research & Development. The mission of the Wallace Foundation is to achieve for the people of southwest Iowa an increase in the standard of living and quality of life through accelerated agricultural research, education, technology transfer and rural development initiatives. The facility itself is located at the site of the Iowa State University Armstrong Research Farm, which conducts agronomic, horticultural, and livestock research. Close proximity to other organizations working to achieve similar goals helps NCAT quickly establish a visible presence in a new community and begin to collaborate with local groups.

NCAT Program Specialists George Kuepper and Holly Born are in the process of relocating from NCAT's Arkansas office to staff the new Iowa office.

NCAT Mourns Passing of Former Board Chair

(1/27/06) NCAT mourns the death of H. Jack Young, a long-time board member and past chair of the NCAT Board of Directors. Mr. Young served on the NCAT Board from 1984 to 2004, and as Board Chairman from 1990 to 1998. He organized and continued to serve on NCAT's Honorary Advisory Council. He was also a founding director of NCAT's for-profit enterprise, New Horizon Technologies.

"He was a wonderful leader, worked incredibly hard with staff, and I will certainly miss him," said NCAT's Executive Director Kathy Hadley, speaking of Young.

Mr. Young had lived in Washington, D.C., for 25 years. According to an obituary that appeared in The Washington Post, Mr. Young was a longtime leader in the electric utility industry who specialized in partnerships between business, consumer, community and environmental groups. He was a former vice president and 30-year veteran at Edison Electric Institute, the Washington-based national association of investor-owned electric utility and power companies. Mr. Young also served on the boards of other nonprofit organizations. He had served as chairman of the corporate board of advisers to the National Council of La Raza, the largest national Hispanic civil rights and advocacy organization in the United States. Mr. Young had also served on the boards of directors of the national YMCA, the National Energy Foundation, Renew the Earth and the National Institute for Urban Wildlife.

A Memorial Service for Jack Young will be held at the Church of the Pilgrims in DuPont Circle in Washington, D.C., on Friday, February 3, 2006.

NCAT Releases New State Irrigator's Pocket Guides

(1/20/06) This past fall NCAT released six new versions of its popular Irrigator's Pocket Guide, including customized versions of the book for the states of Alabama, Arizona, Idaho and New Mexico. With these new additions a total of 15 versions of the publication have been created by NCAT for use in 13 states. This take-to-the-field guide is designed to help irrigators save energy, water and money by providing information on efficient equipment and water management practices.

Each state version has its own introduction, listing key organizations and resources for irrigators in that state. Some editions are customized with added crops or irrigation methods, or examples particularly relevant in a particular location. The book is being used for irrigation training and workshops in many states.

To date 22,225 copies of the Irrigator's Pocket Guide have been distributed. The USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service helped support development of the guide, and has been the primary customer for the books. Among the other 22 entities that have purchased copies of the guide for distribution in their territories are state agencies, electric cooperatives, and conservation districts.

Numerous states are reporting an enthusiastic response to the resource from their irrigators. In addition, more states have contacted NCAT's farm energy project leader Mike Morris about developing customized versions of the guide. Morris can provide information about both current editions of the guide and the customization process. He can be reached at NCAT's California office, (530) 792-7338 or by e-mail at mikem@ncat.org.

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