NCAT News
California Conference Looks at Transition to Organic Production
AmeriCorps Planning Grant Launches Energy Corps Project
NCAT Found at "Finding Your Foodshed"
Have 'er Audited: Energy Savings Identified in Montana Community
Eco-Farmers Stir Things Up
Farmers’ Market Conference to be Co-Sponsored by NCAT
Harvesting Clean Energy Conference Nears
NCAT Releases New Climate Change Publication
New Spanish-Language Resources about Community Food Security
NCAT Helps Develop Content and Hosts Website for Presidential Climate Action Project
View Earlier NCAT News
California Conference Looks at Transition to Organic Production
Larva and chrysalis of the monarch butterfly on narrow leaf milkweed, which was planted as part of a hedgerow to increase the biodiversity at Fong Farm. Photo by Rex Dufour. |
(3/2/09) NCAT Agriculture Specialist Rex Dufour organized a short course and tour for the California Small Farm Conference, which took place March 1-3 in Sacramento. The daylong course, "Transitioning to Organic Farming," began with discussions of the organic products market, the USDA organic certification process, and the resources available to help farmers transition to organic farming. Dufour explained what the new federal Farm Bill offers for organic farmers. Wendy Rash, of USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service in Yolo County, provided details about how NRCS programs such as the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) can share the cost of transitioning to organic practices.
In the afternoon the class toured three USDA-certified organic farms in Yolo County, west of Sacramento. The group visited Pacific Star Farms, a 38-acre mixed fruit and vegetable operation; Fong Farms, a 500-acre farm that produces processing tomatoes, corn, alfalfa, grains, dry beans, and asparagus; and Dixon Ridge Farms, a 290-acre walnut orchard that also has a certified organic huller/sheller facility.
Hedgerows of native plants that Cliff Fong plants along the margins of his fields provide habitat for native beneficial insects and also reduce the road dust in the field. Photo by Rex Dufour. |
The farmers shared their histories, including why they decided to go organic, and the challenges of transitioning to organic production and maintaining certification. They described their various marketing strategies and the changes they have observed on their lands. Most of those attending the course are considering a change to organic production on their own farms. They appreciated the chance to learn about organic transition from farmers who have been through the process.
Other short courses offered at the Small Farm Conference were Small-Scale Livestock Production and Marketing, Farmers' Market Innovations, Cherry Production and Marketing, Creative Agricultural Enterprises, and Farming In and Around Cities.
In addition to the short courses, the conference provided many workshops addressing the specifics of five general topics: Preserving Resources for this Generation and the Next, Opportunities and Innovations for Farmers' Markets, Production Strategies for Small Farmers, Hot Topics in California Agriculture, and Marketing Techniques for Small Farmers.
NCAT's Rex Dufour is a member of the California Small Farm Conference board of directors, along with representatives from other nonprofit organizations, cooperative extension, USDA agencies, farmers' market groups, and local interested parties. This annual conference has been convened by a similar collaborative effort since 1982. For more information please contact Rex Dufour, 406-533-6650.
AmeriCorps Planning Grant Launches Energy Corps Project
(2/23/09) NCAT recently received a $50,000 grant from the Corporation for National and Community Service to plan for a national partnership with AmeriCorps. The grant will be used to develop a plan for an Energy Corps project that would tackle the energy needs of low-income, senior, minority and other disadvantaged groups by introducing Energy Corps members into communities with demonstrated need in Montana, Iowa, Arkansas and Pennsylvania. In NCAT’s early vision of the project, the AmeriCorps members in the Energy Corps would provide hands-on support and outreach through energy-conservation education and energy efficiency installations. Their efforts in target communities would benefit individuals, families, and businesses struggling with energy costs.
Low-income households often have unaffordable home energy bills and pay a disproportionate amount of household income towards those bills in comparison with higher-income households. Low-income families frequently have to make a choice between paying the utility bill, buying food or paying for medications. Many of these households have senior or disabled members or young children who may be particularly affected by forced cutbacks in the household energy budget.
Coupled with energy affordability problems is the issue of global climate change. Given the financial stresses of low-income groups, climate change will have a greater impact on the livelihoods of the poor. With rising temperatures, human lives—particularly in low-income, senior, and minority communities—are expected to be affected by compromised health, financial burdens, and social and cultural disruptions.
Improving energy efficiency in households at the greatest risk from energy cost and climate burdens—through measures such as weatherization improvements, ENERGY STAR appliance installation, and energy-efficient lighting replacement—results in lower energy bills, as well as reduced greenhouse gas emissions that contribute to climate change.
By forming collaborations with local non-profit organizations, community action agencies, local governments and energy service organizations, the Energy Corps will foster community sustainability by addressing the challenges of rising energy prices and global climate change. The Energy Corps will simultaneously launch AmeriCorps members into green-collar career pathways, providing them with the essential elements for good and secure jobs in the growing clean energy economy.
NCAT is putting its substantial experience in residential energy efficiency, low-income energy issues, energy education, and workforce training to work in developing the Energy Corps program concept. At the conclusion of the year-long planning grant period, NCAT will submit an application for funding to carry out the Energy Corps project.
NCAT Found at "Finding Your Foodshed"
 (2/17/09) The 18th annual Pennsylvania Association for Sustainable Agriculture’s (PASA) Farming for the Future Conference took place February 5-7, 2009 at Penn State University. Over 2,500 people traveled from 39 states to take part in workshops related to this year’s theme, “Finding Your Foodshed.” NCAT was a sponsor of the conference and was represented by Specialists Lee Rinehart and Andy Pressman.
The conference kicked off with full-day pre-conference track workshops. Andy was the moderator for the track titled “Innovative Cover Cropping Systems for Organic Vegetable Production.” This track was very popular and had about 65 participants. The workshop was led by Anne and Eric Nordell, Alex Hitt, and Dr. Ron Morse. Anne and Eric Nordell have been raising organic vegetables, small fruits, and herbs on their horse-powered farm in north central Pennsylvania for 25 years. Growers across the country have adapted their bio-extensive practices as a result of their publications, videos, and popular column in the Small Farmers Journal. Alex Hitt has been farming organically in North Carolina for 27 years. Alex produces cut flowers, small fruits, vegetables, and turkeys on extensive rotations and use of winter and summer cover crops. Dr. Ron Morse is an emeritus professor at Virginia Tech. His major research-outreach focus is reduced-tillage conservation agriculture systems for small-scale vegetable farms.
NCAT’s Lee Rinehart led a workshop on how clear, complete records can help improve farming systems, manage farm businesses more profitably, and help farmers meet the requirements for organic certification. The presentation included an introduction to ready-to-use forms from ATTRA - National Sustainable Agriculture Information Service and approaches to record keeping that make it more effective and less stressful. Practical record keeping ideas were given to make planting and scheduling fieldwork easier, help determine profitability and efficiency on farm, and putting it all together for organic certification.
The keynote address for the conference was delivered by writer, activist, and researcher Raj Patel. Patel has a diverse background that includes working for the World Bank, World Trade Organization, and United Nations. Patel spoke about his thoughts on food, hunger, and globalization. He explained the paradox of why one billion people are overweight yet 850 million are still starving. He has a new book out, titled Stuffed and Starved.
Rinehart and Pressman also had an ATTRA - National Sustainable Agriculture Information Service exhibit that was well visited. Many attendees signed-up to receive ATTRAnews and about 500 publications were distributed. For more information about the PASA Conference contact Lee Rinehart or Andy Pressman.
Have 'er Audited: Energy Savings Identified in Montana Community
(2/9/09) NCAT’s energy team traveled to the northern Montana town of Havre last week to perform energy audits on several facilities.
The pool and physical education building on the MSU-Northern campus uses 14 inefficient 400-watt metal halide lights. |
The team audited all of the buildings in the Havre School District and at the Montana State University – Northern campus; three buildings in Havre’s Catholic school system; a motel; convenience store; and a restaurant and convention facility. The audits focused on lighting, but also covered parts of the building envelopes and HVAC systems.
NCAT engineers Dave Daugherty, Dave Houser, Tom Pelletier, Hal Hubber, Dan Yeoman and Stacie Barry conducted the audits under NCAT’s Business Partners Energy Services Program performance contract with NorthWestern Energy.
The auditing process starts with the energy team visiting each building to determine what existing fixtures are in place, building usage, operating hours, light levels and total fixture wattage. After creating an inventory, the team calculates the total amount of energy currently used to light the facilities.
The team then recommends upgrades to help the facilities save energy and money. Often, that includes replacing inefficient fixtures and installing occupancy sensors that turn off lights when no one is in a room. The team also determines the appropriate amount of light for each space, based on standards set by the Illuminating Engineering Society of North America.
Several of the buildings in Havre present great opportunities for savings, Daughtery said.
“Old gyms at several of these schools use old metal halide lamps, which use a lot of energy and don’t produce sufficient light,” he said. “We can recommend replacements that will provide a better quality of light and higher light levels while at the same time saving energy and electric costs. We will also recommend using occupancy sensors throughout all the buildings.”
The energy team will estimate the electricity savings of the recommended retrofits and calculate what rebates are available through the Business Partners program if the schools make the upgrades. The team will also estimate how much the materials and labor to install the upgrades will cost.
If you’d like more information on NCAT’s commercial audit services, call 1-866-723-8677 or visit www.northwesternenergy.com/display.aspx?Page=Business_Partners_MT.
Eco-Farmers Stir Things Up
(2/2/09) NCAT had a big presence at the 29th annual Ecological Farming Conference, held January 21 to 24 in Pacific Grove, California. Everyone in NCAT's California office participated. The ATTRA project's publication lists were included in the registration packets for the 1,500 attendees and NCAT had a booth in the exhibitors' tent. NCAT Program Specialist Marisa Alcorta masterminded a campaign to deliver relevant ATTRA publications to all the workshop rooms at the proper time. The publications were eagerly snatched up by interested participants.
One high point of the conference was a workshop that discussed the role of farmworkers in organic agriculture. Dolores Huerta, who worked with Cesar Chavez to create the United Farmworkers of America, spoke in that session. The UFW's slogan is "Si Se Puede" (Yes You Can). At the conference banquet on Friday evening, Huerta was given Eco-Farm's "Justie" award for her lifetime of work to create a just food system. In her acceptance speech she told the story of meeting Barack Obama during the presidential campaign. He told her he had borrowed the UFW's slogan for his campaign. She replied, "Yes, you did!"
For the last 10 years, Eco-Farm has offered scholarships to Latino farmers and farmworkers on the Thursday of the conference. ATTRA and ALBA (the Agricultural and Land-Based Training Association in Salinas) organize a series of Spanish-language workshops for that day. This year there was a session on weed management, moderated by former NCAT Agriculture Specialist Martin Guerena. He is now the Integrated Pest Management Coordinator for the city of Davis, California. Other participants in that workshop included UC Cooperative Extension adviser Steve Fennimore and Israel Morales, a Latino farmer who manages a large vegetable farm. Morales emphasized the importance of cover crops in his vegetable fields as a tool to keep ahead of the weeds.
Another Spanish-language workshop looked at direct marketing, with Efren Avalos of Avalos Organic Farm in Hollister and Jamie Collins of Serendipity Farm in Monterey. In addition to these all-Spanish workshops, Spanish interpretation was offered for several other sessions. The first of these was a plenary session on celebrity chefs who are working to raise the profile of the sustainable food system. Spanish interpretation was also provided for a workshop examining the conflict between conservation and food security in new regulations for leafy greens production.
NCAT Program Specialist Rex Dufour organized and spoke in another workshop that featured interpretation into Spanish. It was called Organic Farming 101 and was aimed at new farmers. Other presenters in that session were Poppy Davis of the RMA in Washington, DC, and Carl Rosato, an Oroville California farmer who grows some of the world's best peaches.
NCAT staff also helped organize a Spanish-speaking social hour for Thursday afternoon. One of the attendees was farmer Michael O'Gorman, who farms in Salinas. O'Gorman is the person who originally suggested the Spanish-language workshops. At the reception he told us about his exciting current project, the Farmer-Veteran Coalition, which was sparked by some returning Iraq vets who want to farm now that they are home. It's hard to find a farm here, though. So the veterans turned to the Farms Not Arms organization and to California FarmLink. They received a warm welcome, lots of helping hands, and have found a farm in Solano County. The two returning vets said that they are astonished by the open attitude of other farmers. They expected to be viewed as potential competitors. One neighboring farmer who has a large CSA has even offered to help them get started and to advertise their new CSA in his newsletter.
Another workshop at the conference was "Not Just Another Roadside Attraction." Organized and moderated by NCAT Program Specialist Karen Van Epen, the workshop addressed agritourism. Presenter George Work and his family have been stewarding their Central California ranch for more than 130 years. They have wanted to host guests on their ranch for a long time, but needed a commercial kitchen in order to conform with California regulations. So George and other would-be farmer hosts persuaded the legislature to change the law, permitting farm stays on working farms. Also speaking in that workshop was Rosemary Nightingale. She and her husband have an extensive herb garden in the Sierra foothills near Kings Canyon. They give "theater" tours of their herb garden, imparting lots of information about gardening, botany, geography, cuisine, and health.
The Ecological Farming Conference provides an abundance of excellent ideas for farmers to mull over. For more information, visit the conference website or contact Karen Van Epen, karenv@ncat.org, 406-533-6653.
Farmers’ Market Conference To Be Co-Sponsored by NCAT
Fayetteville farmers' market. |
(1/26/09) NCAT Specialist Janet Bachmann is working on a project funded by USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service—Farmers Market Promotion Program (FMPP). Bachmann, along with Dr. Curt Rom of the University of Arkansas Horticultural Department, a partnership of multiple nonprofit entities from around Arkansas, and the Arkansas Farmers’ Market Association, are organizing a two-day farmers’ market conference, “Farmers’ Markets as Community Collaboration.” The conference will be held February 6-7 in Fayetteville, Arkansas and will feature hands-on educational workshops and seminars by farmers and market managers. The event will highlight local foods with a banquet that partners a local chef and culinary arts students with local farmers.
The conference organizers hope to draw participants from Arkansas, northeast Oklahoma, and southwest Missouri. The conference aim is to connect growers, markets, and consumers, and to provide educational and professional development opportunities for growers and market managers. Sales tax, market liability, market promotion, production planning, and selling at a market are just a few of the sessions scheduled. The Arkansas Farmers’ Market Association will also hold their annual meeting in conjunction with the conference.
The FMPP project will also provide training and assistance on market evaluation for at least eight markets. One tool for evaluation, Mystery Shopper, will be introduced at the conference by Darlene Wolnik, who works with Market Umbrella in New Orleans, Louisiana. Participating markets will conduct evaluations in summer 2009.
In addition to the USDA-AMS grant, sponsors and collaborators involved in the “Farmers’ Markets as Community Collaboration” conference include NCAT/ATTRA, University of Arkansas, Arkansas Farmers’ Market Association, Arkansas Agriculture Department, Fayetteville Tourism Bureau, Winrock International, and Northwest Arkansas Community College. For more information about the Conference, local foods dinner, or other project activities, contact Janet Bachmann (janetb@ncat.org).
Harvesting Clean Energy Conference Nears
(1/20/09) The annual Harvesting Clean Energy Conference is known as the Northwest’s premiere gathering to advance rural economic development through clean energy production. NCAT has been an active supporter of the conference for many years, particularly during years when the conference’s rotating location brings it to Montana. This year the 9th annual Harvesting Clean Energy Conference takes place in Billings, Montana, January 25-27, and NCAT is one of the co-sponsors for the event.
NCAT Research Specialist Holly Hill has been working with the conference organizing team for many months, and has helped put together an outstanding agenda featuring workshops, tours, and speakers from both the technical and policy realms. Sunday’s keynote speaker is Montana Senator Jon Tester, while Montana Governor Brian Schweitzer headlines Monday’s agenda with a keynote speech and presentation of the Governor’s Clean Energy Awards.
The conference agenda also includes sessions delivered by a number of NCAT staff members. Hill will serve as moderator for an in-depth breakout session that will help attendees learn how to conserve energy and use energy more efficiently, particularly in regard to farm equipment and activities. As one of the session panelists, NCAT’s Vicki Lynne will present on Irrigation and Energy Efficiency on the Farm.
NCAT Energy Engineer Dave Ryan is slated as one of the speakers for a special workshop on Energy Programs in the Farm Bill, and will also speak later in the conference on wind energy. Ryan is part of a panel that will outline solutions and opportunities to speed adoption of energy efficiency technologies and renewable energy, and will also discuss wind energy during a breakout session on Powering the Farm with Small-Scale Renewables. NCAT Program Specialist Al Kurki will address biofuels and bioenergy in that same session.
Following the Harvesting Clean Energy conference, NCAT will hold a two-day workshop on Advanced Oilseed and Biodiesel Production, also in Billings. Registration information is available from NCAT’s Oilseeds for Fuel, Feed, and the Future project.
NCAT Releases New Climate Change Publication
Addressing climate change can reduce energy costs, create green jobs in Montana
(1/12/09) NCAT recently released a new climate change publication that highlights ways Montana consumers can address climate change while reducing energy costs and creating green jobs.
The publication, titled Changing climate, Changing future (PDF / 6M), is a guide to climate change in Montana and smart ways we all can act now to preserve our state for tomorrow’s generation.
Changing climate, Changing future details the work of the Montana Climate Change Advisory Committee, a group established by Gov. Brian Schweitzer in 2005 to study the effects of climate change in Montana and develop recommendations to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the state. Greenhouse gases, especially carbon dioxide, are a major cause of climate change.
Changing climate, Changing future features dozens of resources to help Montanans reduce their greenhouse gas emissions. From ways to slash home heating bills to ideas for squeezing the most out of a gallon of gas, the resources will also help Montanans save money by using less energy.
In 2007, the Climate Change Advisory Committee produced a 450-page report with 54 recommendations to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in Montana. Changing climate, Changing future provides a sampling of these recommendations, along with several success stories of Montanans already acting to reduce their own emissions.
New Spanish-Language Resources about Community Food Security
(1/6/09) NCAT's ATTRA project website now offers three new Spanish-language resources about community food security. These colorful flyers are designed to inspire people to learn about food security issues. The brochures discuss ways to make fresh, local food available in low-income communities.
 The first flyer is called Seguridad de Alimentos de la Comunidad : Cultivando Granjas, Personas y Comunidades Sanas (In English that is Community Food Security: Cultivating Healthy Farms, People and Communities). The brochure explains the basics of community food security. Everyone should have access to good food. Local independent farmers and businesses should produce and distribute food in ways that protect our environment. Stores in every community should sell healthy, high quality foods at affordable prices.
The second flyer—Su Comunidad, Sus Alimentos: Siete Maneras de Ingresar Alimentos Sanos a Su Comunidad (Your Community, Your Food: Seven Ways to Introduce Healthy Food into Your Community)—describes ways that citizens can get healthy foods into their communities. Emphasizing that everyone deserves a chance to make healthy food choices, the brochure points out that people tend to eat the food that is easiest to get. When that food is of low quality, family health deteriorates. The resulting high healthcare costs and lost work time have a profound effect on the whole community.
The third flyer, which is called Buenos Alimentos que Podemos Costear: Hoy y Mañana (Good Food We Can Afford: Today and Tomorrow), explains why food grown locally using greener methods and less energy is the best deal for consumers. The handout urges people to grow some of their own food and to support local and organic farmers. It asks consumers to work to develop a system that provides good food for everyone.
 The flyers can be found and downloaded in PDF at ATTRA's Spanish-language website. Besides being useful to individuals, these brochures can also be used by organizations that are working to improve community food access. All three of the flyers include a space for the local contact information of community food security groups that can help families.
The handouts were developed in English by the Community Food Security Coalition and World Hunger Year. NCAT specialists helped re-formulate the text and translate it into Spanish. Each flyer directs people to NCAT's ATTRA project Spanish-language website, where they can find information about growing food.
To learn more about NCAT's partners in this project, see www.foodsecurity.org and www.worldhungeryear.org. The English versions of the brochures can be downloaded at www.foodsecurity.org/handouts.html. To find out more about the Spanish flyers, contact NCAT Program Specialist Karen Van Epen, karenv@ncat.org, 406-533-6653.
NCAT Helps Develop Content and Hosts Website for Presidential Climate Action Project
 The Presidential Climate Action Project is a comprehensive action plan for presidential leadership, based on climate science and designed to ignite innovation at every level of the American economy. The project gathered leaders from the nation’s science, policy, business and civic sectors to develop a plan for dealing with climate change. The plan contains background information and educational materials on global warming, as well as a broad portfolio of tools and policy options to address this global challenge. Work on the plan started in 2006, with a goal of having the plan completed in time to present to the newly-elected US President prior to his taking office in January 2009.
NCAT Executive Director Kathy Hadley served on one of the leadership summit groups that contributed ideas to the plan. NCAT also hosts the project website, which features the results of the leadership summit groups, background documents, and a final copy of the plan that was delivered to President Obama’s transition team in late 2008. The plan incorporates many of the best ideas for national innovation around climate change put forward by the presidential candidates, universities, non-governmental organizations and others, as well as new ideas based on original analyses commissioned by the project.
A free PDF copy of the 117-page plan is available on the PCAP website managed by NCAT: www.climateactionproject.com. The plan was also published by St. Martins Press, and is now available in bookstores.
View Earlier NCAT News
Back to Top
|
