Certified Naturally Grown Offers Alternative to USDA Organic

In 2002, a federal law passed that only allows products to be labeled “organic” if they have gone through the USDA certification process, but not every farmer who uses organic practices has the certification. The process is time consuming and also comes with a thousand dollar fee, and some small farmers simply find that the …

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Advice from the pros: Let wild animals be wild

By Linda Girardi For The Beacon-News January 13, 2012 1:24PM Lauren Grimm, volunteer for Animals for Awareness, of Palos Park, shows off Chili, a blue and gold macaw, during a well-attended presentation at the Hinckley Public Library on Friday, January 4, 2012.| Michele du Vair~For Sun-Times Media storyidforme: 23637864 tmspicid: 8777785 fileheaderid: 3958639 Article Extras …

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AWU claims workers not paid

The Australian Workers Union claims staff who work for Australia’s largest tomato producer haven’t been paid wages. The AWU says at least 100 of the workers who pick and pack the fruit for SP Exports haven’t been paid properly for months. SP Exports employs farm workers in the field and packing sheds at Childers, south …

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New training manuals for improving small-scale pig production: With lessons from northeastern India « ILRI news

Children of a smallholder pig-farming household in Mon District, Nagaland, in the far northeastern corner of (tribal) India, which is participating in an ILRI project to help the rural poor enhance their production of pigs and pork (photo credit: ILRI/Ram Deka). A new set of training manuals for pig farmers is now available. The manuals …

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Maatu Pongal Festival

Pongal Festival celebrated by agrarian communities does not end with making tasty pongal, worship and sharing pongal greetings and wishes. Several Indian farming communities also have a small dairy with anywhere between one and ten cows (sometime even more) and bulls. These rural dwellers observe the day after Pongal Festival as Maatu (cow in Tamil …

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Certified Naturally Grown Offers Alternative to USDA OrganicAdvice from the pros: Let wild animals be wildAWU claims workers not paidNew training manuals for improving small-scale pig production: With lessons from northeastern India « ILRI newsMaatu Pongal Festival

Jan
28

Certified Naturally Grown Offers Alternative to USDA Organic

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Certified Naturally Grown Offers Alternative to USDA Organic

In 2002, a federal law passed that only allows products to be labeled “organic” if they have gone through the USDA certification process, but not every farmer who uses organic practices has the certification. The process is time consuming and also comes with a thousand dollar fee, and some small farmers simply find that the USDA’s program is a bad fit for the scale of their operations.

However, Certified Naturally Grown (CNG) offers farmers and beekeepers a way to assure consumers about their practices. We are frequently warned that the word “natural” is a marketing term used in greenwashing, but the farmers who participate in this program are committed to healthy and sustainable agriculture. “The O-word is forbidden unless you get special permission to use it, so we’re the alternative way to describe what they do,” explains Alice Varon, the executive director of Certified Naturally Grown. “It can be a very convenient short-hand way of communicating about their growing practices.”

There are 800 farms and apiaries located in 47 states that have the grassroots certification. From a consumer’s perspective, produce that carries the Certified Naturally Grown seal is equivalent to that which carries the USDA certification. It’s grown without synthetic fertilizers, pesticides, synthetic herbicides or fungicides. Certified Naturally Grown’s standards are based on internally recognized standards. “We’re not trying to define anything radically different,” says Varon.

Certified Naturally Grown uses a peer review process, which means that the inspectors are other farmers from the community. Varon explains that this helps to build a stronger farming community, but that customers shouldn’t be worried about mutual back-scratching. “Actually, the fellow farmers tend to be too hard on each other,” she says. “They are committed to protecting the program, especially if they’re in the CNG program, they want the standards to be upheld. So, they tend to call people out on stuff that’s not really an issue.”

Farmers typically digress from the standards for two reasons: either they didn’t realize something wasn’t permitted or in a moment of panic feel that using a synthetic chemical is their only option to save a crop. “A lot of people are forthcoming, saying ‘I didn’t know what else to do. I used this, I have to wait another year before I can be certified,’ ” says Varon. However, being a member of the Certified Naturally Grown community provides farmers with resources to avoid these situations. “By strengthening farmers networks and having farmers talking with each other more, a lot of information comes out and is shared that helps people anticipate problems before they become very big.”

You probably won’t see the Certified Naturally Grown seal in the supermarket any time soon, but you can find it at farmers markets across the country. In a very meaningful way, the CNG label restores credibility to the term “natural” and assures customers that they’re buying products that will be nourishing to their families and won’t degrade earth’s ecology.To find farms and apiaries near you that are Certified Naturally Grown, visit NaturallyGrown.org.

January 26th, 2012

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Jan
28

Advice from the pros: Let wild animals be wild

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By Linda Girardi For The Beacon-News January 13, 2012 1:24PM

Advice from the pros: Let wild animals be wild

Lauren Grimm, volunteer for Animals for Awareness, of Palos Park, shows off Chili, a blue and gold macaw, during a well-attended presentation at the Hinckley Public Library on Friday, January 4, 2012.| Michele du Vair~For Sun-Times Media

storyidforme: 23637864 tmspicid: 8777785 fileheaderid: 3958639 Article Extras

Updated: January 16, 2012 11:47AM

HINCKLEY — For a group of young readers here, exotic animals have become much more than pictures in a book. The Animals for Awareness organization introduced a 5-foot-long alligator with scaly skin, a kinkajou that lives in the rain forest and a Canada lynx with ear tufts and bobbed tail to show youngsters at the Hinckley Public Library that some animals are better left in the wild.

“Alligators look real cute when they are little,” volunteer handler Lauren Grimm told her audience, holding a 10-month-old gator that came to the shelter last summer.

The youngsters screeched as the handler opened a black zipper sack and pulled a 5-foot-long, 21-year-old male alligator to the center floor. Grimm said the Aurora Police Department rescued the reptile when he was the size of the baby gator.

“The original owner had him as a pet in a small container and it stunted his growth. For his age, he should be 10 feet long,” Grimm said.

Grimm said the alligator is “easygoing” and climbs the stairs of the non-profit Palos Park shelter.

“Picture him in a swamp — he’s an ambush hunter that waits for his prey,” she said.

Grimm walked around the room with a 50-pound Burmese python.

“People think snakes are slimy, but the skin is actually pretty dry,” said 11-year-old Preston Brunoehler.

Preston’s sister said she thought it was “cool” to touch a snake. “I have actually wanted a lizard my whole entire life,” said 6-year-old Brooklyn Field.

The enormous ears of a fennec fox that lives in the desert were as impressive as the tail of the furry kinkajou and paws of the Canada lynx, which is an endangered species.

Grimm said the lynx was rescued from a fur farm.

“The lynx can jump eight feet and catch a bird mid-air,” she said.

Grimm said most of the exotic animals are acquired by the shelter as “give-ups” when people realize they can no longer care for them or they are rescued.

“All of these animals look very friendly, but they are not tame. People don’t realize these are not animals meant for the home,” she said.

Almost 100 children and adults attended the program.

“It’s always a surprise what species come in,” said Liz Kerlin, youth librarian. “This is a lesson that some animals are better left to the wild.”

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Jan
28

AWU claims workers not paid

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1327744567 29 AWU claims workers not paid

The Australian Workers Union claims staff who work for Australia’s largest tomato producer haven’t been paid wages.

The AWU says at least 100 of the workers who pick and pack the fruit for SP Exports haven’t been paid properly for months.

SP Exports employs farm workers in the field and packing sheds at Childers, south of Bundaberg.

The company supplies tomatoes to supermarkets, retailers and wholesalers throughout the country and exports to Asia Pacific markets.

SP Exports hasn’t returned called requesting comment.

AWU representative Keith Ballon says its an ongoing issue.

“Over the last four months we’ve had problems with regard to wages being paid to employees on time,” he says.

“Wages are not being paid into employees’ bank accounts, as required by the award.”

Mr Ballonne says he’s tried to contact the owners of SP Exports.

“We’re going to do our best on behalf of all those employees.

“We’re hoping the company can see its way clear and find some liquid assets, such as cash, to be able to pay wages.”

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Jan
28

New training manuals for improving small-scale pig production: With lessons from northeastern India « ILRI news

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1327743368 29 New training manuals for improving small scale pig production: With lessons from northeastern India « ILRI news

Children of a smallholder pig-farming household in Mon District, Nagaland, in the far northeastern corner of (tribal) India, which is participating in an ILRI project to help the rural poor enhance their production of pigs and pork (photo credit: ILRI/Ram Deka).

A new set of training manuals for pig farmers is now available. The manuals inform poor rural pig farmers in developing countries how to ‘intensify’ their production, using lessons gathered from a research-for-development project in India. Among other recommendations, the manuals offer ways of improving smallholder pig farming, including basic veterinary care, and pork production and marketing.

‘These manuals are the result of an analysis of the main gaps in small-scale pig production in India,’ said Rameswar Deka, a scientist from the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI) based in Guwahati, in northeastern India. ‘They are a response to farmer needs and offer a reference for best practices in managing small-scale pig systems.’

The manuals are a result of a project called ‘Livelihood Improvement and Empowerment of Rural Poor through Sustainable Farming Systems in Northeast India’. The five-year project, in India’s Assam and Nagaland states, was started in 2007 with funding from the Government of India, the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), ILRI and the World Bank.

Raising pigs is a particularly important livelihood for smallholders in northeast India, where hilly terrain, poor roads and widespread poverty hamper crop cultivation. ‘Crop farming alone cannot meet the needs of families in these areas and many rely on livestock–mostly pigs and chickens–to supply much needed nutrition and income,’ said Deka.

The livelihood improvement project is working with farmers to develop pig production in particular because the region has a history of pig rearing and because keeping pigs requires minimal investments at the outset. Pig production is also easily intensified using locally available resources.

There are three well-illustrated manuals. Smallholders’ pig management offers a detailed look at pig systems in India, including features of common breeds, how to care and manage piglets, the reproductive cycle of pigs, breeding methods and how to cultivate feed-food crops. Veterinary first aid for pig offers information on organisms that cause common pig diseases, how to identify them and basic ways of controlling their spread. Hygienic pork production and marketing details how to hygienically process pork, follow slaughterhouse and meat inspection procedures and how to pack and preserve pork for sale.

ILRI scientist Ram Deka (middle) distributes training manuals to Livestock Service Providers participating in an ILRI pig production project in the state of Nagaland, in northeast India, 2011 (photo credit: ILRI).

The manuals provide easy-to-apply principles in improving pig management, feeding, and care to enhance yields. Farmers in areas where the project is implemented say the manuals are helping them to increase their production. Project staff have set up systems for collecting feedback from farmers and trainers so as to improve future editions of the manuals.

‘We hope these manuals will serve other countries as well,’ said Iain Wright, ILRI’s former representative in Asia. ‘This information can be adapted to make relevant training tools for smallholder pig farmers in other areas of the world where small-scale pig production systems are growing rapidly.’

Training manual on smallholders’ pig management

mahider.ilri.org/bitstream/handle/10568/12533/TrainigManual_Pig.pdf?sequence=1

Training manual on veterinary first aid for pig

mahider.ilri.org/bitstream/handle/10568/12534/PigFirstAidSetting.pdf?sequence=1

Training manual on hygienic pork production and marketing

cgspace.cgiar.org/bitstream/handle/10568/12535/TrainingManual_Pork.pdf?sequence=1

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Jan
28

Maatu Pongal Festival

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1327742166 26 Maatu Pongal FestivalPongal Festival celebrated by agrarian communities does not end with making tasty pongal, worship and sharing pongal greetings and wishes. Several Indian farming communities also have a small dairy with anywhere between one and ten cows (sometime even more) and bulls. These rural dwellers observe the day after Pongal Festival as Maatu (cow in Tamil language) Pongal to honor cows and bulls which provide them with a steady stream of income all through the year. For this special occasion, cows and bulls are bathed and groomed in the early hours of the morning in a common village water body /temple tank. A special rangoli is created for the day with aloe vera stuck into a heap of cow dung. Five holes are made in the dung to be filled with milk, cottonseed extract, gooseberry pulp, turmeric paste and pongal prepared on the day. A square is drawn around this using brick powder and a basket covers the dung. Other rangoli patterns are drawn using rice powder or color powder beyond the square. It is a tradition for cows and bulls along with the members of the household to cross over this arrangement (after removing the basket).Pongal prepared on this day is fed to the cows and bulls and their mouths washed with water. Several customary worship rituals accompany the celebration. Cows and bulls are taken around the town and their heads washed in the village water body with gingili oil, gooseberry pulp and soap nut powder (shikakai) accompanied by the Pongal chant,

As always, it is just best to take the high road and get yourself a guide or walk through that will help you get what you want legitimately. .Wow Gold Farming Guide An Introduction to WoW Gold Farming One of the advantages of gold farming is that you can get a consistent return on the investment on your time. WoW Farming Guide For Cataclysm The brand new World of Warcraft Cataclysm expansion has been out for a few months now, and now when people have leveled their characters to 85, made a goblin/worgen alt, raided some, and done the Rated Battle Grounds, it's time for the Cataclysm gold making. Nevertheless, it's for the birds so that this means that you will have a greater convenience with your tractors for sale. But when winter veil comes around the demand for small eggs goes though the roof. Perhaps I may be too troubled by that. Because of this, perhaps now is a good to start using dairy cows to no longer be available. We could each see ourselves as that provided that I don't have to be mistaken about this. James Tyler's fathergrew up in that same plantation house.

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Jan
28

Orange Line Connection

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1327740973 83 Orange Line ConnectionSaturday Nights at 11:0111:01 Saturday Nights. Starts at 11:01 p.m. Late-night dance party. Tickets are $15/$12 students. At the Ballroom at Artisphere, 1101 Wilson Blvd., Arlington. Call 703-228-1850. Dance WednesdaysDance Wednesdays. 7:30 to 8:30 p.m. dance classes; 8:30 to 11 p.m. dancing. Tickets are $15/$12 at door. On Wednesdays, dance the night away at Artisphere to zydeco, cajun, rock, R&B and swing. The new center features a 3,000 square foot dance floor, one of the best in the area. At the Ballroom at Artisphere, 1101 Wilson Blvd., Arlington. Call 703-228-1850.Salsa dancingSalsa TuesdaysSalsa Tuesdays. 7:30 to 8:30 p.m. dance class; 8:30 p.m. to 11 p.m. dancing. At the Ballroom @ Artisphere, 1101 Wilson Boulevard, Arlington. Call 703-228-1850. Now Through Jan. 28Handcrafted Harmonica Cases with Robert Hoffman. Robert “Hoff” Hoffman has co-designed over 350 harmonica cases with artists who work in a wide variety of mediums. At the Artisphere in Arlington.Now through Jan. 16Floating Utopia: Mobile Art Gallery Designs. Free. See drawings from and a team of seven German architecture students under the direction of Andreas Queneau for a Step Van Truck designed as a mobile art gallery. Interact with this exhibit by designing your own customized version of this truck. The exhibit also includes utopian plans for a mobile greenhouse and diagrams showing various uses of recycled lunar devices for community engagement. At the Works-in-Progress Gallery at the Artisphere.Now Through Feb. 15Jesse Kanda: Waking from a Coma. Jesse Kanda is a Japanese-born, London-based designer and filmmaker. Coming from a graphic design background, he creates experimental films which merge mediums ranging from 3D and 2D to live footage. At the Artisphere in Arlington.Jan. 13 to 15″Darius the Dragon & Rap-Punzel.” For ages 4 and up. Presented by Encore Stage & Studio. Performances are Friday, Jan. 13 at 7:30 p.m.; Saturday, Jan. 14 at 11 a.m. and 3 p.m.; Sunday, Jan. 15 at 3 p.m. At the Spectrum Theatre at Artisphere, 1611 N. Kent St., Arlington.Now to Jan. 22Rock Band Beauty Pill. A multimedia installation. Visitors will have the opportunity to listen to Beauty Pill’s new album — recorded in full view and presented at the Artisphere. At the Artisphere in Arlington.Now to Jan. 22The Immersive Ideal. Free. The Immersive Ideal project returns with a multimedia installation designed by Kelley Bell and Stephan Moore. The installation will feature a user-interactive, monome-controlled (monome.org) array of photographs from the recording sessions by Nestor Diaz, Morgan Klein, Brian Libby, Jon Pack and PJ Sykes. From Jan. 7-22, listen to Beauty Pill’s new album — recorded at and presented exclusively at the Artisphere — while immersed in the photographs that document the band’s experiment in radical artistic transparency. At the Artisphere in Arlington. Friday/Jan. 13Food Meets Art. 7 p.m. Cost for dinner is $150. Chef and artist Carole Greenwood joins forces with Artisphere to connect people, food and art in an unexpected way and place. Recipes inspired by Alice B. Toklas: An Orange Arrow Pop-Up Dinner. The evening will include not only the food and her cooking style, but Toklas’ very specific instructions for presentation and consumption. At the Artisphere’s Terrace Gallery in Arlington.Jan. 13-15″Battle for Brooklyn.” $7/general; $5/seniors, students. Friday, Jan. 13 and Saturday, Jan. 14 at 8 p.m.; Saturday, Jan. 14 at 5 p.m.; Sunday, Jan. 15 at 6 p.m. “Battle for Brooklyn” is the tale of one man under pressure, and how far he will go to save his community and his home from the private developers who want to build a basketball arena on top of it. At the Dome Theater at the Artisphere in Arlington. Saturday/Jan. 14Belo. 8 p.m. A socially conscious singer-songwriter with a sophisticated sound, BélO has received numerous awards, including “Best Male Artist 2007″ by the Haitian Music Awards and the prestigious “Prix Radio France International Discoveries of 2006.” At the Ballroom at the Artisphere in Arlington.Tuesday/Jan. 17Words and Music Singer Songwriter Series. 7:30 p.m. $8/$6. Self-proclaimed “dark surf rock” musician Matthew Archer, indie-pop musician Timothy Bracken and indie-rock Andrew Ullman of Johari perform songs in the round and talk about their creative process. At the Dome Theater at the Artisphere. Tuesday/Jan. 17Contra Sonic With DJ Improper and B-Ham. 7:30 p.m. $8/$6 seniors. Contra dancing is American folk dance with roots in square dancing, but when you add free glow sticks, a DJ and laser display you get Contra Sonic. Dancers of any experience are welcome. Lessons from 7:30 p.m. to 8 p.m., then dancing until 11 p.m. At the Ballroom at the Artisphere in Arlington.Wednesday/Jan. 18The Revelers. 7:30 p.m. Cost is $15. Direct from Baton Rouge, Lousiana, the Revelers play traditional Cajun music and are all members of the acclaimed Red Stick Ramblers. At the Ballroom at the Artisphere in Arlington.Jan. 18 to Jan. 21Artists’ Bloc. Cost is $5. Artists’ Bloc provides the opportunity for artist and audience to collide through written and verbal feedback free from the critical eye of the press. Wednesday and Thursday at 7:30 p.m. at the Dome Theatre; Friday at 7:30 p.m.; Saturday at 3 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. in the Terrace Gallery. At the Artisphere in Arlington. Jan. 19 to March 11Amy Hughes Braden: Too Extroverted to Paint. Free. Plagued by the need for human interaction, stuck in a world of tweets and tags, Amy Hughes Braden will paint large portraits of “tweens” working towards her 2013 show in Artisphere’s Mezz Gallery. Artist working onsite in the WIP: Fridays 4-8 p.m., Saturdays 1-7 p.m. and Sundays 1-5 p.m.Saturday/Jan. 21SULU DC. 7 p.m. $10/general; $8/seniors. A performance showcase of emerging and established Asian American and/or Pacific Islander artists in spoken word, music, dance, theater, film and multidisciplinary arts from the local and national scenes. At the Dome Theatre at the Artisphere in Arlington.Saturday/Jan. 21″Light of Mine.” 8 p.m. $6/general; $4/seniors. Owen, an aspiring photographer, deals with an eye disease that has left him without sight in one eye and will soon leave him blind in both. Fearful and uncertain of how long his vision will last, his wife Laura proposes they fulfill their lifelong dream of a photography expedition to Yellowstone National Park. At the Dome Theatre at the Artisphere in Arlington. Sunday/Jan. 22National Jazz Workshop. 3 p.m. Free. The 2012 National Jazz Workshop Winter Invitation Jazz Ensemble represents young musicians from the East Coast that attended the third annual National Jazz Workshop which takes place each July at The Shenandoah Conservatory of Music in Winchester. As well as performing standard and progressive big band literature, they will debut a commission sponsored by the Conservatory from Alan Baylock. Now in its 25th year, the Blues Alley Youth Orchestra is comprised of accomplished student musicians ranging in age from 14-17 years old with their mission to preserve and promote the big band jazz genre. At the Ballroom at the Artisphere in Arlington.Jan. 27 to Jan. 29Apocalyptoon 2012. Free. Against the backdrop of a region steeped in politics and with a touch of art, style and humor, Art Soiree will unveil what 2012 will bring by presenting a unique exhibition that takes a humorous outlook on the year to come and features works created exclusively for this exhibition by renowned editorial and political cartoonists. At the Terrace Gallery at the Artisphere in Arlington.Saturday/Jan. 28Mischief Managed. 11:15 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. $10/adults; $8/children. Enjoy Mischief Managed — the closing music from John Williams’ score to Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban — scored for a quintet of harp, flute and string trio followed by Maurice Ravel’s score, the Mother Goose Suite, that will feature a “celebrity narrator” telling the familiar fairytales. Arlington Children’s Chorus director Kevin Carr will be on hand to lead the audience in joining in to the musical fun. Both works will be set against images projected on Artisphere’s unique Dome Theatre screen. At the Dome Theater at the Artisphere in Arlington.Saturday/Jan. 28Git Up and Git Down: World Music Grooves from Africa to Brazil. $12/general; $10/seniors. A musical evening featuring the choicest world music grooves from bands based in the DC-MD-VA region. Live music from Africa, South America and the United States will include performances by Afro-pop maestros Elikeh, DC-based Brazilian band Alma Tropicália and raw southern soul from Baltimore’s Bellevederes. At the Ballroom at the Artisphere in Arlington.Rosslyn Farmers MarketEvery Thursday, Through Oct. 20. Located across the street from Cupid’s Garden Sculpture. Fresh foods and goods from regional vendors including bread and pastries, farm-fresh and organic produce, herbs and spices, exotic teas and specialty coffees, gourmet baked goods, and marinades and sauces. Monday Properties returns as a Rosslyn Farmers Market sponsor.Clarendon Farmers’ MarketYear-round Clarendon Farmer’s Market has locally produced breads and pastries, organic vegetables, flowers, soap, sorbet and more. Held Saturdays and Sundays from 8 a.m. to noon at Courthouse Parking Lot, 3195 North Wilson Blvd., Arlington. Also year-round on Wednesdays from 3-7 p.m. at Clarendon Metro Station. Visit Clarendon.org. Call 703-812-8881.Arlington Farmers Market @ CourthouseThe Arlington Farmers’ Market is located adjacent to the Arlington County Courthouse Parking Lot, at the intersection of N. Courthouse Rd. and N. 14th St. in Arlington. This is a ‘producer only’ market with more than 30 producers. The market is opened Saturdays from 8 a.m. to noon, year round. No dogs are allowed in the market.Arlington Urban Village Market at Court HouseThe Antiques and Collectibles Market at Court House is an open air market that has been going on since December 2002. Free parking at 2100 Clarendon Blvd. Featuring furniture, art, China, silver, jewelry, books, photographs, vintage clothing, linens, lamps, chandeliers, antique tools and other treasures. Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Located on North 15th Street, next to the Courthouse Parking Lot. Sundays, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Located at Courthouse Parking Lot. Ballston Farmers MarketThe Ballston Farmers Market returns to Welburn Square every Thursday from 3 to 7 p.m. from now until October. Returning market favorites are Great Harvest Bread Company, Two Belle’s Southern Pound Cakes and Gonzales Produce. Newcomers are Pleasant Pops and Milk Crate Bakery. Featuring live music every Thursday. Upcoming at Market Common Clarendon Free entertainment in the gazebo, at Market Common Clarendon, 2700 Clarendon Blvd., Arlington.

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Jan
28

Happy Valley Pride: Jan. 11, 2011

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1327739770 70 Happy Valley Pride: Jan. 11, 2011

Welcome Arlyne Balcita and Linda Armstrong to Happy Valley. They are the new owners of Happy Valley Feed, formally named Discount Feed.

These two ladies saw a need for feed and are filling it.

They carry all types of feed for farm animals including grass hay, alfalfa, oat and alfalfa-hay mix as well as irrigation pipes and fittings, hardware and garden tools. They plan to be competitive with prices in town, so before you take that drive into town, stop by and check them out.

As the business grows, the owners said they hope to bring in fertilizers and other agriculture products. They are on Facebook and their phone number is 357-2257.

Let’s support them and the other people doing businesses in our community.

On another topic, food plants are now available at Happy Valley Nursery.

Doug just got in his bare root fruit trees, grapes, berries, etc., so now is the time to plant those bare roots. The nursery is located at 6876 Happy Valley Road or call him at 365-6924.

I went and got my plants and by Saturday, you guessed it, I want to be planting.

The Happy Valley Farm Trail Maps are in your local stores and at the water company.

I left some at Shasta Health Center in Anderson and at the California Welcome Center at the Shasta Outlets.

Take advantage of good, healthy, locally-grown food.

In the next week, our website happyvalleyfarmtrail.com will be updated with the map and a complete listing of all Happy Valley Farm Trail farmers.

It is not to late to join the Farm Trail. For a fee of only $30, we will put your farm on our website. Call 357-2416.

Have a great week. Pray for our troops, our country and our elected officials.

Remember, God loves you and so do I.

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Jan
28

Vermont Law School has received a $1.25 million grant to support its new Center for Agriculture and Food Systems

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1327738567 44 Vermont Law School has received a $1.25 million grant to support its new Center for Agriculture and Food Systems

For immediate releaseJanuary 19, 2012

ContactJohn Cramer, Associate Director of Media RelationsOffice: 802.831.1106, cell: 540.798.7099, home: 802.649.2235,

SOUTH ROYALTON, VT –– Vermont Law School has received a $1.25 million grant to support its new Center for Agriculture and Food Systems, which advocates for community-based agriculture across the United States.

The anonymous grant, which will be distributed over four years, will allow the center to hire a director with national experience and to expand its agricultural law and policy curriculum and training, research and support programs.

“This generous grant recognizes Vermont Law School’s growing strength in agricultural law and policy,” said Professor John Echeverria, acting director of the Environmental Law Center.

The agriculture center builds on Vermont’s reputation for small-scale agricultural innovation and ethos of environmental and social sustainability. It will provide support for community-based agricultural systems, sustainable agriculture advocates, agencies, food hubs, incubators and farmers.

“This center is unique in its focus on sustainable food, food safety and the regulatory, tax and governance systems that support agricultural policy,” said Dean Jeff Shields.

VLS is launching a national search for a director to work with VLS’s environmental faculty, Food and Agricultural Law Society students, alumni who work in organizations such as the Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy, the U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization, the Center for Food Safety, and the Vermont Department of Agriculture, and a network of national and international advisors.

The VLS agriculture center is:Expanding the law school’s curriculum to create a comprehensive academic program in agriculture and food policy.Continuing research and education projects, such asThe Farmer’s Handbook for Energy Self-Reliance. The handbookis distributed to more than 4,000 farmers and taken to more than a dozen farmers’ forums and conferences nationally.Organizing conferences for agricultural leaders such as the2010 Food, Fuel, and the Future of Farming,which brought together more than 200 scholars, activists, policy leaders and farmers.

The center focuses on legal and policy issues related to community-based agriculture, including the regulation of food, the Farm Bill and agricultural subsidies, energy-efficient food production, energy independence for farmers and other issues that are key to retaining a successful working landscape for rural communities.

Current projects range from agriculture policy to individual faculty and student research in a variety of areas. Recent projects include a study of the regulatory barriers to grain production in Vermont, the Open Space Vermont blog, and a survey of property tax incentives for U.S. agricultural lands.

The center also is supporting the research of key scholars in sustainable agriculture and food issues by hosting a Sustainable Food Systems Summer Scholar during VLS’s summer session. Last year’s inaugural Summer Scholar was Mary Jane Angelo, a professor at the University of Florida Levin College of Law and a former senior attorney for the Environmental Protection Agency .This year’s Summer Scholar will be Stephanie Tai, a professor at the University of Wisconsin Law School and an expert on the role of environmental and health sciences in developing regulatory safeguards.

More information about the VLS agriculture center is available at vermontlaw.edu/academics/environmental_law_center/institutes_and_initiatives/center_for_agriculture_and_food_systems/center_for_agriculture_and_food_systems.htm

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Jan
28

Southwest Farm & Ranch Classic schedule

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Southwest Farm & Ranch Classic scheduleSouthwest Farm & Ranch Classic schedule

The Southwest Farm & Ranch Classic runs from Jan. 31 to Feb. 2 in Lubbock, Texas. Show hours are from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

All day, outside dealer demonstrations, Northeast Parking;

All day, Community Quilters Guild, space #920;

All day, South Plains Antique tractor Association Exhibit;

10 a.m., Van Hargis–First Time Under Saddle, Exhibit Hall Show Ring;

1 p.m., Van Hargis–Addressing Any Problem, Exhibit Hall Show Ring;

3 p.m., Van Hargis–Ranch Roping, Exhibit Hall Show Ring.

7:30 a.m., Lubbock Chamber of Commerce Power Breakfast, Banquet Hall; Keynote speaker–Tom Sell with Combest, Sell & Associates will discuss the farm bill and its importance to the local economy, particularly how Lubbock benefits from sound farm policy and the potential effects to Lubbock if that policy were not in place.

8:45 a.m., Ribbon Cutting for the Fourth Annual Event, North Entrance;

9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., Precision Ag. Courses–Room 107 (just off the south Pedestrian Mall);

–”Putting the Pencil to Precision Ag”–Jay Yates, Extension Risk Management Specialist;

–”Integration of Precision Ag Systems”–Gabe Moudy, South Plains Precision Ag–Plainview, TX (0.5 CEU Gen);

–”Guidance Systems”–Jay Hurst, Hurst Farm Supply–Lorenzo, TX (0.5 CEU Gen);

–”What Precision Ag does for me on my farm”–Glenn & Steven Brosch, Slaton, TX; Eddie Griffis, New Deal, TX (1.0 CEU Gen);

10 a.m., Van Hargis–First Time Under Saddle, Exhibit Hall Show Ring;

1 p.m., Van Hargis–Addressing Any Problem, Exhibit Hall Show Ring;

1:20 p.m. to 4:30 p.m., To Strip or to Pick?; On-board Moduling Systems–Room 107, (just off the south Pedestrian Mall);

“Economic Comparison of Strippers vs. Pickers”–Jay Yates, Extension Risk Management Specialist at Lubbock

Industry Perspectives: On-Board Moduling Systems;

3 p.m., Van Hargis–Ranch Roping, Exhibit Hall Show Ring;

9:30 a.m., Making the Most of Irrigation Seminars–Room 107 (just off the south Pedestrian Mall);

–Crop Water Use, Irrigation Scheduling (Evapotranspiration (ET), Soil Moisture Management and Other Tools)–Dana Porter, Extension Agricultural Engineer;

–Economics of Rotation Strategies for Water Conservation–Jay Yates, Extension Risk Management Specialist;

–Cost-share Programs Update–Randy Underwood, NRCS;

–Legislative Update Regarding Water Issues–Jim Conkwright, General Manager–High Plains Underground Water Conservation District;

10 a.m., Van Hargis–First Time Under Saddle, Exhibit Hall Show Ring;

10:30 a.m., Update on Texas Alliance for Water Conservation, Rick Kellison, Room 104;

1 p.m., Van Hargis–Addressing Any Problem, Exhibit Hall Show Ring;

1:15 p.m. to 2:45 p.m., Irrigation Seminars–Concurrent Sessions; (just off the south Pedestrian Mall) Room 107. Applications of center pivot irrigation technologies: LEPA, LESA, MESA, LPIC (Trouble-shooting, maintenance, management, new developments) Industry Representatives–Texas Agricultural Irrigation Association

Room 104: Applications of microirrigation technologies: Subsurface Drip Irrigation (Trouble-shooting, maintenance, management, new developments) Industry Representatives–Texas Agricultural Irrigation Association

3 p.m. to 4 p.m., Irrigation Seminars–Concurrent Sessions– Room 107 (just off the south Pedestrian Mall): Optimum management of Cotton–Randy Boman, Extension Cotton Agronomist Room 104: Optimum Management of Forage and Grain Crops–Calvin Trostle, Extension Agronomist;

3 p.m., Van Hargis–Ranch Roping, Exhibit Hall Show Ring.

9:30 a.m., Small Acreage Landowner Symposium–Room 104 (just off the south Pedestrian Mall);

9:30 a.m., Understanding West Texas Soils and Soil Fertility–Mark Brown, CEA-Agriculture, Lubbock County;

10 a.m., Forage Selection and Grazing Principles on Small Acreage–Calvin Trostle, Extension Agronomist at Lubbock;

10 a.m., Van Hargis–First Time Under Saddle, Exhibit Hall Show Ring;

10:30 a.m., Managing Weeds and Insects–Brant Baugh, EA- IPM, Lubbock County;

11 a.m., Livestock Production and Cost for Small Acreage Landowners–Jay Yates, Extension Risk Management Specialist at Lubbock;

11:30 a.m., “Coping with Feral Hogs”–Ken Cearley, Extension Wildlife Management Specialist at Canyon;

1 p.m., Van Hargis–Addressing Any Problem, Exhibit Hall Show Ring;

1:30 p.m., Wildlife Management for Land Owners–Room 104 (just off the south Pedestrian Mall); “Integrating Playa Management with Farming and Ranching”–Ken Cearly, Extension Wildlife Management Specialist at Canyon;

3 p.m., Van Hargis–Ranch Roping, Exhibit Hall Show Ring.

1/21/08 5 Star OK12-B

Agriculture News from HPJ – Your Ag News Source

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Jan
28

Governor cuts ribbon for new Stamey Farm Road yogurt facility

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1327736178 27 Governor cuts ribbon for new Stamey Farm Road yogurt facility

With the snip of a ribbon by Gov. Beverly Perdue, Origin Food Group became the first and largest value-added dairy facility in the state to produce yogurt.

“This is where the potion is put together,” Perdue said, peeking into the laboratory on Wednesday afternoon before the ceremony began at the new yogurt production facility on Stamey Farm Road.

Perdue described Stamey Farms, also known as a leading exporter of live dairy cattle, as a traditional dairy. She also applied the term traditional to their partnership with the Alarcon family of Ecuador, which stemmed from the two families long standing friendship and business connections. Many farmers, like the Stameys, have become innovative in recent years, she said.  

“Here is the plant, there are the cows,” said Origin Co-owner Bob Stamey, pointing to the nearby dairy farm his family has operated for more than 60 years. The milk for Origin’s new yogurt shake line, frush, will come from those dairy cattle across the street.

Origin co-owner Francisco Alarcón said the new product is a healthful alternative snack for people on the go.

“Frush is just the beginning,” he said. “We see our North Carolina products selling beyond the state’s borders.”

The company, with the help of BB&T and the United States Department of Agriculture, made a $7 million investment transforming the Homer’s Truck Plaza off of Exit 146 on Interstate 40 into a state-of-the-art facility.

In 2009, the partners were granted an $89,000 economic incentive tax grant from Iredell County.

Dairy Advantage North Carolina Dairy Development Coordinator Matthew Lange said the facility made Stamey Farms one of the first fully developed value-added dairies in the county and the first-value added yogurt production site in the state. Origin’s plans to eventually employ 40-50 people would make it the largest value-added dairy production facility in the state.

Origin Food Group partners Stamey and Alarcon told community leaders and local, state and federal officials gathered Wednesday about how their business and personal relationship grew and developed into two dairy-related business ventures.

Stamey spent some time reviewing his family’s history in Iredell County, which is ranked number one in the state for dairy. Stamey Farms, an exporter of live dairy cattle, started supplying Alarcon 15 years ago. The Alarcóns have 33 years of experience in yogurt and beverages in Ecuador, and were looking to expand their business in that country.

Stamey would later work with Alarcón’s daughter, Barbara, when she started her own dairy in the Andes Mountains. Origin is the Stameys’ and Alarcóns’ second business venture together. The two families purchased Mooresville Ice Cream in September 2009. Barbara “Babi” Alarcon has worked closely with the Stameys on both ventures.

“We’ve been welcomed with open arms,” Alarcón said.

Along with a peek inside the facility, Origin Food Group also treated guests to frush, the yogurt-fruit shake, which will be on the shelves of Lowes Foods, BiLo and Ingles grocery stores by the end of February.  

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