CISA Workshops for Businesses
September 2022
Attract Native Pollinators to Your Farm
This workshop will help commercial and hobby farmers of all sizes design native pollinator habitats on their land. Attendees will hear from farmers and others about how, when, and what to plant, tips on maintenance, and sources of funding and technical assistance. The workshop will be followed by refreshments and pizza. Presenters: Meryl Latronica: Director of Farm Operations, Just Roots Dan Pratt: Founder, Astarte Farm Michelle Cozine: State Biologist, MA NRCS Rose Schwartz: Soil Conservationist, Franklin County NRCS Workshop brought…
Find out more »October 2022
Ditch Use, Maintenance, and Management on Commercial Farms
Join CISA, the NRCS, and UMass Extension for a hard look at using and maintaining agricultural ditches on commercial farms. Learn what can and can't be done when it comes to managing ditches and the water that fills them and the kinds of support available to farm owners and managers from local organizations and agencies. Register here! Questions? Contact Stephen Taranto, CISA Climate Program Coordinator, at 413-665-7100 ext. 17
Find out more »November 2022
Successful Value Added Food Product Development for Farm and New Food Businesses: Managing Food Quality and Safety
Are you a farmer diversifying into value added production or an entrepreneur developing new and exciting products? Do you have questions about how to integrate food safety and quality into the development of a value added food product? If so, this is the program for you! Community Involved in Sustaining Agriculture (CISA) is collaborating with UMass Amherst, The University of Rhode Island, Commonwealth Kitchen, and the Western MA Food Processing Center at the Franklin County Community Development Corporation to offer…
Find out more »January 2023
Farmer-to-Farmer Pricing Networking Event
After a year of rising input and labor costs, we have heard from many of you that it has been a real challenge to navigate setting prices in such an ever-changing economic landscape. We want to provide a space for farmer-to-farmer conversation about the economic challenges of this time, and to think collaboratively about pricing strategies to weather these turbulent times. The event will be held in-person at the Florence Civic Center, 90 Park Street, Florence. All are welcome, we…
Find out more »February 2023
Sharing Challenges & Successes in Meat Production: Statewide Farmer Networking
Join fellow meat and poultry producers to discuss challenges and share ideas related to raising, processing, and selling meat in Massachusetts. This statewide virtual networking event is open to all, but oriented toward small, mid-sized, or homestead meat producers. The event will include a presentation from poultry farmers Kat Chang Laznicka and Peter Reed Laznicka of Reed Farm, followed by an opportunity for casual networking and facilitated group discussion. Matt LeRoux of Cornell Extension will also provide expertise related to…
Find out more »March 2023
On-Farm Research: Tillage Reduction at Sawyer Farm
Over the past several seasons, Sawyer Farm has been successfully growing vegetables directly in a perennial Dutch White clover sod. Lincoln Fishman will explain how the system works, and discuss its benefits and current limitations. He'll discuss no-till transplanter modifications designed to reduce soil disturbance and weed competition. Join CISA for a virtual presentation and discussion about progress-to-date as well as opportunities for farmers to participate in the research by conducting their own on-farm trials! Sawyer Farm is in Worthington,…
Find out more »Honing your Spring Employee Onboarding Plan
As you gear up for the arrival of new farm employees and seasonal crew members, let us help you put finishing touches on your employee onboarding plan. With an eye to Massachusetts-specific legal requirements and best management practices, this information-packed workshop will help you make sure you’re dotting your i’s and crossing your t’s from day 1 and building a solid groundwork for your employees during their initial days at your farm. CISA staffperson Kristen Wilmer will help you hone…
Find out more »Insights on Vegetable Farm Financial Benchmarks
For the past couple years, CISA and Pasa Sustainable Agriculture have worked with a group of diversified vegetable farmers across the region to collect key farm financial metrics and develop benchmarks to help farmers evaluate the health of their vegetable operations. CISA staffperson Kristen Wilmer will share insights gained thus far from this project, including what the numbers suggest about the health and challenges facing diversified vegetable farms in our region, and how you can use key financial benchmarks to…
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