CISA - Community Involved In Sustaining Agriculture

Growing Cannabis On The Farm
2017-12-10 10:00 - 17:00 (America/Halifax) | The Nacul Center, 592 Main Street, Amherst, MA, United States
Cost: (Includes Lunch)
NOFA Member – $51General Public – $60
* Add $5 for walk-in registration on day of event

In 2018 Cannabis will enter the Massachusetts marketplace and, according to some estimates, it’s poised to become a $1.1 billion industry within just a few years, making it the most profitable crop in Massachusetts. As with local craft beer and food, there will be a lot of consumers interested in accessing high-quality craft cannabis grown by local farmers in a sustainable way.
This interactive workshop and networking event is for growers who are interested in cultivating Cannabis using organic methods on their land for this new market. We’ll cover all the basics to get you started on your path toward cultivating cannabis either on your own as part of a cooperative.
Topics covered will include:

Cultivation-

Growing high-quality cannabis using organic methods

How to modify high tunnels and greenhouses specifically for Cannabis

Sourcing seeds and clones

Integrating Cannabis into a diversified farm

Understanding Cannabis Cultivation Law and Regulations

Medical landscape versus recreational landscape – what is different

Licensing

Testing process and standards

Craft Cannabis Cultivation Cooperatives (CCCC)

What is an agricultural cooperative? Why might it be a good fit for you and your farm?

How to form or join a CCCC

In between talks and panel discussions featuring growers and industry experts, you’ll have a lot of time to meet other growers, meet people who are actively recruiting farmers for their Cannabis cooperative, and enjoy a catered lunch. We’ll conclude the day with a giveaway of Cannabis seeds and plants to get you started on your cultivation path!
Register Online Now or Mail In This Registration Form
More Info
For information on our refund and inclement weather policy, click here.
For questions contact Dan Bensonoff, education events organizer, at dan@nofamass.org or 860-716-5122

Dairy Tours & Overnight Farm Stays
2017-12-06 10:00 - 12:30 | Liberty Hill Farms, 511 Liberty Hill, Rochester, VT, 05767, United States
Experience agritourism at some of Vermont’s premiere destinations. Whether you are new to agritourism or have years of experience, you are invited to join farmers as well as agricultural, tourism, and insurance professionals for farm tours and discussion about what works and what doesn’t. Topics will include safety, liability, marketing, and more. Resources and follow-up technical assistance will be available.
More information is available at the University of Vermont Extension website listed below.
Workshop 10 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. (optional lunch 12:30-1:30 p.m.)

New England Farm Succession School
2017-12-05 10:00 - 15:30 | Massachusetts Farm Bureau Federation Office, 249 Lakeside Drive, Marlboro, MA
Three Session Course: Dec 5, Jan 11, Feb 7
One of a farmer’s biggest challenges is planning for farm succession. The Farm Succession School provides farmers and farming couples looking toward retirement and farm transition the structured and sustained support to make decisions, engage their family, and organize the legal and financial mechanics. Topics include goal setting, estate planning, retirement planning, family communications, taxes, legal structure, Medicaid, and bringing on a successor.
A commitment of just three days over the winter months will allow farmers to develop a concrete plan for their farm business, their land, and their retirement. Program includes presentations, group discussions and individual exercises, with “assignments” between sessions.
Farmers who have participated loved the amount of attention they received and valued the trust and sharing that developed among the participants, regardless of scale or type of enterprise. “It opened my mind to all that’s involved and not be afraid to seek help from professionals,” shared one farmer. “A must do! Definitely would recommend it. Well worth the time!” shared another farming couple. Read more of what farmers had to say.
Find more info and register here

Fair Food Business Boot Camp
2017-12-05 - 2017-12-07 | Lindentree Farm, 10 Old Concord Road, Lincoln, MA, 01773, United States
Fair Food Network’s Fair Food Fund provides financing and business assistance to good food enterprises that are growing vibrant local food systems. We finance innovative businesses that are supporting resilient working farms and strong local food economies in the Northeastern United States. Lending is bolstered with business assistance including an annual business boot camp and one-on-one consulting. Fair Food Network launched the Fair Food Fund in 2012 to build robust regional food systems—and in the process, help exceptional, innovative businesses turn potential into profit.
Fair Food Business Boot Camp
This annual three-day event includes skill building sessions with industry mentors and fellow entrepreneurs to help selected entrepreneurs refine their business model, solidify plans, and accelerate growth. Topics include marketing, telling your story, break-even analysis, understanding financial statements, fundraising, and more.
The Boot Camp is FREE for selected entrepreneurs including room and board. Plus, participants have the chance to win $10,000 in cash prizes at the culminating pitch competition. Individuals applying to attend the program must either be a founding member of the enterprise or a member of the executive leadership team.
Eligibility
We’re looking for enterprises that meet the following general criteria:

Committed to building vibrant regional food systems in the Northeastern United States (Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, and Vermont)

Incorporated in the U.S.

Strong consideration is given to enterprises that provide processing, marketing, local/regional food distribution, or information technology platforms that link farms with consumers and/or wholesale customers.
Preference given to applicants planning to seek financing in the next 6-12 months.

Find more info and register here.

HIP Forum
2017-12-04 17:30 - 20:30 | World War II Club, 50 Conz Street, Northampton, MA, 01060, United States
This event is intended for farmers’ market vendors, farm staff, market managers, and volunteers working directly with HIP at farmers’ markets, farm stands, and CSAs.
Please join us at CISA’s Fall HIP Forum to sum up HIP’s successes and challenges, share best practices and existing resources, and advocate for what markets and farms need to ensure HIP is successful. We’ll be meeting Monday, December 4 from 5:30-8:30pm, in the back room of the World War II Club in Northampton (just off I-91, with parking available). Food will be provided; there is a cash bar in the front of the club. All market and farm folks working directly with HIP are encouraged to attend. Refreshments provided. Please contact Mia to RSVP. Hope to see you there!
CISA developed this flyer to show customers where they can access their HIP benefit through the winter months. We encourage you to make it available at your farm stand and/or farmers’ market. If you have any questions, please contact Mia.

SNAP Retailer Sign-Up Day
2017-11-30 09:00 - 17:00 | Sheraton Hotel and Conference Center, 1657 Worcester Rd, Framingham, MA, United States
At this drop-in information session you can get your farm, farm stand or farmers’ market authorized for SNAP (food stamps) and receive your USDA FNS number the very same day! USDA, Department of Transitional Assistance and Department of Agricultural Resources staff will be on site to walk you through the process and assist with your application. You will also learn about SNAP processing equipment options and the Healthy Incentives Program (HIP) benefit. NOTE: Registration for the conference is not required if you wish to only attend the retailer sign-up event.
Where: Mass Farm Bureau Annual Meeting: Thursday, November 30, DROP-IN hours between: 9:00 am – 5:00 pm, Sheraton Framingham Hotel, 1657 Worcester Rd., Framingham, MA 01701
SNAP Retailer Sign-Up: Things to Bring
If you intend on getting an FNS number (SNAP retailer authorization), please bring copies of the following documents for all principal business owners to be included with your application:

Picture ID (driver’s license or passport).
Social Security Card (or other official document with your name and SSN, i.e., top page of tax return).
Copy of voided check for bank account you will use to deposit funds.

For non-profit 501(c)(3) Farmers Markets Only:
Farmers Markets operated/sponsored by a non-profit are the ONLY applicants that are not required to submit verification of a Social Security number for corporate officers/board members.
Documentation Required:

Copy of the IRS Determination Letter stating the organization is a 501(c)(3). A (C)(4) and (C)(6) will not be accepted.
Letter from the sponsoring agency stating that they are sponsoring the farmers market and who they have appointed as their legal representative to operate the farmers market.
The application must be signed by a corporate officer or a board member.

For Government Owned/Operated Farmers Markets Only – Documentation Required:

Copy of the City/Town IRS EIN/TIN Tax Exempt Letter.
City/Town Official must sign the Application Certification Page.
No personal information is required or needed.

For more information please contact:
David Webber, Department of Agricultural Resources
O: 617.626.1754 or E: david.webber@state.ma.us
Frank Martinez Nocito, Department of Transitional Assistance
O: 413.772.3411 or E: frank.martineznocito@state.ma.us

Building a Niche Agri Enterprise into a Successful Business
2017-11-28 17:30 - 18:45 | UMass Amherst, Amherst, MA, 01003, United States
Join Tucka Saville of Anarchy Apiaries and Julia Coffey of Mycoterra Farm to discuss how they built their niche food system businesses.
Tucka will discuss the challenges and successes of building and sustaining apiaries in both the Northern and Southern climates of the East Coast. She works with both Anarchy Apiaries in New York and Florida, and with French Hill Apiaries in Northern Vermont.
Julia has built Mycoterra Farm from a garage based mushroom grow room to a large scale mushroom production facility in Deerfield, MA. Julia will share her journey with us, and her scalable model for success.
Hosted by The Stockbridge School of Agriculture, UMass Amherst
Where: Paige Lab Conference Room – Room 202
Who: Anyone! Open to the public
Parking: Meter Parking on campus is FREE after 5pm
Campus map:
https://www.umass.edu/visitorsctr/sites/default/files/maps/campusmap.pdf

FCCC November Breakfast Series- Farmer Q&A with Jennifer Flanagan
2017-11-17 09:00 - 10:00 | Terraza Ristorante at the Greenfield Country Club, 244 Country Club Road, Greenfield, MA, United States
The Franklin County Chamber of Commerce is pleased to announce that Cannabis Control Commissioner Jennifer Flanagan will speak at its November 17 breakfast at Terrazza Ristorante at the Greenfield Country Club. Governor Baker named former MA State Senator Jennifer L. Flanagan as the gubernatorial appointee to the five-member CCC, charged with regulating both the adult use and medical marijuana industries. As a member of the State Senate, Flanagan served on numerous legislative committees focusing on public health, substance misuse, and professional licensure. Additionally, she led efforts to enact comprehensive and bipartisan legislation proposed and signed by the Governor to combat substance use addiction through treatment, recovery and prevention. Following the breakfast, the Franklin County Chamber of Commerce has arranged for Commissioner Flanagan to meet with local farmers/producers to discuss the work of the CCC and gather feedback free of charge from 9:15-10:00am please RSVP to 413-773-5463.

Understanding Customer Behavior at Farmers' Markets: Tips to Increase Sales
2017-11-14 15:00 - 18:00 | Northampton Senior Center, 67 Conz St, Northampton, MA, MA, 01060, United States
With the number of farmers’ markets in the Massachusetts steadily increasing and the tripling of SNAP sales coming into markets through the state-wide Healthy Incentive Program, drawing in customers to your stand is imperative.
What can farmers do to attract more shoppers to their stands? How can farmers actively market their products in and out of the farmers’ markets? What can farmers do to better understand customer behavior at the market, and how can they use this information to increase customer satisfaction?
Chris Wayne of GrowNYC’s FARMroots program will present a tool for measuring customer behavior at farmers’ markets. By leveraging customer research performed by grocery stores and largescale food retailers, and building on 40 years of institutional knowledge internally through the operation of NYC’s Greenmarkets, FARMroots developed strategies to increase sales and customer satisfaction. Learn tips for advanced merchandising, how to appeal to a customer’s behavioral habits, segmenting your market, how to leverage sales data records to make informed marketing decisions, and ways you and your staff can improve your customer’s overall shopping experience.
For more information contact Stevie Schafenacker – stevie@buylocalfood.org, 413-665-7100 ext. 27

Register

Local Hero Members $10.00 USDNon-Members $15.00 USD

Enter name(s) of attendees:

About FARMRoots:
FARMroots provides both aspiring and established Greenmarket farmers with business technical assistance and training designed to ensure the long-term viability of participating farms and farmland. Technical assistance is provided through both in-house services and through the engagement of cost-shared consultants.
About GrowNYC:
GrowNYC’s mission is to improve New York City’s quality of life through environmental programs that transform communities block by block and empower all New Yorkers to secure a clean and healthy environment for future generations. Over the past 45 years they’ve become a service organization, operating 50+ farmers’ markets and regional food hub, providing city-wide recycling and composting resources, supporting a network of hundreds of community gardens, and creating a robust farmer and community education program. Their Greenmarket Farmers’ Market network sees over 250,000 customers each week with 224 regional farmers and food producers.

Register

Local Hero Members $10.00 USDNon-Members $15.00 USD

Enter name(s) of attendees:

Funding for this workshop was supported by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Agricultural Marketing Service through grant 16FMPPMA0002, Local Hero members, and individual contributors.

Lean Management Principles for Farmers
2017-11-08 09:00 - 13:30 | Outlook Farm, 136 Main Road, Westhampton, MA, 01027, United States
WE’VE HAD A GREAT RESPONSE FOR THIS WORKSHOP! UNFORTUNATELY, WE ARE AT CAPACITY AND CAN NO LONGER TAKE RSVP’S. To be put on the waiting list, please email stevie@buylocalfood.org with your name and farm/business name. Thank you!

Can factory principles be applied to farming without compromising the values of sustainability? According to our presenter and lean business consultant Scott Morrison, it can. This is backed up by the recent book “The Lean Farm” authored by Indiana small farmer, Ben Hartman. His popular book created a buzz in the agricultural community, offering an approach to efficiency that focuses on increasing production capacity by changing your processes in all aspects of your operations. Farmers like Hartman found that incorporating lean principles drastically cuts their wastes and increases their profits, making their farms more environmentally and economically sustainable.
Exactly how do these principles translate to farm operations? Lean makes you think about the minutia of operations and how even the smallest improvement can add up to savings over time: in money, tools, and resources. It means taking note of the number of movements a person makes from harvest to market, using the right sized and functioning tools, improving communication with your employees, and seeing where you can minimize the use of resources like water and packaging.
Join us for a half-day workshop on lean farming presented by consultant Scott Morrison at Outlook Farm with owner, Brad Morse. We will begin with an introduction to Lean principles and apply them in a walkthrough of Outlook’s post-harvest operations. We will discuss how to map out any process in your operations to identify opportunities to streamline and reduce costs, determine the capacity of production and how to create investment and ownership from your workforce to make improvements to the farm.
Our presenter, Scott Morrison, consulted with Local Hero member Red Fire Farm, referenced in a recent May 17th Boston Globe article. He has worked with other farms throughout the Northeast in addition to Red Fire and we are excited to bring him back to the Valley to speak to more farmers on the value in lean farming principles.
This workshop is coordinated in collaboration with PVGrows Investment Fund, Franklin County CDC (FCCDC), and Massachusetts Department of Agriculture (MDAR) Agricultural Business Training Program
For more information contact Stevie Schafenacker – stevie@buylocalfood.org, 413-665-7100 ext. 27
About Scott:
Scott Morrison has thirty-five years of experience in the fields of Quality, Engineering, and Operations, the last six as a 5S/Lean consultant to a variety of companies across the US, including a few farms in New England. He has a sharp eye for understanding processes and then cutting through the waste to enhance the value of those processes. Excellent communication skills plus both shop floor and senior management experience allow Scott to easily relate to everyone in your organization.
More About Lean Farming:
Farmer to Farmer podcast: The Lean Farm
“Fueling the Farm to Table…”, Boston Globe
The Lean Farm by Ben Hartman
Scott Morrison

“Funding for this workshop was supported by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Agricultural Marketing Service through grant 16FMPPMA0002. Its contents are solely the responsibility of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official views of the USDA.”

Online Farming Courses - Cornell Small Farms Program
2017-11-06
Join one of our upcoming online farming courses: Veggie Farming, Berry Production, Introduction to Maple Syrup, and more!
The Cornell Small Farms Program offers over twenty courses to help farmers improve their technical and business skills. Students connect with other farmers, work on farm plans, and gain practical tips without leaving their home. Course content can be accessed anywhere with a high-speed internet connection.
Most courses are six weeks long. Each week features an evening webinar and follow-up readings, videos, and activities. Students and their instructors connect through online forums and live chat. If you aren’t able to attend the webinars in real-time, they are always recorded for later viewing.
Classes starting the Week of November 6 include:
BF 120: Veggie Farming 1 – From Planning to Planting
This course helps new and aspiring vegetable producers answer basic questions about site selection, crop rotation, seeding and transplanting, and financial aspects of veggie production. Topics including variety selection, pre-plant preparation, and cultivation will be covered.
http://smallfarms.cornell.edu/online-courses/course-descriptions/veggie-farming-part-1-bf-120/
BF130: Poultry Production (BF 130)
Many new farmers get started with poultry, because it’s a relatively low-investment enterprise with a fairly quick turnaround time from investment to revenue. The margins can be slim though, and farmers need to develop the necessary skillset in order to produce a product that is both safe and profitable. This course will help you get started with all the basic information to build a successful poultry enterprise.
http://smallfarms.cornell.edu/online-courses/course-descriptions/poultry-production-bf-130/
​BF 122: Berry Production
If you’re exploring the idea of adding berries and bramble fruits to your farm, this course will help you consider all the aspects of this decision, from varieties and site selection all the way through profit potential and marketing.
http://smallfarms.cornell.edu/online-courses/course-descriptions/berry-production-bf-122/
BF 152: Introduction to Maple Syrup Production

Maple syrup production is rapidly growing around the Northeast and offers a sound financial opportunity to utilize woodlots. This course explores the range possibilities of maple sugaring on your land – be it for supplemental income or for your livelihood. Also discussed are “alternative” trees for production, including Birch and Black Walnut.
http://smallfarms.cornell.edu/online-courses/course-descriptions/introduction-to-maple-syrup-production-bf-152/
Course tuition entitles two people from a farm to attend. Discounts for early sign up and multiple course sign ups are available.
Check out the listings at http://smallfarms.cornell.edu/online-courses/ for more information on a particular course and the instructors.
Questions?
Contact Erica Frenay, ejf5@cornell.edu or Steve Gabriel, sfg53@cornell.edu
or call 607-255-2142
ABOUT
The Small Farms Program helps farmers get expert assistance to facilitate all phases of small farm business development, from initial growth to optimization to maturity.  We are a joint effort of the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences and Cornell Cooperative Extension.

Complete pig butchering workshop and pastured meat share
2017-11-05 08:30 - 16:30 | Doghill Farm, Huntington, MA, United States
Learn how to slaughter, dress, quarter and further butcher hoofed animals! In this workshop, we’ll take apart three heritage breed pigs at Doghill farm in Huntington MA. Learn about butchering, charcuterie and anatomy as we transform these noble cousins of ours into food for us humans. All parts of the animal will be used, including organ meats, bones and blood. Lastly, we will learn to use the sinew for string, hooves for glue. Folks will be expected to roll their sleeves and participate. All this will be done, of course, in the respectful context of interdependence. No experience necessary.
One pig will be available for purchase in advance of the workshop, and buyers can take their packaged share home. Email apeandapemass@gmail.com for more information.
Quarter share: (~40lbs, 250$)
Half share: (~80lbs, 425$)
Full pig: (~160lbs, 600$)
Workshop attendance 35-75$ sliding scale. Please RSVP by email: apeandapemass@gmail.com
http://www.apeandape.com/workshops–blog/complete-pig-butchering-workshop-and-pastured-meat-share

Widening the Welcome: The Future of Agriculture for Farmers of Color
2017-11-04 09:00 - 13:00 | 224 Ecospace, 224 Farmington Avenue, Hartford, CT, 06105, United States
On Saturday, November 4, 2017, Hidden Acres Farm, Inc. is proud to host Widening the Welcome: The Future of Agriculture for Farmers of Color at the 224 Ecospace on 224 Farmington Avenue in Hartford, Connecticut. This half-day conference will begin promptly at 9:00 am and end at 1:00 pm. Featured speakers include Amani Olugbala (Soul Fire Farm, Grafton, NY); Karen Washington (Rise and Root Farm, Black Urban Growers, Brooklyn/Bronx, NY); Isa Muhajid (CT CORE, New Haven, CT) and Hartford’s own Patricia E. Kelly (Ebony Horsewomen, Inc., Hartford, CT).
“The face of agriculture in this country is changing by leaps and bounds”, observed Michelle Louise Bicking, Executive Director of Hidden Acres Farm, Inc. “We need to be more deliberate in our efforts to recruit and educate ethnic and religious ‘minority’ groups on the many opportunities that exist in Agriculture.”
Widening the Welcome is open to the general public. Exhibitors of all backgrounds and lived experiences are welcome, with an emphasis on Latinx, First Nations, African American/Black and Asian American Pacific Islander business owners. Lunch and breakfast will be provided. Registration can be completed online only at www.wtw17.eventbrite.com. Questions about the conference can be directed to Michelle Louise Bicking at ourhiddenacresfarm@gmail.com.
Contact:
Michelle Louise Bicking, JP LCSW MPA
Hidden Acres Farm, Inc.
667 Old Stafford Road
Tolland, CT 06084
Cell:. 860-598-0028
Email:. ourhiddenacresfarm@gmail.com
URL: www.ourhiddenacresfarm.org

Widening the Welcome: The Future of Agriculture for Communities of Color
2017-11-04 08:30 - 12:00 | The 224 Ecospace, 224 Farmington Avenue, Hartford, CT, United States
About the Event:
The face of farming is radically changing. How can we encourage more African American/Black, Latinx and API/APA communities to be in the vanguard of these changes in New England? Join us Saturday, November 4, 2017 for a rare opportunity to raise the voices of global majority actors with a vested interest in agrarian-based ventures statewide and regionally. This open, pre-registration required event also serves an introduction to the upcoming Where Women Gather: A Celebration of Women in Farming hosted by Hidden Acres Farm, Inc. in New Haven, CT in late June 2018: www.wherewomengather.eventbrite.com.
Invited Guest Speakers:
Honorable Mayor Luke Bronin, City of Hartford (Pending*)
Amani Olugbala, Farm & Food Justice Advocate – Soul Fire Farm, Grafton, NY (Confirmed*)
Karen Washington, Farmer/Food Justice Advocate – Rise and Root Farm, Black Urban Growers, Brooklyn/Bronx, NY (Confirmed*)
Lydia Clemmons, Second Generation Owner/Coordinator – Clemmons Family Farm, Charlotte, VT (Pending*)
Isa & Camelle Muhajid, Founders/Social Justice Advocates – CT CORE, New Haven, CT (Pending*)
Invited Vendors/Exhibitors:
Pending
Agenda:
TBD
Questions/concerns/comments about this event? Who else from the communities served in Connecticut would you like in attendance? Please contact event co-host Michelle Louise Bicking at ourhiddenacresfarm@gmail.com. Thank you in advance for registering!
Click here for more info.

Engaging Farm Visitors: Tours, Camps & Animals
2017-11-02 14:00 - 17:30 | Shelburne Farms, 1611 Harbor Road, Shelburne, VT, 05482, United States
Experience agritourism at three of Vermont’s premiere destinations. Whether you are new to agritourism or have years of experience, you are invited to join farmers as well as agricultural, tourism, and insurance professionals for farm tours and discussion about what works and what doesn’t. Topics will include safety, liability, marketing, and more. Resources and follow-up technical assistance will be available.
For more information, visit the University of Vermont Extension website listed below.
$10 Workshop / $35 Workshop and dinner
Workshop 2-5:30 p.m. / Optional chili & cornbread supper 5:30-7:00 p.m.

Massachusetts No-Till Conference 2017: Dairy and Vegetables
2017-10-30 09:00 - 15:00 | Carter and Stevens Farm, 500 West Street, Barre, MA, 01005, United States
Topics will include:

Why No-till Works! (Kate Parsons, NRCS Resource Conservationist)
Nutrient Management in No-till systems (Tom Morris, UConn Plant Science Professor)
Cover Crop Selection and Termination (Dave Wilson, PennState Extension Agronomist)
Pest and Disease Management for No-Till (Katie Campbell-Nelson, UMass Extension Vegetable Program)
Adapting Your Planter for No-Till (John Hoffman, Johnny’s Ag Service, Ellington,CT)
Equipment tradeshow
Dairy and Vegetable Farmer panels

One Pesticide credit will be available for this program.
Registration: $16.00 (lunch included)
Click Here To Register: http://events.eventzilla.net/e/notill-farming-conference-2138904873 (link is external)
Sponsored by the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service, Massachusetts Association of Conservation Districts, and Worcester County Conservation District, UMass Extension, Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE) Program, and Carter and Stevens Farm.
Event Website: http://events.eventzilla.net/e/notill-farming-conference-2138904873 (link is external)
Contact’s name: Lisa Trotto
Contact’s phone: 508-829-4477 x7038
Contact’s email: Lisa.trotto@ma.usda.gov
Location: 500 West Street, Barre, MA 01005
https://ag.umass.edu/vegetable/events/massachusetts-no-till-conference-2017-dairy-vegetables
413 545-6325

Efficiency in the Field: Managing Your Crew to Achieve Results and Deepen Relationships
2017-10-26 14:00 - 17:00 | Brookfield Farm, Hulst Rd, Amherst, MA
Join Pete McLean of True North Facilitation and Zoe Abram of Brookfield Farm to look at Brookfield as a case study for crew management. The workshop is broken into two parts: an introduction to Brookfield Farm as a case study, and a self assessment and analysis of each participant’s farm.
Pete’s approach is very personal, and requires folks to look at their plans, clarify their goals, craft the process, and commit to the outcomes. With his experience in farming and background in developing community culture, Pete’s focus will be on creating farm crew buy in to daily operations as it relates to field operations.
This event is GREAT for farm owners and managers in their first 10 years of operation but make no mistake, there is knowledge to be gained by all levels of experience at this workshop.
For more information contact Stevie Schafenacker – stevie@buylocalfood.org, 413-665-7100 ext. 27 and read more about Pete McLean below.
Pete McLean founded his coaching and consulting business, True North Facilitation, focused on empowering people to achieve the results they want while deepening the relationships they care about. Much of his knowledge and skills come from his near decade experience in farm fields and community organizing. He co-founded Book and Plow Farm in Amherst, MA and worked in others fields throughout Massachusetts, the Northeast, and Belize. Since starting True North, Pete has worked with over 40 individuals and small businesses, including farmers.

Register

Local Hero Members $10.00 USDNon-Members $15.00 USD

Enter name(s) of attendees:

Funding for this workshop is provided by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), National Institute of Food and Agriculture under award 2016-70017-25423, and by individual contributors and Local Hero members. This institution is an equal opportunity provider.

Webinar: Produce Safety Rules for Food and Farm Businesses
2017-10-25 10:00 - 11:00 | Online
Please join Joe Levitt and Elizabeth Fawell, attorneys at Hogan Lovells US LLP, in collaboration with Conservation Law Foundation’s Legal Food Hub, for a webinar on the FDA Food Safety Modernization Act’s (FSMA) Produce Safety Rule. This rule establishes standards for safe growing, harvesting, packing, and holding of fruits and vegetables grown for human food. In addition to learning about the requirements of the rule, you will hear about exemptions and modified requirements. If you are a farmer, this is an opportunity to understand what your obligations are, and whether you are exempt or have fewer requirements to follow. For those not exempt, it is a chance to learn what you need to be doing. For attorneys, this valuable session will help you understand what your farm and food clients’ needs may be, allowing you to better provide counsel on this important food safety law and its implementing rules.
Joe Levitt is a partner at Hogan Lovells US LLP and is a former director of FDA’s Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition. Elizabeth Fawell is counsel at Hogan Lovells US LLP. Together, they have represented food industry interests throughout both the legislative development and the subsequent FDA rulemaking stages of FSMA. Now they counsel food industry clients on an ongoing basis regarding FSMA compliance. They will bring this deep experience and knowledge of FSMA to the Legal Food Hub community.
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Audience members should use the following dial-in numbers to join the conference:
1 (888) 424-8151 – Audience US Toll Free
1 (847) 585-4422 – Audience US Toll
Audience Passcode: [REDACTED] 651
Audience local and international free phone telephone numbers:
http://web.meetme.net/r.aspx?p=11&a=UjnYDodoYatEBy
Webcast URL:
http://event.onlineseminarsolutions.com/wcc/r/1514413-1/80B43484D6C6E05D016C5FCC0BEDB88C

Women in Ag: Distribution Solutions for Regional Food Systems
2017-10-24 17:30 - 19:00 | Stockbridge Hall, 80 Campus Center Way , Amherst, MA, 01003, United States
Join Annie Myer of Myers Produce and Susan Pincus of Sawmill Herb Farm to hear about creative solutions to regional food distribution. Myers Produce distributes produce from Vermont, Maine, and Massachusetts to wholesale clients in Boston and New York. Susan Pincus of Sawmill Herb Farm works in partnership with Myers Produce to deliver a fresh medicinal herb CSAs to clients in Boston & New York. Susan also works to build local partnerships with educators and herbalist in the Pioneer Valley.
Find more info here.

Women in Meat Northeast
2017-10-22 - 2017-10-24 | Various Locations, MA, United States
Women in Meat Northeast is an event designed for women whose livelihood intersects with the world of livestock such as butchers, farmers, processors, chefs, value-added producers, distributers, and service providers across all segments of the industry. Their goal is to provide women with the opportunities to learn from and network with one another, while developing valuable skills and growing and strengthening their respective businesses and brands.
There are a number of workshops and events over the course of the conference; find more information and tickets here.

Product Development Considerations: Beyond the Concept
2017-10-18 09:00 - 17:00 | Western MA Food Processing Center, 324 Wells St, Greenfield, MA, 01370, United States
Do you want help better understanding the food safety principles behind your process?
Do you need help with product development for a current or future product?
Propel your food business to the next level by delving into product development and food safety with Amanda Kinchla, of the UMASS Food Science Department, an expert on HACCP and product development.

Amanda Kinchla M.S., Food Science Extension Specialist at the University of Massachusetts Amherst. Amanda has over 15 years of product development success that will support product development research from concept to commercialization and address technical challenges that target specific product/business needs. In addition, she has extensive experience in applied food microbiology and will conduct research in all aspects of food safety from farm to fork.
The full day course will cover:Principles of Food Safety and Risk Management

Establishing Process Controls & Effective Strategies for Record Keeping
Quality Attributes of Food
Financial/Business Considerations to account for in your product development process
Food Regulation and Product Labeling and Claims
HACCP Plan Requirements and/or Low-Acid and Acidified Certification
Determine Formula, Process and Packaging for a safe food system
Commercial Canning (Acidified Foods)
Product Development Life Cycle

$200 for the full day includes lunch
To Register: http://bit.ly/ProductDevCourse

Webinar: Farmers as Advocates
2017-10-17 12:30 - 13:45 | Online
Co-hosted by the Johns Hopkins Center for a Livable Future and featuring the West Virginia Food & Farm Coalition, Johnson County Food Policy Council, and Rural Vermont.
This webinar focuses on the power of the individual voice of farmers telling their stories in support of food and farm policy change. Join us for a conversation with farmers about the value of farmers as members of food and farm coalitions, what motivates farmers to engage in local and state level policy advocacy, what to consider to engage farmers in long-term, policy advocacy, and how to successfully build the capacity of farmers to be advocates. Themes include: the power of the stakeholder voice, engaging farmers as a long-term strategy, mobilization of farmers at local and state levels, cultural/political considerations of farmer engagement and how to overcome these issues, capacity issues, and training needs.
Find more info and register here.

Where Farm and Forest Meet: Fall Walk at the Beckwith Farm
2017-10-13 15:00 - 18:00 | The Beckwith Farm, 243 Sodom Road, Granville, MA, 01034, United States
Bob Beckwith will walk attendees through the stewardship options that he used in his woods to create wildlife habitat and regenerate oak. Chat with local woodland owners, foresters, loggers, and other land conservation professionals about options for you and your woods. Bob will host a barbecue. Space is limited. RVSP by Oct. 10th to reserve your spot for the barbecue. Contact: 413-923-3238 or email 413treesale@gmail.com. This event is sponsored by the Hampden Hampshire Conservation District, Mass. Dept. of Conservation and Recreation, and the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service.

Farm Olympics
2017-10-08 14:00 - 17:00 | Just Roots Farm, 34 Glenbrook Drive, Greenfield, MA, 01301, United States
October 8, 2017, 2:00-5:00pm
Just Roots Farm in Greenfield
Calling all extreme farmers! … or just your average farm crew prone to antics and friendly competition. The Farm Olympics is coming to the Pioneer Valley! Recommended training regimens might include weeding with gusto, launching hay bales, estimating vegetable weights, racing crates of potatoes down pathways and weed identification. Compete as a farm team or come on your own and create a team! Not a farmer? This is a come one come all competition! Take on the local farmers, if you dare!
We are looking for folks who want to come with their own farm team. It can be a cadre of crew members, a contingent of customers, or a formation of multiple farms. Let us know If you’d like to get involved in planning and/or what your team name would be. Who wouldn’t want to make their own Squash Squad?
In support and collaboration with CISA, Just Roots will be coordinating and hosting the 2017 Farm Olympics at their farm in Greenfield. RSVP requested but not required. Delicious food and beverage to follow provided by The People’s Pint.
For more information or to RSVP:
Stevie Schafenacker, CISA Program Coordinator, 413-665-7100
Rochelle Bellin, Just Roots Program Coordinator, 413-325-8969

New England Farm Succession School
2017-09-27 08:00 - 17:00 | Connecticut Farm Bureau – Whethersfield, 78 Beaver Road, Weathersfield, MA, 06109, United States
For senior farmers and farm couples looking toward retirement and farm transition.
Planning for farm succession is one of your biggest challenges. You know it’s important. You’ve probably thought about it. Maybe you’ve gone to a workshop.But that’s not enough.
The Farm Succession School is a three-session program designed for farmers looking for a bit of structure and motivation to tackle succession planning. The program will bring you from thinking about the future to doing active planning. Your commitment of three winter days will help to guide you toward a successful planning outcome for you, your family and your farm.
You will come away with a concrete game plan for your farm business, your land and your retirement. Whether or not you have an identified successor, this program will give you information, tools and advice to build a realistic plan that meets your objectives and enables you to take next steps.
The program consists of working sessions, presentations from experts, group discussion and individual exercises. Between sessions, participants will complete homework such as worksheets, readings and family meetings. Topics include goal setting, estate planning, retirement planning, family communications, taxes, legal structure, Medicaid, and bringing on a successor.
The fee is $300 per farmer or farm couple, including lunch and materials. Plus, participants will receive a $200 credit toward hiring succession-related technical assistance.
Additional benefit! Attendees will also receive no-cost technical assistance between sessions and discounted continuing planning support from Land For Good.
For more information or to register, call (603) 357-1600 or click here to register now. Deadline to register is October 20, 2017. Space is limited!

The Grassfed Exchange Conference
2017-09-27 - 2017-09-29 | Desmond Hotel, 660 Albany Shaker Road, Albany, NY, United States
Early Bird Deadline July 31st
September 27th-29th in Albany, NY
The Grassfed Exchange invites you to participate in this year’s seminal event on grassfed meat and dairy. This three-day event will feature a variety of engaging and educational seminars, panel discussions and farm tours for producers and consumers alike. This is a unique opportunity to network with innovative producers, leading researchers, and experts from across the supply chain. It is a chance to learn about topics central to grassfed production including soil health, animal genetics, grazing management, marketing and more.
The Grassfed Exchange is the grassfed industry leader in organizing and sharing top-shelf information about grassfed production, soil health and environmental quality.
What The Grassfed Exchange Is About
The Grassfed Exchange Conference is a gathering of regenerative ranchers, dairymen, and sustainable food supporters from across the world who come together to network and exchange ideas. We desire to help producers and consumers grow in the knowledge of the grassfed industry.
Who Should Attend:

Regenerative Producers
Our mission is to help producers understand the possibility of managing and finishing cattle correctly on grass and to produce the best quality beef and dairy products possible that also ensures consistency of quality within the industry.

Learn how to produce the highest quality beef and dairy products using 100% grass-based production models.
Learn how to employ regenerative production practices that can rapidly improve your soil’s health and organic matter.
Learn from experienced producers on how to implement stacked enterprises and direct marketing models to create value-added profit centers on your farm.
Hear directly from authors, food bloggers, and top chefs that represent an entire movement of consumers that value regenerative food production practices.

Sustainable Food Supporters
We desire to educate consumers on the health benefits of grassfed beef, not only as it pertains to our own health, but also on the positive impact grassfed beef production has on the health of our planet.

Take part in workshops lead by industry experts like Diana Rodgers and Robb Wolf. Learn how human health is rooted in soil, plant, and animal health.
Tour local farms and see first-hand how they produce nourishing, pasture-based foods.
Take advantage of the unique opportunity to network with other families who want access to healthy foods.
Enjoy live cooking demonstrations and a banquet dinner prepared by the award-winning chef, Jeremy Stanton.

For more information and registration please visit https://grassfedexchange.com/

Women in Agriculture: Campus Farms and the Women Who Run Them
2017-09-26 17:30 - 19:00 | Stockbridge Hall, 80 Campus Center Way , Amherst, MA, 01003, United States
Join the Stockbridge School of Agriculture as they highlight campus farms. UMass Student Farm‘s Amanda Brown and Book & Plow Farm‘s Maida Ives will share their stories of managing campus farms in the Pioneer Valley, providing food for the institutions in which they are housed, engaging with students and conducting on-farm education and service learning in collaboration, all while collaborating with the student body.

Find more info here.

Twilight Meeting: Produce Wash Station Design, Use, and Maintenance
2017-09-26 16:00 - 18:30 | Atlas Farm, 635 River Rd Deerfield, MA 01342
(note: this meeting is at the main farm on River Rd, and NOT at the Atlas Farm store on Routes 5 & 10 in S. Deerfield)
A functional wash and pack area can improve both workflow and produce safety. FSMA’s Produce Rule states that equipment, tools, and buildings must be of adequate design and able to be cleaned and properly maintained. We will discuss the range of options available for growers of different scales to meet these requirements. We’ll tour the wash house with a recirculating washer-conveyer at Atlas Farm with owner, Gideon Porth and hear about the design of a mobile wash station by Amanda Brown from the UMass Student Farm. We will also cover how to develop Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) and keep sanitation records. Extension Educators will be on-hand to give input and answer questions on the following topics:

Infrastructure upgrade decision-making – Chris Callahan, University of Vermont Extension Agricultural Engineer
Developing useful SOPs – Amanda Kinchla, UMass Food Science Extension
Produce safety regulations — Lisa McKeag, UMass Extension

A light dinner will be provided. There is no cost for this program, but please RSVP here. Co-sponsored by UMass Extension and Community Involved in Sustaining Agriculture (CISA). Contact Lisa McKeag, 413-577-3976.

Fieldtrip Workshop: Selling to Schools
2017-09-19 17:00 - 19:00 | Clark Farm, 185 Concord St, Carlisle, MA, United States
If you are a farmer who is thinking about adding new marketing outlets to your farm’s line up, come check out this workshop being offered by New Entry in partnership with Mass Farmers Markets and Mass Farm to School. Hope to see you there!

Tour a diversified vegetable and livestock farm while learning from Farm Manager, Andrew Rodgers, how selling to local schools fits into his farm’s crop and marketing plans. Learn about the necessary steps that must be taken to sell wholesale and the challenges of selling to institutions. Simca Horwitz from Massachusetts Farm to School will also be there to help take you through the process of connecting with local schools, and to help you decide if it is a good fit for you and your farm.
Please RSVP to Molly at molly.dellaroman@tufts.edu.

Tuesday, September 19, 2017

5:00pm – 7:00pm
Location:

Clark Farm, 185 Concord St, Carlisle, MA

FREE

Boston Local Food Festival
2017-09-17 11:00 - 17:00 | Rose Kennedy Greenway, Boston
September 17, 11:00am-5:00pm

Rose F Kennedy Greenway

The 8th Annual Boston Local Food Festival is quickly approaching, don’t miss your chance to reach over 40,000 New Englanders, hungry for local food!
As New England’s largest Farmers Market, the Festival is ideal for:
* Farmers
* Local Restaurants
* Food Trucks (sold out!)
* Specialty Food Producers
* Fisher Folk
* Specialty Beverages
* & other food & products showcasing all the local goodness that New England has to offer!
Whether you’re a new food business, or you’re a seasoned local favorite, the Boston Local Food Festival is a fantastic way to connect with the community and help your business grow!
Interested in becoming a vendor? View the application here!
