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X-WR-CALDESC:Events for CISA - Community Involved In Sustaining Agriculture
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260205T120000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260205T130000
DTSTAMP:20260420T091104
CREATED:20260116T172258Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260116T172334Z
UID:51549-1770292800-1770296400@www.buylocalfood.org
SUMMARY:Small Business Setup & Taxes - Legal Food Hub Winter Webinar Series
DESCRIPTION:February 5: Small Business Setup & Taxes \nNoon – 1 pm \nAttorney Andrew Kraus\, Opticliff Law & CPA Mike Perna\, Flying Point Advisors \nAs an early-stage farm or food business owner\, you recognize that running a business has certain legal and tax related implications. Learn high-level information about legal and tax requirements for maintaining a business entity\, examples of what your business can expect to be taxed on\, and common\, costly mistakes that start-up business owners make. \nRegister at legalfoodhub.org/webinars26
URL:https://www.buylocalfood.org/event/small-business-setup-taxes-legal-food-hub-winter-webinar-series/
LOCATION:Zoom
CATEGORIES:Community Events,Farmer Events
ORGANIZER;CN="Legal Food Hub":MAILTO:legalfoodhub@clf.org
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260211T130000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260211T143000
DTSTAMP:20260420T091104
CREATED:20260113T214638Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260116T153146Z
UID:51518-1770814800-1770820200@www.buylocalfood.org
SUMMARY:Data-Driven Farmers' Markets: Using POS Systems to Inform Market Practices
DESCRIPTION:Berkshire Agricultural Ventures is excited to invite you to a free virtual workshop for farmers and farmers market managers interested in using Point of Sale (POS) data to increase daily sales and make more informed decisions at farmers markets. \n📅 Date: Wednesday\, February 11\, 2026\n⏰ Time: 1:00–2:30pm\n📍 Location: Zoom\n🔗 Register here: https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/QZ2uNZikTNKInAbzux8Lzw \nWorkshop: Data-Driven Farmers Markets\nUsing POS Systems to Inform Market Practices \nFarms often have limited hours at farmers markets- but there are real opportunities to increase profitability by increasing customer spending during that time. This workshop will explore how POS tools like Square can be used to collect and analyze customer transaction data\, and how those insights can inform smarter market strategies. \nPresenter Matt LeRoux of Cornell University will share findings from a multi-year farmers market study in New York\, including practical takeaways for farms selling produce\, meat\, or other farm products. \nYou’ll learn about: \n\nWhat POS data can (and can’t) tell you about customer behavior\nKey findings from statistical analysis of farmers market transactions\nHow data insights can help increase average sales per customer\nPractical implications for booth setup\, pricing\, and product mix\n\nAbout the Presenter\nMatt LeRoux is an Extension Associate with the Cornell Agriculture Marketing Research Program and has over 20 years of experience supporting farms through Cornell Cooperative Extension\, nonprofits\, and consulting. His work focuses on market strategy for produce and livestock farms and food businesses. \nThis workshop is free and open to farmers\, farmers market managers\, and service providers. Please feel free to share widely. \nQuestions?\nJake Levin\, Local Food Systems Program Manager\njake@berkshireagventures.org
URL:https://www.buylocalfood.org/event/data-driven-farmers-markets-using-pos-systems-to-inform-market-practices/
LOCATION:Zoom
CATEGORIES:Farmer Events
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260211T143000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260211T160000
DTSTAMP:20260420T091104
CREATED:20251230T015129Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20251230T214317Z
UID:51413-1770820200-1770825600@www.buylocalfood.org
SUMMARY:Building skills to manage conflict on the farm
DESCRIPTION:Register here for this free virtual workshop\, part of CISA’s winter farmer-to-farmer series on employee management. \nConflict doesn’t tend to resolve itself\, and when left unaddressed\, the consequences for your farm can be far-reaching. In this session\, we explore common sources of conflict on the farm\, our different styles of dealing with conflict\, and how to actively move towards conflict resolution. Presenters Kristen Kordet\, owner of Blue Moon Community Farm\, and Katie Bishop\, owner of PrairiErth Farm\, will share concrete strategies to engage with and resolve conflict more effectively\, both within farm crews and between employees and managers. You’ll leave with new tools to proactively reduce unhealthy conflict\, manage conflict when it arises\, and incorporate lessons learned into your ongoing farm management decisions. \nContact marisa@buylocalfood.org with any questions. \nCISA’s winter farmer-to-farmer series on employee management is supported by the Northeast Extension Risk Management project award no. 2024-70027-42540\, from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture.
URL:https://www.buylocalfood.org/event/building-skills-to-manage-conflict-on-the-farm/
LOCATION:Zoom
CATEGORIES:CISA Events,Farmer Events,CISA Workshops for Businesses
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260212T120000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260212T130000
DTSTAMP:20260420T091104
CREATED:20260116T173443Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260116T173750Z
UID:51552-1770897600-1770901200@www.buylocalfood.org
SUMMARY:Exploring H-2A - Legal Food Hub Winter Webinar Series
DESCRIPTION:February 12: Exploring H-2A \nNoon – 1 pm \nAttorney Chloe Johnson\, Farm Commons \nThe H-2A Visa Program makes it possible for farmers to bring in citizens of other countries for agricultural work in the United States. With a tight labor market\, the visa program is experiencing a lot of growth – farmers who have never considered it before are taking a closer look. This webinar will help farmers assess whether H-2A might help address their labor shortage issues. We’ll also go over the extensive regulatory obligations that come with participation in this program. \nRegister at legalfoodhub.org/webinars26
URL:https://www.buylocalfood.org/event/exploring-h-2a-legal-food-hub-winter-webinar-series/
LOCATION:Zoom
CATEGORIES:Farmer Events
ORGANIZER;CN="Legal Food Hub":MAILTO:legalfoodhub@clf.org
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260213T140000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260213T160000
DTSTAMP:20260420T091104
CREATED:20260112T220042Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260112T220042Z
UID:51506-1770991200-1770998400@www.buylocalfood.org
SUMMARY:Massachusetts Agricultural Risk Management Forum
DESCRIPTION:When: Friday\, February 13\, 2026\, 2pm to 4pm \nWhere: Brigham Hill Community Farm\, Community Harvest Project\, 37 Wheeler Rd\, N. Grafton\, MA 01536 \nRegistration: REGISTER HERE – This event is free to attend but please register in advance \nExtreme weather and other risks to the stability of farm businesses have taken a toll on Massachusetts’ farmers in recent years. There are government support programs aimed at addressing some of these risks. UMass Extension is organizing this forum to bring together representatives from the USDA Risk Management Agency and the Farm Service Agency to give updates on available federal risk management options for regional specialty crop growers. A representative from the Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources will also give an update on the state’s efforts to offset losses for farmers affected by natural disasters and invest in the resilience of farm businesses to future disruptions. There will be significant time for the growers and others in attendance to ask questions and share feedback about their needs and concerns. \nSpeakers: \n\nKevin Wooten\, Regional Director\, USDA Risk Management Agency\, Raleigh\, NC\nJulie Jacque\, Agricultural Program Specialist\, Farm Service Agency\, Brattleboro\, VT\nWinton Pitcoff\, Deputy Agriculture Commissioner/Legislative and Policy Director\, Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources\, Boston\, MA\n\nQuestions? Contact Lisa McKeag\, lmckeag@umass.edu or 413-658-8631
URL:https://www.buylocalfood.org/event/massachusetts-agricultural-risk-management-forum/
LOCATION:Brigham Hill Community Barn\, 37 Wheeler Road\, North Grafton\, MA\, 01536\, United States
CATEGORIES:Farmer Events
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260215T100000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260215T150000
DTSTAMP:20260420T091104
CREATED:20260205T172441Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260205T172441Z
UID:51652-1771149600-1771167600@www.buylocalfood.org
SUMMARY:Pruning with a Purpose: Foundations of Fruit Tree Pruning
DESCRIPTION:Dormant season pruning of fruit trees is one of the best tools farmers and gardeners have in maintaining and optimizing orchard and fruit tree health! It is also one of the most peaceful and pleasant outdoor tasks during the colder months. Join us for a deep dive on apple tree pruning and care this February with Matt Kaminsky\, aka Gnarly Pippins. In this workshop\, we’ll unpack the theory and practice of pruning fruit trees with a focus on apples. Whether you’re a beginner hoping to learn a new skill\, or an old pro hoping to review and brush up\, this will be a useful workshop with hands-on opportunities to work on some trees and build up your pruner’s confidence with. \nMatt Kaminsky is an orchardist and farmer from Western Massachusetts whose specialties include wild apples\, old orchard restoration\, grafting and topworking\, & orchard silvopasture (integration of sheep into orchards). He is known by the moniker “Gnarly Pippins”\, a nod to the wild apples that inspire his passion and his website where he maintains a blog and webshop offering copies of the numerous books he has written about apples\, as well as selling scionwood\, saplings\, and other orchard-related merchandise. He farms full time in Hadley and Sunderland MA with his partner Rachel Haas and together they own & operate Meadowfed Lamb Silvopasture\, which is part of the Preservation Orchard Co-op. He prunes and stewards at many orchards throughout New England and New York\, and offers educational programming on a variety of topics related to orchard care every season. Learn more by visiting www.gnarlypippins.com or @gnarlypippins on social media. \nRain date: Saturday\, February 28th \nLunch will be provided \nRegister Here: https://www.zeffy.com/en-US/ticketing/pruning-with-a-purpose-foundations-of-fruit-tree-pruning
URL:https://www.buylocalfood.org/event/pruning-with-a-purpose-foundations-of-fruit-tree-pruning/
LOCATION:Greenwich Forest Garden\, 893 West St\, Amerst\, MA\, 01002\, United States
CATEGORIES:Farmer Events
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260218T100000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260218T120000
DTSTAMP:20260420T091104
CREATED:20260211T224157Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260211T224157Z
UID:51710-1771408800-1771416000@www.buylocalfood.org
SUMMARY:2026 Tri-State SARE Project - Animal Physiology's Role in Carcass Performance
DESCRIPTION:Register Here: https://forms.office.com/r/tdzCw00GpV
URL:https://www.buylocalfood.org/event/2026-tri-state-sare-project-animal-physiologys-role-in-carcass-performance/
LOCATION:Zoom
CATEGORIES:Farmer Events
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260218T180000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260218T200000
DTSTAMP:20260420T091104
CREATED:20260206T213700Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260206T213700Z
UID:51671-1771437600-1771444800@www.buylocalfood.org
SUMMARY:Farm Employment Laws Made Simple
DESCRIPTION:Join us for the 5th workshop in our Employment Series\, focused on the essentials of farm employment law. This session will be led by Farm Commons\, a trusted national resource for legal education tailored to farmers. \nThe workshop will cover farm employment law fundamentals\, including wage and hour rules\, worker classification\, and compliance basics\, with a dedicated segment on H-2A employment. The H-2A program allows agricultural employers to hire temporary foreign workers when there are not enough U.S. workers available. We’ll review what the program is\, when it applies\, and key legal responsibilities for employers considering or already using H-2A labor. \nThis workshop is ideal for beginning and intermediate farmers who are thinking about hiring their first employee or who want to strengthen their understanding of how farm labor laws apply to their operation and team. \nFor more information: https://nesfp.nutrition.tufts.edu/events/farm-employment-laws-made-simple \nRegister Here! \n\nThis work is supported by the Northeast Extension Risk Management project award no. 2024-70027-42540\, from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture
URL:https://www.buylocalfood.org/event/farm-employment-laws-made-simple/
LOCATION:Zoom
CATEGORIES:Farmer Events
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260219T120000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260219T130000
DTSTAMP:20260420T091104
CREATED:20260116T180658Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260116T180658Z
UID:51555-1771502400-1771506000@www.buylocalfood.org
SUMMARY:Farm Property Insurance - Legal Food Hub Winter Webinar Series
DESCRIPTION:February 19: Farm Property Insurance \nNoon – 1 pm \nAttorney Jeanette Ramirez\, Farm Commons \nRunning a farm business often depends on buildings\, equipment\, vehicles\, and supplies for day-to-day success. If these valuable resources are lost or damaged\, it can be devastating to profitability. Different types of property insurance can help address this risk\, but only if the farmer clearly understands  how these products work. Get clear on which of your items you want covered from the perils that are of top concern to you. \nRegister at legalfoodhub.org/webinars26
URL:https://www.buylocalfood.org/event/farm-property-insurance-legal-food-hub-winter-webinar-series/
LOCATION:Zoom
CATEGORIES:Farmer Events
ORGANIZER;CN="Legal Food Hub":MAILTO:legalfoodhub@clf.org
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260221T100000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260221T120000
DTSTAMP:20260420T091104
CREATED:20260205T170919Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260205T170919Z
UID:51648-1771668000-1771675200@www.buylocalfood.org
SUMMARY:2026 Mass Aggie Seminar - Insects: Pests and Beneficials
DESCRIPTION:Insects; Pests and Beneficials – $50\nDr. Jaime Piñero\nOnline\nFebruary 21\, 2026\n10:00-noon\nJoin Extension Faculty Dr. Jaime Piñero in this exciting Integrated Pest Management (IPM) workshop and learn how to make beneficial insects and insectary plants your garden’s best allies! With these techniques\, you can keep your plants thriving with little to no insecticides. Some materials will be mailed to participants for them to implement IPM at home! \nCLICK HERE TO REGISTER \nRegistration for online sessions will close the Friday prior to each session.
URL:https://www.buylocalfood.org/event/2026-mass-aggie-seminar-insects-pests-and-beneficials/
LOCATION:Zoom
CATEGORIES:Farmer Events
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260225T150000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260225T170000
DTSTAMP:20260420T091104
CREATED:20251218T174055Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20251218T174055Z
UID:51363-1772031600-1772038800@www.buylocalfood.org
SUMMARY:MDAR Winter Workshop - Cash Flow Budgeting
DESCRIPTION:MDAR’s Winter Workshops\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nThe Agricultural Business Assistance program is offering two workshops for farm owner/operators and managers looking to improve their financial management skills and knowledge. Both workshops are free\, will be presented over Zoom\, and are open to all Massachusetts farmers. \nFebruary 25 – 3:00pm – 5:00pm – Cash Flow Budgeting. Instructor Julia Shanks\, food and farm business coach and author of The Farmer’s Office\, will walk farmers through the process of creating a cash flow budget using their historical financials. Register for Cash Flow workshop here. \nFor more detailed descriptions\, visit the Agricultural Business Assistance webpage. Questions? Contact Jess at Jessica.Camp2@mass.gov.
URL:https://www.buylocalfood.org/event/mdar-winter-workshop-cash-flow-budgeting/
LOCATION:Zoom
CATEGORIES:Farmer Events
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260226T120000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260226T130000
DTSTAMP:20260420T091104
CREATED:20260116T181638Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260116T181638Z
UID:51557-1772107200-1772110800@www.buylocalfood.org
SUMMARY:Foreclosure and the Family Farm: What Every Farmer Needs to Know - Legal Food Hub Winter Webinar Series
DESCRIPTION:February 26: Foreclosure and the Family Farm: What Every Farmer Needs to Know \nNoon – 1 pm \nAttorney Stephen Carpenter\, Farmers Legal Action Group \nThis webinar will look at the way the law approaches lending when the farmer has trouble making payments. We will discuss the common types of loans\, forms of collateral that are often used\, and actions that lenders can take – generally foreclosures\, repossession\, judgments\, and refusing to extend additional credit. We will also cover some of the special rules that apply when USDA FSA is the lender and how bankruptcy law applies to farmers. \nRegister at legalfoodhub.org/webinars26
URL:https://www.buylocalfood.org/event/foreclosure-and-the-family-farm-what-every-farmer-needs-to-know-legal-food-hub-winter-webinar-series/
LOCATION:Zoom
CATEGORIES:Farmer Events
ORGANIZER;CN="Legal Food Hub":MAILTO:legalfoodhub@clf.org
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260228T100000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260228T120000
DTSTAMP:20260420T091104
CREATED:20260213T164207Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260213T164207Z
UID:51716-1772272800-1772280000@www.buylocalfood.org
SUMMARY:MDAR - Hampshire/Franklin Ag Commission Roundtable
DESCRIPTION:AGRICULTURAL COMMISSION ROUNDTABLE MEETING!  \nAll those interested in farming and farmland are invited.  Ag Commission members\, as well as other town officials\, ag resource providers\, farmers\, land trusts\, interested citizens and farmers!  \nFeb. 28\, 10-noon\, Smith Vocational School\, Northampton MA \n(Doors open 9:30 for coffee & pastries) \nDetails and registration here:  \n\nFebruary 28 – Hampshire & Franklin Counties\, Smith Vocational & Agricultural High School\, 80 Locust St.\, Northampton. 10:00am-noon. Register for the February 28 roundtable.\n\nQuestions:  \nPete Westover 413-695-4627  \nSarah Gardner 413-281-0478 \nPlease join us for a conversation about Agricultural Commissions\, farmland protection\, and municipal partnerships for land conservation and farm viability. 
URL:https://www.buylocalfood.org/event/mdar-hampshire-franklin-ag-commission-roundtable/
LOCATION:Smith Vocational and Agricultural High School\, 80 Locust Street\, Northampton
CATEGORIES:Farmer Events
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260228T130000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260228T150000
DTSTAMP:20260420T091104
CREATED:20260205T171329Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260205T171329Z
UID:51650-1772283600-1772290800@www.buylocalfood.org
SUMMARY:2026 Mass Aggie Seminar - Home Orchard Pruning
DESCRIPTION:Home Orchard Pruning (focus on apples) – a Hands-on Workshop – $65\nMr. Jon Clements\nIN PERSON!\nFebruary 28\, 2026\n1:00 to 3:00 PM \nUMass Cold Spring Orchard\, 391 Sabin St.\, Belchertown\, MA\nOne of the key steps in successful fruit growing is the act of pruning the trees. This can seem daunting and complicated\, but it’s not! Not once you understand the principles involved. Come learn how to properly prune your apple trees. Participants will have the opportunity to conduct actual pruning and gain both experience and confidence in pruning apple trees in order to produce a bountiful crop.* This workshop will focus primarily on apple pruning. \nCLICK HERE TO REGISTER \nRegistration for all in person sessions will close at noon the Thursday prior to each session. 
URL:https://www.buylocalfood.org/event/2026-mass-aggie-seminar-home-orchard-pruning/
LOCATION:UMass Cold Spring Orchard\, 391 Sabin St\, Belchertown
CATEGORIES:Farmer Events
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