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RESOURCES
AND NEWS ARCHIVES 2007
(2006
archives)
- The early registration deadline for the The 7th Annual Iowa Organic Conference is 5:00 pm on Monday, November 5! The conference will be held on Monday, November 19, 2007 at the Scheman Building on the Iowa State University Campus.
Register today by visiting our website at http://www.ucs.iastate.edu/mnet/organic07/home.html or calling 800-262-0015!The Iowa Organic Conference is gaining a reputation in the Midwest as an excellent resource for individuals and organizations involved in organic agriculture.This conference is an excellent educational and networking opportunity for farmers, organizations, agribusiness professionals, students, and many others. Conference breakout sessions include topics such as: transitioning to organic farming, improving organic livestock health, and marketing organic products. The annual meeting of the Iowa Organic Association will also take place after the event. Don’t miss this opportunity to speak and share ideas with key individuals in the industry!
- Grant Established to Generate Sustainability Ideas
The Hobart Center for Foodservice Sustainability grant has been created to spur idea generation. The individual or company with the best-executed foodservice sustainability project of the year will be awarded a $5,000 grant to invest in additional sustainability efforts. Applicants can enter online by submitting a case study of 10 or fewer pages demonstrating how their program addresses sustainability challenges such as reducing energy/water use; reducing wastewater or solid waste; or implementing Farm-to-Fork programs or other combined programs.
The HCFS grant will be awarded at the 2007 Greenbuild Expo in Chicago, IL, November 6-9, 2007. The individual and/or company honored will be selected to join the HCFS Fellows leadership and assist in future initiatives.
More information about the HCFS, its mission, leadership, and an application for the HCFS grant can be found by visiting www.hobartcorp.com/sustainabledesign
- Request for Applications: North Central IPM Center Working Groups
The North Central Integrated Pest Management Center (NCIPMC) is pleased to announce the availability of funding through its NCIPMC Working Group Grant Program for 2008. A Request for Applications (RFA) is posted on the Centers website at http://ncipmc.org/. Please share this information with others who may wish to apply to this program.
The North Central IPM Center Working Groups Grant Program funds self-selected and self-directed group projects, up to $30,000 per year, to address regional commodity or issue related IPM activities and priorities. North Central regional stakeholder-based IPM priorities are located at http://ncipmc.org/about/priorities.cfm. Proposals must be submitted electronically through the NCIPMC web site (http://ncipmc.org/wggrants ). Approximately $300,000 will be available for working groups in FY08.
ELIGIBILITY: All 1862, 1890, and 1994 land-grant colleges and universities, state agricultural experiment stations, research foundations established by land-grant colleges and universities, colleges and universities receiving funds under the Act of October 10, 1962 (16 U.S.C. 582a et seq.), accredited schools or colleges of veterinary medicine, private individuals, public and private institutions or organizations, businesses, and commodity groups are encouraged to apply. The primary project director must be from the North Central region.
DEADLINE: Proposals must be submitted in electronic format (PDF) through the following web page: http://www.ncipmc.org/wggrants. The online submission must be completed no later than 5:00 p.m. on Wednesday, November 14, 2007.
- New Voices Contest Seeks Innovative Vision for Sustainable Agriculture
Win free trip to SARE’s 20th Anniversary New American Farm Conference;
Click here for official rules and details, or visit http://www.sare.org/2008Conference/newvoices.htm
- Biodiesel Workshop-November 16,
Tiffin, IA (near Iowa City).
Hands-on, full process workshop presented by Green World Biofuels and
sponsored by Iowa Farmers Union. You will learn how to titrate, wash
and dry biodiesel, manage waste and much more. 9 a.m. to 4 p.m, $25
registration fee includes lunch. Call 800-775-5227 to register and
get directions. Iowa Farmers Union,
PO Box 8988,
528 Billy Sunday Rd,
Ames, IA 50014,
800-775-5227
iafu@isunet.net, www.iafu.org.
- Deadline for SARE's New American Farm Photo Contest is October 31st. We're looking for photos from all corners of the nation that depict groundbreaking innovations, people and partnerships advancing the frontier of sustainable agriculture in America. Visit http://www.sare.org/2008Conference/photo_contest.htm for official rules and details. The top four photos, one from each of SARE's regions in the United States, will receive grand prizes of free attendance and accommodations at SARE's 20th Anniversary conference, to be held March 25-27, 2008 in Kansas City, Missouri. See http://www.sare.org/2008conference for more information on the conference.
- North Central SARE Call for Proposals
The NC SARE Farmer Rancher Grant Program CFP is now available online at http://ncr.sare.org/prod.htm.
- Annie's Homegrown, maker of natural and organic mac & cheese, and dedicated
sustainability supporter, is now accepting applications for its new
Sustainable Agriculture Scholarship Program. The new program will award
$50,000 to undergraduate and graduate students pursuing studies in
sustainable and organic agriculture, including three $10,000 scholarships
and eight $2,500 scholarships.
Annie's believes healthy farms are the foundation for healthy foods (which
help make healthy people!), so it is proud to support the next generation of
sustainability stewards. Please encourage your readers to apply online now
through Sept. 30, 2007. Final decisions will be made and winners announced
by January 2008.
- Whole Foods Market offers low interest loans to Midwest producers
Whole Foods Market is showing its commitment to local food with their national $10 million program to provide low interest loans to producers and family farmers through a Local Producer Loan Program. Farmers and producers have the opportunity to apply for up to a $100,000 loan for expansion and capital expenditure projects. Whole Foods Market Midwest has partnered with Sustain and FamilyFarmed.org to publicize and promote this program for producers in Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Nebraska, Minnesota, Missouri, and Wisconsin.
This program will expand the availability of quality local food products by giving farmers and artisanal food producers access to capital that may not be available through existing financial channels. The goal of the Local Producer Loan Program is to minimize fees, interest rates, and paperwork. Most of the loans will go to producers who currently sell to Whole Foods Market, but will be extended to other producers as well. The hope is that such loans will result in a long term buying relationship between the producer and Whole Foods Market, but this is not mandatory.
For eligibility requirements and loan details, email farmerfunds@sustainusa.org
More about the Local Producer Loan Program
- The Leopold Center celebrates 20 years of innovative research and
creative alternatives providing healthier lifestyles and landscapes
across Iowa and the nation on July 10-11, at the Iowa State Center.
The 20th Anniversary Conference celebrates the Center's successes,
but more importantly looks toward future challenges and obstacles
facing the sustainability of Iowa's agricultural landscape.
July 10 has been set aside for pre conference tours which will
provide an opportunity to see, hear, feel and even taste what is
happening in Iowa's sustainable agriculture community. There are five
tours that highlight some of the Center's work throughout Iowa. The
all-day conference on July 11 offers more than 20 sessions on four
hot topic issue tracks: Natural Resources, Food and Health, People on
the Land, and the Bioeconomy. A number of experts, including farmers,
researchers and industry professionals, will be presenting and
leading discussions related to each of the topics. In addition to the
sessions, the Center will host an outdoor festival with a number of
interactive demonstrations, live band and clogging performance by the
Onion Creek Cloggers, and a locally-grown meal.
Don't miss out on this milestone event in Iowa's history! To register
for the conference and tours, visit the conference web site at www.ucs.iastate.edu/mnet/leopold/home.html.
- Alternatives to Sow Gestation Stalls Researched
Keeping sows in individual stalls during pregnancy is coming under increasing scrutiny. Researchers at Iowa State have been studying group housing in hoop structures as an alternative and say the results are encouraging. Learn more: http://www.ag.iastate.edu/aginfo/news_detail.php?var1=319
- The Economics of Moving From Conventional to Organic
Does it pay locally to help farmers convert their operations from conventional to organic crop production? An Iowa State economics study funded by the Leopold Center shows the potential regional economic impact of organic crop production exceeds that of conventional crop production. Learn more: http://www.leopold.iastate.edu/news/newsreleases/2007/organic_041807.htm
- Permaculture Course
The Sustainable Living Coalition is happy to announce a weekend
course for all those interested in learning more about Permaculture
Design and Sustainable Living. The course will be in Fairfield, Iowa
May 5 - 7, taught by Lonnie Gamble and many other experts.
The weekend course will include lectures and workshops in Permaculture,
* Natural Building, * Plant Propagation, * Renewable Energy,* Home & Market Gardening, and * Water Systems. One unique feature is that
the course will be held at Surya Nagar Frams, which is a lab for what
you learn - built of local natural materials, powered by solar and
wind energy, harvested rain for water, fed by organic gardens. Those interested can contact Carol Morehead: cmorehead55@hotmail.com 641-472-4784
- Holistic Managment Workshop
Holistic Management Introduction at the Memorial Union on the Iowa State University Campus in Ames on March 6-7. It is particularly useful for land-based businesses and those that deal with natural resources. It's an excellent framework to have in place for farm managers when weighing decisions about value-added business opportunities.
Contact: Margaret Smith,
Value-added Agriculture Program,
Iowa State University Extension,
Tel: 515-294-0887,
email: mrgsmith@iastate.edu
- Pirog named Leopold Center Associate Director
The Leopold Center for Sustainable Agriculture named a new associate
director, Rich Pirog, who has been with the Center since 1990. The
appointment was announced by Jerry DeWitt, director, who praised
Pirog for his leadership of the Center's successful Marketing and
Food Systems Initiative and the Value Chain Partnerships project.
More: http://www.leopold.iastate.edu/news/newsreleases/2007/pirog_021607.htm
- There are 63 enterprise budgets available for alternative agriculture in Iowa. These budgets include vegetables, fruit and berries, field crops, forestry, aquaculture and livestock (goats and sheep) enterprises from different states across the nation and from British Columbia. These budgets are only a guide to profitability for producers who are interested in alternative agriculture in Iowa.
- The Center for Rural Affairs in Nebraska will be conducting 5 meetings across Iowa.
They will discuss policy options they have developed to address barriers and opportunities for beginning, and family farmers and ranchers, such as the Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program, which holds great hope for beginning farmers and ranchers but was never funded under the 2002 farm bill.
They will also discuss the Value Added Producer Grants Program, a program that has helped family farmers and ranchers create high-value, niche markets. And they want to hear your ideas as well so please plan to join them for an invigorating and informative discussion.
Please contact Traci Bruckner with any questions at (402) 687-2103, Ext. 1016 or by emailing tracib@cfra.org
Thursday, January 25th, 2007 at 7p.m.
University of Iowa, Indiana Room, Iowa City, IA
Monday, January 29th, 2007 at 7p.m.
St. Mary’s Catholic Church, Dorchester, IA
Tuesday, January 30th, 2007 at 7p.m.
Wild Rose Casino, Emmetsburg, IA
Monday, February 5th, 2007 at 7p.m.
Cass County Community Center, Atlantic, IA
Tuesday, February 6th, 2007 at 7p.m.
Iowa State University, Cardinal Room, Ames, IA
- COMMUNITY FOOD PROJECTS (CFP) GRANTS
The Community Food Projects (CFP) Competitive Grants Program is a major funding source for community-based food and agriculture projects in the U.S. Approximately $4.6 million in funds will be available in 2007. The Request for Applications (RFA) was released on January 12. Initial letters of intent are due by February 13 (by email). Based on a review of these letters, some applicants will be invited to submit a full proposal, due by April 13. The procedures are detailed in the CFP Request for Applications, which is available at the grants.gov website as follows:
http://www.grants.gov/search/search.do?oppId=12255&mode=VIEW.
PROPOSALS WILL NEED TO BE SUBMITTED ELECTRONICALLY
- The Producers of Inconvenient Truth [Participant Productions] are offering a free copy of the DVD An Inconvenient Truth to science teachers across the country, on first-come, first served basis. Please make your request by January 18th. Encourage schools/teachers in your area to put their name in the system ASAP if they would like a free copy to use in their classroom.
Visit http://www.participate.net/educators/DVD/giveaway
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