Dear Farmer,
Our hearts and prayers go out to our friends affected by Hurricane Matthew. Stay safe. We've compiled a list of resources to help you find the assistance you need, mitigate flood damage on your farm, and get on the road to recovery and repair.
During October, many farmers across the Carolinas are bringing in storage crops. Storage crops, if handled properly, can serve as a source of income throughout the winter months and beyond. Each crop has specific post-handling and storage needs. Knowing proper storage techniques can extend the shelf life of products and, in some cases, improve quality. For more information on the best post-harvest practices for storage crops, we like this resource.
Want more tips and tools to increase your farm's profits across the four seasons? Check out this month's expert tip on Fall Transplant Production and don't miss our Sustainable Agriculture Conference, November 4-6 in Durham, NC. Our keynote, season-extension expert, Clara Coleman, will blow your mind.
Cheers,
Karen McSwain, CFSA's Director of Farm Services and Food Systems
P.S. Don't wait! The regular registration deadline for the Conference is Oct. 17. After that, prices go up and your favorite preconference or the Local Food Feast with keynote by Clara Coleman may be sold out.
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We hope that you, your families and friends, your homes and your farms are safe after Hurricane Matthew. The CFSA team has pulled together some resources that may be of use to members impacted by the heavy rains, high winds and coastal flooding this past weekend.
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by Gena Moore, CFSA’s Organic Research Coordinator
All farmers and gardeners must make the decision: grow their own or purchase transplants. This decision is made considering several factors including equipment needs, supply needs, amount of transplants needed, time of year, and, of course, price. There are a few people out there who, against all odds, can generate beautiful transplants year-round without fancy equipment. The rest of us are forced either to invest in a greenhouse or other supplies to grow our own, or just buy them and save ourselves the trouble of it all. Whatever decision you make, here are some tips to help you be successful.
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by Amy Armbruster, CFSA’s Communication Coordinator
Our Sustainable Agriculture Conference brings together thought leaders, innovative farmer-mentors, and experts in the sustainable agriculture movement. It is about big ideas, practical learning, and meaningful connections. It’s also a great place to cross off those pesky “I’ll get to that someday” tasks on your farm to-do list. Well, someday is Nov. 4-6 in Durham, NC at the Sustainable Ag. Conference. It’s the food and farm event of the year.
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NRCS EQIP Signup Deadline, Nov. 18, for FY17 Funding
The Natural Resources Conservation Service's Environmental Quality Incentives Program provides financial assistance to farmers transitioning to organic production for implementing conservation practices that improve soil, water and wildlife quality. A Conservation Activity Plan (CAP) is a common way to assess conservation needs and, ultimately, access EQIP funding. CAP plans must be developed by a certified Technical Service Provider (TSP) and CFSA has one on staff. If you are transitioning to organic production, apply to your state’s EQIP program before the Nov. 18 deadline, and, once approved (typically spring of following year), you can apply for technical services through CFSA to have your plan written. Our TSP services are free to members – in fact you get money back. For more information, visit our CAP 138 webpage.
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Weigh in on Treated Lumber on Organic Farms
The Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) recently issued a draft guidance for certified organic farms and those considering certification about the use of treated lumber. Since 1995, organic growers have been barred from using lumber treated with arsenate and other prohibited substances if that lumber came into contact with soil or livestock. The draft guidance isn't long, only 7 pages, so take a look and let AMS know what you like or don't like about the proposed guidance by October 31. Instructions for submitting a comment are here.
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How to Grow Organic Crops
Thursday, October 13 at 5:30pm to 7:30pm
Abbeville County Extension Office 265 Industrial Park Rd. Abbeville, SC
Are you thinking of growing organic food? Learn from CFSA's SC Food Systems Coordinator, Stephen Nix, about the basics of crop rotation, green manure, compost, and biological pest control and more. Hosted by Clemson Cooperative Extension Service
Organic Cover Crop Management: From Fields to High Tunnels
Oct. 17 from 9 a.m. - 3 p.m.
Cabarrus County Extension Center, 715 Cabarrus Ave W, Concord, NC 28027 (morning session), and Lomax Incubator Farm, 3445 Atando Rd, Concord, NC 28025 (afternoon session)
Registration is $15 CFSA Members (log in to receive your member discount, or call 919.542.2402) and $20 for non-members:
Come learn how to use cover crops as a nutrient and weed management tool, and how to manage cover crops across a range situations in organic systems. From the field to high tunnels, from winter to summer cover crops, we’ll try to cover it all. The workshop will begin at the extension center in the morning, and we’ll visit CFSA’s Lomax Incubator Farm in the afternoon for a closer look. Other topics will include meeting organic standards when growing cover crops and farmer perspectives. This course has been approved for NCDA pesticide credits (2 hrs for D, N, O, X categories), course code 345018.
Hosted by the Carolina Farm Stewardship Association and NC Cooperative Extension. Funding for this workshop is provided by a NC Department of Ag & Consumer Services specialty crop block grant, and lunch sponsorship is provided by Southeast AgriSeeds.
Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) Workshop
Nov. 17 from 9 a.m. - 4 p.m.
Greenbrier Farms, 766 Hester Store Rd., Easley, SC 29640
Registration is $15 CFSA Members (log in to receive your member discount, or call 919.542.2402) and $20 for non-members:
Growers are recognizing the need to expand their business to include more market venues and value-added products to remain profitable. This workshop will provide education on GAP, Good Manufacturing Practices, traceability, GAP auditing criteria, and resources to assist producers in creating on-farm food safety plans. You'll be prepared to expand markets and ensure safe products are being produced. Participants will be eligible to apply for one-on-one assistance from CFSA in developing a food safety plan, conducting a risk assessment and scheduling a GAP audit.
Hosted by the Carolina Farm Stewardship Association. Funding for this event is provided by Southern Extension Risk Management Education and the US Department of Agriculture.
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Sustainable Agriculture Conference
THE FOOD AND FARM EVENT OF THE YEAR!
November 4-6, 2016 in Durham, NC
Check out all the details on world-renowned speakers, keynote by season-extension expert, Clara Coleman, preconference farm tours, in-depth workshops, food, and so much more!
Regular registration deadline: Oct. 17.
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