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August 18th, 2022

Food Producers - Opportunities - Grant Opportunities - Classifieds - Culture

Food Producers

Open Meeting Michigan Farmers Union
Thursday August 25th, 6:00p.m - 8:00p.m. at Bay College Heirman University Center, Room 901
Michigan Farmers Union will be hosting an open meeting at Bay College in Escanaba to hear from UP farmers and share the work of their organization. The meeting will take place Thursday, August 25th at Bay College in the Heirman University Center, Room 901. Dinner will be served at 6:00pm, followed by presentations and discussion concluding at 8:00pm. This event is free of charge and open to all. Michigan Farmers Union works to protect and enhance the economic well- being and quality of life of family farmers. Michigan Farmers Union is a home for producers who are committed to conserving our state’s natural bounty, whether they are long-established or beginning their agricultural journey. They are committed to representing the interests of Michigan farmers on issues such as Sustainability, country of origin labeling, energy and food security, rural communities, competitive markets, monopolies and consolidation, conservation and the environment.

U.P. Potato Field Day
Tuesday, August 30th 4:00p.m.-7:00p.m.
Vandamme Farms 2371 St Nicholas Rd., Rock, MI 49880
To register, or for more information, contact MSU UPREC at 906-439-5114

NMU & MSU Mending the Stress Fence
September 9th, 3:00-5:00pm
Click here to learn more about the event!

Opportunities

2021 National Farm to ECE Survey Results Now Available
The National Farm to School Network (NFSN), in partnership with Michigan State University Center for Regional Food Systems (CRFS), is pleased to begin sharing information from the 2021 National Farm to Early Care and Education (ECE) Survey.

The first set of briefs is now available:

Survey fact sheet
Survey infographic
Sharing toolkit

The full set of briefs will summarize findings from a nationwide survey of more than 2,900 providers in 26 states and Washington, D.C. who shared about the benefits and challenges of connecting young children to healthy, local foods, gardening, and food and agriculture education through farm to ECE. The findings help us to better understand current initiatives, motivations and challenges in applying farm to ECE activities in early care and education settings.

All forthcoming briefs will be available on the NFSN website.

For more information, contact Meagan Shedd at mshedd@msu.edu.

Learn more about the National Farm to School Network at farmtoschool.org.

Find out more about Farm to ECE in Michigan at foodsystems.msu.edu/michigan-farm-to-ece

Funding for this resource comes from the W.K. Kellogg Foundation.

Manoomin Camp is Back!

While registration is not required, it is recommended to assist with planning purposes (food, supplies, etc.).

Registration: https://forms.gle/U2i4vEcxp1TbmK2e6

Questions? Contact Erin Johnston at ejohnston@kbic-nsn.gov or 906-524-5757 ext. 4227

Grant Opportunities

Innovative Farming Grants Designed to Address Challenges Facing Rural Michigan
The Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (MDARD) is now accepting applications for a new Farm Innovation Grant Program. These grants are designed to help develop and support innovative solutions to real, immediate, and future problems facing Michigan’s food and agricultural industry. Read the full press release. The maximum grant award eligible is $200,000 per proposal. Applicants will be asked to outline how the project will impact and produce measurable innovation outcomes for Michigan’s food and agriculture industry. MDARD is seeking proposals to develop innovative solutions for farm, agriculture processing, and supply chain problems facing the state’s food and agricultural industry in the following priority areas:

Climate Smart Practices
Supply Chain Resiliency
Food Processing and Farm Production Automation
Rural Resiliency
Other project ideas related to the grant will be considered

Those interested in applying should visit www.michigan.gov/mdardgrants to view the application and grant guidelines. Other communications concerning this Request for Proposals should be sent to mda-grants@michigan.gov. Proposals must be received via email no later than 3:00 p.m. (EST) on October 27, 2022.

MDARD Announces One-Time Grant Opportunity to Support Michigan Seafood Processors
LANSING, MI—The Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (MDARD) is seeking applications for the Seafood Processors Pandemic Response and Safety Block Grant program to support the state’s seafood processing sector. Funded through the United States Department of Agriculture’s Agricultural Marketing Service, this program provides relief and assistance to eligible seafood processing facilities and processing vessels in response to the ongoing impacts from COVID-19. The grants will provide cost reimbursement for eligible expenditures that occurred between January 27, 2020, and December 31, 2022. Click here to read more.

USDA Grant Opportunities

USDA Rural Microentrepreneur Assistance Program Deadline: ongoing

Other Grant Opportunities

Robert Wood Johnson Pioneering Ideas Exploring the Future to Build a Culture of Health seeks proposals to influence health equity in any of four areas: Future of Evidence; Future of Social Interaction; Future of Food; Future of Work. Deadline: open
NextCycle Michigan Micro Scale 3Rs Solutions (MICROS) Innovation Challenge Deadline: rolling

Classifieds

Does your farm need help this summer? Do you offer employment, internships, or volunteering? Let UPFE know and we’ll spread the word for you. Contact Eli at localfood@marquettefood.coop or 906-225-0671 x 726 to be included in the Plowshare classifieds and/or have your contact information shared with folks inquiring about opportunities.

*NEW JOB* MSU UPREC Temporary Production Assistant
The MSU Upper Peninsula Research and Extension Center is seeking a temporary Production Assistant to help with research across their operation. Details can be found here.

FOR SALE: Black Wagyu Bulls, forage fed. For more information contact Paul Naasz, MSU UPREC, Chatham (906)439-5114 Ext 2.

FOR SALE: Hay, 5x6 round bales legume grass hay, stored inside. Call Jon and Donna Ahlberg, Iron River (906)265-9333.

Looking for animals to custom graze on 120 acres. Henry Miller 2351 W 6 Mile Rd, Sault Ste Marie, 49783

FOR SALE: High moisture corn, approximately 5,000 bushels in harvester already rolled. $8/per 100; $160/ton. (906)424- 0225.

FOR SALE: Simmental Bulls, mature and young, registered and non-registered. Call Duane Kolpack (906) 362-6862.

FOR SALE: Hay, large square bales 3x3x7.75 Timothy grass, 4,000 to sell. Former dairy farm doing all big square bales hay. Call Dave Bell in the EUP 906-440-6455 or email Bellsdairy@yahoo.com. Also a realtor in the UP so contact me for real estate here. Dave@smith-company.com

Have something to list? Email your listing to ehopp@marquettefood.coop and Eli will add it to the next edition!

Culture

Four Seasons Market & Deli Partners with Local Farms
BRIMLEY — Four Seasons Market & Deli, owned by Bay Mills Indian Community, has begun purchasing beef from Bay Mills Community College’s Waishkey Bay Farm to sell to the general public. The decision to stock local meat products comes after a months-long planning process between the tribal enterprise and the tribal college. In March of this year, staff from Four Seasons Market met with Waishkey Bay Farm Manager, Kat Jacques about a partnership to offer local beef in the market. Click here to read the full article.

7 Reasons Why the Copper Country is the Ultimate Food Destination
By Madelina DiLisi, the Western UP Local Food Coordinator for Taste the Local DifferenceThe Copper Country in the Upper Peninsula might just be one of Michigan’s best-kept secrets. Sprawling from the Keweenaw Peninsula down into Baraga and Ontonagon counties, the Copper Country is a unique region packed with history, natural beauty, and incredible food. Looking for the best food in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan? Look no further! Click here to read the full article.

More to read...

Regional Email Listserv for Western UP Growers and Food Provisioners
This is a peer-to-peer listserv open to posts about to all things about growing and sharing food in our region. More information about it can be found here.

More to read...

Regional Email Listserv for Western UP Growers and Food Provisioners This is a peer-to-peer listserv open to posts about to all things about growing and sharing food in our region. More information about it can be found here.

Regional Email Listserv for Western UP Growers and Food Provisioners
This is a peer-to-peer listserv open to posts about to all things about growing and sharing food in our region. More information about it can be found here.