Central Oregon Agriculture Newsletter
January 27, 2023

It's been a little over a year since we rolled out the new format for the Central Oregon Ag Newsletter. Please take a moment to take this brief (really!) 3 question survey.

The 43rd Annual Central Oregon Farm Fair will be held at the Jefferson County Fairgrounds in Madras, OR February 1st and 2nd, 2023
Check jeffcoseed.com/farm-fair for the latest information.

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Exhibitor and Sponsorship Registration is open! 
To register and pay online, please visit https://co-farm-fair.square.site to reserve your booth or to sponsor the Central Oregon Farm Fair and Trade Show. To view available booths, please view the map at this link: https://beav.es/UVx 
Spaces are limited, reserve your space TODAY!

The Central Oregon Farm Fair & Trade Show is sponsored by the Jefferson County Seed Growers and Oregon State University Extension.

We are pleased to announce that we will now be accepting applicants for the 2023 Central Oregon Prescribed Fire Training Exchange (TREX), being held April 24^th-May 5^th in Bend, Oregon!
Click HERE to apply and please see the attached flier and application packet for details, application instructions, and what to expect during the program. We will be accepting applicants between now and Feb. 15^th, so apply today
About Central OR TREX: The objective of the two-week TREX program in Central Oregon is to facilitate peer-to-peer, experiential learning for prescribed fire professionals and others interested in advancing innovative tools to restore fire-adapted ecosystems. Participants will engage in hands-on training in the ecology of fire-adapted ecosystems, communications and community outreach, prescribed fire monitoring, operational assignments, prescribed fire use, and collaboration among a diverse array of participating individuals and organizations.
For more information contact Thomas Stokely thomas.stokely@tnc.org; 541-699-6651.
Looking forward to burning with you!

Learn practical advice, tools, and skills with your peers in this discussion-style business planning workshop with a panel of producers, High Desert Food and Farm Alliance, and AgWest Farm Credit (Formerly Northwest Farm Credit Services).

A registration packet with materials and resources will be provided to all registrants to help prepare for the event.

Come join us on Thursday, February 9th, at 3pm at FEAST Food Company in Redmond. Register today at hdffa.org/business-planning-workshop.

Who: Any individuals actively farming in the state of Oregon who are concerned about, or are currently contending with, drought and heat pressures on-farm.   

What to Expect: A brief (30 to 40 minutes) interview regarding your on-farm practices, strategies, and resource needs in relation to drought and heat mitigation. Interviews will be recorded, but the data will be anonymized prior to inclusion in the report. You may also opt to withdraw your participation at any point. Interviews may be done in-person (depending on location), via Zoom, or by phone depending on your preference.   

Benefits: Your input will help guide the state legislature in enacting real-world policy measures and directing future research and funding to provide meaningful resources to Oregon agriculturalists.   

To participate in this initiative, please use this link to schedule an interview. If you have any questions or concerns, please email us at nelsenb@oregonstate.edu. 
We offer you our sincere thanks in advance for your time and input and look forward to working with you.   

For more information please contact: Berit Nelsen, Maria Zamora Re, and Abigail Tomasek 

Do you burn? Use Biochar? Learn to get the most out of this fantastic product from a leading expert. This workshop is brought to you by The High Desert Food and Farm Alliance, The Roundhouse Foundation, and School of Ranch. The workshop is led by expert Kelpie Wilson of Wilson Biochar. There will be an informational webinar held via Zoom on March 2nd, and a live demonstration will be held at Pine Meadow Ranch in Sisters on March 11th. 

This workshop is for people who work large acreage and small or are responsible for forest management, and who want to tap into the benefits of biochar. You will learn ways to set up and conduct burns with and without kilns, what size kiln is right for you, and how to turn charcoal into biochar. You will also be able to get questions answered about your situation and determine what path forward is right for you. 

For more information and to register, head to https://schoolofranch.org/w-biochar.