May 2022 Organic Link

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On-Farm Field Days

We're heading back in the Field to see how things are growing on organic farms here in the Midwest! Field days are offered for free, unless noted otherwise, to provide farmers with practical organic production education and connection.

Adding Small-Scale Dairy Processing for Farm Diversity
June 18 | Oxheart Farm | Hager City, Wis.
Come and hear Cella Langer and Emmet Fischer share the story of how they started their small, rotationally grazed dairy cow herd and on-farm, Grade A creamery. Learn about direct marketing, navigating the regulatory process for starting a dairy plant, and answer any questions about starting and running this type of enterprise.

Crop Rotations on Large-Scale Organic Farms 
July 21 | Johnson Farms | Madison, S.D.
Join 2013 MOSES Farmer of the Year Charlie Johnson and his family for their annual field day and bus tour in South Dakota! This year the importance of good crop rotation management in an organic system will be presented by local NRCS agronomist Eric Barsness.

Cover Crops & Vegetable Production on an Incubator Farm
July 31 | Kilimo MN | Lino Lakes, Minn.
Join Moses Momanyi as he introduces you to Kilimo Minnesota, a three-to-five-year training program that includes hands-on organic vegetable farming, marketing and sales experience, group classes, networking with other farmers and one-on-one business mentoring.

Gitigaaning Farm & Manoomin Tour
August 20 | Gitigaaning Farm | Cloquet, Minn.
Join us for a tour of these two incredible agricultural sites of the Fond du Lac Band of Lake Superior Chippewa! Visit Perch Lake to learn about manoomin (wild rice) and the importance of treaties in tribal food sovereignty, including the management, production, and marketing aspects of manoomin.

First Generation Farm Start-Up
August 27 | Naima’s Farm | Alexandria, Minn.
This field day will highlight the journey of Naima’s Farm from the beginning to current transition. Naima and her husband will share the challenges they both experienced in regard to land access for an immigrant farmer and share more about their expanding farm business. This field day is supported by NIFA, USDA Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program.

Urban Growers Collective Farm Tours
September 17 | South Chicago Farm | Chicago, Ill.
Join the MOSES 2022 Changemaker Award recipients as we tour two of their farms. Urban Growers Collective is a Black- and women-led non-profit farm in Chicago, Illinois working to build a more just and equitable local food system. They aim to address the inequities and structural racism that exist in the food system and in communities of color.

 

New Farmer U Coming to Illinois

MOSES and The Land Connection will offer training for β€œintermediate” beginning farmersβ€”those in their third to sixth year of farmingβ€”focused on augmenting their business skills to support their farming success. New Farmer U will take place Oct. 28 and 29 in Illinois (location is pending).

The training starts with an optional half-day Fearless Farm Finances workshop. The full-day session includes multiple workshops on a variety of farm business management topics. While this training is geared for beginning farmers in years 3-6, it will provide valuable tools for beginning and aspiring farmers at any stage, and all are welcome.

Scholarships will be available. Registration will open in July. Stay connected with us to learn more!

 
 

WiWiC Spring Conservation Gatherings

Back by popular demand! Wisconsin Women in Conservation is pleased to announce a second season of their popular zoom lunch Conservation Summer Camp series. Women farmers and landowners participating in 2021 events were asked what they wanted to learn more about, and the top subjects were chosen for the 2022 Summer Camp topics: Prairie Habitat, Enhancing Pollinators, Managing Woodlands and Land Legacy. Women subject matter experts from across the state will present, and questions are answered in a live chat. 

RSVP for free at WiWiC.org β†’

 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Make connections and take collective action on Ag Solidarity Network!

Ag Solidarity Network (ASN) is a free online community platform for farmers, farmer-workers, homesteaders, and food system professionals. Find events and job postings, ask questions, share knowledge, and connect with others across the organic food and farming system. ASN is collaborative effort by MOSES, Artisan Grain Collaborative, OGRAIN, FairShare CSA, and Organic Farmers Association.

Search for the mobile app on the Apple Store and Google Play!

Join Ag Solidarity Network β†’

 
 

Funds Available for BIPOC, Beginning, and Veteran Farmers!

MOSES Farmer Advancement funds are awarded in amounts ranging from $250 to $2,000 for Black, Indigenous, people of color, beginning (farming 10 years or less), and veteran farmers. The deadline to apply for funding is May 31, 2022. Awards will be announced on June 15, 2022. Another round of funding will be available on September 1, 2022. If you have questions, please contact Sarah Woutat, MOSES Farmer Advancement Program Coordinator: sarahw@mosesorganic.org.

Learn more and apply β†’

 

New Report Dives Into Carbon Sequestration Potential of Conservation Practices

For agricultural soils in the midwestern United States to continue to be productive, conservation practices must be widely implemented, according to a new report from the Center for Rural Affairs. β€œConservation Practice Impact on Carbon Sequestration” takes a closer look at the carbon sequestration and greenhouse gas emission reductions associated with conservation practices, highlighting the benefits of soils that are high in organic matter and soil organic carbon.

View "Conservation Practice Impact on Carbon Sequestration" β†’

 

USDA to Invest in Innovative American-made Fertilizer

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced it will support additional fertilizer production for American farmers to address rising costs and spur competition. The USDA will make available $250 million through a new grant program this summer to support independent, innovative, and sustainable American fertilizer production to supply American farmers.  

Learn more here β†’

 

Report Published on Agrochemicals, Environmental Justice, and Environmental Racism

The history of pesticide manufacturing and use in the United States reveals an enduring legacy of environmental racism against communities of color and their collective action for environmental justice, according to a new report by the Organic Center. β€œAgrochemicals, Environmental Racism, and Environmental Justice in the U.S.” shows that agrochemicals have shaped themes in U.S. history through a brief overview of pesticides, people, and places and includes an agrochemical-related lesson plan. Together, the lesson and summary invite readers to investigate the past, present, and future of agrochemicals in their own home towns.

View "Agrochemicals, Environmental Racism, and Environmental Justice in the U.S." β†’

 

USDA to Provide Payments to Livestock Producers Impacted by Drought or Wildfire

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced that ranchers who have approved applications through the 2021 Livestock Forage Disaster Program (LFP) for forage losses due to severe drought or wildfire in 2021 will soon begin receiving emergency relief payments for increases in supplemental feed costs in 2021 through the Farm Service Agency’s (FSA) new Emergency Livestock Relief Program (ELRP).  

Find additional USDA disaster assistance information at farmers.gov β†’

 
 
 
 

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We are committed to providing free resources for farmers, from news digests like this one to resource guides and educational, community-building events. Your contributions help us bring this work to life and you can support MOSES for as little as one dollar. Make a one-time or monthly recurring donation today. 

 
 
 

Midwest Organic & Sustainable Education Service (MOSES)
PO Box 339  | Spring Valley, Wisconsin 54767
1-888-90-MOSES | info@mosesorganic.org

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