Event: New Farmer Workshop Series
When: Sun, Jan 29 9:00 am – 3:00 pm
Description: Event: New Farmer Worshop Series
When: Sun, Jan 29 9:00 am – 3:00 pm
Description: Five agencies have collaborated to develop a comprehensive seven-week workshop series designed for new Maine farmers who have been in business fewer than 10 years, or haven’t started yet. Topics include farm business basics, crop management, energy management and farm safety. There are 3 full-day sessions and 3 evening sessions. Register for the series or by the session.
Cost: /7 wks
Contact: Dana Rickman Telephone Number: 207.353.5550 EMail Address: dana.rickman@maine.edu
Sponsored By:Androscoggin Soil & Water Conservation District
Location: USDA Service Center, 254 Goddard Road, Lewiston
Location: USDA Service Center, 254 Goddard Road, Lewiston

Event: New Farmer Worshop Series
When: Wed, Feb 1 9:00 am – 3:00 pm
Description: Event: New Farmer Worshop Series
When: Sun, Jan 29 9:00 am – 3:00 pm
Description: Five agencies have collaborated to develop a comprehensive seven-week workshop series designed for new Maine farmers who have been in business fewer than 10 years, or haven’t started yet. Topics include farm business basics, crop management, energy management and farm safety. There are 3 full-day sessions and 3 evening sessions. Register for the series or by the session.
Cost: /7 wks
Contact: Dana Rickman Telephone Number: 207.353.5550 EMail Address: dana.rickman@maine.edu
Sponsored By:Androscoggin Soil & Water Conservation District
Location: USDA Service Center, 254 Goddard Road, Lewiston
Location: USDA Service Center, 254 Goddard Road, Lewiston

Event: New Farmer Workshop Series
When: Sun, Feb 5 9:00 am – 3:00 pm
Description: Event: New Farmer Worshop Series
When: Sun, Jan 29 9:00 am – 3:00 pm
Description: Five agencies have collaborated to develop a comprehensive seven-week workshop series designed for new Maine farmers who have been in business fewer than 10 years, or haven’t started yet. Topics include farm business basics, crop management, energy management and farm safety. There are 3 full-day sessions and 3 evening sessions. Register for the series or by the session.
Cost: /7 wks
Contact: Dana Rickman Telephone Number: 207.353.5550 EMail Address: dana.rickman@maine.edu
Sponsored By:Androscoggin Soil & Water Conservation District
Location: USDA Service Center, 254 Goddard Road, Lewiston
Location: USDA Service Center, 254 Goddard Road, Lewiston

Event: Studying Food System Approaches in Three Types of Rural Communities
When: Wed, Feb 8 11:00 am – 12:00 pm
Description: Studying Food System Approaches in Three Types of Rural Communities

Mary Hendrickson, Associate Professor
University of Missouri Extension

Randy Cantrell, Development Specialist
University of Nebraska

Wednesday, February 8, 2012
11:00 AM (Eastern Time)

http://breeze.msu.edu/ncrcrd/

About the webinar:
In this webinar we will discuss a current research project that examines the impact of local food systems on rural development in the Midwest. Local/regional food systems are a promising entrepreneurial solution for rural development and may enhance the prosperity of at-risk small and medium sized farms and improve the health and well-being of consumers. Our bi-state research project examines these questions: What are the impacts of local/regional food systems on rural communities? How do they impact the prosperity of small and medium-sized farms? Are consumers in both rural and urban areas likely to participate? The long-term goal of this project is to fully realize the potential of regional food systems as a strategy for rural development. We will discuss our initial focus group research and describe what we have learned so far.

Registration: There is no fee for attending this webinar.

About the Speaker(s):

Mary Hendrickson is an extension associate professor of rural sociology for University of Missouri Extension. She also serves as the Undergraduate Advisor for Sustainable Agriculture. She teaches sustainable food and farming courses and directs extension programs that farmers, consumers and their communities together in community-based food systems. With Dr. Cantrell, she is researching the economic impacts of local foods for rural development.

Randy Cantrell is a development specialist with University of Nebraska Rural Initiative and University of Nebraska Extension. He directs the annual Nebraska Rural Poll and is currently participating in research projects aimed at marketing rural places and the economic impact of local foods.

Instructions for Accessing the Webinar:

Following is the link you will use to access this free webinar: http://breeze.msu.edu/ncrcrd/

After opening the link, you will notice “enter as a guest” is by default already chosen. Please type your name into the text box provided, and click on “enter room.” You are now in the meeting room for this webinar and the facilitator will guide you with any next steps.

If you have never attended a Connect Pro meeting before:
Test your connection: http://breeze.msu.edu/common/help/en/support/meeting_test.htm
Get a quick overview: http://www.adobe.com/go/connectpro_overview

This meeting will deliver audio through your computer speakers or headset. Please connect to the meeting space five minutes prior to the start time to verify your connection and audio volumes. If you’ve never used Adobe Connect on the computer you will be using, please use the “Test your connection” link above and do a test connection to the actual meeting space well in advance of the scheduled meeting time. If you have technical difficulty connecting, please call the Library Help Desk at 1-800-500-1554 or 5-2345 (MSU campus) and indicate you are having trouble connecting to the Adobe Connect meeting space at http://breeze.msu.edu/ncrcrd/.

Keep in mind that many people will be linked into this conference. To facilitate Q&A’s, participants submit questions via the Chat Function in Adobe Connect.

To receive these announcements directly, or to correct errors in our distribution list, please email soliz@anr.msu.edu.
Location: WEBINAR

Event: New Farmer Workshop Series
When: Sun, Feb 12 9:00 am – 3:00 pm
Description: Event: New Farmer Worshop Series
When: Sun, Jan 29 9:00 am – 3:00 pm
Description: Five agencies have collaborated to develop a comprehensive seven-week workshop series designed for new Maine farmers who have been in business fewer than 10 years, or haven’t started yet. Topics include farm business basics, crop management, energy management and farm safety. There are 3 full-day sessions and 3 evening sessions. Register for the series or by the session.
Cost: /7 wks
Contact: Dana Rickman Telephone Number: 207.353.5550 EMail Address: dana.rickman@maine.edu
Sponsored By:Androscoggin Soil & Water Conservation District
Location: USDA Service Center, 254 Goddard Road, Lewiston
Location: USDA Service Center, 254 Goddard Road, Lewiston

Event: Sustainable Food Seminar
When: Thu, Feb 16 12:00 pm – 1:00 pm
Description: John Jemison

“Assessing Maine’s Agricultural Future: A Qualitative Research Project”
Location: Bangor Room, Memorial Union, University of Maine

Event: 2012 Maine Grain Workshop
When: Fri, Feb 17 9:00 am – 4:00 pm
Description: 2012 Maine Grain Workshop

Commercial Production for Food and Feed

Friday, February 17, 2012

Bangor Banquet and Conference Center (at Bangor Motor Inn, Hogan Rd.)

Pre-registration is required – includes lunch

Come hear what’s going on with food and organic feed-grade markets and how to produce quality grains. A panel of grain buyers will discuss what they’re looking for. Farmer and co-owner of Farmer Ground Flour, Thor Oechsner, will talk about growing, handling, and processing food and feed grains. Elizabeth Dyck, Organic Growers’ Research and Information-Sharing Network, will share her insights from working with farmers in New York and Pennsylvania to supply grains to local markets. Jake Dyer, of UMaine and Qualey Farms, will tell how he’s reduced feed costs for the UMaine dairy herd by growing his own barley. Alice Percy, Treble Ridge Farm, will talk about small scale production of feed and food grains. Also, fitting organic grains into forage and crop rotations, UMaine research wheat research results, and more.

See attached flyer for schedule details.
Register on-line at http://extension.umaine.edu/2012mainegrain/workshop/
or register by phone by calling Meghan Dill at (207) 581-3878.

4 CCA credits have been requested and 1 pesticide credit will be available.

Please register by February 12th! (see below)
Location: Bangor Banquet and Conference Center (at Bangor Motor Inn, Hogan Rd.)

Event: New Farmer Workshop Series
When: Sun, Feb 19 9:00 am – 3:00 pm
Description: Event: New Farmer Worshop Series
When: Sun, Jan 29 9:00 am – 3:00 pm
Description: Five agencies have collaborated to develop a comprehensive seven-week workshop series designed for new Maine farmers who have been in business fewer than 10 years, or haven’t started yet. Topics include farm business basics, crop management, energy management and farm safety. There are 3 full-day sessions and 3 evening sessions. Register for the series or by the session.
Cost: /7 wks
Contact: Dana Rickman Telephone Number: 207.353.5550 EMail Address: dana.rickman@maine.edu
Sponsored By:Androscoggin Soil & Water Conservation District
Location: USDA Service Center, 254 Goddard Road, Lewiston
Location: USDA Service Center, 254 Goddard Road, Lewiston

Event: UVM Extension New Farmer Project: Farm Pricing Webinar and Intensive Clinics
When: Tue, Feb 21 7:00 pm – 8:00 pm
Description: UVM Extension New Farmer Project: Farm Pricing Webinar and Intensive Clinics

Upcoming Webinar: Pricing for Profit, 7 pm EST, February 21, 2012

Learn how to set the “right” price for your products. We’ll explore practical approaches to cost-based pricing, and learn how to integrate market information ­ what your competitors are charging ­ and your own profit goals in your pricing decisions. Participants will learn how to use the new, online Vermont Direct Price Reporting tool to get a snapshot of market conditions, and growers will share their approaches to integrating production costs, market information and farm goals into their pricing strategies. Participants in this webinar will be eligible for small-group pricing clinics and farmer-to-farmer mentoring in March through the UVM Extension Vermont Direct Market Price Project.

If you have Internet access and can hear sound through your computer, you should be able to participate or watch recordings regardless of the type of computer or operating system you use. A broadband connection to the Internet is helpful but not required. All webinars are recorded and made available for later viewing. You can find our webinar archive on our webinar webpage.

Click on the title of the webinar to link to the webinar. If this is the first time you’re participating in a webinar using the Blackboard Collaborate/Elluminate platform, please visit the link to your webinar an hour or two earlier so that you can pre-configure your computer for webinar participation. For more information, please contact the UVM Extension New Farmer Project by e-mailing newfarmer@uvm.edu or calling 802-223-2389.
If you require accommodations to participate in a webinar, please contact Mary Peabody at least seven days before the webinar you want to participate in, so we may assist you. Call 802-223-2389 or 1-866-860-1382 (toll-free in Vt.) or email mary.peabody@uvm.edu.
Location: Webinar

Event: New Farmer Workshop Series
When: Sun, Feb 26 9:00 am – 3:00 pm
Description: Event: New Farmer Worshop Series
When: Sun, Jan 29 9:00 am – 3:00 pm
Description: Five agencies have collaborated to develop a comprehensive seven-week workshop series designed for new Maine farmers who have been in business fewer than 10 years, or haven’t started yet. Topics include farm business basics, crop management, energy management and farm safety. There are 3 full-day sessions and 3 evening sessions. Register for the series or by the session.
Cost: /7 wks
Contact: Dana Rickman Telephone Number: 207.353.5550 EMail Address: dana.rickman@maine.edu
Sponsored By:Androscoggin Soil & Water Conservation District
Location: USDA Service Center, 254 Goddard Road, Lewiston
Location: USDA Service Center, 254 Goddard Road, Lewiston