The 2013 Southeastern Vegetable Crop Handbook is now available on-line. The hard copies will be available early next year. Make sure to visit your local Cooperative Extension office to pick one up!
Showing posts with label resources. Show all posts
Showing posts with label resources. Show all posts
Monday, December 17, 2012
Thursday, December 13, 2012
NOP Releases New Guides for Organic Certification
Written by NCAT experts, guides are part of NOP ‘Organic Literacy Initiative’
Beginning farmers and existing organic operations can find detailed information about organic certification in a series of new guides available now on the ATTRA-National Sustainable Agriculture Information Service website.
The guides were written by sustainable-agriculture experts at the National Center for Appropriate Technology (NCAT) in partnership with the USDA National Organic Program (NOP).
They are part of the USDA’s Organic Literacy Initiative, which was launched earlier this year. This effort has included self-paced training modules, outreach materials, and a guide to organic and organic-related USDA programs.
The initiative is focused on answering one of the main questions for farms and businesses considering organic certification: “What would I need to change in order to go organic?”
The earlier Organic Literacy Initiative materials provided an overview designed as a first step in understanding organic certification. The new guides help prospective organic operations take the next step: learning more about their specific type of organic production.
They also are helpful for current organic operations looking to adopt new management approaches and better understand NOP standards.
The four guides provide detailed information about the relevant organic requirements, provide best practices, and further explain the certification process.
• Guide to Organic Crop Producers
https://attra.ncat.org/attra-
• Guide for Organic Livestock Producers
https://attra.ncat.org/attra-
• Guide for Organic Processors
https://attra.ncat.org/attra-
• Organic Certification of Farms and Businesses Producing Agricultural Products
https://attra.ncat.org/attra-
The guides can be downloaded for free or ordered as a paper publication for a small handling fee either at the links above or on the ATTRA website at www.attra.ncat.org.
ATTRA has been the nation’s leading resource for information on sustainable agriculture since 1987. NCAT developed and maintains ATTRA through a cooperative agreement with the USDA’s Rural Business-Cooperative Service.
ATTRA covers a wide range of topics, including reducing pesticide use on cropland, promoting food safety in sustainable production systems, reducing farm energy use and costs, enriching soils with the use of cover crops, and providing technical assistance in the growing areas of local farmers markets and urban gardening.
--30--
Since 1976, the National Center for Appropriate Technology (NCAT) has been helping people by championing small-scale, local and sustainable solutions to reduce poverty, promote healthy communities and protect natural resources. In partnership with businesses, organizations, individuals and agricultural producers, NCAT is working to advance solutions that will ensure the next generation inherits a world that has clean air and water, energy production that is efficient and renewable, and healthy foods grown with sustainable practices. More information about its programs and services is available at www.ncat.org or by calling 1-800-ASK-NCAT.
Beginning farmers and existing organic operations can find detailed information about organic certification in a series of new guides available now on the ATTRA-National Sustainable Agriculture Information Service website.
The guides were written by sustainable-agriculture experts at the National Center for Appropriate Technology (NCAT) in partnership with the USDA National Organic Program (NOP).
They are part of the USDA’s Organic Literacy Initiative, which was launched earlier this year. This effort has included self-paced training modules, outreach materials, and a guide to organic and organic-related USDA programs.
The initiative is focused on answering one of the main questions for farms and businesses considering organic certification: “What would I need to change in order to go organic?”
The earlier Organic Literacy Initiative materials provided an overview designed as a first step in understanding organic certification. The new guides help prospective organic operations take the next step: learning more about their specific type of organic production.
They also are helpful for current organic operations looking to adopt new management approaches and better understand NOP standards.
The four guides provide detailed information about the relevant organic requirements, provide best practices, and further explain the certification process.
• Guide to Organic Crop Producers
https://attra.ncat.org/attra-
• Guide for Organic Livestock Producers
https://attra.ncat.org/attra-
• Guide for Organic Processors
https://attra.ncat.org/attra-
• Organic Certification of Farms and Businesses Producing Agricultural Products
https://attra.ncat.org/attra-
The guides can be downloaded for free or ordered as a paper publication for a small handling fee either at the links above or on the ATTRA website at www.attra.ncat.org.
ATTRA has been the nation’s leading resource for information on sustainable agriculture since 1987. NCAT developed and maintains ATTRA through a cooperative agreement with the USDA’s Rural Business-Cooperative Service.
ATTRA covers a wide range of topics, including reducing pesticide use on cropland, promoting food safety in sustainable production systems, reducing farm energy use and costs, enriching soils with the use of cover crops, and providing technical assistance in the growing areas of local farmers markets and urban gardening.
--30--
Since 1976, the National Center for Appropriate Technology (NCAT) has been helping people by championing small-scale, local and sustainable solutions to reduce poverty, promote healthy communities and protect natural resources. In partnership with businesses, organizations, individuals and agricultural producers, NCAT is working to advance solutions that will ensure the next generation inherits a world that has clean air and water, energy production that is efficient and renewable, and healthy foods grown with sustainable practices. More information about its programs and services is available at www.ncat.org or by calling 1-800-ASK-NCAT.
Thursday, August 18, 2011
New North Carolina Blueberry Blog
Bill Cline from the Plant Pathology Department at NC State University has just launched the NC Blueberry Journal blog.
Mr. Cline is the premier blueberry specialist in the state and has some outstanding resources and knowledge to share with NC growers. The NC Blueberry Journal blog is meant to be a resource for Cooperative Extension agents, growers and blueberry enthusiasts. The blog will have topics related to blueberry production including variety descriptions, disease and insect information and other curiosities.
Enjoy!
Mr. Cline is the premier blueberry specialist in the state and has some outstanding resources and knowledge to share with NC growers. The NC Blueberry Journal blog is meant to be a resource for Cooperative Extension agents, growers and blueberry enthusiasts. The blog will have topics related to blueberry production including variety descriptions, disease and insect information and other curiosities.
Enjoy!
Thursday, April 28, 2011
2011 Organic Blueberry Spray Guide From NCSU
Check out Dr. Hannah Burrack's blogpost on this great new resource she and NCSU plant pathologist, Bill Cline put together!
Here is a direct link to the new resource:
2011 Organic Blueberry Spray Guide
Here is a direct link to the new resource:
2011 Organic Blueberry Spray Guide
New Resource for Folks Interested in Farmstays
The Minnesota Institute of Sustainable Agriculture has a new Farmstays Manual. Though the manual is intended for Minnesota residents, there are some relevant details to anyone interested in Farmstays.
Here is a description of the manual from the website:
"Farmstays are well-suited to meet the needs of travelers looking for unique and genuine experiences. They offer people a way to reconnect with their agrarian roots—or to form new roots. While research has not been conducted in Minnesota on travelers’ interest in farmstays, the success of existing farmstays, as well as natural food co-ops, farmers’ markets, and “buy-local” campaigns indicate that the opportunity is there. Many people are hungry to establish a relationship with the land on which their food is grown and with the farmers who grow it.
This manual is not meant to be comprehensive, but rather a first stop for those considering a farmstay in Minnesota. Since we won’t cover everything you’ll need to know in this guide, we will refer you to other publications, organizations, and agencies that can aid in the various aspects of developing a farmstay.
This Farmstay Manual was a collaboration of the Minnesota Institute for Sustainable Agriculture, Renewing the Countryside, and the University of Minnesota Tourism Center."Tuesday, April 26, 2011
Food Safety Information Resources
There are some great on-line resources available for growers, agents, industry folks, regulators, consumers, etc who want to learn more about Food Safety and the Food Safety Modernization Act. Here is a run-down. If you have any to add, let me know.
- The Federal Drug Administration's Food Safety Modernization Act Webpage
- NCSU's Plants for Human Health Fresh Produce Safety Grower Information Portal
- BarfBlog, Food Poisoning and Foodborne Illness Info and Research
Wednesday, December 15, 2010
NC Organic Production Assistance Deadline March 4, 2011
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Stuart A. Lee
Date: December 14, 2010
Raleigh, NC –North Carolina organic producers and those transitioning to organic farming have until March 4, 2011 to sign up for the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) Organic Initiative. The USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) administers the initiative. Under the EQIP Organic Initiative, approved applicants can receive up to $20,000 per year or $80,000 over six years.
A number of "core" organic conservation practices may be funded through the initiative including cover crops, conservation crop rotation, prescribed grazing, pest management and nutrient management. All conservation practices offered under "general" EQIP are also available through the EQIP Organic Initiative including but not limited to fence and watering facilities for rotational grazing, erosion control practices, field borders, etc.
Applicants who are currently certified organic will need to include their organic system plan (OSP) reviewed by a USDA accredited organic certifier when applying for financial assistance in the EQIP Organic Initiative. Applicants who are transitioning to organic will need to submit a self-certification form to the NRCS acknowledging that agree to develop and implement conservation practices for certified organic production that are consistent with an organic system plan. The self-certification form may be obtained at time of application from any NRCS Service Center.
For more information on NRCS, programs and the EQIP Organic Initiative contact your local field office or visit us on the Web at www.nc.nrcs.usda.gov.
Tuesday, October 19, 2010
NC Hops Project Has a New Website!
Check out Dr. Jeanine Davis's blogpost on the NC Alternative Crops and Organics Blog about the new NC Hops Project website.
This will undoubtedly be a great resource for individuals considering hops production in NC.
Check out the new website directly at http://nchops.soil.ncsu.edu/.
This will undoubtedly be a great resource for individuals considering hops production in NC.
Check out the new website directly at http://nchops.soil.ncsu.edu/.
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