Register here: https://forms.gle/mfNrkcYeZCTCecuGA

Join us to get the inside scoop on local organic farming and animal husbandry at Blue Sky Organic Farms! Strap on your boots and prepare for a day filled with a farm tour, lunch, insightful presentations about farming organically, and engaging discussions.

If you cannot make it for the whole day, you are welcome to join us for part!

Meeting location: https://maps.app.goo.gl/BAoyKsij43nqNQuFA

Itinerary:

8:00 am - Arrival and sign-in (coffee and bagels will be available)
8:15 - 9:30 - Farm tour at first location
9:30 - 9:45 - Drive to second location
9:45 - 10:30 - Farm tour and discussion on livestock (chickens/goats) at second location
10:30 - 10:45 - Break
10:45 - 11:00 - Swette Center introduction
11:00 - 11:15 - Farm Service Agency (FSA) - Presentation
11:15 - 12:00 - Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) - Presentation & soil demo
12:00 - 12:45 - Keynote with Sara Dolan (Blue Sky) 
12:45 - 2:00 - Lunch from Sorelle and Networking session

Hosted by the UoA Cooperative Extension, this virtual workshop will cover all the details for your farm to consider if you want to transition to certified organic.

They will cover the history of organic certification, basic crop requirements, common mistakes, certification pros and cons, and the event will feature a small-scale farmer who is currently certified organic to discuss their experience and answer any questions from the audience!

Register here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/organic-certification-for-specialty-crops-tickets-852942071697?aff=oddtdtcreator

Panelists:

• Steve Ela, Former NOSB Chair, NOC NOSB Specialist, Organic Producer at Ela Family Farms

• Harriet Behar, Former NOSB Chair, NOC Advisor, OFA Farmer Services Consultant, and Organic Producer at Sweet Springs Farm

• Amy Bruch, Current NOSB Vice Chair and Organic Producer at Cyclone Farms

Organic producers and processors must follow strict standards as to what is required to become organically certified.  Who decides what is and is not allowed on organic farms and in organic processing facilities? Not your certifier! Rather, it’s the USDA National Organic Program, in consultation with the National Organic Standards Board.

In this interactive networking session for organic and transitioning farmers, a panel of farmers and advocates will demystify the National Organic Standards Board (NOSB). Panelists will explain the role of the NOSB in shaping organic standards and allowed materials, the process the Board uses to make decisions, and explain how your comments can make a difference in Board decisions. Your input matters! The NOSB makes decisions that determine what you can and can’t do on your farm - we’ll explain how to provide input to the Board in a meaningful way, answer your questions, and share ideas about how to lift up farmer voices in the NOSB process.

Register here!

Join Kelsey Williardson, Policy Associate, Center for Rural Affairs, and Julia Barton, Farmer Services Director, Organic Farmers Association, for a presentation and discussion on December 12, 2023, for “organic curious,” transitioning, and certified organic farmers to learn about new programs and the ways both farmers and RMA are working to make crop insurance function better for everyone.

Crop insurance is an important risk management tool, but can be difficult to navigate for specialty and organic producers. Register for this webinar now to find out how your farm may be able to make crop insurance work for you.

This webinar will include information about specialty crop and transitional crop insurance products, discussion, Q&A, and opportunities to get involved and be part of making crop insurance work for you!

The USDA has announced that $65 million in grants are available for agricultural employers through the Farm Labor Stabilization and Protection Pilot Program (FLSP Program). The program helps employers address workforce needs in agriculture, promotes a safe and healthy work environment for farmworkers, and supports migration pathways for workers, including for H-2A workers from Northern Central America.

Following a basic overview of FLSP, this webinar will take a deeper dive into some the unique challenges that smaller, mid-sized and underserved producers and employers may face as they navigate participation in FLSP, the application process, and the H-2A program. In addition, attendees will hear about the technical assistance available to prospective applicants and grantees – and why FLSP is uniquely suited to address their needs.

RSVP: https://www.zoomgov.com/meeting/register/vJItce6grzwoHwq2w8wTro0aYC6onRtklhA#/registration