Calendar of Events

Kerr Center Events

Field Day: Organic Agriculture :: July 14
Lane

Workshops: Integrated Pest Management (IPM) and Sustainable Pest Control ::
July 16 (Stillwater)
July 20 (Tulsa)
July 27 (Oklahoma City)

Application Deadline: Kerr Center 2010 Internships :: Early fall

Field Day: Freshwater Prawn :: September 12
Cashion

Workshops: Hoop Houses ::
September 26 (Poteau)
October 10 (Stratford)

 

Other Oklahoma Events

Grant Deadline: ODAFF Ag Enhancement and Diversification Grant and Loan :: July 1

Conference: Dollars and Sense :: August 13-14
Oklahoma City

Other Regional and National Events

Nomination Deadline: Southern SARE Administrative Council :: July 1

Nomination Deadline: National Organic Standards Board (NOSB) Members :: July 17

Public Comment Deadline: National Animal Identification System (NAIS) :: August 3

Grant Deadline: Southern SARE Planning and Preliminary Grants :: August 15

 

Kerr Center Events

Field Day: Organic Agriculture

July 14
2 - 8
Lane
Lane Ag Center

The 2009 Organic Agriculture Field Day will feature presentations by specialists from Wes Watkins Research Center, the Kerr Center, and ARS, on topics including cover crops for vegetables, disease control, weed management options, organic approved fertilizer sources, mulching options and their benefits, and niche market opportunities. Crops include tomato, sweet potato, peppers, watermelon, cantaloupe, herbs and more.

There will be an afternoon workshop on manure use and food safety beginning at 2.

A complimentary meal will be served at 4, followed by a twilight tour of the organic research plots.

There is no charge to attend the field day, but pre-registration is required. To register, call 918.647.9123

Read newsletter story

Download flyer

Workshops: Integrated Pest Management (IPM) and Sustainable Pest Control

July 16 – Stillwater
July 20 – Tulsa
July 27 – Oklahoma City

Experts from OSU Extension and the Kerr Center for Sustainable Agriculture will teach these workshops on money-saving pest management strategies for small-scale vegetable producers. Registration costs $15 and includes an evening meal. Pre-registration is required.

More information and registration form.

Download flyer

Read Press Release

Application Deadline: Kerr Center 2010 Internships

Early fall

The Kerr Center for Sustainable Agriculture is announcing its 2010 internship opportunities at the Stewardship Ranch, near Poteau, Oklahoma.  These internships are part of a long-term educational program to build a School of Sustainability that will provide diverse educational and training opportunities in sustainable food and agriculture.

More information

Field Day: Freshwater Prawns

September 12
Cashion

Join Oklahoma Producer Grant recipient Jeremy Eaton as he harvests his second crop of freshwater prawns (shrimp) from the pond on his farm northwest of Oklahoma City. day, Eaton will give a presentation on freshwater prawn production methods, potential problems, and harvesting and marketing information. Following the presentation, participants will observe the harvest. A question-and-answer session will follow. Registration required; email or call 918.647.9123.

Newsletter article

Workshops: Hoop Houses

September 26 – Poteau
October 10 – Stratford

Oklahoma Producer Grant recipients Tod and Jamie Hanley of Trebuchet Gardens in Norman hosted one of the Kerr Center’s most popular workshops of 2008, explaining and demonstrating their low-cost method of hoop house construction. This year the Hanleys will repeat their workshop at two different locations. Monitor this space for further details.

Hoop House How-to
This new publication explains, with step-by-step photos and illustrations, how to build
a low-cost hoop house of the design developed by Tod and Jamie Hanley.

Other Oklahoma Events

Grant Deadline: ODAFF Ag Enhancement and Diversification Grant and Loan

July 1

The deadline for grant and loan applications for the next round of the Oklahoma Agricultural Enhancement and Diversification (OAED) program is July 1.  State agriculture officials are urging all producers with innovative ideas to apply.

Agricultural diversification grants of up to $5,000, as well as interest-free loans, are available in three categories: Cooperative Marketing Loans, Marketing and Utilization Loans, and Basic and Applied Research Loans.

Loans may not be used to purchase land, buildings or equipment.  Eligible expenses include feasibility studies, business plans, legal expenses, consultant fees, product development and marketing.

Producers interested in either diversifying their current operations or entering some form of value-added or marketing venture are eligible.  Producer groups interested in pursuing forms of value-added enterprises or marketing cooperatives are also urged to apply.

OAED loans and grants have been used in the development of a variety of agritourism ventures, biofuel projects, and food processing businesses, among other things.

Applications are available online from the ODAFF at www.oda.state.ok.us by clicking the “Loans” link. For more information, contact Jason Harvey at 405.522.5563.

Conference: Dollars and Sense

August 13-14

The Oklahoma Land Stewardship Alliance’s 8th annual Dollars and Sense grazing conference will feature Jim Gerrish and Jerry Brunetti, speaking on the basics of grazing management.  Monitor this space for further details as they become available, or for more information, contact Kim Barker by email or phone (580.732.0244).

Other Regional and National Events

Nomination Deadline: Southern SARE Administrative Council

July 1

The Administrative Council of the Southern Region Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education Program (SARE) is seeking one producer and two representatives of non-profit organizations to join the Council for a three-year term beginning February, 2010. Self nominations are welcomed.

The Administrative Council is the governing body of the Southern SARE program and is made up of seven producers, three NGO representatives, one agribusiness representative, one quality of life representative and a number of 1862, 1890, federal and state governmental agency representatives.

Nominees must be familiar with sustainable agriculture and its impact on the environment and rural communities.  Nominees representing women in agriculture, minorities and farm laborers are especially welcome.

The Administrative Council depends on outstanding nominees that you and your colleagues from across the region may put forward, including self nominations.  We strongly encourage you to invest the effort required to advance good nominees.

The new Council members will serve a  three-year term beginning in February 2010.  Duties of the Administrative Council include attendance at two council meetings each year, February and August.  Each meeting is expected to last two days.  For details about AC duties, go to www.southernsare.uga.edu/forms/ACduties.doc.

Criteria for Administrative Council appointment include the following:
1. Experience in the area of sustainable agriculture;

2. Demonstrated ability and willingness to help address
sustainable agriculture needs and methods; and

3. Ability to work effectively as a member of a team dealing with contemporary issues facing agriculture.

Written nominations should include:
1. A statement of the nominee’s ability to work collaboratively to address sustainable agriculture needs;

2. A description of the person’s interest in and contributions to sustainable agriculture;

3. A description of teamwork capabilities;

4. Confirmation of the nominee’s consent to be nominated;

5. Demographic information (sex, race, type of farm or NGO, and address and telephone contact information).

To be considered, Dr. Jeff Jordan (address below) must receive your nomination by July 1, 2009.  Please limit your written nomination to a maximum of two pages.  Including a resume is certainly appropriate, but not sufficient without a cover letter that addresses the above items.

Mail nominations to Jeff Jordan, University of Georgia Campus at Griffin, 1109 Experiment Street, 203 Stuckey Building, Griffin, GA 30223-1797.

Nomination Deadline: National Organic Standards Board (NOSB) Members

July 17

The Organic Foods Production Act (OFPA) of 1990, as amended, requires the establishment of a National Organic Standards Board (NOSB). The NOSB is a 15 member board that is responsible for developing and recommending to the Secretary a proposed National List of Allowed and Prohibited Substances. The NOSB also advises the Secretary on all other aspects of the National Organic Program. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is requesting nominations to fill five (5) upcoming vacancies on the NOSB. The positions to be filled are: organic producer (2 positions), retailer (1 position), organic handler (1 position), and an environmentalist (1 position). The Secretary of Agriculture will appoint a person to each position to serve a 5-year term of office that will commence on January 24, 2010, and run until January 24, 2015. USDA encourages eligible minorities, women, and persons with disabilities to apply for membership on the NOSB.

Written nominations, with cover letters and resumes, must be post-marked on or before July 17, 2009.

Nomination cover letters and resumes should be sent to Ms.  Katherine E. Benham, Advisory Board Specialist, USDA-AMS-TMP-NOP, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW., Room 4004-So., Ag Stop 0268, Washington, DC 20250.

For more information, visit edocket.access.gpo.gov/2009/E9-5415.htm.

Public Comment Deadline: National Animal Identification System (NAIS)

August 3

The USDA is holding listening sessions in a number of locations around the country to hear public comments on its proposed National Animal Identification System. Those unable to attend the sessions in person can submit comments by mail online.

For more information on NAIS, along with a list of listening session locations and dates, click here.

To submit comments online, click here.

Grant Deadline: Southern SARE Planning and Preliminary Grants

August 15

Applicants who are not ready to submit a SARE Research and Education Grant proposal may use one of the entry level options: Planning Grants or Preliminary Research Grants.

Planning Grants are intended to support researchers as they develop interdisciplinary teams and define the project scope, establish goals and objectives, and perform extensive literature reviews, for the eventual project.  Planning Grants  will award up to $20,000 for one year’s planning activities. Pre-proposals will be not required.

Once the team is formed and planning is advanced, Preliminary Research Grants fund necessary research that would feed into the interdisciplinary team’s objectives. Activities could include but are not limited to statistically sound surveys, laboratory and/or field research needed to provide information necessary to develop a systems research proposal. Preliminary Research Grants will award up to $50,000 for up to 2 years of project activities. Pre-proposals will be not required.

For more information, visit Southern SARE’s Research & Education Planning Grants and Preliminary Grants page.