Let’s celebrate Farmers Markets! National Farmers Market Week is August 6-12, 2023. The event is a great opportunity to show the nation how much value markets bring to their communities. With fun events, specials, contests, and activities, the week helps to boost market attendance and visibility – while at the same time being loads of fun!
Learn more about farmers markets from the Farmers Market Coalition.
This year’s Soil and Water Conservation Society International Annual Conference theme, “Healthy Land, Clean Water: Cultivating a Legacy of Conservation,” challenges us to envision the world we want to leave for those who follow us.
The conference will assemble a diverse, multigenerational conservation community of researchers, practitioners, industry leaders, farmers, and students from around the world in Des Moines, Iowa, where the Soil and Water Conservation Society was founded 78 years ago and is still headquartered today. The agenda will feature the latest ideas, technologies, and practices, and foster a dialogue around their adoption. Through workshops, sessions, symposia, tours, exhibits, and demonstrations, cutting-edge research and practice developments in soil health, water quality, and resource management will be shared. Scientists and practitioners will present their work at the field, farm, and watershed scale across an array of private and public arenas. Applications of social theories and examples of successful outreach and education will enable attendees to identify ways to scale up localized successes. Participants will also hear about policy and economic developments that build a framework to increase conservation adoption and support future generations.
For more information or to register, visit the conference website, or contact Courtney Allen by email or phone (515-289-2331).
The Southern Family Farmers & Food Systems Conference is an annual event jointly hosted by the Farm and Ranch Freedom Alliance, Small Producers Initiative at Texas State University, and Council for Healthy Food Systems.
The three-day conference will energize and inspire whether you’re brand new to farming or have been doing it for years. It is committed to bringing relevant, farmer-driven information to the small- to medium- scale agricultural community in Texas and surrounding Southern states. Get out of the heat this August and join us!
For more information or to register, visit the conference website, or contact the conference organizers by email or phone (254-697-2661).
Essentials of Regenerative Ranching is a two-day workshop that helps producers get the tools they need to monitor and improve the health of their land, livestock and livelihood.
No matter the size, location, or scope of your operation, upon the completion of this program you will be able to:
- Assess the current condition and limiting factors of your soil
- Apply the principles of regenerative ranching and implement them on your ranch to improve soil health
- Use exclusive monitoring tools to begin tracking progress
- Calculate your current economic/financial context
- Plan your operations to decrease costs and improve profits
- Determine initial stocking rates, carrying capacity, and grazing goals
For more information or to register, visit the workshop registration page, or contact Danielle Williams by email or phone (580-223-5810).
August 8, 2023, is the deadline for applications to the USDA-NRCS Regional Conservation Partnership Program.
The Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP) is a partner-driven approach to conservation that funds solutions to natural resource challenges on agricultural land. By leveraging collective resources and collaborating on common goals, RCPP demonstrates the power of public-private partnerships in delivering results for agriculture and conservation.
RCPP projects fall under two different categories: RCPP Classic and RCPP Grants. RCPP Classic projects are implemented using NRCS contracts and easements with producers, landowners and communities, in collaboration with project partners. Through RCPP Grants, the lead partner must work directly with agricultural producers to support the development of new conservation structures and approaches that would not otherwise be available under RCPP Classic.
Eligible organizations interested in partnering with NRCS on conservation projects can develop applications for the RCPP competition. The lead partner for an RCPP project is the entity that submits an application, and if selected for an award is ultimately responsible for collaborating with NRCS to successfully complete an RCPP project.
See the RCPP funding announcement for details about what types of organizations are eligible to apply.
Once NRCS selects a project and executes an RCPP agreement with a lead partner, agricultural producers may participate in an RCPP project in one of two ways. First, producers may engage with project partners and delegate a willing partner to act as their representative in working with NRCS. Second, producers seeking to carry out conservation activities consistent with a RCPP project in the project’s geographic area can apply directly to NRCS.
RCPP projects must be carried out on agricultural or nonindustrial private forest land or associated land on which NRCS determines an eligible activity would help achieve conservation benefits (i.e., improved condition of natural resources resulting from implementation of conservation activities).
Eligible conservation activities may be implemented on public lands when those activities will benefit eligible lands as determined by NRCS and are included in the scope of an approved RCPP project.
For more information or to apply, visit the RCPP webpage, or visit your local USDA service center.
Please note that, in cooperation with efforts to limit the spread of COVID-19, the Kerr Center is currently offering tours by appointment only, and only outdoors. To request a tour, please contact us at least two weeks in advance by calling 918.647.9123 or emailing mailbox@kerrcenter.com (please put “public tour” in subject line).
(Under normal circumstances, guided tours are available one day each month, on the second Tuesday, April through September.) During these tours, Kerr Center staff show visitors our current horticulture and livestock projects.
Tours go from 9-11 or 1-3 (approximate length), and cost $10 per person.
Advance registration is required. Contact us a week in advance to let us know you are coming and whether you want to see horticulture or livestock projects or both.
Keep in mind that what is available to see varies according to season. When you call, we can let you know what is available to see. We want you to have the best possible experience!
Pay at the door. Tours begin at the Kerr Center office.
Click here for directions and map.
All other visits must be requested at least two weeks in advance. Groups are welcome.
Call the Kerr Center at 918.647.9123 or email mailbox@kerrcenter.com with “tour request” in the subject line to arrange a visit.
August 8 at 11:59 P.M. EDT is the deadline for applications to the USDA Agricultural Marketing Service’s Organic Market Development Grant.
The Organic Market Development Grant (OMDG) program supports the development of new and expanded organic markets to help increase the consumption of domestic organic agricultural commodities. The program focuses on building and expanding capacity for certified organic production, aggregation, processing, manufacturing, storing, transporting, wholesaling, distribution, and development of consumer markets. OMDG aims to increase the availability and demand for domestically produced organic agricultural products and address the critical need for additional market paths.
Eligible applicants are business entities (regardless of legal structure) who produce or handle organic foods, non-profit organizations, including trade associations, tribal, state, territory, and local government entities.
Market Development and Promotion and Processing Capacity Expansion require 50% matching funds of the total federal portion of the grant cost.
There is a reduced match funds requirement of only 25% available to historically underserved farmers and ranchers and applicable small businesses.
Smaller Equipment-Only projects do not require federal cost sharing or matching.
For more information or to apply, visit the grant program webpage, or email the Organic Market Development Grant Team.
This workshop will provide an introduction to direct to consumer meat sales. Information regarding marketing, requirements, and other considerations will be discussed. A live carcass breakdown will help you improve understanding of beef cuts and communicate with your customers.
For more information or to register, visit the workshop webpage, or contact Karen Smith by email or phone (405-744-6277).
Join this pressure canning workshop with Tulsa County Extension. Cost is $25, registration due by noon June 28.
For more information or to register, visit the workshop webpage, or contact Debbie Owens by email or phone (918-746-3706).
August 11, 2023, is the deadline for applications to the Organic Dairy Marketing Assistance Program (ODMAP). The program was created to assist certified organic dairy producers facing a unique set of challenges in recent years, including higher costs attributed to the pandemic and drought conditions across the country. USDA will invest $104 million in financial assistance to certified organic dairy producers.
How ODMAP Works
FSA is providing financial assistance for a producer’s projected marketing costs in 2023 based on 2022 costs. ODMAP provides a one-time cost-share payment, based on marketing costs, on pounds of organic milk marketed in the 2022 calendar year.
The financial assistance from ODMAP provides immediate support to certified organic dairy operations during 2023 keeping organic dairy operations sustainable until the markets return to more normal conditions.
How to Apply
FSA is extending the application deadline to August 11, 2023. To apply, producers should contact FSA at their local USDA Service Center. To complete the ODMAP application, producers and handlers must show documentation of their organic certification and eligible expenses and submit a completed application form. See the May 19, 2023 news release for details.
