| E-mail News Bulletin #15 |
January 2007 |
SCOAR is a collaboration of producers and
scientists whose mission is to plan and promote research and
information exchange for understanding and improving organic
agricultural systems.
Funding Opportunities
Oilseeds for Fuel, Feed and Future
Innovation Grants
From press release
The Oilseeds for the Future Project aims to reduce the risk
and create new opportunities for Montana farmers who want
to participate in, and benefit from, an emerging bio-based
economy. The project offers grants to farmers (including groups
of farmers) who want to learn more about oilseed crops used
for a range of products (e.g. lubricants, culinary oils, biodiesel),
on-farm production and/or personal use of biodiesel and its
co-products, and markets and buyers' expectations for oilseed
crops. Grants up to $3,000 are available to cover costs for
a variety of activities. Proposals are due January
19, 2007. Application forms and more information (in
PDF) at www.ncat.org/downloads/oilseeds_project_grants_RFP.pdf
Community Food Projects Grants
Item courtesy of Kim Leval
The Community Food Projects (CFP) Competitive Grants Program
is a major funding source for community-based food and agriculture
projects in the U.S. Approximately $4.6 million in funds will
be available in 2007. The Request for Applications was released
on January 12. Initial letters of intent
are due by February 13 (by email). Based on a review
of these letters, some applicants will be invited to submit
a full proposal, due by April 13. The procedures are detailed
in the CFP Request for Applications, which is available at
the grants.gov website at: http://www.grants.gov/search/search.do?oppId=12255&mode=VIEW
The initial Letters of Intent (LOI) will be submitted by
regular email, but those invited to submit a full proposal
will need to go through an electronic submission process.
Because this process can take up to two months or more and
will soon be required for all federal grants, applicants
not already registered are strongly encouraged to start the
registration process as soon as possible at http://www.grants.gov
More information and technical support contacts are available
online at: http://www.csrees.usda.gov/fo/funding.cfm.
The Community Food Security Coalition (CFSC) offers free
assistance to CFP applicants. For details, visit CFSC's website
at http://www.foodsecurity.org/cfp_help.html,
or contact CFSC at email maya@foodsecurity.org
or telephone 310-822-5410.
Job Opportunities
Policy Program Assistant, Organic
Farming Research Foundation
Summary: Full-time, at-will position open in Santa Cruz, California,
for Program Assistant at a national nonprofit organization
that works on public policy to support organic agriculture.
Position emphasizes national grassroots organizing of organic
farmers through outreach, education and advocacy. Activities
include collection and synthesis of organic agricultural policy
information, production and distribution of electronic communications,
and database management. Benefits include comprehensive health
plan and 403(b) retirement package.
Requirements:
- Excellent writing skills, especially an ability to distill
and simplify a wide variety of policy-related information.
- Strong proficiency in all stages of production and dissemination
for both printed and electronic educational material. (MS
Word, PowerPoint, Adobe Acrobat, Macromedia Dreamweaver).
- Strong proficiency in management and manipulation of
relational databases (Microsoft Access).
- Strong interpersonal communications skills.
- Some experience in grass-roots political outreach or
organizing.
- Some background or familiarity with organic agriculture
and/or agricultural policy.
- Ability to travel occasionally.
Read full job announcement online at http://ofrf.org/aboutus/job_policy_assistant.html
Applications must be received by 5:00 p.m. February
16, 2007. Please send or email a cover letter and resumé
expressing how your skills and experiences address the needs
of this position. In addition please attach a writing sample
relevant to this position and an example of a web-based
communication you wrote and/or designed.
Submit applications to Organic Farming Research Foundation,
P.O. Box 440, Santa Cruz, CA 95061, Attention: Brenda Carey-Winser,
administrator, email brenda@ofrf.org.
Henry A. Wallace Endowed Chair for
Sustainable Agriculture, Iowa State University College of
Agriculture
From job announcement
The Chair position will enhance the university’s ability
to influence, support and lead toward timely and appropriate
changes for rural society and for communities across Iowa
and the nation, allowing Iowa State University to be better
positioned to serve tomorrow’s agriculture. The individual
will have significant Extension responsibilities with the
commitment to the development of educational materials and
programs and to reporting research findings to the scientific
community and to the public. The position will be a flexible,
rotating, three- to five-year term position with an option
for the Dean to extend the appointment for an additional three
years.
Applications must be submitted electronically through the
Iowa State University website: http://www.iastate.edu/jobs.
Application deadline is March 1, 2007,
or until position is filled.
For more information, contact David M. Engle, Chair, Henry
A. Wallace Endowed Chair for Sustainable Agriculture Search
Committee, telephone 515-294-1626 or email dme@iastate.edu.
Assistant Professor in Specialty Crop
Production, University of Vermont
Edited from job announcement
The University of Vermont Department of Plant and Soil Science
in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences invites applications
for a full-time 9-month, tenure-track assistant professor
position. The faculty member is expected to establish an independent,
competitively-funded research program, resulting in national
recognition. Research should focus on herbs, flowers, vegetables,
small fruits, or other specialty plants that address agricultural
and environmental issues in cold climates. Research should
address application of basic ecological principles for: sustainable
production, organic crop production, tolerance to environmental
stressors, or disease and pest management.
The successful candidate will be expected to teach one or
two courses per semester that contribute to the Ecological
Agriculture and Sustainable Landscape Horticulture majors
in the department.
Required qualifications include a Ph.D. in horticulture,
plant science, plant biology, plant ecology or related area.
Desirable qualifications include industry and teaching experience.
Applicants should submit a letter of application, curriculum
vitae, a statement of interests and vision regarding research
and teaching, and 3 letters of reference. Apply online at
http://www.uvmjobs.com.
Questions may be directed to: Leonard Perry, Search Committee
Chair, Dept. of Plant and Soil Science, 105 Carrigan Dr.,
University of Vermont, Burlington, Vermont 05405-0082, email
leonard.perry@uvm.edu,
phone 802-656-2630.
Evaluation of applications will begin January
16, 2007 and will continue until suitable candidates
are identified.
Assistant Executive Director, California
Certified Organic Farmers (CCOF)
Edited from job announcement
Objective: Ensure efficiency and effectiveness of CCOF, Inc.
operations.
Primary Responsibilities:
- Address the needs of CCOF chapters and members and serve
as their main contact
- Assist in developing, implementing, monitoring and maintaining
realistic budgets
- Manage effectiveness and efficiency of office and volunteer
staff
Manage office operations and facilities
- Ensure that CCOF and its staff comply with all documented
policies and procedures
- Assist in managing CCOF’s supporting membership
program
- Manage grant programs, as needed
- Fill in for the Executive Director at various meetings,
events, etc., as needed
Education/Experience: Applicants must be able to document
work experience and/or training to demonstrate the skills
needed for the job. The following qualifications are desired:
- Bachelor’s degree or 5 years of experience in a
related field
- Experience in nonprofit management is a plus
- Experience in the organic industry and knowledge of organic
certification is highly desired
Read complete job announcement at http://www.ccof.org/pdf/Assistant-Executive-Director_1-2-07.pdf
To apply, submit cover letter and resume by email to peggy@ccof.org
or fax to 831-423-4528. Please ensure that your cover letter
or resume documents your qualifications as listed above. Application
deadline: Feb. 28, 2007.
Resources
New Toll-free Hotline Established
for Farmers Interested in Organic Transition
Edited from press release
The Midwest Organic and Sustainable Education Service (MOSES)
has established a new Farmer Transition Hotline for Midwest
producers interested in making the transition to organic production.
The toll-free line is 888-551-4769 (GROW).
The hotline will be staffed by long-time organic farmer,
trainer and organic inspector, Harriet Behar, of Gays Mills,
Wisconsin. Behar has more than twenty years of experience
in the organic community and has visited hundreds of farms.
Behar states that while the certification process can seem
daunting, it’s ultimately worth it because of the significant
price premiums which certified organic farmers receive. In
recent years, for example, certified organic dairy and grain
producers have received two to three times the price they
would have received for conventional products.
MOSES has extensive resource materials for farmers interested
in making the transition to organic production. MOSES also
organizes the Upper Midwest Organic Farming Conference in
La Crosse, Wisconsin, each year. See the meeting announcement
for this year's conference below.
Contact MOSES, P.O. Box 339, Spring Valley, WI 54767, phone
715-772-3153, email info@mosesorganic.org,
website http://www.mosesorganic.org
Virginia Association for Biological
Farming Releases Three New Information Sheets
Mark Schonbeck with VABF has authored three new information
sheets that are available free through the group's website.
One information sheet, Cover Crops for All Seasons,
is co-authored by scientist Ron Morse. It provides an overview
of 20 types of cover crops and the roles they can play in
reduced tillage organic cropping systems. Other titles are
Caring for the Soil as a Living System and Cover
Cropping: On-Farm, Solar-Powered Soil Building. All three
information sheets may be found at http://www.vabf.org/publications.php
Schonbeck has recently submitted a final report to the Organic
Farming Research Foundation on a project they funded, Evaluation
of Frost-killed Cover Crop Mulches for Organic No-Till Production
of Spring Vegetables on Small Farms, also available free
online at http://ofrf.org/funded/systems_mgmt.html
In the Literature
New ATTRA Report on Avian Flu Corrects
Myths
ATTRA released a report, Avian Influenza in Free-Range
and Organic Poultry Production, written by Anne Fanatico,
in Sept. 2006. The report explains in straightforward language
precisely what avian influenza is, how it is transmitted,
and how to prevent its spread. Dr. Fanatico stresses the importance
of biosecurity practices to prevent avian influenza and other
diseases. She cites literature suggesting that avian influenza
has been spread by human transport of birds rather than by
migratory waterfowl, and points out that if an infected bird
were to enter the U.S. food supply, cooking meat to 165 degrees
F would destroy any pathogens. To date, the highly pathogenic
Asian strain of avian flu has not entered the U.S.
The full report is available for free at
http://www.attra.org/avian.html
USDA Economic Research Service Publishes
Report on Organic Egg and Poultry Prices
This report documents sales trends in organic poultry and
eggs, discusses prices, and analyzes organic price premiums
for these products. The authors predict that price premiums
are likely to remain high in the near-term.
Organic Poultry and Eggs Capture High Price Premiums
and Growing Share of Specialty Markets, by Lydia Oberholtzer,
Catherine Greene, and Enrique Lopez. Published Dec. 2006.
Available free online through http://www.ers.usda.gov/Publications/LDP/2006/12Dec/LDPM15001/
Research Findings
Review Article Surveys Insect Management
in Organic Production Systems
Zehnder, G., G.M. Gurr, S. Kühne, M.R. Wade, S.D. Wratten,
and E. Wyss. 2007. Arthropod pest management in organic crops.
Annu. Rev. Entomol. 52:57-80.
This review surveys the U.S. and international literature
on managing insect pests in organically produced crops. It
emphasizes cultural practices and vegetation management and
also discusses the use of biological control agents and approved
inputs. The senior author coordinates the highly popular student
organic farm and education program at Clemson University.
Meetings
27th Annual Eco Farm Conference
January 24-27, 2007, Pacific Grove, California.
How many organic farming conferences are located where you
can take a stroll to the coast and watch whales spout during
their annual migration? This is the gathering place for the
California organic community, and worthwhile for anyone else
to attend as well. Eco Farm will be preceded by a pre-conference
on energy management for farmers Jan. 23-24; and an Organic
Action Plan mini-conference, one of a series of such meetings
to be offered around the country. Eco Farm offers many other
activities, so check out their website at http://www.eco-farm.org/efc_07/index.html
All are welcome to attend the Organic Farming Research Foundation's
Eco Farm reception Thursday, Jan. 25, from 5:30-6:30 pm, and
meet OFRF staff and friends. See program for location.
Pennsylvania Association for Sustainable
Agriculture's 16th Annual Farming for the Future Conference
February 1-3, 2007, State College,
Pennsylvania.
This conference always generates a lot of buzz. This year's
theme is Cultivating Excellence: Farming to Serve the Common
Good. For program and registration details, please visit http://www.pasafarming.org/conferences/confinfo.htm
18th Annual Upper Midwest Organic
Farming Conference
February 22-24, 2007, La Crosse, Wisconsin.
This is the hottest organic ag conference in the upper Midwest!
Over 2,200 participants are expected this year. The conference
is preceded by a one-day Organic University, which offers
in-depth instruction in any of nine topics. OFRF's senior
policy specialist Mark Lipson will be participating in two
sessions on the Farm Bill. Come by and visit the OFRF booth.
For conference details and to register, go to http://www.mosesorganic.org/umofc/intro07.htm
Organic Livestock Management and Health
Conferences
February 14-16, 2007, Alfred, New York, and March 6-8, 2007,
Durham, New Hampshire
The Northeast Organic Farming Association of Vermont (NOFA-VT),
in
partnership with Quality Milk Production Service of Cornell
University, is
pleased to announce two upcoming three-day conferences on
Organic Livestock Health and Management designed to provide
continuing education to extension agents, veterinarians, and
other professionals working with Northeast organic or transitioning
producers. These conferences, funded through the Northeast
Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education Professional
Development Grant Program (NESARE PDP), will focus on the
comprehensive nuts and bolts of organic livestock production.
For additional information, visit http://www.qmps.vet.cornell.edu/nofa/nofa.html,
or contact Lisa McCrory, Project Director, phone 802-434-4122,
email lmccrory@together.net,
or Linda Tikofsky, phone 607-255-8202, email lg40@cornell.edu.
4th International Organic Tree Fruit
Research Symposium
March 4-6, 2007, East Lansing, Michigan
Edited from press release
This Symposium was started by growers, is for both growers
and researchers, and growers will be taking leadership roles
throughout the course of the Symposium. The Symposium will
cover current research on soil quality, ground cover, tree,
pest and horticulture management and other advances in organic
tree fruit production. Practical research, on-farm advances
and realistic marketing strategies will be emphasized.
At the Symposium, we will discuss:
- Current organic tree fruit research and the results of
that research.
- How growers can utilize these results to move the state
of the art of organic tree fruit growing forward. How current
research affects or changes growing techniques.
- Where do we need to go with research? What are priorities
and needs for research projects? We know there are finite
research resources available, so to what priorities should
those resources be focused?
The orchard tours organized as part of the Symposium will
allow us to look closely at research projects and to kick
the dirt in discussions of what those projects mean.
Producers and growers may submit an abstract or poster for
presentation. Industry and academic professionals are asked
to present their research in poster form. Final deadline for
abstract and poster submission will be February
15, 2007. Topics should relate to one of the following
sections:
- Pest Management
- Insect and Mite Management
- Disease Management
- Marketing
- Soil Fertility
- Tree Vigor & Training
- Ground Cover Management
- Grower Organizations
For information on registering or presenting, please email
RPMNews@msu.edu, or
telephone 517-353-9425.
This is the 15th in a series of bulletins
providing information on organic research programs, positions,
funding, and reports, as well as news about SCOAR itself.
These reports are sent via email to registered SCOAR participants.
For previous bulletins, registration and other information
about SCOAR, see http://ofrf.org/networks/scoar.html
Your suggestions and feedback are welcomed. Send comments
and items to include in this bulletin to jane@ofrf.org.
|
