Small Farms News

How muddy are your boots?
The 2017 growing season is up and running, in fits and starts.  
Either way, it's happening, and I have a few select resources, specifically for vegetable producers, to help along the way; some tools and ideas for diagnosing and managing the pest and disease issues you may encounter this season (more simply put, vegetable IPM).  
I'm also sharing some educational opportunities for beekeepers and cottage food producers, plus some new resources related to policy and sale of local produce and meat.
Plus, I could use your help!  Please consider responding to a (seriously) short survey, especially if you market local food or want to market local food.  It will help guide and improve a project in development.
Jake Overgaard UMN Extension Educator

You can subscribe to this newsletter, sign up here. VEGETABLE IPM Crop Disease Management in a High Tunnel This webinar, presented by Michelle Grabowski, UMN Extension Educator, was part of the 2017 Local Foods Colle…

by Constance Carlson, UMN Extension

The University of Minnesota has been an international leader in new crop research and development for over 150 years. This forum will share the latest UMN research and development into a wide-range of crops that are in development or ready for production and end use.

This forum is for producers and farmers interested in growing these crops, as well as culinary professionals, food entrepreneurs, processors, food hubs and the many other partners in the Minnesota food landscape who are interested in learning how they can capitalize on the agricultural innovation happening at the University.

Most importantly, this event is an opportunity for attendees to network with researchers and industry partners interested in developing the supply chains needed to get UMN research from the lab into the fields and onto our dinner plates.

Date:  Monday, June 26, 2017

Location:  Cargill Building Rm 105, St. Paul Campus, UMN Twin Cities

Agenda

8:00-9:00 AM Registration, n…

Are you looking for information on customer requirements and local and state regulations governing local food sales?  Do you want to know more about food safety protocols and post-harvest handling needed to sell to restaurants, co-op's and schools? To increase local food utilization in Wright County, University of Minnesota Extension, Crow River Food Council, and Sustainable Farming Association are hosting an educational event on May 11th, 1:00-4:30 pm at the Wright County Government Center, 10 2nd St NW Buffalo, MN 55313, Room 120 to share the information needed by producers to sell to institutions. Space is limited. The cost is $20.  Contact the Wright County Extension Office at 763-682-7394 or by e-mail wright@umn.edu to register.   Buying food grown locally helps strengthen our communities and puts fresh, healthy food on our dinner plates. Sourcing locally also helps us grow our understanding and appreciation of the farms, orchards and vineyards in our region. When restaurants a…

Betty Berning, Extension Educator
The June Women in Agriculture Network (WAGN) seminar will be a farm transition and estate planning workshop entitled, “Where Do I Begin?”   
The event will be June 6, 2017 at the Halstad Legion Recreation Center (580 2ndAve. West, Halstad, MN 56548).  Registration is at 9AM with the program running from 9:30AM-3:30PM.  The fee is $20, which covers the cost of lunch.  Payment can be made the day of event.
"Many farm families struggle with beginning the process of transitioning the family business to the next generation,” shares Gary Hachfeld, Extension Educator. “The process takes communication, trust, and respect as a foundation to begin the task. The ‘Farm Business Transition: Where Do I Begin?’ program addresses many of these items. Program participants will be introduced to ideas, concepts, and tools they can use to help them get started with the process."
Participants will learn about different communications styles; transferring labor, inco…