Farm Beginnings 2011-2012

Farm Beginnings® is an educational training and support program designed to help people who want to evaluate and plan their farm enterprise. Farm Beginnings® participants engage in a mentorship experience and network with a variety of successful, innovative farmers; attend practical, high quality seminars, field days and conferences.

Classes will be held at the First National Bank (basement meeting room) 320 5th Street Syracuse, NE 68446

Course fee - $500 (flexible payment plan), A $50 deposit is required to reserve your spot and must be returned with the application.

Application PDF and Informational Brochure

Agenda:

  1. January 21, 2012 - 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. – Marketing and Farm Planning: CSA Organic Vegetable Farm - Evrett Lundquist & Ruth Chantry (Common Good Farms)
  2. January 28, 2012 - 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. – Business and Farm Management: Kevin Fulton, Grass-Fed Beef Producer

Attention Nebraska Fruit & Vegetable Growers and Farmers' Market Managers Farm Food Safety Training with GAPs

8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m.
Learn how to develop your own unique farm food safety plan.

Are you interested in developing a Farm Food Safety Plan? Would you like to hear about best practices in handling your fresh produce? If so, then check out the Farm Foods Safety Trainings with GAPs.

  1. This winter, there are one-day trainings that will be held across the state.
  2. You can choose any location and they are free of charge.
  3. The trainings are open to producers in all stages or production. Whether your market is a local farmers market or a chain store, this training with be meaningful for your operation.

Safe, locally grown produce is as important to the producers as it is to consumers. The purpose of providing Good Agricultural Practices (GAPs) training is to reduce the risks of microbial contamination of fruits and vegetables. The overarching aim is to help increase the safety or quality of local foods and this starts by developing a farm food safety plan that is safe and achievable.

SAVE THE DATE:

  • January 25, 2012
    Panhandle Research and Extension Center
    4502 Ave. "I", Scottsbluff, NE 69361\
  • January 26, 2012
    Valentino’s Restaurant
    55 River Road, Ogallala, NE 69153
  • January 27, 2012
    Buffalo County Extension Svc
    1400 E 34th St, Kearney, NE 68847
  • February 8, 2012
    Lifelong Learning Center, UNL classroom
    801 East Benjamin Ave, Norfolk, NE 68702
  • February 15, 2012
    Douglas/Sarpy Extension Office
    8015 W. Center Road, Omaha, NE 68124

Please register at http://go.unl.edu/7ka. Pre-registration is required and due one week prior to training.

For more information on the workshops, email GAPS@unl.edu or call (402) 472-2940. The trainings are conducted by a team of University of Nebraska Extension educators in conjunction with the University of Nebraska Rural Initiative and the Nebraska Farmers' Market Association in partnership with Old Cheney Road Farmers' Market (OCRFM).

Nebraska Agri/Eco-Tourism Workshop

January 31st-February 1st, 2012
Sandhills Convention Center, North Platte

Why Should You Attend?

  • Learn how to get the most out of your land.
  • Gain the latest industry knowledge.
  • Hear fresh marketing ideas.
  • Find greater financial opportunities.
  • Network with potential partners.

Get the Right Tools

Take advantage of your land, talents and ideas. Agri- and eco-tourism can help you make the most of these resources. Find out how you can develop a new attraction, increase your operational income and create limitless possibility.

» Learn from keynote address by Kelly S. Bricker, Ph.D.

Bricker has experience working with eco-tourism, natural resource management and the environmental and social impacts of tourism.

» Talk with successful professionals about what does and does not work.

» Participate in breakout sessions to learn about topics such as experiential education, insurance and risk management, culinary tourism, financial assistance and tourism marketing.

» Explore potential cross-marketing opportunities at “A Taste of Nebraska Agri-Tourism,” a networking event featuring Nebraska foods and beverages.

Registration before Jan. 20 is just $75. Late registration will be $90.

For more information or to register, go to VisitNebraska.gov/industry or call Tom Tabor at 402-326-1587 or Karen Kollars at 308-249-3220.
Event PDF

Nebraska Agri/Eco-Tourism Workshop

January 31st-February 1st, 2012
Sandhills Convention Center, North Platte

Why Should You Attend?

  • Learn how to get the most out of your land.
  • Gain the latest industry knowledge.
  • Hear fresh marketing ideas.
  • Find greater financial opportunities.
  • Network with potential partners.

Get the Right Tools

Take advantage of your land, talents and ideas. Agri- and eco-tourism can help you make the most of these resources. Find out how you can develop a new attraction, increase your operational income and create limitless possibility.

» Learn from keynote address by Kelly S. Bricker, Ph.D.

Bricker has experience working with eco-tourism, natural resource management and the environmental and social impacts of tourism.

» Talk with successful professionals about what does and does not work.

» Participate in breakout sessions to learn about topics such as experiential education, insurance and risk management, culinary tourism, financial assistance and tourism marketing.

» Explore potential cross-marketing opportunities at “A Taste of Nebraska Agri-Tourism,” a networking event featuring Nebraska foods and beverages.

 

For more information or to register, go to VisitNebraska.gov/industry or call Tom Tabor at 402-326-1587 or Karen Kollars at 308-249-3220.
Event PDF

Attention Nebraska Fruit & Vegetable Growers and Farmers' Market Managers Farm Food Safety Training with GAPs

8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m.
Learn how to develop your own unique farm food safety plan.

Are you interested in developing a Farm Food Safety Plan? Would you like to hear about best practices in handling your fresh produce? If so, then check out the Farm Foods Safety Trainings with GAPs.

  1. This winter, there are one-day trainings that will be held across the state.
  2. You can choose any location and they are free of charge.
  3. The trainings are open to producers in all stages or production. Whether your market is a local farmers market or a chain store, this training with be meaningful for your operation.

Safe, locally grown produce is as important to the producers as it is to consumers. The purpose of providing Good Agricultural Practices (GAPs) training is to reduce the risks of microbial contamination of fruits and vegetables. The overarching aim is to help increase the safety or quality of local foods and this starts by developing a farm food safety plan that is safe and achievable.

SAVE THE DATE:

  • February 8, 2012
    Lifelong Learning Center, UNL classroom
    801 East Benjamin Ave, Norfolk, NE 68702
  • February 15, 2012
    Douglas/Sarpy Extension Office
    8015 W. Center Road, Omaha, NE 68124

Please register at http://go.unl.edu/7ka. Pre-registration is required and due one week prior to training.

For more information on the workshops, email GAPS@unl.edu or call (402) 472-2940. The trainings are conducted by a team of University of Nebraska Extension educators in conjunction with the University of Nebraska Rural Initiative and the Nebraska Farmers' Market Association in partnership with Old Cheney Road Farmers' Market (OCRFM).

Healthy Farms & Rural Advantage Conference

February 10th & 11th, 2012
Lied Lodge and Conference Center, Nebraska City, Nebraska

About: The Healthy Farms/Rural Advantage Conference provides an opportunity for participants to acquire useful information on numerous alternatives to expand their farming operations while also practicing and promoting conservation. The conference exposes participants to new and innovative ways to utilize their agricultural operations. It also provides a platform for new, transitioning or beginning farmers to network and learn first hand from fellow farmers as well as the latest research. The conference also provides support for current farmers by fostering growth and stability in sustainable farming methods, including organic agriculture and sustainable agriculture. We do this by helping farmers to develop innovative ideas and projects that can impact their local communities and areas. A variety of interactive educational opportunities are available for adults and youth. Participants will have the chance to network with experts, university faculty, and fellow agricultural colleagues. Besides providing informative, educational sessions the conferences has commercial and educational exhibits.

Keynote is Fred Kirschenmann, http://www.leopold.iastate.edu/about/fred_writings
Capstone address from Tom Field of the Engler Agribusiness Entrepreneurship Program, http://casnr.unl.edu/engler

Sessions: This year’s agenda offers a number of breakout sessions with topics ranging from; Raw Milk for pastures, grazing, local foods distribution, Farm Bill, Energy, and many more. We will also once again have a full youth program with many of the presenters being youth and presenting on projects from their farms. The NCR-SARE Program will be doing their farmers forum during the conference and will showcase the numerous farm projects funded with assistance from the SARE grants program. * Transitioning   * Raw Milk  * Nebraska Legislation  * High tunnels  * Farm Bill  * SARE Farmers Forum  * Distribution  * Mobile Meat Processing Unit  * Pollinators  * Grassfed Beef  * And many more!

Youth Program: We will also have an expanded youth program. Included in the youth registration is a trip to the Tree Adventure, http://www.arbordayfarm.org/
Youth Schedule Form (pdf)

Roundtable Discussions: In June NSAS hosted representatives from the USDA, FSA and the White House in a series of roundtable discussions. As an extension on these roundtable format discussions we will be holding a series of discussions at the conference. In an attachement you will find complete details about this new feature. To date we will have scheduled roundtable discussions on; Animal Welfare, Pipeline, Legal talk for farmers, NSAS What's it all about, Biodynamics, Farm Beginnings Nebraska, Young Farmers Coalition, Nebraska Natural Resource Conservation Service, and more.
Roundtable Proposal Form (doc)

All-Nebraska events: The first and original local foods event in Nebraska. A highlight of the conference will be the All-Nebraska Dinner, Live Auction and Entertainment featuring foods grown and raised in Nebraska and prepared by the highly skilled chefs of the Lied Lodge & Conference Center. All funds raised go towards NSAS. Included with the cost of the meal is the entertainment for the evening which will feature "Larry and the Sustainables," the Local Barbershop Quartet.

FAQ Farmer's Market: We will once again hold the FAQ Farmer's Market. It will be Saturday, February 11th beginning at 10:30 and will be open to the public. In a trade show/farmer's market style setting, the FAQ will feature Nebraska's many diverse sustainable farms showcasing their farm, their products, their methods, their practices and answering questions! FAQ, Farmers Answering Questions! This event of the conference will be free to the public and is free for farmers to attend and have a booth. To reserve a free table please send me an email.

Registration: To register please call Nemaha County Extension Office, 402-274-475. Included in the registration for the youth program is the Arbor Day Tree Adventure. The "2012 Youth Schedule" attachment has details.

Lodging Details: The room rate for this year is $89 for a single and $99 for a double. The rate is good from February 7th to February 12th, so make it a vacation! To reserve a room call, 800-546-5433 and reserve a room under "The Rural Advantage / Healthy Farms reservations." The deadline for reserving a room under this block is January 20th. The rates will still be good after January 20th, but there is no guarantee rooms will be available. Please reserve rooms right away.

Exhibitor/Sponsor Information:There are numerous ways to participate in the conference including exhibitor and sponsor opportunities.
Sponsorship Packet (pdf)   Exibitor Form (doc)

Website: For up to the minute details please visit, http://nebsusag.org/conference.shtml
Help spread the word, http://www.facebook.com/events/273058016083276/

Farm Beginnings 2011-2012

Farm Beginnings® is an educational training and support program designed to help people who want to evaluate and plan their farm enterprise. Farm Beginnings® participants engage in a mentorship experience and network with a variety of successful, innovative farmers; attend practical, high quality seminars, field days and conferences.

Classes will be held at the First National Bank (basement meeting room) 320 5th Street Syracuse, NE 68446

Course fee - $500 (flexible payment plan), A $50 deposit is required to reserve your spot and must be returned with the application.

Application PDF and Informational Brochure

Agenda:

  1. February 10-11, 2012 – Rural Advantage/Healthy Farms Conference – Nebraska City
  2. February 18, 2012 – 9:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. – Financial Management: Ralph Tate

2012 MarketPlace Conference

Feb. 21-22, 2012
Ramada Inn & Convention Center, Kearney NE

Join the Center for Rural Affairs and our sponsors for the 6th Annual Nebraska MarketPlace, Nebraska’s premier event to energize and connect entrepreneurs, small business owners, service providers and communities. This year’s event brings some new and unique features!

Reduced to one day, MarketPlace will be a value-packed experience you cannot afford to miss! See the Agenda for Tracks and Sessions. See the exceptional line-up of Featured Speakers at this year's event.

Features of the 2012 MarketPlace include:

Enhanced Learning

  • 6 relevant, interactive, value-packed tracks: Social Media, Innovation, Marketing, Business Development, Financial & Round Tables
  • Expert speakers from California, South Dakota and Nebraska

Build Connections

  • Access to resources
  • More time to visit exhibits and network
  • Exposure to key customers and unique businesses
  • Locally grown luncheon and snacks

Be Inspired

  • Take away valuable content and tools pertinent to your stage of development
  • Access to all presentations following the event
  • Infuse vision, energy and focus back into your business

To Register: http://www.cfra.org/marketplace/registration-ne12

2012 UNL Women In Ag Conference

February 23 & 24 in Kearney, NE

The 2012 WIA Conference Registration Brochure (or as a hard copy -contact us if you would like one).

Look for updates on Facebook and Twitter!

Registration is now open-Register HERE

Nebraska Women in Agriculture (WIA) is designed to assist women in their agricultural businesses or who are in businesses tied to agriculture. The Department of Agricultural Economics recognizes the vital role that women play in the agricultural industry and is committed to bringing Nebraskans relevant management education. WIA focuses on educating women on these topics. Whether the information is business, family focused or just fun - we strive to provide women the knowledge they need to make informed decisions.

Nebraska Women in Agriculture website. Please take some time and look through the resources, information and other information as it relates to agricultural producers and business people of Nebraska.

Student Scholarship Application

Farm Beginnings 2011-2012

Farm Beginnings® is an educational training and support program designed to help people who want to evaluate and plan their farm enterprise. Farm Beginnings® participants engage in a mentorship experience and network with a variety of successful, innovative farmers; attend practical, high quality seminars, field days and conferences.

Classes will be held at the First National Bank (basement meeting room) 320 5th Street Syracuse, NE 68446

Course fee - $500 (flexible payment plan), A $50 deposit is required to reserve your spot and must be returned with the application.

Application PDF and Informational Brochure

Agenda:

  1. March 3, 2012 - 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. – Marketing and Finances: Organic Crops and Direct Market Poultry and Beef – Dave & Deb Welsch, West Blue Farms and Local MarketCALC Program - Roger Wilson, Extension Educator
  2. March 17, 2012 - 10:00 a.m – 2:00 p.m. – Realities from the Farm: Starting a New Farm, Beginning Farmers – Alex McKiernan & Chloe Diegel (Robinette Farms) and Farm Loan Programs & Resources for Beginning Farmers - Wes Finkner, USDA Farm Service Agency
  3. March 31, 2012 - 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. – Opportunities in Value-Added Agriculture: Martin Kleinschmit, Organic Farmer and Sustainable Ag Practitioner
  4. April 14, 2012 - 9:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. Presentations of Farm and Business Plans by Farm Beginnings® Participants

Women in Agriculture Educators National Conference

March 28-29, 2012
Pre-Conference Seminar March 27, 2012
The Peabody in downtown Memphis, Tennessee

The goal of this conference is to broaden risk management educational programming for women in agriculture, to encourage new programming efforts, and to strengthen existing programs.

The 2012 Women in Agriculture Educators National Conference will bring together private and public sector educators, crop insurance agents, lenders, and other agricultural professionals who are involved in outreach education, to share ongoing and emerging successful risk management education efforts directed toward women and their families who are involved in production agriculture. Conference participants will learn about educational efforts which assist women producers to effectively manage financial, production, marketing, legal and human resource risks associated with their agribusinesses.

  • Production
  • Price or Market
  • Financial
  • Legal/Institutional
  • Human Risk

Our conference continues to grow! Over 180 participants from a variety of corporations, agencies and educational institutions attended the Women in Agriculture Educators National Conference in 2010.

To Register: http://extensionrme.org/conferences/2012/Registration.aspx

The Pre-Conference Seminar "Risk Management: Farmers As Food System Experts" will be held March 27th from 1:00-5:45pm.

  • As consumers grow ever disconnected from the food system, farmers are eagerly sought as an expert source of information and security.
  • Direct-to-consumer retail farm marketers are increasingly able to capture this feature as the opportunities for direct-to-consumer contact and sales continue to evolve. More consumers are also seeking the farm experience as a way to build family quality time and assure themselves of the safety of their food. Agri-tourism opportunities are also evolving as they develop a more sophisticated and fuller compliment of venues. As farmers step into these non-production roles the risk they accumulate and mitigate can be significant.
  • For more information: http://extensionrme.org/conferences/2012/PreConference.aspx

Better Process Control School for Acidified & Low Acid Canned Foods

April 16-18, 2012 in Lincoln, Nebraska
Presented by the
University of Nebraska Food Processing Center


The Food and Drug Administration’s regulations in 21 CFR 108, 113, and 114 became effective May 15, 1979. These regulations are designed to prevent public health problems in low-acid and acidified low-acid canned foods which includes companion animal foods. These products have a high acidity level or a pH below 4.6 and a high level of moisture or a water activity above 0.85. According to the FDA the definition of acidified foods means low-acid foods to which acid or acid foods are added; these foods may include, but are not limited to, beans, cucumbers, cabbage, artichokes, cauliflower, peppers, salsas, some sauces, and fish, singly or in any combination. Exemptions would include acid foods, repacked acidified foods, fermented foods, carbonated beverages, jams, jellies, preserves, and refrigerated foods.

By law, each processor of these types of foods must operate with a trained supervisor on hand at all times. The Better Process Control School provides the practical application of the principles set forth by these regulations. The school equips professionals with a scientific understanding of thermal processes and strategies of pathogen control, first and foremost clostridium botulinum. The Food Processing Center has designed their three-day Better Process Control School for Acidified & Low Acid Canned Foods specifically for individuals with little or no food science or food safety background. It is suitable for anyone requiring this certification, however, it has been designed for small food processors and those selling products at Farmer’s Markets and other local events.* The school includes hands-on basic training in laboratory techniques and skills. This unique addition to the school provides attendees with the opportunity to learn and practice basic lab skills, under the supervision of a trained food scientist, in a food laboratory.

Topic Sections

  • FDA Regulations
  • Records for Product Protection
  • Microbiology of Thermally Processed Foods
  • Food Plant Sanitation
  • Acidified Foods
  • Principles of Thermal Processing
  • Food Container Handling
  • Process Room Instrumentation
  • Closures for Glass Containers
  • Hands-on Laboratory Exercises
  • Closures for Semi-rigid and Flexible Containers


For more information or to register please visit our website: fpc.unl.edu/workshops or contact Jill Gifford 402-472-2819 or email: jgifford1@unl.edu

*This school DOES NOT satisfy retort processing requirements. Individuals requiring this certification should attend the Better Process Control School offered by the University of Nebraska, October 30 – November 2, 2012.

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