Fertile Ground USA...Celebrating the people behind the plow

Registration now remains open until July 28 for the Kerr Center's popular "Future Farms 2008: Planning for Change" conference.

In this era of change, Oklahoma farmers and ranchers are branching out
- trying new crops and marketing options.

The Future Farms 2008 conference will feature the best of these innovative farm enterprises, August 5 and 6 at the Bricktown Convention Center in Oklahoma City.

The two-day conference will offer one day of farm and ranch tours and one day of indoor presentations.

"Our aim is simple-to help Oklahoma producers find success in this rapidly-changing world," said Maura McDermott of the Kerr Center, sponsor of the event.

On August 5, buses will leave from the conference center, bound for three different parts of the state-northwest, central and east. Each tour will visit four or more farms, including at least one livestock operation, one vegetable farm and one winery.

Tour stops will also explore on-farm food businesses and agritourism enterprises.

"Each tour will be limited to 50 people," says Alan Ware of the Kerr Center. He advises those interested to register early.

On August 6, conference attendees can choose from sessions under three
tracks: financial planning, production and marketing.

More than thirty experts and producers will present information and outline opportunities and resources to help Oklahoma farmers/ranchers be successful.

Just a few of the topics include: labor, insurance and legal issues; unconventional marketing opportunities; business planning; and how to raise in-demand crops and livestock.

Some highlights include Robert Waldrop, president of the Oklahoma Food Cooperative. The co-op does about $60,000 in sales each month, 90% of which goes directly to Oklahoma farmers and ranchers.

Wyoming's Charley Orchard will teach ranchers about his "Land EKG," a simple, yet comprehensive approach to monitoring the health of rangeland .

The USDA's Risk Management Agency (RMA) is partnering with the Kerr Center to sponsor the conference. Other sponsors are High Country Rural Conservation and Development Program; the Oklahoma Department of Agriculture, Food and Forestry; the Robert M. Kerr Food and Agricultural Products Center at Oklahoma State University; Langston University; Fun Country Rural Conservation and Development Program; and the National Center for Agricultural Law.

Complete information on speakers and farm tour stops is on the Kerr Center website, www.kerrcenter.com.

Registration is $40 for tours only, $35 for presentations only, or $75 for both days. Register online or call 918.647.9123.

Future Farms 2008 is the fifth in the Kerr Center's popular Future Farms series of conferences that began in 2000.

From the desk of Roger Doiron, founding director of Kitchen Gardners International...

I’m part of a growing group of people who are urging the next President to plant an edible landscape on the White House lawn.  You may have read about this in Ellen Goodman’s latest syndicated column: http://www.iht.com/articles/2008/07/04/opinion/edgoodman.php

I’d like to invite you to get involved.  Here are some different things you can do, all of which could be accomplished in 5 minutes or less if you’re a real pro:

1)       Sign our online petition here: http://www.eattheview.org/petition

2)       Vote for this idea on the website OnDayOne.org here (click on “rate this idea”): http://www.ondayone.org/node/661

3)       Join our Facebook group and invite your online friends to do likewise here: http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=28471150870

4)       Forward this e-mail to your e-mail friends, contacts, and other e-mail lists you use

Extra credit assignments:

1)       Grab a banner or widget for your website, blog or social network profile here: http://www.eattheview.org/campaignwidgets

2)       Sign up as a “campaigner” here: http://www.eattheview.org/profiles/members/ (these people are interested in staying connected to this project and pushing it along as it enters new phases)

3)       Identify a high impact, high visibility spot in need of an edible makeover in your town, region, or state and make it over! The more of these we have, the easier it becomes to make our case to the next Eater-in-Chief. In Maine, for example, the first family eats from a kitchen garden planted at the governor’s residence. It if can be done here, it can be done elsewhere.

Thanks for your support and participation,

Roger

PS: I’m in touch with Daniel Bowman Simon of the White House Organic Farm Project (http://www.thewhofarm.org/ ) working towards a similar goal.  Do check out his site and consider signing up to his group’s mailing list. 

Farm Aid's Family Farm Disaster Fund If you are a farmer dealing with disaster, please visit our Help for Farmers page.

The Family Farm Disaster Fund was established by Farm Aid to help farm families survive weather-related disasters. Right now we are working with farmers across the country who have been hurt by devastating flooding and severe weather in Iowa, Wisconsin and seven other mid-western states.

CALL FOR NOMINATIONS!
Sixth Annual National Glynwood Harvest Awards

Nominate an individual or group doing outstanding and innovative work supporting regional agriculture and sustainable food systems in the United States 

Glynwood Center is calling for nominations for their sixth annual Harvest Awards, which recognizefarmers, organizations, and businesses across the United States that demonstrate innovation and leadership in support of regional agriculture and sustainable food systems.

By Traci Bruckner, tracib@cfra.org, Center for Rural Affairs

The 2008 Farm Bill includes the Beginning Farmer and Rancher Individual Development Account Program. This program uses special matched saving accounts to promote a new generation of farmers and ranchers by assisting those of modest means to establish a pattern of savings. The account proceeds may be used toward capital expenditures for a farm or ranch operation, including expenses associated with the purchases of land, buildings, equipment, infrastructure, livestock, or toward training.

For numerous aspiring farmers and ranchers, actually starting their own operation is out of reach. One of the biggest obstacles to new farmers is financing the land and the farm operation. This program can bolster their opportunities by helping them save money and acquire training focused on business planning, banking, conservation planning, market development and more.

The program will be tested in at least 15 states before national implementation. However, the farm bill did not provide any dedicated funding, even for the pilot program.  The opportunity to make a difference for the next generation of family farmers and ranchers is now.  But we must convince the members of the Agriculture Appropriations Subcommittee to seize the opportunity and provide the funds needed to get this program off the ground.

For more information visit: www.cfra.org

September 19-21, 2008 in Milwaukee, WI
IIntensive anti-racism trainings for individuals and organizations interested in becoming trainers. Workshops and facilitated discussions on social justice, community food systems, dismantling racism 101. For more information and to participate in conference planning contact: Diane Dodge at 651-278-6748 or dianefaydodge@hotmail.com