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Farm Focus Newsletter - March 2012 |
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Value-Added Food Products Workshop
Cheshire County Cooperative Extension,
Hannah Grimes Center & UNH Cooperative Extension
Friday, April 6, 9:30 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.
Cutler Building/Jaffrey Women's Club, Jaffrey
More Details to Follow
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Gauging Interest: The New Hampshire Institute of Agriculture and Forestry (NHIAF) has set up a relationship with Maine Organic Milling Coop to purchase bulk feed on a continuous schedule, break it into sub-orders, and distribute locally throughout NH and our border towns. The average price per bag (equivalent) is $13-16 for very high nutrition/ quality certified organic mixes that will also reduce your animals' overall feed consumption. They can also do custom mixes for us. Please contact NHIAF if interested: Suzanne Brown, 603-969-9896, sbrown@nhiaf.org. Seeking Farm-Related Businesses & Organizations: The County of Cheshire is seeking letters of interest for leasing the county owned property on River Road in Westmoreland, NH. Interested businesses should somehow be involved in or will provide benefit to the farm and food economy of the region. This request is the initial stage to gauge interest in the property. View details. Letters of Interest are due on or before 4pm March 31, 2012. Contact: Amanda Costello, 603-756-2988 ext.116. *The Hannah Grimes Center is posting these classifieds as a service to readers and does not imply endorsement. Add your own classified ad: Send a 20-30 word description of your service or product that is directly supporting entrepreneurs to jen@hannahgrimes.com. Make sure to include the best way to contact you.
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Events to Help Your Business
INNOVATE
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Beginning Women Farmer Conference:
Exploring Whole Farm Planning
Holistic Management International &
USDA National Institute of Food & Agriculture
Thursday & Friday, March 22 & 23
University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA
A two day conference for all farmers interested in improved quality of life, profitability, and land health. Breakout sessions include: 
- Farm Startups: Who, What, When, How & Why?
- Holistic Financial Planning Basics
- How to Market your Farm Products Effectively
- Using Social Media to Make the Most of Your Farm Business
- Business Planning Basics& More...
Cost: $120 Full Conference/$70 for one day. More information at http://holisticmanagement.org/conferencebwfne.
"Make More Money...Keep More Money: The Amazing Power of Cash Flow" Workshop
With Ann Connor, AdviCoach
Tuesday, March 27, Noon - 1:30 p.m.
Hannah Grimes Center, Suite C, Keene
Learn a step by step process to bring more money into your business and how to keep it working for you. Learn to manage your cash flow so your bills are paid every month....and there's money left over. Especially valuable to cyclical/seasonal businesses. Cost: Free. Register today!
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Events to Help You CONNECT
With Farmers & Other Experts
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Effective Cover Cropping Systems for
Specialty Crop Farms
Ohio Ecological Food and Farm Association &
Countryside Conservancy
Friday, March 9, 1 - 3 p.m.
Online Webinar
In this specialty crop webinar, Steve Groff will demonstrate the effectiveness of tillage radish as an annual cover crop alternative. A passionate advocate for sustainable agriculture, including soil conservation, soil health, and food quality, Groff began using no-till practices in the early 1980s. Register Today!
Managing Soils for Organic AgricultureUNH Cooperative Extension
Monday, March 12, 9:30 a.m. - 2:30 p.m. McLane Center, Concord Soil management is the foundation of organic farming. In this workshop, learn about new ways to evaluate what's going on in your soil, and new ways to think about managing soil organic matter, and the role of soil management in preventing crop diseases. See the brochure for the complete agenda and the mail-in registration form. Fee: $5. Please bring a brown bag lunch. Register Today!
2012 New Hampshire
Dairy Management Conference
UNH Cooperative Extension
Thursday, March 15, 9 a.m. - 3 p.m.
Fireside Inn & Suites, West Lebanon
The featured speaker this year will be Dr. Larry Chase of Cornell University. Dr. Chase will discuss different areas of controlling feed costs:
- Feeding program economics
- Lowering the crude protein in rations
- Feed purchasing options and opportunities
- Improving income over feed costs
View Event Flyer. Fee: $20. To register, e-mail Michal Lunak or call the Grafton County UNHCE office at 603-787-6944.
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News & Resources to Inform & Inspire
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 Start2farm.gov
Online Portal Introduced
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and American Farm Bureau Federation have introduced Start2farm.gov, a new online portal that provides assistance to beginning farmers and ranchers. The portal includes links to training, financing, technical assistance, and other support services, as well as case studies (also includes resources for established farm & ranch businesses). Temple Grandin Takes Vermont
There is a lot to love about winter when you are a farmer. The down-time, cooler weather or needed physical rest are great, but one of our favorite aspects of wintertime is the opportunity to learn from other farmers at conferences. Every year we attend at least two conferences for grass farmers, the Vermont Grazing Conference in Fairlee, VT and the Winter Green-Up Conference in Latham, NY. Read Caitlin's highlights. Funding Opportunities From ATTRA - EQIP Organic Initiative Application Period 2: Due March 30 - Rural Energy For America Program: Due March 30 More funding opportunities at: https://attra.ncat.org/calendar/funding.php.
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