Despite Jonas' arrival on Friday morning, the West Virginia Food & Farm Coalition joined over eighty supporters of food and agriculture legislation on Tuesday, January 26th in Charleston at Local Foods Day 2016: Day At The Legislature and Celebratory Luncheon. Thank you to everyone who ventured out beyond their towns to advocate, collaborate, and continue to build relationships with one another. Each one of you are an integral piece to the entire puzzle of the West Virginia food system. So, thank you.

Were you not able to attend Local Foods Day 2016? Want to continue the conversation with your legislators? WV Food & Farm Coalition is coordinating two Food & Farm Day of Actions on February 9th and 23rd for you to participate in legislative meetings regarding each of the three WV Food & Farm Coalition policy issues, ensuring that the issues make it on to committee agendas. Register here.

Thank you,

WVFFC Staff

FOOD AND FARM EVENTS

Visit our events calendar: http://wvfoodandfarm.org/news-media/events

WVU Extension Service Small Farm Conference

February 25th -27th, 2016

The WVU Extension Service Small Farm Center hosts the 12th Annual West Virginia Small Farm Conference at the Civic Center in Charleston, WV. Participate in workshops, listening sessions, panel discussions, and attend a trade show, seed swap and silent auction. Support West Virginia farmers and stock-up on winter-hardy foods, goods and products at the Winter Blues Farmers Market & Local Dine Around on Thursday, February 25th from 4PM- 7:30PM. Register Here!

Beginning Farmer Listening Session @ W.Va. Small Farm Conference

Friday, February 26th, 2016 at 4:15PM

If you are a young or beginning farmer in West Virginia, circle the "Beginning Farmer Listening Session" in red on your W.Va. Small Farm Conference schedule. Connect with beginning farmers in West Virginia to share challenges, opportunities, ideas, and more. Hear about existing resources and projects in West Virginia, including the Sprouting Farms: Appalachian Croft, Resource and Training Center project.

West Virginia AgriTourism Initiative 2016 Media Awards

The West Virginia AgriTourism Initiative is accepting submissions of media advertisement and promotion for West Virginia AgriTourism destinations and attractions. The submissions and winners will be presented at the W.Va. Small Farm Conference Winter Blue's Farmers Market on Thursday, January 25th. Submission of entries will be accepted until Friday, February 12th. Click here for more information.

DMichigan Farmers Market Association Offers Market Managers Continuing Education Webinars

For non-members the Michigan Farmers Market Association is offering an informational webinar series for market managers. Webinar topics in the month of February include: Developing and Using an Annual Marketing Plan, Planning for Events, Entertainment & Emergency Situations, Collecting & Sharing Farmers Market Data, and Grant Writing to Grow Your Market. Register for individual webinars here.

WVU Extension Service Brings Back Annie's Project for 2016

Annie's Project provides the training, resources and networking opportunities for West Virginia women to help build viable, efficient and sustainable farm businesses. Small classroom sizes and local experts help provide support and networking opportunities that extend well beyond the course. For more information, visit the WVU Extension Service website here!

GRANT OPPORTUNITIES

Visit our grants calendar: http://wvfoodandfarm.org/news-media/grants-calendar/

Are You an Agricultural Innovator in West Virginia? Apply for a Business Assistance Package Valued in Excess of $10,000 Through RCBI's Vanguard Agriculture Competition.	Deadline: January 29th, 2016 at 5PM
Organic Farming Research Foundation Accepting Research Proposals	February 8th, 2016
WV Farm Service Agency - Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance Program & Emergency Assistance for Livestock, Honeybees, and Farm-Raised Fish	Various (Fall, Winter)

University of Kentucky Center for Poverty Research and USDA is Accepting Research Proposals for "FoodAPS Research Initiative: Understanding SNAP, Food Security, and Geographic Factors in Food Purchase and Acquisition Decisions"	Letter of Intent Deadline: February 12, 2016

ScottsMiracle-Gro is Supporting the Creation of More Than 1,000 Community Gardens and Green Spaces in the Markets They Serve. Apply for a Grant up to $1,500 for Community Gardens and Green Spaces.	Deadline: February 22, 2016

JOB ANNOUNCEMENTS

Equitable Food Initiative is Hiring an Impact and Information Management Officer in Washington D.C.	No Deadline
Jones Valley Teaching Farm in Birmingham, Alabama is hiring a Good School Food Instructor	Position Begins June 13, 2016
Full Sun Farm in Western North Carolina is Hiring a Farm Apprentice	No Deadline
Vegetable Gardens Intern at Innisfree Village in Crozet, Virginia	No Deadline
The Lord's Acre, a nonprofit garden, in Fairview, North Carolina is Seeking an Intern	Position Begins April 2016

FOOD AND FARM RESOURCES

Visit our free library: http://wvfoodandfarm.org/resources/

National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition (NSAC) recently published a blog post discussing the newly expanded USDA Microloans Program. Learn more about the Microloan Program, eligibility and loan terms, and the application process

here

Forty-eight food hubs across the nation provided financial data to Farm Credit East, Wallace Center at Winrock International, Morse Marketing Connections and Farm Credit Council, coordinated by the NGFN Food Hub Collaboration, to publish the new Counting Values: Food Hub Financial Benchmarking Study.

The Union of Concerned Scientists report on the relationship between food and agriculture policies and "a food system that is sickening millions of Americans every year and keeping many of these same people impoverished" in Fixing Food: Fresh Solutions from Five U.S. Cities.

On Friday, January 15th, the U.S. Department of Agriculture's National Organic Program (NOP) released its final guidance, Guidance on Biodiversity and Conservation, to help farmers and certifiers comply with organic requirements. Read NSAC comments here.

FOOD AND FARM POLICY CORNER

State and National Policy

The West Virginia Food & Farm Coalition presented three legislative issues to legislators on Tuesday, January 26th at Local Foods Day 2016 in Charleston, WV. Read more about our 2016 legislative issues in our Legislative Packet. If you are interested in advocating for one or more of the issues, join us at the State Capitol on February 9th and February 23rd for Food & Farm Day of Action.

While the WV Food & Farm Coalition continues to advocate for a more comprehensive state tax incentive policy for food donations, Congress passed an increase in federal tax deductions for food donations. The Harvard Food Law and Policy Council provides the details.

The National Conference of State Legislatures Releases a Report on Local Food Legislation. Read the report, Harvesting Healthier Options: State Legislative Trends in Local Foods 2012-2014.

Food Research & Action Center (FRAC) gives an update and overview of the Child Nutrition Reauthorization Bill as it passes through the Senate Agriculture Committee. Read the analysis here.

National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition (NSAC) commends Chairman Roberts and Ranking Member Stabenow on their bipartisan efforts to move the Child Nutrition Reauthorization Bill forward in NSAC's review. Major win for the Farm to School Network.

Support the WV Food & Farm Coalition!

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