Nov. 12 2013
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The Food Safety Modernization Act 
FSMA could make it much more challenging to eat locally grown foods.

 

The Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) is the first major update of federal food safety laws since 1938. It includes new regulations for both facilities that process food and the farms that grow it. These give the FDA a significantly greater scope of power to prevent food safety problems, detect and respond to food safety issues, and improve the safety of imported foods, but does not impact meat, poultry or egg products, which are regulated by the USDA.

New rules could mean big changes to our food systems - so it is important that the Food Safety Modernization Act does not unfairly place extraneous regulations on small family farms and other local food providers. Check out this list of the top 10 problems with FSMA from the National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition:

Top 10 Problems with FSMA for Farmers and Local Food Businesses
  1. They're too expensive. The rules could cost farmers over half of their profits and will keep beginners from starting to farm.
  2. They treat farmers unfairly. FDA is claiming broad authority to revoke small farmers' protections without any proof of a public health threat.
  3. They will reduce access to fresh, healthy food. Local food distributors like food hubs could close, and new food businesses will not launch. 
  4. They make it harder for farms to diversify. Grain, dairy, and livestock farmers could be denied access to emerging local food markets. 
  5. They will over-regulate local food. The rules could consider farmers markets, roadside stands, and community-supported agriculture programs "manufacturing facilities" subject to additional regulation.
  6. They treat pickles like a dangerous substance. The rules fail to protect a host of low-risk processing activities done by smaller farms and processors.
  7. They make it nearly impossible to use natural fertilizers like manure and compost. Farmers will be pushed to use chemicals instead of natural fertilizers. 
  8. They require excessive water testing on farms. Farmers using water from streams and lakes will be required to pay for weekly water tests regardless of risk or cost.
  9. They could harm wildlife and degrade our soil and water. The rules could force farmers to halt safe practices that protect our natural resources and wildlife.
  10. Bonus: there's at least one good thing about the rules.The rules take an 'integrated', not a 'commodity-specific' approach - meaning farmers won't face over 30 separate rules for each kind of fresh produce they grow. FDA needs to keep this good decision in the final rules!
Here is a PDF version of this list with more information about each issue.

It is critical for sustainable farmers and consumers who care about where their food comes from to write comments to FDA about the proposed regulations to ensure that FDA correctly implements FSMA!

Check out the links below from the National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition to learn more about the two rules - and then submit your own comments and stories to the FDA!

 http://sustainableagriculture.net/fsma/overview-and-background/what-is-the-produce-rule/

 http://sustainableagriculture.net/fsma/overview-and-background/what-is-the-preventive-controls-rule/

 
Workshops, Field Days, and Webinars

Solar Education for Farmers

November 20, 6:30pm-7:30pm

Heartland Community College

1500 West Raab Road, Normal, IL

RSVP at https://hccpowerhour11202013pm.eventbrite.com/

 

Have you thought about installing solar panels on your home or farm? Now is a good time to learn more at Heartland Community College's Power Hour for Farmers on November 20th. You will learn about solar systems, how to get a site assessment, and receive information on state and federal incentives such as the Rural Energy for America Program (REAP). REAP allows farmers to apply for grants for up to 25% of the project cost! You'll also connect with manufacturers, qualified local installers, and financial institutions. The event is free, but registration is encouraged.  

 

Meet the Buyers Events

 

November 14

Jackson County Farm Bureau

Southern Illinois University, Carbondale

RSVP to 618 684-3129

 

The day will kick off with education session MarketReady, provided by University of Illinois-Extension. Buyers planning on attending will begin arriving midmorning and include organizations such as Neighborhood Co-op, Camp Ondessonk,  Rosemont Farms, a C.H. Robinson company, Schnucks, and Ole Tyme Produce, Inc., and others.  Another education session, Good Agriculture Practices (GAP) provided by University of Illinois-Extension will take place during lunch and  A special networking session will take place between 2:00 and 3:30 pm to meet with regional chefs.

Empowering Women Veterans
November 14-17, Louisville, Kentucky  

The Farmer-Veteran Coalition invites all women veterans, active duty, and women farming with veterans to this conference, which will help equip women veterans with the business and farming tools they need to begin and achieve their entrepreneurial goals.  For more information or to register, click here. 

 



National Young Farmers Conference
Reviving the Culture of Agriculture
December 4-6
Pocantico Hills, New York

 

Join more than 250 beginning farmers from across the United States at Stone Barns Center for Food and Agriculture to learn from agricultural luminaries, peers, and advocacy organizations. Over 60 workshops will be offered, addressing soil science, technical skills, agricultural policy, farm business management, marketing, and more. Register here. 


ACRES USA Conference 

December 10-14

Springfield, IL 

  

"Ecological Farming for the Real World" is the conference theme for the annual ACRES Conference.  There will be many great workshops and speakers, along with sustainable agriculture organizations and vendors from across the state and country.  

 

Volunteers Needed!  If you can't swing the $200 conference fee, you can get a free, three-day pass in exchange for roughly 4-6 hours of volunteer work during the conference. Anyone interested can email [email protected] for for details, information, or to sign up.    

  

Farm Fresh Now!
FFN Bug

 

Celery Root: Locavore-ize your Thanksgiving! 

There's nothing wrong with family traditions, but it's easy and fun to give those old favorites new life with fresh, locally raised foods and make your holiday meal match the way you eat the rest of the year. In the past, we were all locavores because that was the only way to eat - that means many of the traditional Thanksgiving foods we eat have their heritage in local, seasonal foods.  

 

Read ideas on how to upcycle your traditional Thanksgiving foods to locavore level and get the recipe for a celery root remoulade here! 

 

Celery Root Remoulade - a delicious way to update the classic crudite tray.

Classifieds

ADAMS COUNTY FARM

Awesome location for a market garden, right on the blacktop 12 miles from Quincy.  The property description and auction details are here. If you are interested, but not able to purchase at the auction to be held November 18, there may be rental options from a successful bidder.  Contact Rebeccafor details. 

 

ESTABLISHED CSA FARM IN UPSTATE NEW YORK

Sweet Land Farm is an organic farm just outside of the village of Trumansburg, NY. The house and buildings sit on 3 acres, with an additional 18 acres in farm land, 3 greenhouses, and a pond. For more information: http://www.sweetlandfarm.org/

 

SMALL FARM FOR SALE

Includes a large house on 5 acres on the west side of Decatur, with pole barn, livestock, and equipment.  It's completely fenced, and bordered by a state park. For more information, call Ann at 217-412-4346.

 

VEGETABLE GROWER WANTED NEAR SPRINGFIELD 
An experienced organic farmer with a diverse vegetable/livestock operation near Springfield is looking for an employee or--if you're an experienced vegetable grower--possibly a business partner. Contact Terra at The Land Connection for more information.

 

FARM OPERATIONS COORDINATOR   

This position will be responsible for managing the day-to-day business operations of the Loyola University Chicago Retreat and Ecology (LUREC) Student Farm, including tending crops and livestock, winter planning, record keeping and budget management, and assisting with courses taught and special events held at LUREC. The deadline for applicants is Jan. 1, 2014, although early applications will be given priority in the selection process. Click here for the job description. Any questions can go to Alex at atuchman @ luc.edu.  

  

Have something?  Need something? 
Contact us at 217-840-2128 or [email protected] to get it in The Weekly Harvest. 

 

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