agriculture

Virtual Farmer Listening Sessions

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Angie Harris

UConn’s College of Agricultural, Health and Natural Resources is hosting farmer listening sessions! We would like to hear from you on the challenges you face, and the support you would like to see UConn provide. We will be presenting initial results from our producer survey and then open the floor up to all of you. More information can be found here: https://are.uconn.edu/listening-sessions/.

The listening sessions will be held at the following days/times:

  • Wednesday, April 26th, at 7 pm

  • Tuesday, May 2nd, at 7pm

You can register for a virtual listening session directly at Registration Link. 

We look forward to hearing from you!

Thank you,

Cristina Connolly

Assistant Professor, Department of Agricultural and Resource Economics

cristina.connolly@uconn.edu 

Download a copy of the flier

Job Opening: Assistant/Associate Extension Educator In Soil Health

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Search #: 496069
Work type: Full-time
Location: Hartford County Extension Ctr
Categories: Faculty Extension Educator

The Department of Extension is seeking applicants for a full-time (11 month) non-tenure track Assistant/Associate Extension Educator in Soil Health. The successful applicant will assess, develop and deliver impactful extension programs on soil health, regenerative agriculture, and conservation practices. These programs will build an Extension program focused on creating more climate and economically resilient agricultural systems through improved knowledge of soils and soil health and will include soil and livestock manure management. This Extension Educator will collaborate with UConn personnel, state and federal agency partners, growers, and producers as appropriate. The successful applicant will develop an interdisciplinary education and applied research program in soil health addressing diverse cropping systems that include ornamental and turf crops, food and forage crops as well as composting that utilizes manure, food waste, and other organics. They will have familiarity with how to leverage federal, state, and regional programs to protect, preserve, and restore Connecticut soils. This includes collaborating with USDA – NRCS, CT Department of Energy and Environmental Protection, CT Department of Agriculture, the Soil and Water Conservation Districts, and other stakeholders to ensure growers, farmers and land managers are well informed and have the proper tools and knowledge to successfully build and maintain soil health. The plan of work will include making recommendations for using appropriate management practices and the latest technologies to protect water quality and quantity as well as other natural resources of CT and Long Island Sound.

To learn more and apply click here.

Celebrating George Washington Carver

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Black background with green yellow and red stripes, the title "black history" and the words "black history month 2023: faith"George Washington Carver infographic

As the first African American who attended Iowa State University, George Washington Carver earned both his Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees. An expert in plant research and development, Dr. Carver was recruited to Tuskegee Institute in Alabama, by the Black Educator, Booker T. Washington. Some of Dr. Carver’s accomplishments include:

👉🏾Taught black farmers how to rotate plants for healthy soils and better crops

👉🏾Invented the “Jessup Wagon”, a traveling demonstration wagon to teach farmers

👉🏾Developed over 300 products from peanuts and over 100 for sweet potatoes

👉🏾Wrote over 40 simple language bulletins, including advice and recipes

 

References: 

George W. Carver: An Uncommon Educator, Record-Journal, www.myrecordjournal.com,Feb 4,2023.

https://www.tuskegee.edu/support-tu/george-washington-carver (accessed 2.15.23)

https://www.history.com/topics/black-history/george-washington-carver (accessed 2.15.23)

📷Credit: George Washington Carver (cpnas.org)

Feb/2023 Written and created by: U. R. Taylor, MS, RDN, CDN  and Lindsey Brush

#BlackHistoryMonth #AskUConn #UConnEFNEP #UConnExtension 

CT GROWN MARKETING TOOLS: LIST YOUR CSA

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Does your farm offer a CSA (Community-Supported Agriculture) program? 

In the upcoming months the Connecticut Grown campaign will be promoting CSA’s and we want to be sure your farm is included. The Department of Agriculture maintains a list of Connecticut CSAs at https://portal.us5.list-manage.com/track/click?u=74ef6c0c3fdcad5c83a78f294&id=343708bd23&e=075feba670.
To add your farm to this list, or to update the information on this page, please submit your information here: https://portal.us5.list-manage.com/track/click?u=74ef6c0c3fdcad5c83a78f294&id=4c72f864a2&e=075feba670
Also, you can check to see if you listing needs to be updated or added to the farms list on heartCTgrown:  https://heartctgrown.extension.uconn.edu/

Job Opportunity: Southern New England Farmers of Color Collaborative

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person holding a plant
Southern New England Farmers of Color Collaborative is Hiring!
Deadline to Apply:  December 9th, 2022
The Southern New England Farmers of Color Collaborative (SNEFCC) is reaching out with exciting news that we are hiring three positions! Please help spread the word among your networks or consider applying. This is an exciting opportunity to join our team and work closely with farmers of color in the region. All team members will contribute to the completion of deliverables associated with grant-funded projects. SNEFCC commits to hiring each of these positions for up to 20 to 24 months. We anticipate filling all positions asap. Please see attached PDF for the full announcement.
Position openings:
  • Project Manager
  • Project Coordinator 1
  • Project Coordinator 2
Applicants are invited to submit a resume and cover letter expressing their interest in the position(s) below. Email your application package to: Karen Spiller atkspiller4@gmail.comby December 9th, 5:00 pm.  In the subject line of your email please use: APPLICATION TO SNEFCC – [FIRST & LAST NAME]
Background:  The Southern New England Farmers of Color Collaborative is a majority BIPOC-led and BIPOC-serving organization of beginning farmers of color and collaborators who want to increase the success of farmers of color in our New England states.  We aim to position farmers of color to be ready for new opportunities that will arise, and to provide them with the necessary skills and capabilities to build and sustain successful farm enterprises now and in the future.

For more about the New CT Farmer Alliance, visit our web site at http://www.newctfarmers.com

Northeast Disability and Agriculture 2023 Conference Survey

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Hey Farmers!

In order to help with the planning process of the Northeast Disability and Agriculture 2023 Conference Survey (Encuesta Para La Conferencia Noreste 2023 Sobre Discapacidad y Agricultura) would you please consider taking 3 minutes to fill out/ share this survey and help the steering committee (One of our local farms! ) to know what you want to see:

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSehUwhjpQjVLdwcsfTVqXgXuHbz61xr8OruAf1vl5UACLIwJQ/viewform

The aim for the conference is to be sensitive and responsive to the needs of farmers, agricultural service providers and the community. Your responses to this survey will help them design conference content, better identify gaps in disability awareness and needed services for participants. 

Nuestro objetivo para la conferencia es ser sensibles y receptivos a las necesidades de los agricultores, los proveedores de servicios agrícolas y las comunidades de apoyo. Sus respuestas a esta encuesta nos ayudarán a diseñar el contenido de la conferencia, identificar mejor las barreras en el conocimiento de discapacidades y los servicios necesarios para los participantes.

¡Por favor, llene esta encuesta y compártala con sus redes!

If you are interested in registering for the conference, fill out the form HERE.

Newest Crop Insurance Program

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Small-scale, diversified farmers – have you heard the news? There’s a new insurance program available from USDA called Micro Farm insurance, available specifically for farmers making up to $350,000 annually. If you’ve thought federal crop insurance didn’t apply to you before, well, things are starting to change!
Learn more here: https://thecarrotproject.salsalabs.org/microfarmworkshop20222023/index.html
CT will have an in-person workshop at the Tolland Ag. Center, Vernon, CT –  Dec 1, 2022 (10am – 5pm, morning and afternoon sessions) It’s Free and Lunch is included!

This workshop is a sequence of five parts, divided into Session One and Session Two.  Session One (Parts A and B) covers Micro Farm eligibility requirements and the application process. In Session Two (Parts C, D, and E), we’ll look at ways to refine your financial recordkeeping. We invite you to attend one or both sessions depending on your interests and needs.

Session 1: Micro Farm Insurance – What is This and Who is Eligible?(Part A) Leave knowing whether Micro Farm insurance is applicable to your operation and what other risk management options are available if you are currently ineligible.

Session 1: Micro Farm Insurance – Applying for Insurance and What You Need to Know(Part B) Leave knowing how to apply for and benefit from Micro Farm insurance, and what financial records you will need. Understand how the insurance premium and coverage works, and how to work with an insurance agent and place a claim.

Session 2: Refining Your RecordsRefine your financial recordkeeping to better manage your farm business and prepare you for the Micro Farm insurance program.    (Part C) Understanding Your Farm’s Financial Records    (Part D) Preparing a Schedule F Tax Form    (Part E) Steps for Improving Your Financial Recordkeeping

Can’t attend but still could use the help? Check out these self-guided tools:

Check out The Carrot Project’s resources on USDA Micro Farm insurance and register for workshops here:  https://thecarrotproject.salsalabs.org/microfarmworkshop20222023

If you have any questions or would like individualized support, reach out to Amanda Chang, Outreach Coordinator at The Carrot Project, at achang@thecarrotproject.org or 617-674-2371 x 10.
This material is based upon work supported by USDA/NIFA under Award Number 2021-70027-34693.

Ag Mechanics Series

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Our well-loved Ag-Mechanic Series is BAAAAACK!

With limited spaces, these trainings are meant to give you the basics on some of the common “mechanics” dilemmas you might face at your farm.  As a friendly reminder, these trainings are meant for those that are farming or intend to farm for a profit.  If you are interested in gaining skills in farming as a hobby, please reference this other great UConn program: https://homegarden.cahnr.uconn.edu/

To register for any of these trainings, visit: https://newfarms.uconn.edu/solidground/ 

Each class is $25 and includes a delicious lunch.  Please contact us if cost is prohibitive and we will work with you to make this affordable

FOR ALL WORKSHOPS THAT INCLUDE TRAVEL: If the cost is prohibitive, Travel Stipends will be made available to participants at any event where travel is required to attend.

Spanish Produce Safety Training Videos

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Produce Safety Training VideosAvailable in Spanish and English

Attention Farmers: UConn Extension’s 2 farm worker training videos are available now in Spanish. These are to help you with training your Spanish speaking employees in produce safety practices. These resources will help make your employees follow proper food safety on farm and ensure a safe food production. The videos were made possible in collaboration with CT Department of Ag. For more information on produce safety, and FDA’s FSMA Produce Safety Rule please visit: https://foodsafety.uconn.edu/

  1. Spanish: Farm worker training: Harvest: – Capacitación de Trabajadores Agrícolas – Prácticas de Cosecha Segura https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7ewwOpF68Yw&t=1s

           English: Farm worker training: A Day in the life of a farm worker: Part l: Safe           Harvesting Practices:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NXLx2FZyk-U&t=328s

  1. Spanish: Farm worker training: Post-Harvest: – Capacitación de Trabajadores Agrícolas – Prácticas Seguras de Poscosecha https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0yQMyByMG1U&t=1s

           English: Farm worker training: A Day in the life of a farm worker: Part II: Safe           Post-harvest Practiceshttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PjZ629VEPts&t=3sThe videos are also available on the food safety website along with a video on FSMA rule FAQs: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2uTxVY9b7EE.For more questions or queries, please contact indu.upadhyaya@uconn.edu, 860-786-8191.

Farmland Mixer

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OUR LAST FARMLAND MIXER for the foreseeable future is coming up on DEC. 4TH.   So if you want to hear about some great land opportunities, talk about how to go about finding land, OR have some land you want to sell or lease yourself, then you should join us at our Farmland Mixer !

We already have some land opportunities already registered and are excited to share a preview below!

  • 50+ acres in Franklin for lease at the Vineyard (where the event is located)- livestock, vegetables, flowers, small fruit, hay.
  • up to 50 acres in Morris for lease- livestock, small fruit, orchard, hay
  • 200 acres in Preston for lease, partnership, or sale – dairy, field crops, other

REGISTER HERE!

This  FREE event will be happening at The Vineyard At Franklin on Sunday, December 4th. (931 RT-32 North Franklin, CT 06254)

There is an optional Field walk with Kip Kolesinskas from 12-1pm

Event proper will run from 1-3pm (with, of course, some great food and drink)