NCAT News
NCAT Specialists Complete Organic Training
Montana Food Corps Brings Local Food to State Students
NCAT Announces New Staff Members
NCAT Receives Climate Change Grant from the Turner Foundation
Home Energy Rater Training to Be Rescheduled
NCAT Appears at The Living It Green Expo
'Energy on the Farm' Workshop Scheduled
Tour Emphasizes Organic Soil Management
NCAT Offering Timely Farm Energy Resources
New American Farm Conference Highlights ATTRA
Linking Consumers and Farmers in Southwest Iowa
NCAT Provides LEED for Homes Ratings in Montana
NCAT to Sponsor Small-Scale Poultry Training
Farm Energy Management Sessions Offered at Tuskegee Farmers Conference
Tour to Highlight California Small Farm Conference
Biodiesel Production and Use Workshops Scheduled
NCAT Represented at the Southern Sustainable Agriculture Working Group Conference
NCAT Energy Savings Project to Expand
Registration Open for 'Food and Energy from the Ground Up: Efficiency's Role in Sustainable Agriculture'
Great News for NCAT's ATTRA Project
View Earlier NCAT News
NCAT Specialists Complete Organic Training
(5/12/08) NCAT Specialists Linda Coffey and Margo Hale recently attended a five-day organic livestock training conducted by the International Organic Inspectors Association (IOIA). This training prepares individuals to become organic inspectors. Coffey and Hale will use the information from the training in their work on sustainable and organic livestock projects.
The training consisted of four days of instruction in the National Organic Program standards, review of organic production practices, guidance on materials approved for organic production, and evaluation of organic livestock operations. Sarah Flack, organic dairy consultant, and Dr. Guy Jardowski, DVM, holistic livestock veterinarian, taught sections on working with organic livestock operations. NCAT Specialist Anne Fanatico also provided supplemental course material on organic poultry production. The course concluded with an exam and a student-conducted inspection of an organic dairy operation. Course students, including Coffey and Hale, each had to write inspection reports, as if they were inspecting the operation for an accredited organic certifying agency.
“This training course was a great opportunity. I am now very comfortable with organic standards and feel much more confident as I help our clients with their organic livestock production questions,” said Hale.
Several other NCAT Specialists have previously completed IOIA organic inspector trainings. Lee Rinehart and Andy Pressman attended livestock and crops courses, respectively, in November 2007. Ann Baier, Holly Born, and Rex Dufour have also completed IOIA training courses.
For more information about IOIA training see www.ioia.net.
Montana Food Corps Brings Local Food to State Students
(5/5/08) Over the past year Montana schools and colleges got a welcome boost from a group of young, energetic Americorps volunteers. NCAT's Grow Montana Food Corps is working to bring fresh, locally produced food to the state's students.
Food Corps Volunteers from left to right: Patrick Murphy, Kevin Moore, Sarah Kester, Tessa Roberts, Erin Foster West.
Photo: Sarah Kester |
The program enhances the strength of Montana's farm economy as well the health of the state's young people. By the end of the 2008 school year, the VISTAs (Americorps Volunteers in Service to America) will have helped return over $1 million to Montana’s farmers and ranchers through farm-to-cafeteria projects at two University of Montana campuses, Salish Kootenai College, Montana State University, and the Missoula County public schools.
Food Corps is the result of a partnership between the Grow Montana coalition and these educational institutions. Grow Montana promotes Montana-owned food production and distribution as a sustainable economic development strategy. NCAT is a founding member of the coalition and administers the Food Corps program.
This is the first time a statewide team of VISTA volunteers has been trained to develop farm-to-cafeteriaprograms and sent out to work with partnering institutions in multiple communities.
Keeping Montana Food Dollars in Montana
Montana's public institutions spend nearly $33 million annually on food. The Food Corps volunteers' job is to help steer more of these food dollars to Montana farmers and ranchers and local communities. Food Corps volunteers reach out to community groups, political officials, restaurateurs, and food producers to create support for farm-to-cafeteria programs and the local food movement.
Food Corps volunteer Erin Foster West has been working since August with Missoula County public schools. She has helped them spend more than $12,000 on local food and nearly $150,000 on dairy. Erin works closely with teachers from 10 schools to provide nutrition and local food education through taste tests, cooking projects, and field trips.
Erin has also worked with nearby Alberton school district, helping coordinate a Farm-to-School Day featuring local potatoes, beef, onions, apples, and pumpkins. Erin has so many ideas for growing the program that she is considering a second year as a Food Corps volunteer.
University of Montana
A truckload of Montana cantaloupes heads for the Farm-to-Cafeteria program.
Photo: UM Dining Services |
The farm-to-cafeteria initiatives at the University of Montana–Missoula started in 2003. Now Food Corps volunteer Sarah Kester is helping the university dining services reach their goal of spending 20 percent of their budget on farm-to-cafeteria items. Sarah launched a staff newsletter to promote local products and seasonal produce. She is experimenting with social networking websites such as MySpace and Facebook to increase student awareness and commitment to local foods.
Food Corps member Kevin Moore has pushed the University of Montana–Western’s local food purchases up from 16% to 18% of their budget, doubling the percentage of local food purchased since his arrival there in July 2006. Kevin has taken a strong leadership role with this year's new team, and serves as liaison between the Grow Montana steering committee and the Food Corps.
Grilling local meat for student meals at University of Montana–Western in Dillon.
Photo: UM-Western Food Service |
Cheri McCarthy, who heads UM–Western's food service, points out that "Dillon is cattle country. Even some of my kitchen staff are ranchers. It just makes sense for us to serve Montana beef." Chancellor Dick Storey said, “The farm-to-college program is crucial to the university and our state and local economies.”
Montana Governor Brian Schweitzer awarded an EcoStar to NCAT's Grow Montana Food Corps in 2007 for good environmental performance. Now the Food Corps is looking for recent college graduates who would like to be part of the program. See www.growmontana.ncat.org/foodcorps_faq08.php for information about how to join.
To learn more about the Food Corps and farm-to-cafeteria programs, contact Nancy Matheson at 406-227-0389 or visit the Grow Montana website.
NCAT Announces New Staff Members
(5/2/08) The National Center for Appropriate Technology (NCAT) announces the recent hire of four new professional staff members. NCAT is a national non-profit organization headquartered in Butte for the past 32 years.
“We are pleased to have such skilled individuals joining our organization’s team,” said Chief Operating Officer Marcia Brown. “NCAT’s nationwide sustainable energy and agriculture services rely on the dedication and commitment of our personnel. These new members will be valuable additions to our national staff.”
Hal Hubber |
In April Hal Hubber joined NCAT’s Business Partners team as an Energy Analyst. The Business Partners program is a performance-based business electric conservation project NCAT operates for NorthWestern Energy. Hubber is a licensed professional with thorough knowledge and experience in interior architectural design. He has extensive experience in facilities management, planning and construction. Hubber will put his skills to work in helping Montana businesses identify and install lighting and equipment upgrades that provide energy savings.
Kimberley Darrah |
Several new staff members are joining NCAT’s Accounting Department in Butte, to help the organization administer its multi-million dollar annual budget and 6 regional offices across the country.
Kimberley Darrah will serve as Controller at NCAT. She earned a Masters of Accountancy degree from the University of Montana, and has been a senior consultant for an accounting firm in Butte.
John Heintz |
John Heintz has been selected as NCAT's Senior Accountant. Heintz holds a degree in Business Administration and Finance. He has experience in the local government and healthcare administration fields.
Pam Turk-Bell |
Pam Turk-Bell is a new staff accountant at NCAT. She earned a B.A. in Business & Information Technology, and has extensive experience in accounting in the Butte community.
NCAT is currently in the process of recruiting additional professional staff for its sustainable agriculture and farm energy projects. For more information, visit NCAT's Employment Opportunities web page.
NCAT Receives Climate Change Grant from the Turner Foundation
(4/28/08) NCAT recently received a $20,000 grant from the Turner Foundation to fund components of the Montana Climate Action Project. The Montana Climate Action Project is a collaboration of partners in Montana working to find solutions, create opportunities and empower people around the issue of climate change. The project goal is to provide Montana citizens with the information and tools they need to understand climate change and make personal changes that will have a positive effect on the climate change crisis.
In November of 2007, the Montana Governor’s Climate Change Advisory Committee (CCAC) released a report containing 54 recommendations for climate change mitigation opportunities in Montana. Using the Turner Foundation grant, the Montana Climate Action Project will develop a citizens' guide to the CCAC report to inform Montana citizens about positive climate change opportunities in Montana, gather broad support for solutions, and ensure that the proposed recommendations inform policy and become implemented.
Another component of the grant includes the development of the Montana Climate Action Project website, which can be found at www.montanaclimatechange.org. The website contains information on climate change in Montana and ways that Montanans can help halt climate change in their daily lives. In addition, the website will include a link to the Citizen’s Guide, as well as links to useful tools, such as carbon calculators, and to other organizations and resources focusing on climate change.
Finally, the project will launch a pilot media campaign using four or five of our partners’ diverse member constituencies to create messages about the urgency of climate change in Montana. This pilot campaign will take advantage of the opportunity to reach our various partners’ members, including farmers, conservationists, senior citizens and many others, to broadcast publicly the impact that climate change is having on individuals and how the CCAC report relates to them.
Home Energy Rater Training to Be Rescheduled
(4/25/08) Due to low registration, the Home Energy Rater training scheduled for May 5-9, 2008, at NCAT’s headquarters in Butte will be rescheduled for a later date. Check back for more information.
NCAT Appears at The Living It Green Expo
(4/22/08) Staff members from NCAT’s Southeast Field Office ( Fayetteville, Arkansas) showcased NCAT projects and publications at The Living It Green Expo held in Rogers, Arkansas, April 5-6. The educational goals of The Living it Green Expo are to protect the environment for children and their future; teach environmental values; demonstrate healthy lifestyles and their impact on the ecosystem; promote sustainable neighborhoods; educate communities about the impact of global warming; promote environmentally preferred products and “green living” practices; and increase public awareness and concern about the impact of wasteful consumption.
An estimated 60,000+ people of all ages and backgrounds attended The Living It Green Expo. More than 60 exhibitors, representing a wide range of business, educational, governmental, and non-profit organizations, participated. In addition, the event featured over 20 learning presentations covering topics such as solar and wind energy, composting, and “green” home construction.
NCAT staffers Katherine Adam, Janet Bachmann, Anne Fanatico, Margo Hale, and Teresa Maurer all participated in the weekend event. They staffed a NCAT booth that offered publications and other NCAT materials. During the event, staff members were able to visit with many Northwest Arkansas residents and help people become more familiar with NCAT’s mission and projects.
For more information on The Living it Green Expo see www.livingitgreen.org or contact NCAT Specialist Margo Hale at margoh@ncat.org.
'Energy on the Farm' Workshop Scheduled
(4/17/08)
Many farmers are exploring the possibilities for energy efficiency and renewable energy to cope with high and fluctuating energy costs. Some are making their own fuel from agricultural products or byproducts, including vegetable oil or crops that can be grown locally. A day-long workshop, "Energy on the Farm: A Toolkit for Taking Control of Energy Bills," will provide information on alternative options to improve farm energy efficiency.
NCAT is joining with the Pennsylvania Association for Sustainable Agriculture (PASA), Piedmont Biofuels, and the Carolina Farm Stewardship Association (CFSA) to present a full-day workshop on farm energy audits and biodiesel production and use. The workshop will take place May 29, 2008 at the Lands at Hillside Farms, in Shavertown, PA, from 9:30 am to 4:30 pm. Funding for this workshop is provided by the USDA Risk Management Agency, through a cooperative partnership agreement with NCAT, as part of a project called “Managing Farm Energy Risks.” The workshop is produced in collaboration with the Pennsylvania Association for Sustainable Agriculture and the Lands at Hillside Farms.
The day will begin with an introduction to biodiesel production by Piedmont Biofuels, a biodiesel cooperative in Pittsboro, North Carolina. Participants will learn how to convert plant matter and restaurant waste into a high quality fuel for diesel engines. A demonstration on the innovative mobile biodiesel processing trailer will cover production as well as proper handling and use, giving participants the opportunity to see all the components of a small commercial biodiesel production system in operation, including oilseed crushing.
This field day will also focus on emphasizing farm energy audits as a means for farmers to explore potential energy savings. A tour of The Lands at Hillside Farms and its milk processing facility will demonstrate how farmers can benefit from an energy audit. Information on how to have an energy audit performed on your farm will be provided along with a description of what resources are available to improve energy efficiency in your operation. People of all levels of experience are encouraged to attend.
The workshop costs $15 for PASA members and $25 for all others. For more information, or to register, visit www.pasafarming.org or call 814-349-9856.
Tour Emphasizes Organic Soil Management
Grower John France, who began converting his conventional operation to organic almost 20 years ago, stresses the importance of cover crops for high quality fruit production. |
(4/9/08) John and Cindy France have been leaders of the organic movement in California's Southern San Joaquin Valley since their first orchard was certified in 1990. In late February 2008 John France gave a tour of his ranch for farmers attending the California Small Farm Conference, held this year in Visalia.
NCAT Program Specialist Rex Dufour designed the tour for growers unfamiliar with organic agriculture. As they traveled together to the France Ranch in Porterville, Dufour gave them a brief summary of organic practices and standards. Then the group got to hear two farmers explain why they decided to convert to organic production, and the challenges of transition and maintaining certification.
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France digs up a bell bean legume from a walnut orchard that he planted with a cover crop mix that also includes vetch and rye. Nodules on the roots of the bell bean fix nitrogen in the soil. "It's cheaper to grow your nitrogen than buy it," France said. |
The Frances grow blueberries, table grapes, mandarins, nectarines, oranges, peaches, and walnuts on 765 acres of certified organic ground. They have developed a packing shed to market their own fruit and the produce of other organic growers in the area. France and his wife Cindy started the business, hoping to provide the good service they were always searching for. They pack and market for other growers who farm 3,000 acres of certified organic fruits and vegetables, including peaches, Valencia oranges, blueberries, bell peppers, and cauliflower.
John France shows visitors around the packing shed at Sierra Heights Marketing. |
During the dry hot summers, drip irrigation will save water in the France Ranch table grape vineyard. |
John France discussed the details of his farming operation with the 30 visitors. He emphasized the importance of knowing your soil and learning how to manage it ecologically in order to maintain sustainable production. He uses many different methods of irrigation on the ranch, in an effort to conserve water and grow healthy trees and vines. To learn more, visit www.sierraheightsmarketing.com.
The second stop on the tour was John and Monica Pizura's Wicky-Up Ranch, just east of Woodlake in the beautiful Sierra foothills. In contrast to the France Ranch, this operation grows only oranges on 19 acres of ground which has been certified since 2005.
At Wicky-Up Ranch, the Pizuras mow their orange groves to manage the resident vegetation and conserve the soil. |
John and Monica are newcomers to organics and find nutrient management the most challenging aspect of their farm work. Many of their trees are decades old, and had grown accustomed to chemical fertilizers. Adjusting to an organically managed nutrient regime is a work in progress.
To complement their farm production, the Pizuras run a delightful bed and breakfast in the Craftsman-style house on the property. The B&B is surrounded by their organic orange orchard, so the fragrance of orange blossoms wafts through the area during bloom time. To learn more about Wicky-Up Ranch and their bed & breakfast, visit www.wickyup.com.
John Pizura explains the transitional management strategies for his citrus orchard, such as heavy application of compost to the soil in the initial years of the process. |
The California Small Farm Conference will meet again March 1–3, 2009 in Sacramento. For more information about this year's tour, contact Rex Dufour, rexd@ncat.org, 530-792-7338.
Related Publications from NCAT:
Overview of Cover Crops and Green Manures (IP024)
Sustainable Soil Management (IP127)
Organic Certification Process (IP262)
NCAT Offering Timely Farm Energy Resources
(4/4/08) Planting season is in full swing across much of the country, and farmers are facing unprecedented fuel and fertilizer costs. Farmers seeking to manage their energy risks, cut costs, or explore renewable energy alternatives can turn to NCAT for a variety of information and assistance.
During the past year, NCAT has released a number of publications on farm energy conservation and alternative fuels through ATTRA – National Sustainable Agriculture Information Service. Development of these publications was funded by the USDA Risk Management Agency.
Titles include Conserving Fuel on the Farm; Biodiesel Use, Handling, and Fuel Quality; and Small-Scale Wind Energy on the Farm. These publications, and others on many aspects of farm energy efficiency and renewable energy production and use, are available free online in the Farm Energy section of the National Sustainable Agriculture Information Service website.
The same website offers access to an online Farm Energy Search Tool that makes it easy to find energy-related equipment, funding, and technical assistance in your state. News stories, funding opportunities, and events related to farm energy are posted on this site weekly.
NCAT is also helping farmers learn more about alternative fuels and energy conservation through workshops being held across the United States. To date in 2008, NCAT has been involved in organizing and presenting workshops on biodiesel in Florida, Montana, and South Carolina, with additional events planned during the remainder of the year. NCAT specialists have also given farm energy presentations at conferences, including the Tuskegee Farmers Conference, where NCAT Energy Engineer Dave Ryan fielded audience questions on energy use.
Farmers don’t even need to attend a conference or field day to access NCAT expertise. NCAT’s team of energy specialists is available through ATTRA to answer farm energy efficiency and alternative fuels questions from farmers and agricultural educators anytime, either online or by phone at 800-346-9140.
NCAT’s involvement in helping farmers deal with their challenging energy will continue over the next few years under several ongoing projects. In addition, NCAT has just received notice that a new a two-year $97,000 project for “Energy Training for Agriculture Professionals in the Southern SARE Region” has been awarded funding. Farmers facing energy challenges and seizing energy opportunities will be able to rely on NCAT for assistance.
New American Farm Conference Highlights ATTRA
(3/20/08) NCAT will be especially well represented next week at the national Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE) conference. SARE’s New American Farm Conference: Advancing the Frontier of Sustainable Agriculture will be held March 25-27 in Kansas City, Missouri. SARE is celebrating its 20th anniversary and this conference will give farmers, ranchers, teachers, researchers, students, and advocates an opportunity to learn about SARE-funded research, experiences, and innovations.
NCAT is an official co-sponsor of the conference through its ATTRA – National Sustainable Agriculture Information Service. NCAT is using the conference as an opportunity to let the sustainable agriculture community know that ATTRA is back at full strength. The ATTRA project celebrated its 20th anniversary on June 1, 2007, but due to project funding cuts, had to wait until this year to celebrate.
NCAT staff members will be participating in the conference in a variety of ways. There will be an NCAT booth with lots of ATTRA materials, staffed by NCAT’s Agriculture Specialsts. California Field Director Rex Dufour will be giving a presentation and Southeast Regional Field Director Anne Fanatico will present a poster. In addition, New American Farm conference-goers will also have a chance to meet 18 NCAT staff members who will be in attendance. At a special event on Tuesday evening, March 25, NCAT staff will be introduced and the ATTRA anniversary recognized at a “Culture and Agriculture” session. The session will also feature nationally recognized Kansas singer-songwriter Ann Zimmerman, who will provide music related to sustainability of farms and farm people. On Thursday, the ATTRA project will be highlighted again through sponsorship of locally provided food on the 12 tours that will be part of the conference.
For more information on SARE’s New American Farm Conference please visit the SARE website.
Linking Consumers and Farmers in Southwest Iowa
(3/3/08) In the future, residents of Southwest Iowa will find more locally produced food available, thanks to the Southwest Iowa Food and Farm Initiative, a project coordinated by NCAT's Midwest Regional Office Director Holly Born. Ironically, this fertile agricultural region no longer supplies much of the food consumed by those who live here.
The Southwest Iowa Food and Farm Initiative (SWIFFI) promotes the production and consumption of locally grown fruits, vegetables, meat, and poultry products. The area served by the initiative includes Adams, Adair, Cass, Guthrie, Audubon, Shelby, Pottawattamie, and Montgomery counties. These communities share a landscape, history, and culture. The initiative is sponsoring a regional chapter of Buy Fresh Buy Local, food system mapping exercises, trips to learn about successful local food systems in other parts of Iowa, workshops to clarify regulations for local foods purchasing, and a pilot project to help new food producers.
Agricultural producers who want to supply local markets confront many problems, such as lack of local distribution channels. Under funding from the Leopold Center for Sustainable Agriculture and the Iowa West Foundation, SWIFFI is investigating distribution options for southwestern Iowa and carrying out strategic planning and mapping for a regional food system.
Another SWIFFI project will give local food producers an opportunity to apply for mini-grants of $500 provided by the Wallace Center for Rural Research and Development through funding from the Leopold Center for Sustainable Agriculture. These grants can make it possible for farmers to purchase equipment to improve their operations.
Regional food systems have many advantages. They are efficient and good for the environment, reducing the distance that food is shipped. Local food systems give a competitive advantage to local producers, processors, and retailers. Successful businesses strengthen the economies of the communities where they are based.
Local food systems also support long-term connections between farmers and consumers. These interactions encourage identification with the region's culture, history, and ecology. Because locally produced food is consumed while it is fresh, it contributes to a healthier population.
SWIFFI was formed last year by the Cultivators, a group that includes Keith Booth of the Wallace Foundation for Rural Research and Development. Located in Lewis, Iowa, the Wallace Foundation houses NCAT's Midwest Regional Office. Other Cultivators include staff from the Cass County Memorial Hospital and county extension offices as well as local farmers and business owners.
SWIFFI was funded with a grant from the Regional Food Systems Working Group, coordinated by the Leopold Center for Sustainable Agriculture. Similar efforts are underway in Northwest, Northeast and Southeast Iowa. For more information, contact Holly Born, (712) 769-2604.
NCAT Provides LEED for Homes Ratings in Montana
(2/25/08) NCAT has been trained to act as a LEED for Homes Rater in Montana. LEED for
Homes, a program administered by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), promotes
the design and construction of high-performance green homes. The Leadership
in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Green Building Rating System™ encourages and accelerates global adoption of sustainable green building and development practices through the creation and implementation of universally understood and accepted tools and performance criteria. The LEED program offers a family of certification standards for green construction and major remodeling including homes, schools, commercial buildings and interiors, and neighborhoods.
Architects, real estate professionals, facility managers, engineers, interior designers, landscape architects, construction managers, lenders and government officials use LEED to help transform the built environment to sustainability. LEED certification provides independent, third-party verification that a building project meets the highest green building and performance measures. As a LEED for Homes Rater in Montana, NCAT will be working with green building consultants and builders in the state to verify that their home building projects meet the criteria for LEED for Homes.
LEED for Homes is a relatively new component of the LEED program. Its pilot phase was completed in late fall of 2007, and the LEED for Homes rating system was officially launched in November 2007. Homes that qualify for LEED are energy efficient, conserve natural resources, create less waste, and offer occupants good indoor air quality.
Home builders, designers and owners interested in learning more can visit the USGBC website, or contact NCAT or Earth Advantage, Inc. Earth Advantage has been selected by the USGBC to be a LEED for Homes Program Provider. Earth Advantage works with building professionals in the Northwest to help them understand and incorporate high performance green building practices and materials into their projects, in order to comply with LEED standards.
NCAT to Sponsor Small-Scale Poultry Training
(2/20/08) NCAT, Heifer International and the University of Arkansas are sponsoring a 2 ½-day training on pasture-based poultry production for small-scale commercial production. The training will focus on natural and organic management, with topics including production systems, housing, breeds, health, and processing. NCAT Specialist Anne Fanatico will be one of the featured speakers at the training. Fanatico will speak on alternative production systems, nutrition, marketing, and economics. The training will cover meat chickens and layers, with special sessions on turkeys, geese, ducks, and guineafowl.
The training will feature a hands-on component for production and processing. Participants will be visiting the poultry production and processing operations at Heifer Ranch. They will also watch a video about a mobile processing unit for poultry. The training sessions will be video-taped and the videos will be posted online at a later date.
The workshop will be held March 10-12, 2008 at the Heifer International Ranch and Learning Center in Perryville, Arkansas. Only limited openings remain. To see the full agenda and to register, visit www.regonline.com/smallscalepoultry2008. For more information, contact Anne Fanatico at annef@ncat.org or 1-866-442-6085 (toll-free).
For more information on alternative poultry projects and training, please visit www.sustainablepoultry.ncat.org/index.html.
Farm Energy Management Sessions Offered at Tuskegee Farmers Conference
(2/11/08) Responding to the serious challenge posed by high energy costs, Tuskegee University Cooperative Extension & College of Agricultural, Environmental and Natural Sciences will offer two workshops on managing farm energy risks at the 116th annual Farmers Conference, at Tuskegee University on February 21-22.
Started by Booker T. Washington in 1892, the Farmers Conference is the oldest continuously held agricultural conference in the United States.
On Thursday, February 21, NCAT's Senior Energy Engineer Dave Ryan, P.E. will lead a workshop titled “Slaying the Energy Cost Dragon.” This dialogue on farm energy use, assessment, and management will include innovative ideas for reducing fuel and electric costs, as well as opportunities for farms to generate their own energy, using biodiesel, wind turbines, or solar panels.
On Friday, Mr. Ryan will lead a free-wheeling “Ask the Energy Expert” discussion, responding directly to questions from the audience.
 Funding for these workshops is provided by the USDA-Risk Management Agency, through a cooperative partnership agreement with NCAT, as part of a project called “Managing Farm Energy Risks.”
These workshops will be free and open to the public. For more information, or to register, please contact
Barrett Vaughan, P.E.,
btvaughan@tuskegee.edu or (334) 727-8527.
Tour to Highlight California Small Farm Conference
(2/4/08) The 21st California Small Farm Conference will be held February 24 to 26 in Visalia, near Fresno. This event brings together small farmers and farm supporters for three days of farm tours and workshops about improving agricultural practices. This year's theme is "Growing Opportunities." The focus will be on local food systems.
NCAT Specialist Rex Dufour is working to organize a tour to a couple of the region's organic farms. The market for organic food is increasing rapidly in the West and throughout the US. Consequently many growers are interested in converting their operations to answer the growing consumer demand. Dufour has arranged tours of France Ranch, a medium sized (765 acres) organic fruit and nut operation with a packing house, as well as a smaller (18 acre) organic orange operation. This day will be especially interesting because it gives farmers the opportunity to learn from their peers.
A featured speaker at this year's conference will be Dr. Preston Maring of Kaiser Permanente. A vocal advocate for fresh, local foods in healthcare institutions, Dr. Maring initiated farmers' markets at Kaiser Hospitals for the staff and community. His idea has spread so that now, in addition to farmer's markets, many Kaiser Hospitals offer locally grown and organic food in their cafeterias and patient meals.
Other keynote speakers include Huell Howser, host of numerous PBS shows including the popular California Gold, and David Runsten, executive director of Community Alliance with Family Farmers (CAFF). For more than 20 years, CAFF has been advocating for family farmers. They are currently sponsors of the Growers' Collaborative, an enterprise that coordinates and delivers orders for fresh local farm products to institutions such as schools and hospitals. CAFF is also very active in policy discussions that affect local food systems, such as food safety.
Workshop topics at the conference this year include cultivation, water conservation, pest management, business development, USDA opportunities, and marketing. In addition, workshops will address issues facing new farmers and farmers' market managers.
The California Small Farm Conference has its roots in a direct marketing conference for farmers’ market managers and farmers who sold at farmers’ markets and at their farm stands, u-pick operations, etc. The University of California's Small Farm Center was another important element of the first conferences.
This year the conference will award the first Tom Haller Award, named for the person whose drive, leadership, and vision launched the conference. From the beginning Haller stressed the importance of including small farmers not just as participants but also as presenters, since he saw them as the experts on important areas of innovation. That is just one of the things that marked this conference as ahead of its time.
For more information, contact Rex Dufour, or see the conference website.
Biodiesel Production and Use Workshops Scheduled
(1/30/08) Piedmont Biofuels, the National Center for Appropriate Technology, and the Carolina Farm Stewardship Association, in collaboration with Florida A&M University's Statewide Small Farm Programs, are planning two different full-day workshops on biodiesel production and use. The workshops take place February 9 and 10. The first workshop is an advanced workshop, and the second is offered at a beginning level.
Funding for the workshops is provided by the USDA-Risk Management Agency, through a cooperative partnership agreement with NCAT, as part of a project called “Managing Farm Energy Risks.” The workshops will be conducted by
Piedmont Biofuels, a biodiesel cooperative from Pittsboro, North Carolina.
The main objective of these workshops is to demystify biodiesel production, emphasizing methods for producing high quality fuel as well as proper safety precautions.
The advanced workshop
will take place February 9 at Crescent Moon Farm, 145 Crescent Moon Trail, in Sopchoppy, Florida, from 9:30 am to 4:00 pm.
The workshop will examine a working on-farm biodiesel plant, discuss what has worked and what has not, and identify improvements to the plant design that will improve efficiency and safety. In addition, participants will learn quality control procedures designed to ensure the highest quality fuel. This workshop is ideal for individuals that have already started to produce biodiesel and need advice on how to improve their fuel production process.
The beginning workshop is set for February 10
at Barnhart Farms off U.S. 90 East on Barnhart Road in Monticello, Florida, from 10:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. This workshop will begin with an introduction to biodiesel production, proper handling and use, and the US biodiesel industry, followed by a hands-on opportunity for participants to make a small batch of biodiesel. The workshop will conclude with a tour of a mobile biodiesel production trailer, giving participants the opportunity to see all the components of a small commercial biodiesel production system in operation.
The workshops are free, but a $20 fee per workshop will be charged for lunch and refreshments. For more information, or to pre-register for the workshops, call (850) 412-5260 or e-mail Jennifer.Taylor@famu.edu.
On February 28, Piedmont Biofuels, the National Center for Appropriate Technology, the Carolina Farm Stewardship Association and the Clemson Sustainable Agriculture Program will offer a biodiesel production and use workshop in Florence, South Carolina. This workshop will begin with an introduction to biodiesel production, proper handling and use, and the US biodiesel industry, followed by a hands-on opportunity for participants to make a small batch of biodiesel. The workshop will conclude with a tour of a mobile biodiesel production trailer, giving participants the opportunity to see all the components of a small commercial biodiesel production system in operation. In addition, participants will have the opportunity to learn about the feasibility of growing their own oilseed crops for oil that can be used to produce high quality biodiesel.
The South Carolina workshop is free and includes lunch. Pre-registration is required To register or for more information contact Kelly Gilkerson with the Clemson Sustainable Ag Program:
(864) 656-5057 or kgilker@clemson.edu.
NCAT Represented at the Southern Sustainable Agriculture Working Group Conference
(1/28/08) In January, NCAT Program Specialist Margo Hale attended the Southern Sustainable Agriculture Working Group (SSAWG) conference held in Louisville, Kentucky. The Practical Tools and Solutions for Sustaining Family Farms Conference was SSAWG’s 17 th annual conference, and it boasted an attendance of more than 1,200. While the conference focuses on producers and production from Southern states, attendees come from all over the country. This year 37 states were represented, including participants from Hawaii and the Virgin Islands!
The conference featured short courses on topics such as organic vegetable production, website design, and business planning. Attendees could also participate in field trips to area farms. These trips highlighted permaculture, diversified vegetable, diversified livestock, community food system, and vineyard and winery operations. The conference had two days of concurrent sessions where producers and educators presented on topics such as livestock and vegetable production, farmers markets, farm policy, soil health, local food systems, and much more. A special session with Wendell Berry, notable agriculture author, featured readings of Berry’s work and discussion with him.
There was also a trade show with dozens of sustainable and organic agriculture organizations, suppliers, and vendors represented. NCAT and ATTRA – National Sustainable Agriculture Information Service exhibits were on display and ATTRA materials were distributed. This served as a great way to let people know that ATTRA’s funding situation is resolved and services are once again available for farmers and agricultural educators. Hale was very encouraged by the numerous ATTRA clients that stopped by the booth to say they were glad to see that ATTRA was back. She was also able to introduce NCAT and the ATTRA service to many producers and educators.
The conference concluded with a “Taste of Kentucky Dinner”. The menu featured food produced by the state’s sustainable farmers. The Kentucky Department of Agriculture helped to arrange the local food meal for more than 1200 attendees! Joel Salatin, well-known sustainable farmer and marketer, gave the keynote address, discussing why sustainable farms and local food systems are so important.
For more information on the Southern Sustainable Agriculture Working Group Conference visit www.ssawg.org or contact NCAT Specialist Margo Hale (margoh@ncat.org or 800-346-9140).
NCAT Energy Savings Project to Expand
(1/18/08) On January 1, NCAT began work under a two-and-a-half year agreement with NorthWestern Energy to develop multifamily and non-residential demand-side management projects across NorthWestern's Montana service territory. NCAT has operated its Business Partners Energy Services Program since 2006, under single-year performance-based contracts with NorthWestern Energy. The new agreement extends the project for a longer term, and more than triples the project's annual energy savings goals.
During 2007, NCAT worked toward the target of helping business save 1.25 average Megawatts, or 11,000,000 kWh/year. Under its new agreement, NCAT will seek to create more than three times as much energy savings each year. With the increased program activity, NCAT will be increasing the size of its project team.
Through this program, NCAT develops and sells energy saving projects to retail, commercial, and industrial energy customers of NorthWestern Energy. NCAT works with NorthWestern to identify customers with savings potential, and also contacts potential clients directly. NCAT's energy engineers first visit the energy customers' facilities to conduct energy analyses, and then work to develop proposals of specific projects for clients. These proposals focus on strategies and technologies that will result in energy savings for the clients, and help them take advantage of utility incentives for demand-side management measures.
NCAT develops projects that include more efficient lighting, heating and cooling systems, and electric motors in industrial facilities. Past projects have led to the installation of more efficient and effective lighting in operations ranging from grocery stores to lumber mills. Clients often find that new lighting not only reduces energy costs by thousands of dollars annually, but can also improve working conditions. Similarly, efficiency upgrades to the heating, ventilation, and air conditioning system in an eight-story bank and office building delivered savings of an estimated $80,000 annually, offering an expected two-year payback.
Registration Open for 'Food and Energy from the Ground Up: Efficiency's Role in Sustainable Agriculture'
(1/2/08) Discounted early bird registration is available until January 4 for the ACEEE Forum on Energy Efficiency in Agriculture, set for February 20-22 in Des Moines, Iowa. NCAT's Mike Morris is co-chair for the conference, along with Rich Hackner of Wisconsin Focus on Energy and GDS Associates.
The event is titled "Food and Energy from the Ground Up: Efficiency's Role in Sustainable Agriculture." The premise of the conference is that increased energy production by agriculture must be accompanied by equally significant improvements in efficiency in our food system and throughout our economy. Participants will be talking about creatively adapting to limits, instead of perpetrating the myth of unlimited growth.
"We'll be challenging biofuel advocates, organic and sustainable farming advocates, food processors, farmers, utilities, and others to explain how energy efficiency fits into their plans," says Morris. "We'll also be hearing about recent research into energy-efficient agricultural practices, food processing, biofuel production, and local and regional food systems. The topic of efficiency will be front and center, instead of being treated as an afterthought."
The conference is designed for agricultural producers and energy consumers, as well as utilities, policymakers, scientists, and others. Topics will include biofuels, energy efficient crop production, farm energy audits, food miles, and carbon trading. The conference agenda features site visits, two days of plenary speakers and topical breakout sessions, and an "Info Fair."
ACEEE, the American Cocuncil for an Energy-Efficient Economy, organized its first Forum on Energy Efficiency in Agriculture in November of 2005. This second forum will continue the process of planning and building a more energy-efficient agriculture and food system.
Early bird registration ends January 4, with registration available at the regular rate until February 1, and a late penalty charged after that date. For more information, or to register online, visit the conference website.
Great News for NCAT's ATTRA Project!
NCAT’s ATTRA project, the National Sustainable Agriculture Information Service, has been federally funded for fiscal year 2008. ATTRA’s funding was part of the omnibus appropriations bill funded by Congress and signed by the President on December 26, 2007.
We have called our project staff back from lay-off and began providing full services on January 2. Our toll-free phone lines are once again open for 12 hours per day and you can call and get assistance from one of our program specialists. We are taking on new research cases and will begin writing new publications to assist farmers, ranchers and others in obtaining up-to-date, cutting-edge information on sustainable agriculture. Our website is once again featuring a full range of timely news and information.
After a year with significantly cut budgets and services we are looking forward to working with our ATTRA clients in 2008 to provide the services they want and need. Look for new and exciting publications, updates and improvements to the website, new partnerships and trainings.
NCAT thanks all of our clients and friends for their support during this past year. We appreciate the kind notes and letters we received thanking us for our past services. Many of our supporters made donations that allowed us to keep our website up and running, to send out our Weekly Harvest e-newsletter and to keep our toll free hotline answered for four hours per day as we waited for the appropriations process to proceed. Thank you so much for your help!
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Farm Bill Section 9006 Funding