{"id":8806,"date":"2017-07-31T11:30:14","date_gmt":"2017-07-31T15:30:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/agriculture\/?p=8806"},"modified":"2017-08-30T14:22:32","modified_gmt":"2017-08-30T18:22:32","slug":"farm-scoop-august-2017","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/agriculture\/2017\/07\/31\/farm-scoop-august-2017\/","title":{"rendered":"Farm Scoop – August 2017"},"content":{"rendered":"

MOFGA Farm Beginnings<\/strong><\/h3>\n

This a farmer-led program to help guide those with a strong commitment to creating a sustainable farm business achieve their goals. Designed for farmers with at least one year of production experience, this series of intensive workshops will help you to develop a whole farm plan through realistic goal setting, reflection, and assessment of your resources, skills, and markets \u2013 and gives you the business planning tools necessary to successfully implement your plan. The course was originally developed to support participants in the MOFGA\u00a0Journeyperson Program<\/a>\u00a0but enrollment is open to any farm looking to apply whole farm planning and financial management tools to their operation.<\/p>\n

To apply please visit this link<\/strong><\/a><\/u><\/p>\n

2017-2018 Course Schedule<\/strong><\/u><\/a><\/p>\n

The 2017-2018 Farm Beginnings course will consist of 7 six-hour sessions, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., on Sundays from mid-October through early March, a number of shorter workshops at the January Agricultural Trades Show in Augusta, and a workshop with Julia Shanks, author of “The Farmers’ Office” in February. Each of the six-hour sessions is farmer-led and professionally facilitated with course material covered through a combination of classroom presentations, group discussions, guest speakers and panels, as well as guided readings and exercises.<\/p>\n

This year the course will be offered in two locations: at\u00a0MOFGA<\/a>\u00a0in Unity, and in Portland. Up to three of the sessions will take place jointly in Unity. The 2017-2018 schedule of dates and session topics can be found\u00a0here<\/u>.<\/a><\/p>\n

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The New England Vegetable and Fruit Conference and Trade Show \u2013\u00a0<\/strong>December 12<\/span><\/span>, 13, and 14<\/strong><\/h3>\n

At the Radisson Hotel in Manchester, NH and will include 32 educational sessions over 3\u00a0days, covering major vegetable, berry and tree fruit crops, as well as various special topics, such as hard cider and cut flower production. Popular \u2018Farmer-to-Farmer\u2019 information-sharing sessions after each morning and afternoon session bring speakers and farmers together for informal, in-depth discussions on timely issues of interest to growers. There will also be an extensive Trade Show with over 120 exhibitors that is open throughout the conference, a poster session featuring student researchers, and social mixers to help facilitate meeting fellow growers.<\/p>\n

The featured speaker on the evening of the 12th will be Andrea Sylvian from the EPA, who will offer a worker protection standard (WPS) training.<\/p>\n

Pre-registration to attend any part or all of the conference or trade show is $115 for the first member of the farm or business and $85 for each additional member (family or employee) when pre-registered with first member. The pre-registration fee for students (high school or college) is $50 each, when preregistered by the instructor. Pre-registration must be received by\u00a0November 30, 2017<\/span><\/span>. There is an additional fee of $30 per person ($20 students) for late registration or walk-ins.<\/p>\n

Hotel registration is separate, but conference rates apply if you provide the code \u201cNEVB17\u201d.\u00a0Additional information on the New England Vegetable and Fruit Conference, including on-line and\u00a0downloadable registration material, may be found at\u00a0http:\/\/www.newenglandvfc.org\/<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The event is Sponsored by the New England Vegetable & Berry Growers\u2019 Association and the\u00a0Massachusetts Fruit Growers\u2019 Association in conjunction with the Universities of Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Vermont, as well as Cornell University, Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners Association and the Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station \u2013 in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Agriculture.<\/p>\n

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Respirator Fit Tests: How To<\/strong><\/h3>\n

New requirements under the Worker Protection Standards (WPS) mandate that all pesticide handlers, who are applying pesticides requiring the use of a respirator, have an OSHA approved respirator fit test. These tests include;<\/p>\n