Idaho Center for Sustainable Agriculture (ICSA)

Grower’s Own Virtual Workshops & Social Hour

In lieu of their 12th annual organic farming conference in Idaho, the Northwest Center for Alternatives to Pesticides (NCAP) is preparing virtual workshops and a Northwest farmer social hour in 2021. The following sessions are being offered at no cost, but participants must register for the event in order to receive the Zoom link.

Workshop for Farmers Interested in Transitioning to Organic
Wednesday, Feb. 24, 3-4 pm Mountain Time (2-3 pm Pacific Time)

Workshop for farmers interested in transitioning to organic, hosted by certifiers in the Northwest. Come learn what it takes to become organically certified. This workshop is open to farmers of all sizes. It is best suited for farmers in Washington, Oregon, and Idaho, but will be applicable to any farmer interested in becoming organically certified following USDA National Organic Program standards.

Come learn from certifiers what to expect and get your questions answered.

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdmDYQlshbYOjoYWMmoiLTMm4Yh2tKjMsWxJDzFUhCtGYRHEQ/viewform

Grower’s Own Virtual Workshops & Social Hour Registration Form

East Idaho dryland growers dabble in ranching to improve soil health

Now this is cool and great example of how Idaho farmers (and all farmers) can increase biodiversity on their farms by bringing animals in to their vegetable production, adding cover crops, and eliminating pesticide use.

Thank you Cody and Noel, we hope that more Idaho farmers follow your lead!

https://www.capitalpress.com/state/idaho/east-idaho-dryland-growers-dabble-in-ranching-to-improve-soil-health/article_7350cf7a-8cdd-58d4-ab83-4d37ed220b8c.html

East Idaho dryland growers dabble in ranching to improve soil health SODA SPRINGS, Idaho — Just last fall, Cody and Noel Cole raised a single crop — wheat — and their approach to farming entailed heavy tillage and increasingly frequent fungicide

register.gotowebinar.com

The The Organic Centerer is hosting a webinar on their new organic cotton research which is focused on the of the scientifically backed, full system ecological benefits of organic cotton – from farm to fashion.

By attending you'll also hear from the Organic Trade Association’s Fiber Council on the group’s work to advance organic cotton and other textiles.

https://register.gotowebinar.com/register/8294557802702600972?source=Feb9

register.gotowebinar.com

ICL supports Simpson’s comprehensive infrastructure proposal - Idaho Conservation League

Did your hear that congressman Mike Simpson has put together a Northwest in Transition proposal to restore Idaho salmon and invest in communities, jobs, clean energy, and healthy farming economies?

This proposal is bold, comprehensive, and urgently needed for Idahoans and the people of the Northwest and includes river restoration, salmon and steelhead recovery, affordable and clean energy, efficient transportation links, and investments in Idaho’s agriculture, outdoor recreation and tourism industries.

https://www.idahoconservation.org/blog/icl-supports-simpsons-comprehensive-infrastructure-proposal/

ICL supports Simpson’s comprehensive infrastructure proposal - Idaho Conservation League ICL is hopeful that this proposal brings people together to work to benefit communities in Idaho and the Northwest

An Effective Climate Policy that Farmers Can Support

The Palouse capeter of the Citizens Climate Lobby is hosting a webianr and talk about the Energy Innovation and Carbon Dividend Act, is designed to drive down U.S. carbon dioxide emissions by 40% in twelve years and by 90% by 2050, using a price on fossil fuel carbon with all net revenue returned to households.

This act has tremendous benefits for farms and farmers and is currentlyr eceiving bipartisan support across Congress.

The webinar and talk are happening on Feb. 10th from 10 AM MST to 1:00 PM MST, click the article to register or learn more!

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/an-effective-climate-policy-that-farmers-can-support-tickets-131633484295designed to drive down U.S. carbon dioxide emissions by 40% in twelve years and by 90% by 2050, using a price on fossil fuel carbon with all net revenue returned to households.

An Effective Climate Policy that Farmers Can Support We’ll explain an effective climate policy that asks little of farmers, answer questions, and together develop an endorsement statement.

What Does a Biodiverse Farm Look Like? - SARE

Increasing the biodiversity on your farm has been show to increase yields, develop healthier soil, and create a stronger soil food web.

This article from SARE lays out all some of the key benefits of biodiverse farms

https://www.sare.org/publications/manage-insects-on-your-farm/how-ecologically-based-pest-management-works/what-does-a-biodiverse-farm-look-like/

What Does a Biodiverse Farm Look Like? - SARE What Does a Biodiverse Farm Look Like? Agricultural practices that increase the abundance and diversity of above- and below-ground organisms strengthen your crops’ abilities to withstand pests. In the process, you also improve soil fertility and crop productivity. Diversity on the farm includes th...

How Farmers Can Help Pollinators | NRCS

The National Resource Conservation Service put together a fantastic article on how farmers can help pollinators.

A few highlights of the article are:

Know the habitat on your farm.

Using the illustration as a guide, look for areas on and around your land that can support native bees. Most native bees are solitary or live in small colonies. Bumble, digger, and sweat bees make up the bulk of pollen bees in most parts of the country.

Protect flowering plants and nest sites.
--Once you know where bees are living and foraging, do what you can to protect these resources from disturbance and pesticides.

Enhance habitat with flowering plants and additional nest sites.
-Most bees love sun and prefer to nest in dry places. Nests are created underground, in twigs and debris, and in dead trees or branches. You can add flowers, leave some ground untilled, and provide bee blocks (tunnels drilled into wood) to increase the number of native bees on your farm.

https://www.nrcs.usda.gov/wps/portal/nrcs/main/national/plantsanimals/pollinate/farmers/

How Farmers Can Help Pollinators | NRCS Native bees are valuable crop pollinators. The over 3,500 species of native bees (often called pollen bees) help increase crop yields and may serve as important insurance when cultivated European honey bees are hard to come by.

University of Idaho Agronomists are putting together a cereal school for cereal crop farmers that will be happening on Feb. 2nd and 3rd.

If you are interested in these workshops, please click the link below

https://www.uidaho.edu/extension/news/cereal-school

University of Idaho Agronomists are putting together a cereal school for cereal crop farmers that will be happening on Feb. 2nd and 3rd.

If you are interested in these workshops, please click the link below

https://www.uidaho.edu/extension/news/cereal-school

Our freidns over at the Ada County Soil and Water Conservation District are starting this awesome project and one that is much needed for Treasure Valley farmers!

https://adaswcd.org/pollinator-project

Our freidns over at the Ada County Soil and Water Conservation District are starting this awesome project and one that is much needed for Treasure Valley farmers!

https://adaswcd.org/pollinator-project

This great article from the university of Idaho speaks to our state's long history of small-scale farming and provides an overview of important considerations for prospective farmers when selecting land to start a small ranch or farm on.

https://www.extension.uidaho.edu/publishing/pdf/BUL/BUL932.pdf

While the number of larger farms continues to grow, small-scale farmers are quitting. Those who survive are increasingly hobby or part-time farmers, who rely on another income to sustain their businesses.

Against the odds, small-scale farmers are learning new ways to survive in an age of industrial-scale competition

https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2020/dec/23/the-good-old-ways-can-we-still-farm-like-our-grandparents?fbclid=IwAR3WahTvZgr-6WSUseycFIjfrcNepZXjqI4jrsFi3v8BtUkM_Bj_eyc3vHw

The EPA says that about 10 percent of greenhouse gases come from ag production. The Regenerative Agriculture Movement hopes to lower that number with a different style of farming.

Improving soil biodiversity, increasing carbon sequestration, and limiting erosion and degradation of the land are just a few of the goals of the Regenerative Agriculture Movement.

https://www.rfdtv.com/story/43054423/helping-with-conservation-and-improving-communities-with-a-different-type-of-farming?fbclid=IwAR0UTZsg2x8lkqNl6g8ANbzjfwQLTlZdedAWrq4QOeRjWvdjKmEEPDDndTA

Happy Holidays from the Idaho Center for Sustainable Agriculture! We wish you all the best and are grateful for everyone that supports a sustainable future for Idaho farms and farmers.

The Produce Safety Alliance is putting on a virtual, two-day grower training on Jan. 12th and 13th.

The course will provide a foundation of FSMA Produce Safety Rule requirements. Individuals who participate in this course are expected to gain a basic understanding of:

Microorganisms relevant to produce safety and where they may be found on the farm
How to identify microbial risks, practices that reduce risks, and how to begin implementing produce safety practices on the farm
Parts of a farm food safety plan and how to begin writing one
Requirements in the FSMA Produce Safety Rule and how to meet them
Agricultural water testing methods and Microbial Water Quality Profiles
Training tools you can use at your farm or operation!

After attending the entire course, participants will be eligible to receive a certificate from the Association of Food and Drug Officials (AFDO) that verifies they have completed the training course. Participants must be at least 14 years of age to receive the AFDO certificate. To receive an AFDO certificate, a participant must be present for the entire training (both days- 1/12 AND 1/13). At the end of the course you will be asked to complete and upload the course evaluation.

Click the link below to learn more and register:

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/remote-delivery-two-day-produce-safety-alliance-psa-grower-training-tickets-126340986291?aff=

With Idaho's burgeoning beer scene, it's more important than ever for our barley farmers to build healthy soil.

Thankfully, the Natural Resource Defense Council, examines how barley farmers in Southern Idaho can take actions to naturally increase their soil fertility and build a lasting future.

Check it out!

https://www.nrdc.org/sites/default/files/guide-to-healthy-soil-southern-idaho-ib.pdf

[12/20/20]   Regional farmers would generally agree commodity markets have been for the birds throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.

However, it appears the coronavirus has helped sales of a popular rotation crop raised on dry land throughout Eastern Idaho, safflower, take flight lately.

American Falls-based Mountain States Oilseeds is the nation’s No. 1 supplier of safflower seed used in birdseed mixes. The business’s safflower sales have risen by nearly 40 percent since the pandemic started, said owner Bill Meadows.

It's really cool to see an Idaho-based farm do so well during these challenging times.

ADM, a global leader in nutrition and partner to the world’s leading consumer brands, today released its view on the five food and beverage trends that will impact the way consumers eat and drink in the new year.

And there are definitely opportunities for farmers that provide these raw materials to distributors and food manufacturers alike to take advantage of these trends.

https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20201027005626/en/Top-Five-Global-Trends-that-Will-Shape-the-Food-Industry-in-2021

The benefits of regenerative agriculture go beyond building healthy, resilient soil that creates healthy, resilient plants.

This story breaks down how regenerative ag can help store carbon in the soil.

Check it out!

[12/13/20]   On December 4th, leaders of national farm organizations met with the Biden transition team to discuss a host of ag issues and offer priorities for the incoming administration to address.

"As part of a continuing dialogue around the needs of farmers and rural communities, several agricultural leaders met today with leaders from President-Elect Biden’s USDA transition team," the group said Friday in a statement. "We appreciate the transition team’s interest in hearing from farm and agricultural organizations as they work to build a foundation for agriculture within the Biden Administration."

The CEO Council shared a white paper of priorities with the Biden campaign this summer. Its top three priorities included COVID testing and vaccinations for processing/supply chain workers; "sustained, well-funded, effective and predictable" language in the upcoming farm bill; and ratifying trade agreements with new and existing markets.

[12/10/20]   A great and potentially new resource to many Pacific NW farmers is The Pacific Northwest Soil Survey Regional Office, located in Portland, OR which provides soil data quality assurance, technical guidance, and field assistance to soil scientists as part of the National Cooperative Soil Survey (NCSS).

The Pacific NW Soil Survey Regional Office is area of responsibility includes the forests and croplands of western Oregon and Washington, the wheat and range lands of Washington, Oregon, and Idaho, and all of Alaska.

On their website you can get soil survey information, access technical resources to help you build soil health and learn about soil health from the perspective of soil scientists.

Check out their work!

https://www.nrcs.usda.gov/wps/portal/nrcs/detailfull/or/soils/?cid=nrcs142p2_045933

We wanted to share this exciting job opportunity for the VP of Sustainability role at Dairy West whose goal is to have the world see dairy the way see it: as a key ingredient in the health and prosperity of our planet.

Dairy West forges industry partnerships to hosting community events and seeks to deliver impactful information and experiences that can help secure a brighter future for us all. The organization thrives on big ideas, and strives to create an environment in which the dairy community is a positive change-maker.

Forward this job posting to someone you know someone with a decade or more in sustainability in the dairy industry.

https://dairywest.com/uploads/Dairy-West-VP-Sustainability-Job-Description.pdf

How Netherlands agriculture is feeding the world - Sensoterra | Sensoterra

The Netherlands are using technology to become a farming giant as tthe rise of Dutch agriculture in global markets is a true example of how the future of farming could evolve.

The adoption of precision agriculture techniques has led the country's agriculture to another baseline, currently ranked as the second biggest agricultural exporter in the world, just behind the U.S.

In a 2017 National Geographic article, Frank Viviano approaches multiple smart farming techniques, such as drones and soil health management with soil moisture sensors, LED-light crops, and many other tools that served as pillars for this ascension.

Could this be a model that we use in the U.S.?

sensoterra.com The rise of Netherlands agriculture in global markets is a true example of how the future of farming could evolve.

Organic food sales rose 31 percent from 2016-2019

Idaho organic farmers rejoice as the USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service’s 2019 organic survey shows continued growth in the organic food movement!

Sales of certified organic food products in the United States increased by 31 percent, to $9.9 billion, from 2016-2019, according to recently released USDA data.

The number of certified organic operations in the U.S. rose by 17 percent, to 16,585, during that time, and land used for organic production increased by 9 percent, to 5.5 million acres.

Idaho recorded $206 million in total organic sales last year, ranking the state No. 10 in the nation in that category. Idaho also ranked No. 10 in total certified organic acres with 181,000.

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About | Acres Eco-Ag Conference & Trade Show

We're excited to share the annual Acres Eco-Ag Conference with you.

In its 45th year, the Eco-Ag conference sets the standard for innovation and learning in modern agriculture. The educational experience and trade show unites farmers, ranchers and ag professionals from every facet of eco-farming to share their experience and expertise.

Beginning and generational farmers running sustainable farms – as well as those in transition from conventional to organic – will walk away with useful, practical information that they can apply to their operations right away.

And for the first-time in its history, the Eco-Ag conference will be 100% virtual from Dec. 1 to Dec. 4th.

ecoag.acresusa.com To our Acres U.S.A. Community: For the first time in 45 years, we will not be having an in-person Eco-Ag Conference & Trade Show this year in December. The COVID-19 pandemic made it logistically and…