Carolina Farm Stewardship Association

It’s the moment you’ve been waiting for: public registration for CFSA’s 2026 Sustainable Agriculture Conference is open now!

🔗 carolinafarmstewards.org/sustainable-agriculture-conference

This year's conference, scheduled for October 30th - November 1st at the Benton Convention Center in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, will be packed with inspiring workshops, engaging networking opportunities, an expansive trade show, a festive social reception, interactive farm tours, and more. 🏵️🍂 Whether you’re new to CFSA’s community or a longtime friend, there’s no better place to connect with our work — and with the local food and farming movement — than at the Sustainable Agriculture Conference!

Save big by purchasing your conference ticket during our Early Bird Sale, available only through the end of August! Scholarship applications, work exchange sign-ups, and single-day passes are also open now. See you this fall!

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🌼 The 2026 featured Sustainable Agriculture Conference art piece, "A World Beneath the Dandelions," is courtesy of Kaitlin Thomas, illustrator and designer based in Charlotte, NC. See more of her beautiful work: https://www.kaitlin-thomas.com.

Happy August, CFSA community. We’ve passed the halfway point of the year! 🏵️ Hope to see y'all at these upcoming workshops, webinars, and meet-ups. Plus, don't forget about CFSA's other offerings for farms and food systems organizations, including our Technical Assistance Programs and Resource Center: we're standing by to help lighten the load and work toward your goals, this season and always. All links in bio.

🌼 Upcoming Events:

Virtual Farmer Meet-Up: Organic W**d Management
August 4 | 12-1pm | Virtual | FREE

How to Become an NRCS Technical Service Provider, Part 2: Natural Resource Assessment & Sample Plan Development
August 5 | 4-5pm | Virtual | FREE

GAP Audit Preparation Webinar Series
Aug 10, 11, 13, 18, 20 | 4:30-6:30pm | Virtual | FREE

Virtual Farmer Meet-Up: Organic Input Directory and Organic Pest Control Guide
September 1 | 12-1pm | Virtual | FREE

Farmers Food Safety Plan Training
September 17 | 10am-12pm | Delco, NC | FREE

2026 Sustainable Agriculture Conference
Oct 30 - Nov 1 | Winston-Salem, NC

National outbreaks of food-borne illness serve as an urgent reminder of the critical importance of localized supply chains, organic agriculture, and food safety education and regulations to building strong, resilient food systems.

💡 Farm food safety resources for farmers:

➡️ FDA fact sheet on Cyclosporiasis and Cyclospora cayetanensis: https://www.fda.gov/food/foodborne-pathogens/cyclosporiasis-and-fresh-produce

➡️ CFSA's Food Safety Technical Assistance Program: https://carolinafarmstewards.org/farm-food-safety/

➡️ CFSA's Organic Production Technical Assistance Program: https://carolinafarmstewards.org/organic-production/

➡️ CFSA Farm Resource Center: https://carolinafarmstewards.org/resources/

Show your organization's support for farmers and sustainable agriculture, reach hundreds of growers and food systems leaders, and elevate your brand by sponsoring and exhibiting at the 2026 Sustainable Agriculture Conference!

Opportunities to sponsor, participate in our trade show, and advertise in our conference program are open now: https://bit.ly/cfsa-2026-sac-sponsor-exhibit.

CFSA extends our gratitude to the dedicated sponsors and exhibitors who have already joined this year's line-up:

⭐ Sponsors:
Barnes Berry Trust
Cedar Grove Law
Center for Environmental Farming Systems (CEFS)
Country Farm & Home
Earth Tools
Farm Credit Associations of NC
Food Animal Concerns Trust (FACT)
Good Agriculture
High Mowing Organic Seeds
Hipcamp
Johnny's Selected Seeds
Rimol Greenhouse Systems
Rodale Institute

✨ Exhibitors:
Basket Case Farms
Center for Environmental Farming Systems
Certified Naturally Grown
Country Farm & Home
Cuentos y Cafe Bookstore
Davidson County Local Food Network
Dirtcraft Living Soils
Farm and Ranch Stress Assistance Network (FRSAN) South
Good Agriculture
High Mowing Seeds
Hipcamp
Johnny's Selected Seeds
NC A&T State Cooperative Extension
NC Department of Agriculture
Quality Certification Services
Rimol Greenhouses
Rodale Institute, USDA Advancing Markets for Producers Initiative
Rooted in Tech
Seven Springs Farm Supply Co.
The Forest Farmacy
Tangaza . io

‼️ Pssstt: the Member Pre-Sale for conference tickets closes this Friday, July 31st! CFSA Members, buy your tickets this week to enjoy our lowest prices before general registration opens on August 1st -- or if you're not yet a member, join now and you'll instantly gain access to the Pre-Sale!

Guesstimate no more! Determining how much labor, time, and equipment is needed to sell through different market channels is important for farm budgeting and strategic decision-making, and CFSA's new "Know Your Cost to Sell" resource is designed to help you make those calculations easily and accurately. 💡

Read market channel selection case studies, review formulas, learn key definitions, and download the budget workbook on our website:
🔗 carolinafarmstewards.org/resources/know-your-cost-to-sell

Mark your calendars and get excited for the 2026 Sustainable Agriculture Conference!! This year, we'll be convening in beautiful Winston-Salem, North Carolina on October 30th through November 1st for an extra-festive fall weekend of workshops, networking, and community-building. 🎃

🔗 Conference website: https://carolinafarmstewards.org/sustainable-agriculture-conference/

The Member Pre-Sale for conference registration opens ONE WEEK FROM TODAY on Wednesday, July 15th, and public Early Bird registration open August 1st. ➡️ Not yet a member, but want access to registration discounts and the pre-sale? Join CFSA's membership coalition today at www.carolinafarmstewards.org/membership.

All registration windows:
📆 CFSA Member Exclusive Pre-Sale: 7/15 - 7/31
📆 Early Bird Special: 8/1 - 8/31
📆 Standard Pricing: 9/1 - 10/16
📆 Last Call & Day-of Pricing: 10/17-11/1

New funding and support is available to help sustainable farms in the Carolinas strengthen their businesses, expand markets, and implement conservation practices, and CFSA is here to help you take advantage of it!

The USDA's just-launched Advancing Markets for Producers (AMP) Initiative provides direct funding, conservation technical assistance, and business development support to help farmers build profitable markets and stronger businesses.

If you’re interested in working with CFSA's expert staff through the AMP Initiative to grow your farm business, implement conservation practices, and expand market opportunities, fill out this application from CFSA partner PASA via our website: https://carolinafarmstewards.org/advancing-markets-for-producers/. We look forward to working with you!

This program is based upon work supported by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, under agreement number NR233A750004G025

Happy July, CFSA community! 🌞 Hope to see y'all at these upcoming workshops, webinars, and meet-ups -- lots of virtual options on the schedule this month and next, so you can stay cool while you learn practical skills and build new connections! Find all event descriptions and registration on our website: https://carolinafarmstewards.org/events/

Virtual Farmer Meet-Up: Dealing with Drought
July 7 | 12-1pm | Virtual | FREE

Food Safety and Quality Control for Fall Production
July 23 | 4:30-6pm | Concord, NC | FREE

How to Become an NRCS Technical Service Provider, Part 1: Requirements, Training, and Conservation Planning Basics
July 29 | 4-5pm | Virtual | FREE

Farm Labor Wellness Check: Thriving in the Summer Sun
July 30 | 4:30-6pm | Virtual | FREE

Virtual Farmer Meet-Up: Organic W**d Management
August 4 | 12-1pm | Virtual | FREE

How to Become an NRCS Technical Service Provider, Part 2: Natural Resource Assessment & Sample Plan Development
August 5 | 4-5pm | Virtual | FREE

GAP Audit Preparation Webinar Series
Aug 10, 11, 13, 18, 20 | 4:30-6:30pm | Virtual | FREE

2026 Sustainable Agriculture Conference
Oct 30 - Nov 1 | Winston-Salem, NC | Member Pre-Sale Opens July 15th!

CFSA’s 2025 Impact Report is here! 📖🪻 Our Leadership Team and Board of Directors are pleased to present this rich, thoughtful review of last year’s work and impact:

https://carolinafarmstewards.org/showing-up-for-farmers-with-farmers-cfsas-2025-impact-report/

As you read through the farmer stories, project snapshots, and partnership highlights included in the report, we hope you’ll notice, as we do, incredible themes of resilience, community, and collaboration in the face of a markedly difficult year for farms and food systems. 🤝

We thank the members, donors, and supporters who powered our work in 2025, and allowed us to grow and sustain our impact despite the year’s challenges. If you're not yet a CFSA member, there's never been a more important time to join us! ⭐ Through the end of June, use discount code MEMBER10 at check-out for a $10 discount on your annual CFSA Membership: https://carolinafarmstewards.org/membership/.

When we come together around a common purpose, we can create the conditions for meaningful change.