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Learn about prairie conservation and low-input
sustainable farming techniques that alleviate hunger.
October 30: Two “Mini” Field Days in One - near Waco, Texas

The public is invited to join Holistic Resource Management in exploring a very special hunk of the ancient and renowned Tallgrass Prairie the morning of October 30, 2005 at the Mezynski Farm and Riesel Prairie Preserve, Riesel, Texas. That same afternoon, the HRM field day moves on to the World Hunger Relief farm in Elm Mott for a look at how this organization teaches people all over the world to feed themselves with very limited resources. This will be a special day with two very different and unique experiences. These are “rain or shine” activities and most of the day will be outdoors.

TO REGISTER: e-mail Peggy Jones or phone by October 27. The registration fee of $45 per person or $75 per couple covers registration for both morning and afternoon events and lunch.

 

 

Future Farms 2004: Digging Deeper
Saturday, November 6, 2004
Clarion Hotel, Oklahoma City
Explore Alternative Ranch and Farm Enterprises with Expert Instructors!
Get the in-depth information and resources you need to begin or expand an alternative farm enterprise
Sponsored by the Kerr Center

Attendees May Choose Two Different Workshops.
Each topic will be offered both morning and afternoon.
Advance Registration— before 5 p.m., Oct. 22: $50
Includes lunch and educational materials
(Another person from the family or company: $40)
No discount for 1/2 day/1 workshop
After Oct. 22, registration—$75
(Another person from the family or company: $65)
Register by Nov. 1 to get lunch Please register early; space is limited!

Help Yourself
And the future of Sustainable Agriculture
A free workshop on using the Farm Bill programs-in Hondo, TX-November 15, 2004

The Michael Fields Agricultural Institute, Holistic Resource Management of Texas and the Natural Resources Conservation Service invite you to a day of exploring how our government's Farm Bill programs can help you.

The morning is all about the exciting Conservation Security Program, which provides payments for producers who historically have practiced good stewardship on their agricultural lands, and incentives for those who want to do more.

The morning's format is a panel discussion with representatives from Holistic Resource Management of Texas, the Natural Resources Conservation Service, Texas Cooperative Extension and a landowner participant in the pilot CSP process just completed. This session will act as a debriefing of last summer's initial application process and a primer for the next and future opportunities to be a part of this important program. We expect a highly interactive session about the definition of good management practices and the technical assistance available to help each land manager practice good stewardship for a sustainable future. A perfect opportunity to have all your questions answered.

The Conservation Security Program is not a competitive grant, but an entitlement program for all who qualify. However many of the Farm Bill programs are grants and loans for the purpose of getting more Americans practicing sustainable agriculture. Many of them are aimed at producers just like you who seek the help of federal programs to foster innovative enterprises in agriculture and forestry. There are grants for organic research, transitions to organics, assistance for socially disadvantaged, farmers markets and many more. You can go to the site for Appropriate Technology Transfer for Rural Areas (ATTRA) and check out funding or go to Farm Bill 2002, or just come to this workshop and ask.

The Michael fields Institute is sending the wonderful grants instructor Margaret Krome to help you figure out which Farm Bill programs you can participate in, how to design the projects for those programs and how to apply for the grants. Margaret will spend the afternoon with you to make it easy to use these federal programs to best advantage.

Sustainable Agriculture is a necessary direction for this country to be able to keep producing without ruining the land we depend on. If producers do not use the sustainable agriculture programs, they will disappear. Let's not let that happen.

We will conclude about 4pm. Contact Peggy Jones for more information.

Practical Tools and Solutions for Sustaining Family Farms Conference
January 21-23, 2005
Hilton New Orleans Airport Hotel

This conference attracts over 500 of the most innovative farmers and others working for sustainable food systems in the South. If you haven't been before, you'll want to come learn why so many of the South's successful sustainable farmers and ranchers, as well as researchers, information providers and community organizers, come to this event year after year.

In the planning, for this our 14th annual conference:

• Nearly 50 sessions on sustainable production, direct marketing and community food systems,
• Whole day and half day field trips to area farms,
• Taste of New Orleans food event,
• Improved trade show,
• Plenty of informal opportunities to visit with folks of common interests
• New this year! JOB FAIR to help connect producers and those looking for positions on farms

Plus, the American Pastured Poultry Producers Association will hold their national meeting in conjunction with our conference this year. As a result, we'll have more sessions devoted to pastured poultry on the program this year. We will also have at the conference a mobile processing facility used by producers in Kentucky who do not have access to a processor.