NEWSLETTER
Number 48, Fall 1994
The Nebraska Sustainable Agriculture Society (NSAS) is a farmer-based
nonprofit organization which aims to reduce or eliminate the need to use
agricultural chemicals, emphasize the use of farm-based resources, substitute
management strategies and skills for purchased inputs, conserve and protect
natural resources, and ensure an adequate and healthy food supply for the
future.
If you would like more information on NSAS's projects and activities, please
write, call or e-mail us at:
NSAS
Box 736
Hartington, NE 68739
(402) 254-2289
Internet: criscarusi@aol.com
IN THIS ISSUE:
1995 ANNUAL MEETING TO FOCUS ON FARMER RESEARCH
DRYLAND SUSTAINABILITY ISSUES WILL BE FEATURED AT 1995 WESTERN AREA
CONFERENCE
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR JOINS NSAS
NEBRASKA AG IMPACT PROJECT SET TO BEGIN
SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE MENTOR PROGRAM HELPS TRANSITIONAL AND BEGINNING
FARMERS
CAMPAIGN FOR SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE BUILDING UP STEAM FOR THE 1995 FARM BILL
CONCERNED ABOUT PESTICIDES, SHOPPERS SEEK ORGANIC FOODS
COMING EVENTS
CREATIVE STUFF
NSAS CALENDAR
1995 ANNUAL MEETING TO FOCUS ON FARMER RESEARCH
The 1995 Annual Meeting will feature farmers finding their own solutions to
the problems they experience, through on-farm research and education. The
event will feature the usual variety of workshops and exhibits, and will
provide an opportunity for NSAS members to get together and share
information. Keynote speakers Dick and Sharon Thompson of Boone, Iowa will
provide examples of sustainable agriculture research on their farm. The
meeting will be held on February 25th, at the New World Inn in Columbus, NE.
Registration information will be included in the January newsletter.
The Thompsons have been growing ridge-till corn and soybeans without
herbicides for over ten years. In the early 1980's, they began experimenting
with various cover crops and rotations to suppress weed growth and improve
soil quality. They currently maintain over 200 research plots planted on
their farm. "Farmer Solutions to Farmers' Problems: What Works and What
Doesn't Work" will be the theme of the Thompsons' presentation.
This year's workshops will deal primarily with farmer research,
incorporating NSAS's participation in the IMPACT project. Topics will
include: How to Set Up an On-Farm Research Project, How to Write and Present
a Farmer Research Grant Proposal, Biological Control of Weeds, and
Establishment of Alfalfa Using Non-Traditional Cover Crops. Additional
workshops will feature presentations on Multiplying Your Harvest Through
Marketing: Value-Added Products, Farmers' Markets: Successful Sales and
Management, Introduction to OCIA: Meeting Organic Certification Standards,
Maximizing Forage Use in Beef Production, How to Use Soil Survey Maps, and
Planting the Seeds of Reform in the 1995 Farm Bill.
The workshops will provide NSAS members and other participants with a good
opportunity to share the results of their own on-farm research, and their
successes and failures with low-input farming practices. "It's important to
know what works on-farm, but it is equally important to be willing to share
what doesn't work," commented Gary Young, a McLean farmer and SARE producer
grant recipient. "We need to make decisions on our own, and not be controlled
by other ventures."
If you would like to volunteer to help with this year's meeting, or if you
would like additional information, please call Cris at the NSAS office
(402-254-2289).
DRYLAND SUSTAINABILITY ISSUES WILL BE FEATURED AT 1995 WESTERN AREA
CONFERENCE
"Dryland Sustainability Western Style: Farmer Partnerships in Resource
Renewal and Conservation" is the theme of this year's western area
conference, which will be held on January 28th at the Stagecoach Inn in
Ogallala. Dr. Jim Sims, an agronomist at Montana State University, will
present the keynote speech. Dr. Sims, working alongside farmer cooperators,
researches moisture conservation, fertility restoration in dryland cropping
systems, and other sustainability issues.
Further conference planning will take place at a meeting in mid- to late
November. If you would like to volunteer to help with conference planning, or
if you are interested in presenting a workshop or displaying an exhibit at
the conference, please contact Phil Menke at (308) 872-6831, or Cris Carusi
at (402) 254-2289.
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR JOINS NSAS
This October, Cris Carusi joined NSAS as its Executive Director. Working
alongside staff from the Center for Rural Affairs and the University of
Nebraska-Lincoln, Cris will help organize the IMPACT project, recently funded
by the W.K. Kellogg Foundation. Additionally, she will provide leadership to
NSAS, organizing activities and projects like the annual meeting, farm tours,
and this newsletter.
Cris comes to Nebraska from Davis, California, where she recently completed
her M.S. in International Agricultural Development. Prior to attending
graduate school, Cris worked for three years as a Peace Corps Volunteer in
rural Nepal. There, she helped farmers increase their on-farm incomes with
low-cost technologies like bee hives, food dryers, and sprinkler irrigation
systems. After returning to the U.S., Cris worked on research at UC Davis
while attending school, and volunteered at the community hospice and homeless
shelter.
Both the Peace Corps and the W.K. Kellogg Foundation share a similar goal of
"helping people help themselves", and Cris anticipates that her experience
helping Nepali farmers will apply to her position with NSAS. She looks
forward to meeting NSAS members throughout the state, and sharing ideas with
community members interested in sustainable agriculture.
Cris welcomes ideas and opinions about any of NSAS's activities and
projects. She can be reached at the Hartington office (402-254-2289).
NSAS PROJECT UPDATE
Nebraska Ag IMPACT Project Set to Begin
by Wyatt Fraas and Cris Carusi
The Nebraska Ag IMPACT project is reaching out to Nebraska farmers, ranchers
and community members to design projects that will improve their farms,
communities and environment. The IMPACT project will support farmers and
ranchers in learning about and experimenting with sustainable farming systems
through a statewide network of community-based projects.
The IMPACT project plans to support at least one group in each of the five
extension districts across Nebraska. Groups selected to participate in the
IMPACT project will develop goals for their farms and communities, and will
formulate a plan to implement one or more projects drawn from these goals.
Projects can include on-farm research, demonstration and education efforts.
Groups will receive small grants and technical assistance to support group
activities and project development. Selected groups and projects will be
awarded funds for their activities this winter.
The IMPACT project seeks activities that will create a supportive climate
in the community for farming systems that:
* are resource efficient;
* maintain productivity and profitability;
* protect the environment and personal health;
* provide increased opportunities for farmers and ranchers;
* support rural communities.
One of the main barriers to adoption of sustainable farming systems is the
absence of community support for individuals who adopt sustainable
agriculture practices. Group interaction and farmer-to-farmer networking can
be an effective way for people to learn about and experiment with sustainable
agriculture in a supportive community environment. The IMPACT project offers
both producers and non-farm community members an opportunity to discover,
modify, adopt and promote farming practices, while benefitting the
environment and supporting rural communities.
The IMPACT project staff would like to meet with interested participants in
November or December prior to awarding group or project grants in early 1995.
Interested groups and individuals should request application forms to
describe participants' interests, backgrounds and goals. Priority will be
given to groups that are farmer/rancher organized and driven, include both
farm and non-farm members, specifically involve Extension Educators and other
technical information providers (like SCS and the NRDs), and plan for
activities that address innovative aspects of sustainable agriculture at the
community level. Groups that include the needs of beginning farmers/ranchers
will receive additional support.
Project staff from the Center for Rural Affairs, NSAS, and the University of
Nebraska Extension Service will be available to help groups plan for
activities and prepare funding proposals and applications. Staff members can
also help interested individuals locate prospective group members. For
application forms or additional information, call Wyatt Fraas at the Center
for Rural Affairs (402-254-6893) or Cris Carusi at NSAS (402-254-2289).
Sustainable Agriculture Mentor Program Helps Transitional and Beginning
Farmers
by Lowell Schroeder, Mentor Program Coordinator
Rotational grazing has been a popular topic within the mentor program. There
are several mentors working with farmers to develop grazing systems. One
successful experience began in August, 1993, when mentor Arnold Jones
consulted with Neil Tomkins on his Inman farm.
Neil has a beef cow and dairy herd. He utilizes forages from native pasture
and hay meadows. The wet weather prevented the haying of the lower meadows,
so Neil wanted to try grazing this land while haying the upland he would
normally graze. He was concerned about trampling damage to the land and
wasted forage. Arnold suggested that he strip graze the field, to limit both
the forage available and the amount of time the cattle were on the pasture.
Several pastures were surveyed and the specific problem areas and strengths
of each were discussed. Recommendations for cross fencing were discussed, as
well. There was a problem in getting the cows adjusted to the portable
electric fence.
Neil and Arnold met again in September, 1994 to evaluate last year's
recommendations and discuss ideas for the future. As a result of last year's
visit there was better use of grass, and the pasture was allowed more
regrowth before being grazed again. Fencing materials and design plus
training the cattle to the fence were concerns raised in this meeting.
Next year, Neil will continue to divide the dairy pasture into five acre
paddocks and supply water in the pasture. Two other pastures will be further
divided to better utilize lowland grasses. Poorer grass areas will be fenced
to reduce grazing pressure and weeds will be mowed or sprayed to compare
results.
Neil felt that the mentor program was valuable because it allowed another
experienced person to look at his operation. He was able to discuss possible
alternatives with Arnold, and then select the changes he wanted to implement.
The Mentor Program has mentors available to assist transitional or beginning
farmers with grazing systems, holistic resource management, sustainable
cropping systems, alternative crops, direct farm marketing, low input swine
production, poultry production and marketing, fruit and vegetable production,
and conversion to organic production. If you have an interest in another
area, the program coordinators should be able to find someone to help you.
For more information, contact Lowell Schroeder at (402) 439-5398, Tim Powell
at (402) 584-2261, or the NSAS office at (402) 254-2289.
CAMPAIGN FOR SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE BUILDING UP STEAM FOR THE 1995 FARM BILL
by Kristie Thorp, Center for Rural Affairs
The National Campaign for Sustainable Agriculture, a network of
diverse interests working together to foster a sustainable farm and food
system, will advocate for fundamental reforms in federal policy in the 1995
Farm Bill. The Campaign emerged from the National Dialogue on Sustainable
Agriculture, a two year consensus building effort that encouraged broad
popular participation in defining federal policy options.
In the last three months, 216 grassroots and national organizations
from 36 states, representing family farmers, conservationists, consumers,
environmentalists, farmworkers, animal protection advocates, people of faith,
and other concerned citizens, have signed onto the Campaign. The Campaign is
committed to a farm and food system which:
* supports stewardship of the land and it's resources;
* combines economic viability with environmental soundness and social
justice;
* promotes family farm and rural community economic opportunities;
* optimizes the use of on-farm and renewable resources;
* ensures a safe and abundant food supply produced under safe working
conditions, with fair pay for all workers and humane treatment of animals;
* provides consumers with adequate information to make informed choices;
* maximizes social, environmental, and economic benefits from limited public
funds committed to food and agricultural programs.
The Campaign is developing twenty policy option papers that relate to
commodity program reform, conservation programs, trade policy,
minority/Indian farmers and farmworker rights, marketing alternatives and
sustainable development, and research and extension reform.
Nebraska organizations that have signed onto the Campaign thus far are
the Center for Rural Affairs, Center for Sustainable Agriculture Systems -
University of NE, the Sierra Club Agriculture Committee, and USDA Forest
Service-Agroforestry Center. If you would like more information about the
Campaign for Sustainable Agriculture contact:
National Sustainable Agriculture Coordinating Council
12 North Church Street, Goshen, NY 10924
(914) 294-0633
CONCERNED ABOUT PESTICIDES, SHOPPERS SEEK ORGANIC FOODS
In response to concern about the use of pesticides and agricultural
chemicals, and the performance of the federal government in protecting
consumers from these chemicals, shoppers are actively seeking out organically
grown produce, according to a recent survey of food shoppers' attitudes about
organic produce. The survey of 1,000 food shoppers, commissioned by Rodale
Press, Inc., found that nearly one out of every three has changed his or her
eating habits (30%) or sought out organically grown produce (32%) in the past
year due to reports about pesticide and chemical use.
The majority (72%) of shoppers who changed their eating habits for this
reason specifically sought out organically grown fruits and vegetables,
according to the survey. Of all the shoppers polled, 64% had eaten organic
fruits and vegetables; of those, 59% said the most important reason for
buying organic produce was long-term health benefits, and 21% cited the
nutritional value of the produce.
Of shoppers who have never eaten organic produce, 77% said they would buy it
if it cost the same as non-organic fruits and vegetables. The majority (68%)
of shoppers surveyed think the federal government is doing a fair or poor job
of protecting consumers from potentially harmful chemicals and pesticides in
fruits and vegetables.
For more information about the survey, contact Robert Martin, Rodale Press,
Inc., 33 E. Minor St., Emmaus, PA 18098; (610) 967-7588.
(reprinted from the Alternative Agriculture News, vol. 12, #10)
COMING EVENTS
Joel Salatin to Speak on Pasture Raised Livestock and Value Added Marketing
Joel Salatin of Swope, Virginia, is becoming increasingly well-known on a
national basis for his profitable and environmentally sound systems approach
to production agriculture. That approach includes "value-added" through
direct retailing to customers. In addition, utilizing value-added direct
marketing to consumers has allowed him to build a rapport which otherwise
would not exist with many urban people.
On November 28th, Joel will speak about his work and experiences in a public
seminar at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, entitled "Profits from Pasture
Raised Livestock and Value Added Marketing." This seminar is co-sponsored by
the Center for Sustainable Agriculture Systems (UNL), and the Center for
Grassland Studies (Nebraska Cooperative Extension).
Joel, his wife and their two children operate a farm that has no row crops
but produces broilers, eggs, beef, pork and rabbits from pasture and hay as
the primary inputs. Grain is not fed to any of the beef cattle. About
one-third of the net farm income is from the pastured broilers, one-third
from beef cattle, and one-third from other enterprises such as firewood, egg
production, rabbits, pork and a few vegetables.
Joel is able to fluently tell the story of his operation along with his
reasons for the decisions he has made. If you would like to hear a message of
profitable family farming with minimal financial investment that is
environmentally sound, come hear Joel Salatin on November 28th, from
12:00-1:30 pm in 327 Keim Hall, on the east end of the UNL campus. For
additional information, please call the Center for Sustainable Agriculture
Systems (402-472-2056).
Northern Plains Winter Conference Announced
Biodiversity will be at the forefront of the 14th winter conference of the
Northern Plains Sustainable Agriculture Society on January 27-29, at
Aberdeen, SD.
Kenny Ausubel, award-winning filmmaker and journalist, is the keynote
speaker. He will speak about his personal journey into the critical issues of
the loss of biodiversity and nutrition in the food system. Ausubel's book,
Seeds of Change: The Living Treasure, broke its publisher's record for the
number of media and personal appearances during the 12-city book tour.
South Dakota Senator Tom Daschle has also been invited to speak at the
conference. As chair of the Senate Ag Subcommittee on Research, he held
hearings last year grilling USDA on their response to the last farm bill's
directives to begin focusing on issues of sustainability.
The NPSAS winter conference will be rounded out with workshops featuring
farmers, researchers and gardeners working with sustainable and organic
methods. The winter conference is the region's main event, bringing together
farmers, organic traders, and others interested in learning about and
supporting organic agriculture.
The newly organized Northern Plains Organic Marketing Cooperative expects to
hold both an open meeting and a membership meeting on Friday, January 27th,
before the opening of the Society's winter conference that evening.
For more information contact NPSAS, HC 5, Box 104, Langdon, ND 58249; (710)
256-2424.
Practical Farmers of Iowa Celebrate 10th Anniversary
The Practical Farmers of Iowa celebrate 10 years of promoting sustainable
agriculture as both a practice and a philosophy at their upcoming annual
meeting. The event will take place on January 6-8, at the Starlite Village
Best Western Motel in Ames, Iowa.
Paul Johnson, Wendell Berry, and Alan Henning are featured speakers at this
meeting. Johnson, now head of the Soil Conservation Service, previously
farmed and served in the Iowa House. Berry is a poet, novelist and Kentucky
farmer who writes and speaks about rural people and values. Henning, a
Wisconsin grazing consultant, learned his trade in grass-based dairies in New
Zealand.
Workshop topics will include Sustainable Rural Communities, Alternative Pork
Production, Women in Sustainable Agriculture, and more. Youth activities on
January 7th include field trips, crafts, games, poster presentations,
roundtable talks, and a pizza party. A dance will be held on Saturday night.
Admission costs are $5 per person and $10 per family in advance, or $10 per
person and $15 per family at the door. A $10 annual membership fee will be
charged at the door for nonmembers. Child care is available on January 7th.
For more information, call Sharon Thompson at (515) 432-1560, or Rick Exner
or Gary Huber at (515) 294-1923. Copies of the registration form and brochure
are available from the NSAS office.
Grazing Opportunities Highlighted at Minnesota Conference
"Grazing Means Opportunity" is the theme of the Hiawatha Grazing Conference,
which is scheduled for November 30-December 1, at the Kahler Plaza in
Rochester, Minnesota.The conference will feature presentations on
"Opportunities in Grass Farming", "Grazing and Wildlife Habitat," and
"Strategies for Summer Slump and Stockpiling." Scheduled speakers include
Minnesota author Paul Gruchow, Forage Agronomist Craig Sheaffer, and wildlife
biologist Tex Hawkins. Workshop topics include: Working Parlors, Grazing
Chickens, Pasture Lambing Sheep, Getting Started Grazing, HRM: A
Decision-Making Model, Calf Raising, Grazing Pigs, Seasonal Dairying and a
Beef Round Table.
Registration is $90 for individuals and $140 for couples before November
15th. Late registration costs an additional $20. Fees include two lunches,
three refreshment breaks and a banquet. Copies of the registration form and
brochure are available from the NSAS office.
Grassroots Conference to Address Rural Issues, CRP
Farmers and other rural citizens who are concerned about the future of their
communities will be gathering in southwest Iowa for a two-day grassroots
conference this December. The conference, entitled: The Conservation Reserve
Program and The Future of Rural Communities, is being sponsored by Iowa
Citizens for Community Improvement (Iowa CCI) and Southwestern Community
College (SWCC). It will be held on the campus of SWCC in Creston, IA on
Friday and Saturday, December 2 and 3, 1994. In addition to attending
workshops on farm practices and government policies, participants in the
conference will have the opportunity to give input on the 1995 Farm Bill,
President Bill Clinton's Ag Summit, and the National Campaign for Sustainable
Agriculture during an open-microphone session on Friday evening.
"It seems as though we're at a watershed point, with the Farm Bill, the
changes in the CRP, and changes in the family farm," said Morris Smith, a
farmer from Union County. "If we want to have a say in our future, now is the
time to focus our efforts and let our concerns be heard."
Several of the conference workshops will be about practical alternatives for
highly erodible land, such as that enrolled in the CRP. They include:
Rotational Grazing, Low-input Cropping Systems, Organic Farming, and
government farm programs that enable farmers to start a crop rotation without
losing program benefits. The workshop speakers and panelists represent a
variety of organizations, networks and institutions, including the Center for
Rural Affairs, the Practical Farmers of Iowa, and the Midwest Sustainable
Agriculture Working Group.
For more information about the conference, including a brochure,
registration materials and a list of featured speakers, please contact Iowa
CCI at (515) 266-5213. Conference fees for those who register by November
23rd are $6 per person and $10 per family. After November 23rd, the fees are
$10 per person
and $15 per family.
Holistic Resources Management Course Offerings
HRM groups in Nebraska and South Dakota are offering a number of courses
this winter. The Nebraska HRM branch plans to hold a follow-up course:
"Generating Wealth: Financial Planning," which will be taught by Roland
Kroos. This course will be held at the Stockman Inn in North Platte on
December 7-9. For more information contact Jan Deatrich at (308) 367-4319.
The South Dakota HRM branch is offering several additional courses, which
will be held at Smith Ranch in Hot Springs, SD:
Nov. 14-16: Generating Wealth: Financial Planning
Dec. 5-7: Grazing Planning and Biological Monitoring
Jan. 9-11: Practical Application of the HRM Model
Feb. 13-14: Bud Williams Stockmanship School
For additional information on any of the above courses, contact Annette
Smith at (605) 662-7989.
CREATIVE STUFF
Prairie Moon
A golden sickle suspended over
Silhouette hills,
The crescent moon sheds its cold light;
Brightens the Nebraska night.
A brass antique in a
Second hand store,
It stands apart from the racks of
Tin stars and the
Constellation displays.
Yellow as firelight,
Glowing like a kerosene lamp,
It brings to mind a time
Before electricity,
When the night was so dark, you could
Harvest by the light of the
Full prairie moon.
- Cris Carusi
___________________________________________________
Do you like to write, compose, draw or philosophize in your spare time? The
NSAS newsletter needs stories, poems, artwork, recipes, black and white
photographs, songs, inspirational articles or anything else you can
contribute in two-dimensional form. Don't be shy - your work doesn't have to
be publication quality to interest, entertain and motivate your fellow NSAS
members. Please send your contributions to: Newsletter Editor, NSAS, PO Box
736, Hartington, NE 68739. Please do not send us original copies of your
work. Submissions only will be returned under special circumstances.
___________________________________________________
Contributions Needed for Member News Column
In future issues, the NSAS newsletter will feature a section highlighting
member activities. We would like to hear from as many of you as possible
about what is going on in your lives, in your communities, and on your
farms. Please write or call us and tell us about:
* Happenings on your farm or ranch: any research you are doing, experiments
you've tried, new practices, varieties or breeds you've put in place, field
days you've participated in, successes and failures you've experienced;
* Community or family events: marriages, graduations, community activities
and education projects;
* Anything else you'd like to share with fellow NSAS members.
Send contributions to: Newsletter Editor, NSAS, PO Box 736, Hartington, NE
68739; or call them in at (402) 254-2289.
________________________________________________
The NSAS Newsletter is supported, in part, by a grant from the W.K. Kellogg
Foundation.