ATTRA

The Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) has announced the four winners of the fourth annual “Growing Green Awards.” A panel of judges including Michael Pollan, Myra Goodman, Josh Viertel, and Nikki Henderson honored four remarkable food visionaries…

To assist new farmers, UMass Extension has added a new track in Sustainable Vegetable Production to its popular Green School. Green School is a comprehensive certificate short course taught by UMass Extension Specialists and University of Massachusetts f…

Women's Environmental Institute (WEI) is offering Organic Farm School, 10 weeks of lectures on organic food production and agriculture from environmental, social, and historical perspectives, connecting environmental justice with agriculture and food jus…

The U.S. Department of Agriculture invites individuals to share their expertise in reviewing project proposals for the 2012 Farmers Market Promotion Program grants. Prospective reviewers should have a general knowledge of how locally-based, direct farm-t…

The Garden Club of America has awarded the 2012 Cynthia Pratt Laughlin Medal to Rossie and Sandy Fisher of Manakin Sabot, Virginia, pioneers in the field of organic, sustainable farming in the mid-Atlantic. The prestigious national award recognizes outst…

On May 15, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack marked the 150th anniversary of the U.S. Department of Agriculture and highlighted the positive impact that USDA has on the life of Americans each day. Throughout 2012, USDA will continue to recognize importan…

Providing natural habitat for ladybugs can help increase their abundance in crops where they control pests, and thus help farmers reduce their pest control costs, says a Michigan State University study. Natural habitats provide vital food and shelter res…

The Arcadia Center for Sustainable Food & Agriculture has found a way to help bring access to fresh produce to some of Washington, DC's neediest neighborhoods. The Mobile Market—a 28-foot-long retrofitted school bus carrying crates of fresh and local…

The Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) is seeking members to fill eight scheduled vacancies on the Minnesota Organic Advisory Task Force (OATF). Authorized by Minnesota Statute, the OATF advises the Commissioner of Agriculture and the University o…

United Natural Foods, Inc. (UNFI), the leading national distributor of natural, organic and specialty foods and related products, has announced the establishment of a charitable foundation committed to supporting healthy, sustainable and organic food sys…

Practical Farmers of Iowa has released its 2012 Field Day Guide, describing 35 events planned by the organization between May 31 and October 7. The Guide also lists a series of pasture walks for dairy and beef production, hosted by Northeast Iowa Grazier…

The Weed Science Society of America (WSSA) has announced that its Board has endorsed a series of best management practices designed to reduce the incidence of herbicide-resistant weeds and the threat they pose to agricultural productivity. Chief among t…

Related ATTRA Publication:Tips for Selling at Farmers MarketsA growing interest in locally produced food and an increase in the number of farmers markets nationwide are encouraging more farmers to try direct marketing, says a Bloomberg Businessweek artic…

The Bureau of Reclamation has announced that 34 new WaterSMART Water and Energy Efficiency Grants selected for funding will use $11 million to conserve water and energy through improvements to existing facilities in 11 states-- California, Idaho, Montana…

An ongoing Ohio State University Extension research trial shows that strawberries planted in early fall on a raised bed of soil covered with black plastic results in farmers getting the berries to market at least a month earlier than the traditional matt…

Related ATTRA Publication:Montana Farmers Market EBT ManualUSDA has announced that $4 million in grant funding will allow states to provide wireless equipment to farmers markets not currently participating in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program…

A new study led by USDA-ARS has revealed that wind erosion can not only carry away soil particles, but also the beneficial microbes that help build soil, detoxify contaminants, and recycle nutrients. The research analyzed the bacterial diversity in three…

Related ATTRA Publication:Enterprise Budgets and Production Costs for Organic ProductionNew studies showing production costs for almonds, walnuts, mandarins, winegrapes, and peppermint oil are now available from the University of California Cooperative E…

Under a new National Water Quality Initiative, NRCS will make available at least $33 million in financial assistance to farmers, ranchers and forest landowners this year to implement conservation practices to help provide cleaner water for their neighbor…

The Strolling of the Heifers announces its new Locavore Index, an indicator of how states compare in their commitment to raising and eating locally grown food. Using data exclusively from government sources (principally USDA and US Census data) dating fr…