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March 2016

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Native communities food assessments

"...First Nations plans to award up to 10 grants of up to $10,000 each to Native communities looking to conduct food assessments and gain a better knowledge and understanding about the historical, current and future state of their local food systems."
MorningAgClips

Farmer John Boyd Jr. Wants African-Americans To Reconnect With Farming

"If we had more black people growing healthy foods — not as a megafarmer, but farming right in their backyard ... If you were growing these things and eating more healthy foods, we wouldn't have some of the illnesses that plague us."
npr - the salt

NFU's Beginning Farmer Training Program

"BFI participants receive hands-on training by experts from across the U.S. The training includes critical skills needed by beginning farmers and ranchers, including business plan writing, financial planning, and leadership development."
MorningAgClips

Supporting historically black universities

"Agriculture Secretary Vilsack today announced $18 million in grants will be available to strengthen research and teaching at historically black land-grant universities..."
MorningAgClips

More insurance options for organic

"Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today announced a new step to support farmers transitioning to certified organic production, by expanding a crop insurance option to allow producers to purchase insurance coverage that better reflects their product’s actual value."
MorningAgClips

Collaboration in the grantee community (among 1890 faculty)

"The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) recently held a pilot program to make the Agriculture and Food Research Initiative (AFRI) Competitive Grants Program more accessible to faculty of 1890 land-grant institutions."
MorningAgClips

Survey: Public supports use of GMO mosquitoes to fight Zika virus

"The U.S. public overwhelmingly supports introducing genetically engineered mosquitoes to help control the spread of the Zika virus, two Purdue researchers found in a nationwide survey."
Purdue University Agriculture News

Farm Bureau helps hungry families

"The farm and ranch families of Farm Bureau raised more than $1.1 million and donated a record of more than 48 million pounds of food to assist hungry Americans as part of Farm Bureau’s “Harvest for All” program."
MorningAgClips

GMO dangers discussed at Monsanto

"...three generations of women spoke out for the health of current and future generations at the annual Monsanto shareholder meeting."
MorningAgClips

If There Are No New Farmers, Who Will Grow Our Food?

"There's only one farmer under 35 for every six over 65. By 2030, one-quarter of America's current farmers will retire."
YES! Magazine

Study: Fewer grain entrapments, other confined space incidents reported in 2015

"The number of confirmed grain bin entrapments and incidents in other confined spaces on U.S. farms fell in 2015 to its lowest level in a decade, but it is likely that many such cases continue to go unreported..."
AgAnswers

Increase Live Births & Farm Profitability

Emily Freudenburg, NE AgrAbility, heard about this piece of equipment from a client, who is using it and loving it. Moocall watches your herd so you can spend your time completing other tasks in and around the farm or ranch. See more at http://us.moocall.com.

Encouraging healthy choices

March is National Nutrition Month. "In response to an obesity rate of 17% among children and adolescents, and a projected population of 9 billion people by 2050, NIFA supports research and education efforts that encourage Americans to make healthy choices."
MorningAgClips

New organic conservation option

"The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) ... announced a new conservation option for organic farmers–cost-share and land rental payments for field border buffers."
MorningAgClips

New aquaponics certification program

"The development of this new certification program is a great opportunity for aquaponic farmers to get recognition for their efforts in raising vegetables naturally."
MorningAgClips

Barn2Door offers web stores for farmers

"Eliminates mark-ups to all food purchases, offers farmers free trial"
MorningAgClips

Organic Sound and Sensible Resources: Expanding Organic Education through Others

"Today, we are launching resources that help those who help others – guides and resources that help organizations reach out to and educate potential organic farmers."
USDA Blog

Scientists create synthetic biopathway to turn agriculture waste into 'green' products

"Researchers at the University of Minnesota have engineered a new synthetic biopathway that can more efficiently and cost-effectively turn agricultural waste, like corn stover and orange peels, into a variety of useful products ranging from spandex to chicken feed."
Phys.org

Farm Contractors Balk At Obamacare Requirements

"Many contractors who provide farm labor and must now offer workers health insurance are complaining loudly about the cost in their already low-margin business."
Texas Republic Radio

The original conservationists

"...American farmers and ranchers throughout rural and tribal lands were the original conservationists, wasting nothing and preserving as much as possible."
MorningAgClips

New Homegrown by Heroes program to promote agricultural products grown by Indiana military veterans

"It supports local farmers, and it helps support veterans..."
News-Sentinel.com

Grain handling safety workshops for young workers come at good time

"Right on cue, Bill Field, Purdue University Extension ag specialist, has pulled another rabbit out of a hat."
Farm Progress - Indiana Prairie Farmer