November 10, 10:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m. Website Tools for e-Commerce and Agritourism, Three Stallion Inn, Randolph.
Learn how to use online tools for your farm website. Find out how Google Analytics can help
you get to know your visitors and what they are looking for. Increase the number of visitors to
your site using Search Engine Optimization (SEO) techniques.
Do you want to know:
How people find your website?
How many people have viewed your website?
Where your website's visitors are located?
When do people look at your website?
What parts of your website are most and least popular?
The workshop will take place in a computer lab and you'll be able to work on your own website
or on a proxy website. Technical support will be available before and after the workshop for use
with your own website.
Registration Deadline: Tuesday, November 3
$20 Registration Fee. Financial assistance available.
Lunch and refreshments included.
Registration and other questions:
Send an email to gail.makuch@uvm.edu including your name, phone number, and email address
or call 802-257-7967 ext. 10 or toll-free in VT 1-800-278-5480.
November 10, 10:00 a.m.-2:45p.m., Dairy Day at Miner Institute, Chazy, NY.
The Miner Institute Research Staff will offer a free day long program on current dairy management, including maximizing soil test results, dairy cow management, milk production, and rumen health.
For more information contact:
Wanda Emerich, 518-846-7121 x117 or Emerich@whminer.com
Miner Institute is located in Chazy, NY on Route 191 1 mile west of Interstate 87, exit 41. Travel time is approximately 1 hour south of Montreal, 20 minutes north of Plattsburgh, NY, 1.5 hours from Burlington, VT, or 3 hours north of Albany, NY.
November 13 & 14, It Takes A Region: A Working Conference to Build Our Northeast Food System, Desmond Hotel, Albany, NY.
This year, NESAWG's annual conference takes on some hard issues. As a region, we need to grow our thinking and our work to develop a truly sustainable and resilient food system. We will get beyond the jargon, myths and fuzzy concepts to come away with a shared vision, coherent strategy and concrete plans.
Through in-depth working sessions, homework, provocative debates, and exercises, we'll tackle questions such as:
* Why regional? What does a regional food system look like?
* What do we want? What will it take to get there?
* Who needs to be at the table?
* What are realistic milestones? What do we need to know, measure
and monitor?
We'll draw upon the exciting efforts already underway in our region and nationally, including alternative supply chain networks, research
projects, infrastructure initiatives and policy advocacy. We'll
address scale, size, and geography to reach beyond political boundaries and sector "silos".
MARK YOUR CALENDARS AND BE THERE! For more information, contact Kathy Ruhf, NESAWG coordinator.
Contact: Kathy Ruhf
Phone: 413-323-9878
http://www.nesawg.org
December 2, UMASS Extension Conferernce-Extending the Research Holiday Inn, Brockton, MA.
UMass Extension and Plymouth County Cooperative Extension are sponsoring an important daylong symposium for Green Industry professionals and municipal employees with horticultural responsibilities. Landscapers, arborists, garden center personnel, foresters, tree wardens, and state and town agency personnel that work in the areas of pest management and public relations will all benefit from this program.
For almost 100 years, UMass Extension, in collaboration with USDA and local County Government, has conducted applied and basic research that addresses the needs of citizens, businesses, and public agencies in Massachusetts. This Extension Conference, “Extending the Research” will highlight some of that research that is currently relevant to the Green Industry. UMass faculty and Extension specialists, along with staff from the Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources, will present updates on the Asian Longhorned Beetle, Winter Moth, Mile-a-minute vine, non-invasive weed control, new invasive turf pests and much more, to prepare Green Industry professionals to meet the challenges of the 2010 growing season.
Six pesticide contact hours available for categories 29, 36, and Applicators License. 1 MCA, 1 MCH, 2 MCLP, and 5 CFE credits available. ISA credit has been requested.
For a registration form or to register online, go to http://www.umassgreeninfo.org/programs/conferences.html
A copy of the agenda is available online by clicking "To register by mail with check or PO#: Download registration form" under the description.
Contact: Ellen Weeks
Phone: (413) 545-0895
http://www.umassgreeninfo.org/
December 14, 1:00 p.m.-5:00 P.m., GAPS Training for Growers, Manchester, N.H.
This training will provide an introduction to the USDA Good Agricultural Practices
(GAP) program. GAP certification is verification of practices on the farm to
minimize microbial contamination in the production of fresh fruits and
vegetables, and it is now required by some wholesale buyers.
In this training, you will learn about the USDA third-party audit process and how
to prepare a farm GAP plan. You will also receive a manual filled with GAP
resources and a CD loaded with templates that will be useful in helping you keep
the records you need to verify your GAP plan.
There will be a registration fee for each set of educational materials
needed; participants that do not need educational materials will be able to
register at a reduced rate.
To register or for additional information, please contact Shirley Mietlicki-Floyd at
413-545-4420 or mietlicki@umext.umass.edu. For questions regarding the
program, contact Rich Bonanno at 978-361-5650 or rbonanno@umext.umass.edu
or Becky Grube at 603-862-3203 or becky.grube@unh.
December 15-17, New England Vegetable & Fruit Growers Conference, Radisson Hotel, Manchester, N.H.
Includes 27 educational sessions over 3 days, covering major vegetable, berry and tree fruit crops as well as various special topics. A Farmer to Farmer meeting after each morning and afternoon session will bring speakers and farmers together for informal, in-depth discussion on certain issues.
There is also an extensive Trade Show with over 100 exhibitors. We hope that you will enjoy your time here, and meet with fellow growers, advisors, researchers, and industry representatives. We want you to leave with new ideas and new information that will have a positive impact on your farm.
This conference is special because it is put together with close collaboration between growers and Extension from across the region. The steering committee gathers the best speakers from within our region and across the country to tell you about the latest innovations and advances in the fruit and vegetable industry. Almost every session includes both farmers and research or extension personnel, so you are getting the “best of both worlds.”
Our sponsors invite you to visit the Trade Show during the conference. We invite businesses and organizations to exhibit at the Trade Show for the purpose of providing information to the participants. While we make reasonable efforts to assure the integrity of the exhibitors, the conference sponsors do not guarantee or warranty any product exhibited; neither do the sponsors imply approval or endorsement of any product to the exclusion of others that may be available.
The pre-registration fee to attend any part or all of the conference or trade show is $90 for the first member of the farm or business and $60 for each additional member (family or employee) when pre-registered with first member. The pre-registration fee for students (high school or college) is $40 each when pre-registered by the instructor. Pre-registration must be received by November 30, 2009. There is an additional fee of $10 per person for late registration or walk-ins. Please bring your checkbook or cash if registering at the door – sorry, no credit cards accepted. There is an ATM machine available in the hotel.
Please note: You will not receive a registration receipt in the mail. Your registration package will be available at the registration desk when you arrive at the conference.
January 5 & 19 or February 9. Digging Deep an Advanced Soils Course for Vegetable Growers, Lake Morey Resort, Fairlee.
Three different day long sessions:
January 5th, Soil Testing Tools and Their Use
January 19th, Using Soil Fertility Practices to Solve Problems on Your Farm
February 9th, Putting a System Together on Your Farm
Sessions will focus on tools and practices available to help farmers solve soil and soil fertility problems on their farms. Farmers will develop a soil fertility management plan that addresses nutrient needs, compaction, rotations and tillage.
Contact NOFA Vermont at 802-434-4122 or info@nofavt.org to be added to our mailing list. Watch the website for more information: http://www.nofavt.org/annual-events/digging-deep