Small Farm Program Updates: Benton, Lane, and Linn Counties

10/27/2020

Western Meat School Nov-Dec 2020
The Western Meat School is an innovative learning experience where farmers, ranchers, butchers, & others will learn how to direct market meat.
With in-person class locations in Oregon as well as online access for everybody else, this hybrid course will reach you where you are at.
Learn more and register here.

InFARMation: Racial and Food Justice
Friends of Family Farmers and OSU Extension Small Farm School are collaborating to present a virtual Racial and Food Justice series. This portion of the Small Farm School is free and open to the public.

October 22: Equitable Food Access: How to Contribute to Oregon's Food Sovereignty Network
November 5: White Farmers and Food System Members Forming an Anti-Racist Affinity Group. Experiences from a Portland Farmer Development Group.
November 17: Gather, a Documentary Film Watch Party and Discussion — more details to come.

For Linn and Benton County Farmers - Meet your Farm to School Hub Coordinator Monday November 9th 5:30pm-6:30pm.

Come learn about selling to schools/Farm to School Procurement opportunities and how to engage. Even with school closures, schools are buying local products. This is an opportunity to meet your Regional (Linn/Benton Counties) Farm to School Coordinator, Jessica Worden.
Register here to receive meeting link.
Contact Teagan.moran@oregonstate.edu with questions.

Be prepared and stay protected. Free N95/KN95 masks have been provided by Oregon Department of Agriculture and are being distributed by OSU Extension Services. We still have some available, don't wait until you need them. If you want to up your supply please contact Teagan - Teagan.moran@oregonstate.edu, 541-713-5011 to get more.

FACT's 2020 Fund-a-Farmer Grants
Food Animal Concerns Trust (FACT) awards competitive grants up to $2,500 to working, independent family farmers located in the United States who raise beef cattle, bison, broiler chickens, dairy cows, goats, laying hens, pigs, sheep, and/or turkeys. Grants are offered for farmers who are pursuing animal welfare certification, for welfare-certified farmers, and for farmers to improve or expand pasture for their animals.
Applications must be submitted online by December 1, 2020.

2021 Lambing School
When: Saturday, January 16th 8am to 5pm
Where: Mont Alto Ranch, 2800 French Creek Rd, Glide, Oregon. Sponsored by Oregon's Sheep Growers Association.

This is an excellent opportunity to learn how to increase your odds of getting live lambs on the ground and off to a good start! This school will be held in a commercial sheep lambing barn, so there will be ample hands-on opportunities. “EMPHASIS TO BE HANDS-ON EXPERIENCE”. Ewes: Lambing problems, obstetrics, grafting, foot trimming and health. Lambs: Castration, docking, vaccinations, and emergency situations as they arise.

The school will also include discussions on sheep nutrition and facilities

Cost: $50 per person. The school will be limited to 12 participants. Selection for the school will be based on first come first serve. Preference will be given to those attending for the first time. Lunch will be provided with registration. For more details and to request a registration form please contact John Fine at 541-673-0369 or email at johnandpeggyfine@charter.net.

Opportunity to support farms impacted by the Wildfires
Many of Oregon's small farms are facing devastating losses due to wildfire and windstorms. Rapid evacuations forced farmers to leave livestock behind, crops and infrastructure were decimated, and power outages and roadblocks prevented crop delivery.
PACSAC (Portland Area CSA Coalition) and Friends of Family Farmers have put together a fund to help farmers rebuild their infrastructure. This fund is for farms across Oregon. You can help spread the word or If you are interested in serving on the committee to help distribute the funds, contact Shari shari@friendsoffamilyfarmers.org. If you are in need of financial support, please reach out to PACSAC directly regarding the most up to date details.

From our friends at Farm Commons:
Whole Farm Revenue Protection insurance just got easier!
So many assumptions are made when it comes to insurance. Most farmers just assume that if they have a farm insurance policy, it covers everything on the farm. It makes a whole heck of a lot of sense but it just isn’t true. The one thing typical farm insurance policies don’t cover is loss of farm crops. However, Whole Farm Revenue Protection (WFRP) is a powerful risk management tool that’s available for diversified farm crops, and luckily, it just got a whole easier to use…

Sign up to get help planning for health insurance through the marketplace
Nobody wants to declare bankruptcy. But, with medical debt piling up, it can be the only option for many Americans. Farms are especially vulnerable given that many farmers lack great health insurance, and the chance of injury on the farm is higher than in the office…Luckily, we at Farm Commons have some tips for you to avoid the dreaded debtors’ court.

NRCS announces application deadlines for wildfire emergency funding
The USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service announced funding is available through the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) for those impacted by Oregon’s recent wildfires. Application deadlines are October 30 and December 30, 2020.
Through EQIP, Oregon Wildfire Emergency Stabilization funding will support the immediate response to the recent catastrophic fires by addressing degraded plant conditions, wind and water erosion, and loss of sediment, nutrient, and pathogens. Learn more and apply here.

Webinars:

How to use Orchard Mason Bees for Crop Pollination - For Nut and Fruit Tree Orchards - October 28th, 2020
Integrated Livestock and Crops Webinar

Farm Conferences:

News & Annoucements