Dear Nahid,
As we enter the holiday season, hopefully, you will have some recovery time before next season—time to rest, reflect, take a step back from growing for some perspective and begin planning for next year.
As a part of any planning you may do in the coming months, we wanted to share a research update: we recently finished the second year of our no-till study, which assessed the scalability, productivity, and profitability of several organic no-till practices suitable for a range of farm sizes. While the results changed little from the first year, the results are all the more compelling with another year of research to support our findings. Please check it out!
There are also ample updates and opportunities for you—including information on North Carolina's first registered agricultural apprenticeship program. This is an excellent opportunity for those looking to kickstart their farming careers by getting hands-on experience. The January 12th application deadline is quickly approaching, so take note of the info session a week prior. CFSA is proud to be a partner on this exciting new opportunity!
Cheers,
Mark
Mark Dempsey, CFSA Farm Services Manager
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CFSA has been fortunate enough to add three positions in 2021, and the trajectory continues for 2022. We're currently hiring for two full-time jobs:
- Development Director
- Local Produce Safety Coordinator
Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis, and the positions will remain open until filled. Apply today or share these postings with someone who may be interested.
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This fall, we completed the second year of CFSA’s organic no-till project, determining production costs, yields, profitability, and scalability of growing no-till butternut squash after a cereal rye cover crop. We used several cover crop and weed management methods that were implemented using a tractor, walk-behind tractor, or done manually.
If you want to dig into our findings, don't miss this month's expert tip, and the newest feature in our organic research section on the website! |
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Double Your Impact on CFSA This Holiday Season!
If you donate to the CFSA Fund by December 31, 2021, your gift will be matched dollar-for-dollar, up to $20,000, by two incredible members of our community.
Why the CFSA Fund? This fund is the only fund we can use where it's needed most. It allows us to be nimble and responsive to pressing needs and unexpected opportunities. Until the end of the year, your gift helps CFSA be twice as responsive to serving the pressing needs of farmers and local food businesses and organizations across North and South Carolina.
Thanks for all the ways you support CFSA and sustainable food and farming!
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USDA Introduces New Insurance Policy for Farmers Who Sell Locally
Agricultural producers with small-scale farms who sell locally can now get simplified insurance coverage through a new policy designed for their needs. The USDA developed the new Micro Farm policy, which simplifies recordkeeping and covers post-production costs like washing and value-added products.
USDA’s Risk Management Agency (RMA) created this new policy based on research directed by the 2018 Farm Bill, and it includes feedback from producers who grow for their local communities. Micro Farm is offered through Whole-Farm Revenue Protection and will be available for the 2022 crop year.
Eligibility: The Micro Farm policy is available to producers who have a farm operation that earns an average allowable revenue of $100,000 or less, or for carryover insureds, an average allowable revenue of $125,000 or less. The increase in allowable revenue for a carry-over insured will allow for some farm growth in subsequent years before they become ineligible for the program.
For more information, check out USDA's fact sheet on the Micro Farm Program.
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 Did you miss the Sustainable Agriculture Conference in November? We just made the SAC Recording Access Pass available!
For $0.62 per recording, you can now purchase the pass and gain access to more than 75 recordings through Mar. 1, 2022. It includes:Pricing: $80-$120 (varies for students, veterans, and CFSA members)
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A huge thank you to some of our 2021 conference sponsors!
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Exciting news! The Center for Environmental Farming Systems, Central Carolina Community College, CFSA, Dig In!, and Yancey Community Garden are working together to launch North Carolina’s first registered agricultural apprenticeship program, the 
