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Comment on New Farm Credit Rule by July 25th!
In the heyday of high summer, while we’re out in the field until after dark planting broccoli starts by headlamp, it’s easy to miss what’s going in the world of agricultural policy. This is a friendly reminder that, while the greens are bolting and the chickens are molting, the Farm Credit Administration is considering a…
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The Farmer’s Apprentice
Under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), an apprentice does not have to be paid the minimum wage. But an apprenticeship must be registered–and the paperwork is abundant. On the plus side, the FLSA also defines the exact expectations for the farmer and apprentice. The benefits of being within the law, and of having clear…
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Farm Hack Comes to SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry
By Leanna Mulvihill My name is Leanna Mulvihill and on September 17th, I’m bringing Farm Hack to my school — the State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry (SUNY ESF) in Syracuse, NY. ESF is unique in that every course of study has an environmental focus. There are a lot of…
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Make a call to protest conservation cuts today!
It’a a National Day of Action to protest cuts made to farm conservation and education programs by the House of Representatives! Call your Senator today to tell him/her that these programs are critical for young and beginning farmers. What kind of cuts are we talking about? -$1 billion from USDA conservation programs, on top of…
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Employment Law 101: For Farmers
For many young farmers with a few years of experience, the most difficult part of farming isn’t the hail, the bugs, the fickle customer, or the long hours. It’s a problem that has nothing to do with food: hiring and firing employees. Once a farm grows beyond one acre or so, an individual usually needs…
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Caitlin Arnold and Holly Mills, Oregon
Tell me a little bit about your farm. Sidewalk’s End Farm is located in the city of Portland, Oregon. We farm five city plots and one large rural one, focusing on northwestern hardy, late season, and storage crops. The farm was started by four people–Holly, Jud, Rachel, and Tom–who lived and gardened together for three…