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Opportunities for Young, Agrarian Mainers
Last Wednesday, forty young farmers and young farmer enthusiasts met at the Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners Association (MOFGA) fairgrounds in Unity, Maine for a farm tour and potluck. Founded in ‘71, MOFGA serves as a resource for agrarians by helping them grow and promote organic food, protect the environment, recycle natural resources, beef-up local…
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The Intern That Isn't: Part 2
Under federal law, interns are very different than regular employees. The six criteria for a valid internship make it difficult, but possible, for a farm to utilize interns. Farms must pay careful attention to program structure, not use interns as a labor source, and communicate clearly with interns. What’s the situation? Internships are a very…
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NYFC Needs Your Input on Organics
Next week, NYFC will testify at a USDA listening session on organic agriculture and we need your input on what to tell agency officials. We need to know about your experiences with the National Organic Program and conservation programs like EQIP, as well as the challenges that you may be facing as an organic producer…
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Legal and Insured Farm Internships in the Works in WA
The Washington State Department of Labor and Industries is taking a new approach to farm internships. In 2010, the Washington legislature authorized the Small Farm Internship pilot program in Skagit and Island counties, allowing young and beginning farmers to intern on small farms in order to learn about farming and farm businesses. This program does…
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The Intern That Isn't: Federal law and farm internships
Regardless of an individual’s title, if an employee does work that benefits the farm then that individual does not meet the legal definition of an intern. Barring some other exception, that person is a regular employee and should be paid the minimum wage. This criteria make it a challenge for many farms to offer internships…
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Food, Art, Revolution, Media Event in Minnesota this Thursday
FARM: Food, Art, Revolution, Media Thursday, August 25, 2011 Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy2104 Stevens Avenue SouthMinneapolis, Minnesota Part of the Minnesota Global series. 5:30 p.m.–7:00 p.m. RSVP Using the synergistic power of photography and storytelling, Dan and Melinda Hemmelgarn’s Food, Art, Revolution, Media (FARM) project blends compelling photographs with relevant stories from rural…
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Fresh from DC via VT: New Effort to Expand Community Supported Agriculture
The little Green Mountain State of Vermont is a real leader in the movement to connect consumers with the farmers that grow their food. There are lots of inspiring, innovative farms and projects taking root in Vermont, thanks, in part, to Vermont’s leaders’ belief in the movement. Luckily for all of us, Vermont’s rock star…
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Apply now for Lundberg Family Farms small grants
Need cash for a conference, seeds, feed or anything else to get your farm started? Lundberg family farms has just launched “Raising Organic Family Farms.” Raising Organic Family Farms will provide up to $50,000 in grants and scholarships in 2011 for beginning or transitioning organic farmers – from college students interested in sustainable agriculture programs…
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Apprenticeships – The high price for low cost labor
By Rachel Armstrong If a farmer wants to pay less than minimum wage to an apprentice, she has to apply for a special certificate. One look at the requirements to receive the certificate and most farmers will close the book on apprenticeships. The new agriculture–local, organic, urban, or whatever your flavor–might not be right for…
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Farmhack@ESF Update!
By Leanna Mulvihill Plans for Farmhack@ESF are coming together! We’ve received positive responses from the SUNY Environmental Science and Forestry community, special thanks to the Environmental Resources Engineering department, and a few local farms are excited to participate as well. This event will be covered by Food + Tech Connect, a company that brings innovators…