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Food Hub Survey
Check out this study by MSU Center for Regional Food Systems about food hubs and the impact they have in our communities.
file:///C:/Users/leyva/Downloads/2017+National+Food+Hub+Survey+Findings+Executive+Summary.pdf
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1st official meeting of the Arkansas Agritourism Association
Save the date!
What: 1st official state wide meeting of the Arkansas
Agritourism Association
When: Monday, February 26th, 2018 at 10:00 am - 2:00
pm.
Where: Cooperative Extension Headquarters (2301
South University Avenue, Little Rock, AR
72204)
See more below:
Attend the 1st official meeting of the Arkansas Agritourism Association!A group of agritourism operators in Arkansas is working to form a statewide agritourism association. Attend the meeting to officially form this organization on:
Monday, February 26, 2018 at 10:00 am - 2:00 pm at Cooperative Extension Service headquarters (2301 South University Avenue, Little Rock, AR 72204)
RSVP to attend today. Lunch will be provided.
Who should attend?
- Existing agritourism operators
- Individuals interested in starting an agritourism business
- Representatives of government agencies, nonprofits, economic development organizations, and other entities that provide support to the agritourism industry
Tentative Meeting Agenda
- Call meeting to order
- Reading and approval of minutes from December 5 meeting
- Consideration and adoption of proposed bylaws (amendable during meeting)
- Recess to enroll members using charter membership form
- Reading of the roll of members
- Nomination of election of Executive Boardhttps://www.uaex.edu/farm-ranch/special-programs/Arkansas%20Agritourism%20Association%20Proposed%20Bylaws%2012-5-17.pdf
- Transition to newly elected officers
- Other essential business
- Adjourn
Interested in serving on the Executive Board?
The Arkansas Agritourism Association needs leaders. Please indicate your interest in serving in one of the following roles through the meeting RSVP link.
- President
- Vice President
- Secretary
- Treasurer
- Northwest Region Representative (Benton, Carroll, Boone, Washington, Madison, Newton, Crawford, Franklin, Johnson, Pope, Sebastian, Logan, Yell, Scott, Marion, Searcy, Van Buren, Baxter)
- Northeast Region Representative (Fulton, Randolph, Clay, Izard, Sharp, Lawrence, Greene, Stone, Independence, Jackson, Craighead, Mississippi, Poinsett, Crittenden, Cross, St. Francis, Woodruff, White, Cleburne)
- Central Region Representative (Conway, Perry, Garland, Saline, Pulaski, Lonoke, Faulkner)
- Southwest Region Representative (Polk, Montgomery, Hot Spring, Sevier, Howard, Pike, Clark, Dallas, Little River, Hempstead, Nevada, Ouachita, Calhoun, Miller, Lafayette, Columbia, Union)
- Southeast Region Representative (Prairie, Monroe, Lee, Phillips, Grant, Jefferson, Arkansas, Cleveland, Lincoln, Desha, Drew, Bradley, Ashley, Chicot)
Responsibilities of Executive Board members can be found in the proposed bylaws.
Additional Information
A group of Arkansas agritourism operators began meeting in 2017 to explore the possibility of forming a statewide association. The University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture Cooperative Extension Service, Arkansas Department of Parks & Tourism, and Arkansas Agriculture Department have been providing technical assistance to this group. Proposed membership categories, dues, and other information can be found in the draft bylaws. Temporary officers and proposed bylaws were approved by the organizational development committee on December 5, 2017. View the minutes from this meeting.
If you have any questions, please contact Stacey McCullough (501-671-2078; [email protected]).
See release here. -
Conservation Innovation Grants in AR
Arkansas NRCS Solicits Conservation Innovation Grant Proposals
Contact:
Lori Barker
(870) 523-8986https://www.nrcs.usda.gov/wps/portal/nrcs/detail/ar/newsroom/releases/?cid=NRCSEPRD1309433
Mike Sullivan, USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) state conservationist, announced approximately $300,000 in funding is available through the Conservation Innovation Grants (CIG) program to stimulate the development and adoption of innovative conservation approaches and technologies within Arkansas.
State, tribal, and local governmental entities; non-governmental organizations; and individuals may apply. Project proposals, due by March 3, should demonstrate the use of innovative technologies or approaches to address a natural resource concern. Project results are expected to improve and create conservation technologies, management systems and innovative approaches (such as market-based systems).
CIG, a component of the Environmental Quality Incentives Program, is used to apply or demonstrate previously proven technology. It does not fund research projects. CIG is an effort to address some of the state's most pressing natural resource conservation needs.
For FY 2017, Arkansas NRCS will consider offering grants in the following areas: nutrient and sediment reduction in impaired watersheds; environmental markets for water; high tunnels; organic; invasive species; irrigation; energy-irrigation; livestock watering; soil health; adoption of cover crops in rice rotations; and pollinators. Applications should be for single or multi-year projects, not to exceed 3 years.
Selected applicants may receive grants up to 50 percent of the total project cost. Individual grant awards may not exceed $75,000 in FY 2017. Applicants must provide non-federal matching funds for at least 50 percent of the project cost. Of the non-federal matching funds, a minimum of 25 percent must be from cash contributions; the remaining 25 percent may come from in-kind contribution.
The announcement for this CIG funding opportunity can be found at: www.grants.gov
. The announcement number is USDA-NRCS-AR-CIG-17-01.Applications must be entered into either grants.gov or emailed to [email protected] at the Arkansas NRCS State Office by 5 p.m., Central Daylight Time March 3. No application will be accepted by mail.
NRCS anticipates announcing CIG selections on or around September 1, and awarding all grants on or around September 30. However, NRCS will not distribute any funds, and grantees cannot begin work until the parties execute a CIG agreement.
For more information on CIG contact Lori Barker, state CIG program manager, at (870) 523-8986 or [email protected]. The request for proposals and related forms are located at www.grants.gov
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SSAWG 2017
Registration is now open to the 2017 Souther Sustainable Agriculture Working Groups conference. To be held on January 25-28 in Lexington, KY. For more information visit http://www.ssawg.org/january-2017-conference
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Growing for the Future
Growing for the Future is a unique online, interactive virtual conference focused on beginning farmer and rancher issues, including: mentorship, business planning, USDA programs women and veterans in farming, conservation and much more!
The conference is completely online, and features farmer-to-farmer webinars, live Q & A, a discussion board, a resource center and free giveaways! Register now for free to join us in December for this unique opportunity!
December 5-8, 5pm-8pm EST
For more information visit https://nfu.org/growing-for-the-future/
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Little Rock Tomato is looking for farmers
ATTN: FARMERS & GROWERS!
A food aggregation and distribution company in Little Rock is looking for Central Arkansas specialty crop producers to source locally. County agents are welcome to attend also. Remember to RSVP for lunch.
Little Rock Tomato, Inc.
Friday, Feb. 12th. 2016. 1PM-3PM
BBQ Lunch provided by Whole Hog Cafe, North Little Rock
-Come visit with the packing house and sales crew about local produce sales.
-View our coolers and grading line.
-Let’s talk about how we can aggregate produce more effectively in Central Arkansas!
-Win-Win Partnerships between packing house and fruit and vegetable growers.
Please let us know you’re coming to see us!
Email [email protected] OR give us a call at 501-945-0511 to RSVP
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Homegrown Profits
The University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture will host a HOMEGROWN PROFITS 2016: EXPANDING & DIVERSIFYING TO MAXIMIZE PROFITS WORKSHOP for specialty crop farmers in Little Rock on February 22, 2016.
Online registration is now open at
http://forms.uaex.edu/registrations/HP2016.asp and will close at end of business day on 2/18/16. A Tentative Agenda is available for download. The fee for the workshop is $10 and can be paid online or upon arrival at the workshop. Lunch will be provided. -
Building Local Food Systems
Great new resource for the local food movement
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Conway School District wins USDA Farm to School Grant
The Healthy Hunger‐Free Kids Act of 2010 authorized and funded USDA to establish a Farm to School Program in order to assist eligible entities, through grants and technical assistance, in implementing farm to school programs that improve access to local foods in eligible schools. USDA is pleased announce fiscal year 2016 grantees:
Arkansas Conway School District Conway
Arkansas Grant Type: Planning; $44,927 Conway School District will design a local food processing kitchen program in a centralized school kitchen facility that will allow the district’s schools to serve nutritious local produce throughout the school year.
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New venture fund for healthy food and sustainable agriculture
A multi-stage venture fund that invests in innovative food and agriculture companies to meet the shifting demands for more healthy, sustainable and local food.