March 30, 2022

If you have any events or news you'd like included in upcoming SWIFFI updates, please email me. You can also follow the SWIFFI Facebook page for updates.

Golden Hills/SWIFFI News

LAST CALL FOR LOCAL FOOD GUIDE UPDATES!!!

Please review your listing on the Southwest Iowa Local Food Guide and email me ASAP with any changes. In addition to farms and farmers markets, we have included food hubs and local food processors in the list and the interactive Google map. If you are not listed or know someone else who is not but should be, please fill out this form.

Upcoming Golden Hills/SWIFFI Events

Join Practical Farmers of Iowa and Golden Hills at Ellen and Daniel Rosmann's farm for a free, public screening of Livestock on the Land! The film is a feature-length documentary that tells the story of regenerative grazing and its promise for the Iowa landscape. We'll have a social hour with snacks prior to showing the movie outdoors. Bring a chair or blanket and enjoy movie night on the farm!

Location:

Pin Oak Place at Rosmann Family Farms:

1240 Ironwood Rd.

Harlan, IA 51537

Saturday, May 21, 2022

7:30 - Social hour (PFI will provide snacks)

8:30 - Film begins (film is 1 hour & 15 min.)

Details will be available soon here.

We are currently planning farmer meetups and field days for 2022. If you are interested in hosting or have suggestions for topics or presenters, please complete this form. 

• Join teachers, early care professionals, farmers, food service staff, school garden coordinators and other network members across Iowa as we share ideas, resources, and successes to grow Farm to School and Early Care in Iowa. The free, one-day, virtual conference will offer attendees engaging virtual sessions to support beginning or expanding farm to school and early care and education efforts. Registration opens April 1, 2022.
• Labor4Learning positions are still open! Find a trainer to help get your farming journey started. Are you looking to get paid, on-the-job training with experienced farmers in Iowa? The Labor4Learning program is designed for beginning farmers seeking employment and additional training in farm management and production skills. Practical Farmers of Iowa “trainer” farmers will be hiring during the next couple of months for the upcoming growing season. Browse the list for training opportunities near you!

• US Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) announced the latest round of grant funding for the Farmers Market and Local Food Promotion Program (FMLFPP) and Regional Food Systems Partnership (RFSP) program. As part of the announcement USDA is supplementing the programs’ farm bill funding with a total of $130 million in American Rescue Plan (ARP) Act funding over the next two grant cycles. The supplemental funding is aimed at expanding the program’s support for farm to institution marketing opportunities, such as universities, hospitals, and settings operated by local, tribal, and state governments.
• USDA Rural Development announced the availability of at least $19.75 million in total funding for Value Added Producer Grants. The application window to apply is open now. Online applications will be accepted until April 25, 2022 through grants.gov and paper applications must be postmarked by May 2, 2022. 
• The National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition (NSAC) announced the publication of its brand new, fully updated Growing Opportunity: A Guide to USDA Sustainable Farming Programs. This free, comprehensive, practical guide is for farmers and ranchers who want to better understand which key federal programs offered by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) can help them meet their needs and support their diversified, sustainable farming operations. The guide distills technical programs in a way that is accessible, serving as a valuable resource for farmers as they look for opportunities and financing to grow their farms and businesses and help build a more sustainable farming system.

• Soil for Water’s Regenerator’s Atlas of America is now live! With producers and consumers in mind, NCAT has developed a platform where regenerative farmers and ranchers across the country can create a profile for their operation to be placed on the Atlas. By planting a flag on the map, producers can let people know who they are and where they’re located, and how they are regenerating their soils to hold more water. If you are a producer, help NACT grow the Regenerator’s Atlas of America by planting your farm or ranch on the map today.
• Developing Successful Farmers focuses on starting farming, production, and topics to help make beginning farmers more successful. Join the Penn State Extension New and Beginning Farmer Team for informal educational conversations with educators, industry experts, and Penn State faculty and research. Each week they will cover topics that will help new and beginning farmers become more aware of the resources to assist their journey to enter farming. Guests will provide information within their field of expertise and provide tips to help make your start-up more successful.
• The "Growing Organic Expertise in Iowa" 6-part video series covers Before and After the Inspection, Recordkeeping, Operations Tour, Crops Management, Livestock Management and Buffer Areas Management. The videos can be found on our Growing Organic Expertise in Iowa webpage and on the IOA YouTube Channel. Please share these resources with farmers, county field offices or anyone interested in learning more about organic production and inspections.
• One Farm Market, a local foods store in Logan, Iowa, is continuously looking for new products and partnerships. All items in the store are produced/grown/made in Iowa or the Omaha metro area. If you have an added-value product, produce or handmade items related to produce/dining/cooking/entertaining that you would like to offer, contact Danelle Myer at onefarmer@one-farm.com.
• Avian influenza has been found in southwest Iowa and is spreading across the country. Learn more about how to monitor for and reduce the spread of the disease on IDALS' website. ISU Extension also has resources here.

Contact: Lance Brisbois | Golden Hills RC&D | lance@goldenhillsrcd.org