
Subject: Transitions: Tom Willey of T&D Willey Farms
We’re excited and honored to share the last in our series featuring recently-retired, influential leaders in the CA sustainable agriculture movement: Tom Willey of T&D Willey Farms !
A long-time farmer, advocate and activist in the organic sector, Tom shares his reflections and ideas after 40 years of farming in California.
Topics include:
- Industry Reflections
- Opportunities & Advice for Smaller-Scale/Newer Farms
- Responsible Relationships Between Older & Younger Farmers
- Soil Management, Climate Change & AgTech
- The Food Commons
- Closing Remarks [to the next generation]
We posted both (meaty) Highlights as well as a full Transcript.
It’s always a treat to have a leisurely conversation with someone so knowledgable of the industry and steeped in the community. Thank you, Tom, for taking the time! We wish you all the best in your years of fun and discovery
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In Topics Soil Fertility Management, Water & Irrigation, Marketing & Sales, Certifications, Farmland Conservation, Sales & Estate Planning, Beginning Farmers & Ranchers, Weather & Climate Change, Policy
In General FarmsReach community


Subject: Earn a Certificate in Applied Agroecology with MESA's online course
Greetings all,
MESA'S Certificate in Applied Agroecology Program:
Farm Locally, Connect Globally.
The Multinational Exchange for Sustainable Agricultural (MESA) is proud to offer the Certificate in Applied Agroecology Program (CAAP), completely online! Our Certificate in Applied Agroecology is open-sourced, community based, with contributions from experts in the field, and builds both your technical knowledge and your theoretical framework of the socio-political aspects of farming.
Drawing
In Topics Soil Fertility Management, Seed & Planting, Pest & Disease Management, Certifications, Beginning Farmers & Ranchers, Women in Agriculture, Weather & Climate Change, News & Events
In General FarmsReach community, North Coast Farmers Guild: Sebastopol, CA Women, Food and Agriculture Network

Subject: Farmers in San Benito County, Educators need five minutes of your time.
In San Benito County, we live one step away from Silicon Valley, the world’s hub for technology development, where high-tech workers find new ways to improve our connectivity, boost our economies, and improve our livelihoods.
Being California the state that feeds our nation, the agricultural sector is not left behind, and Silicon Valley’s innovators work hard to equip our agriculture with cutting-edge tools. However, technology by itself is not, and will not be enough to move our California’s agriculture to the next level in terms of productivity and environmental sustainability.
Even though technologies such as drones or automatized harvest machines have proved to increase our agricultural productivity, we know that adopting them is not an easy road. Not only high start-up costs, but also a lack of qualified labor with skills and knowledge on how to use these technologies effectively makes the
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In Topics Staff, HR & Worker Safety, Certifications, Women in Agriculture, News & Events
In General FarmsReach community, California FarmLink, CA Women, Food and Agriculture Network, California Agritourism
FarmsReach Team | FarmsReach | Berkeley, CA commented
Hi folks! We have you log in to update your settings, as there are several choices: receive certain types of posts, posts to certain groups, daily digest, weekly digest, or none at all. You can always email us at support@farmsreach.com for help, or if you have any questions! RJ, we'll update your settings for you!
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Subject: Food Safety Regional Lead for Tulare, Fresno, Madera, and Merced counties
Good Morning Ya'll,
My name is Jacob Roberson and I am the Food Safety Regional Lead for Tulare, Fresno, Madera, and Merced counties for a non-profit organization called Community Alliance with Family Farmers (new to Fresno area). CAFF is well established all over California except for the Central Valley which is where I am based out of (Fresno to be exact). I wanted to use this post as a source to contact farmers who are struggling with food safety and cannot afford to hire an outside consultant to come to their farm, perform assessments, help with documentation, and get their farm ready for a 3rd party audit. I perform the same duties as an outside consultant but my service is no cost to the farmer. CAFF is a non-profit organization looking to better food safety standards and procedures practiced on small farms / farms at a disadvantage (financial hardships, language barriers, new farmers, etc.).
Food
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In Topics Soil Fertility Management, Pest & Disease Management, Water & Irrigation, Harvesting, Washing, Packing & Packaging, Waste Management, Food Safety, Trucks, Delivery & Logistics, Certifications, Wildlife Management, Beginning Farmers & Ranchers, Anything Goes
In General FarmsReach community

Subject: Two Vidoes on Sustainability Challenges in Organic Agriculture
Hi Folks,
Below are links to two 5 minute, thought-provoking videos that I made and presented at a symposium titled "Sustainability Challenges in Organic Agriculture" that I co-organize for the annual meeting of the American Society of Agronomy in Phoenix, AZ, last month. The first video is focused on NITROGEN FERTILIZERS and SOIL FERTILITY MANAGEMENT in high-input, organic vegetable systems like those that are common in the Central Coast of California. The second video, with two coauthors who work at the USDA-ARS in Beltsville, MD, is focused on PEST MANAGEMENT challenges especially with PERENNIAL WEEDS.
Sustainability Problems with Repackaged Synthetic Nitrogen in Organic Agriculture. (Brennan)
What Our Organic Gardens Taught Us About the Challenges of Organic Regulations. (Cavigelli, Tomecek, & Brennan)
All 11 presentations in this symposium were by 5 minute videos and followed by equal time for
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In Topics Soil Fertility Management, Pest & Disease Management, Certifications
In General FarmsReach community
Yogesh Patel | Nico Orgo USA Inc | Fresno, CA commented
Hello Eric, Great research thanks for keeping us informed.
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Subject: Answer 25 farming questions - and we'll mail you a hat
Dear farmers!
We're a small team on a big mission - to make precision agriculture concepts affordable and accessible to even the smallest of farmers. We need some input to be smarter about what we're building.
Our name is Farm Dog (http://farmdog.ag/) and we'll gladly send a Farm Dog hat to the first 50 people that will answer the 25 questions in this survey form: http://goo.gl/forms/88SywcPrlt
Yours,
Michael Hermon
Co-founder and CTO
Farm Dog
In Topics Soil Fertility Management, Seed & Planting, Trees, Vines & Planting, Pest & Disease Management, Water & Irrigation, Harvesting, Washing, Packing & Packaging, Waste Management, Marketing & Sales, Food Safety, Equipment, Trucks, Delivery & Logistics, Growing Structures: Greenhouses, Hoop Houses, etc., Facilities, Cooling & Energy Systems, Business & Financial Planning, Funding Opportunities, Staff, HR & Worker Safety, Immigration & Farmworker Rights, Insurance, Certifications, Farmland Conservation, Sales & Estate Planning, Wildlife Management, Livestock, Beginning Farmers & Ranchers, Women in Agriculture, Weather & Climate Change, Urban Agriculture, Policy, News & Events, Anything Goes
In General FarmsReach community

Subject: Grange Farm School offers residential, vocational training in 2016
The Grange Farm School is looking for a special kind of student. You think holistically rather than in parts. You see the importance of asking high quality questions. You are innovative, ambitious, persistent, and collaborative. You want to be part of the new face of agriculture that will transform our world for the better.
Our 14 week residential, Student Program offers you the tools and confidence to manage a successful agricultural enterprise, whether in farming, ranching, or related fields. You will live and work on a beautiful 5,000 acre ranch with diverse vegetables, grains, fruit trees, and livestock. Guest instructors and staff members provide a comprehensive curriculum in business management, industrial arts, animal husbandry, soil and ecology, and crop production, supported by an understanding of the theory and history of our food systems. You will leave with hands-on practical experience, and
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In Topics Soil Fertility Management, Seed & Planting, Trees, Vines & Planting, Pest & Disease Management, Water & Irrigation, Harvesting, Washing, Packing & Packaging, Waste Management, Marketing & Sales, Food Safety, Equipment, Growing Structures: Greenhouses, Hoop Houses, etc., Facilities, Cooling & Energy Systems, Business & Financial Planning, Staff, HR & Worker Safety, Insurance, Certifications, Farmland Conservation, Sales & Estate Planning, Wildlife Management, Livestock, Beginning Farmers & Ranchers, Women in Agriculture, Weather & Climate Change, Urban Agriculture, Policy, News & Events
In General FarmsReach community

Subject: CCOF and Whole Foods Market Announce Adjustments to Responsibly Grown Ratings
CCOF and Whole Foods Market Announce Adjustments to Responsibly Grown Ratings
Announcement Follows Discussions between Retailer and Farmer-Led Organic Advocacy Group
Santa Cruz, CA – CCOF (California Certified Organic Farmers) and Whole Foods Market are pleased to announce that productive discussions between certified organic farmers and the retailer regarding its new Responsibly Grown rating system will soon result in adjustments to that program. These adjustments will ensure that the leading achievement of USDA’s certified organic growing system is recognized within the rating system and clearly communicated to Whole Foods Market customers. Whole Foods Market will also add support and training to address the needs of the many small farmers that uniquely characterize its produce and floral supply. To that end, all certified organic produce and flowers will automatically be awarded a
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In Topics Marketing & Sales, Certifications
In General FarmsReach community
Robin Boyle | CCOF | Santa Cruz, CA commented
Whole Foods announced updates to their rating system, including new Organic labels and a "plan to eliminate the “Good,” “Better,” “Best” nomenclature...with the goal of having a replacement rating system operational by May 2016." For the full announcement, see our blog: http://www.ccof.org/blog/report-whole-foods-market-responsibly-grown-rating-system-adjustments
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Subject: Sept-Nov Practicum Student Program: Grange Farm School, Mendocino, CA
Join us at the Grange Farm School this Fall, in an exciting residential training program designed to equip students with key skills for successful, sustainable, agriculture. Our Practicum Student Program consists of daily field work, bimonthly field trips, and a rigorous curriculum taught during afternoon lessons by staff and guest instructors. Students are able to enroll concurrently in Mendocino College's Community Work Experience Education program and gain credits while studying and working at the Grange Farm School.
This beautiful location in Mendocino County, California is host to numerous exciting projects while in the take off phase of a brand new education program and production farm. Students collaborate with staff to design and build systems for living, growing produce, raising livestock, rehabilitating tools and structures, and so much more.
Check out our website or blog for more information.
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In Topics Soil Fertility Management, Seed & Planting, Trees, Vines & Planting, Pest & Disease Management, Water & Irrigation, Harvesting, Washing, Packing & Packaging, Marketing & Sales, Food Safety, Growing Structures: Greenhouses, Hoop Houses, etc., Facilities, Cooling & Energy Systems, Business & Financial Planning, Certifications, Farmland Conservation, Sales & Estate Planning, Wildlife Management, Livestock, Beginning Farmers & Ranchers, Women in Agriculture, Weather & Climate Change, Urban Agriculture, News & Events, Anything Goes
In General FarmsReach community

Subject: Organic Farmers Call Foul on Whole Foods' Produce Rating System
http://www.cornucopia.org/Letter-to-John-Mackey.pdf
In Topics Marketing & Sales, Certifications
In General FarmsReach community
Marisa Alcorta | Center for Land-Based Learning | Winters, CA commented
Well written Tom! Thank you and your eloquent voice for representing so many. Happy to post on the Facebook wall, will do.
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