f NOFA-NJ Schedules Organic Farming Field Days PENNINGTON, NJ. The Northeast Organic Fanning As sociation of New Jersey (NOFA NJ) is offering four educational field days for the 2003 growing season. All events are open to the public free of charge, but pre-reg istration with the NOFA-NJ of fice is requested. The first event will take place Tuesday, June 10, from 6 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at Cherry Grove Farm in Lawrence Township, N.J. Entitled “Get Your Hands Dirty: Evaluating Soil Health,” the evening will feature hands-on activities for testing key indica tors of soil quality, including per colation rate, aggregate stability, bulk density, compaction, and pH. The program will be led by Dan Kluchinski of Mercer Coun ty extension, Dr. Joe Heckman of the New Jersey Agricultural Ex periment Station, and Chris Smith of the USDA Natural Re sources Conservation Service. One-on-one soil test consultations will be available on a first-come, first-served basis during a pre meeting, brown bag dinner hour. Cherry Grove Farm consists of two independent farm businesses. Cherry Grove Organic Farm CSA, operated by Matt Conver, grows certified organic vegetables and flowers for sale at farmers markets and through a Commu nity Supported Agriculture pro gram, while Cherry Grove Farm proper markets grassfed beef, pork, lamb, and free range eggs under the direction of Kelly Har ding. Both farmers will be on hand at the event to talk about their operations and answer ques tions. NOFA-NJ’s second summer event is scheduled at the Muth Family Farm, 1639 Pitman- Downer Road, Williamstown, N.J. on Friday, June 20, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.rn. Sponsored in cooperation with The Rodale Institute (Initiative HEATMOR OUTDOOR WOOD FURNACES 5 Sizes - 19 Colors - Wood or Coal Grates Forced Draft - Ash Auger Clean Out Stainless Steel for Future Agriculture and Food Systems, USDA-CSREES), The Northeast Organic Network (NEON), and Rutgers Coopera tive Extension of Gloucester County, this field day will focus on “Transitioning to Organic Vegetable Production in South Jersey.” Bob and Leda Muth will give a tour of their 27-acre, second generation farm, one-third of which is now certified organic, and describe how they have ad justed their marketing, equip ment, and soil management strat egies as they have transitioned from conventional vegetable pro duction. Other speakers and top ics will include Dr. Anu Rangara jan of Cornell University’s Department of Horticulture on “Ramping Up Research and Ed ucation in Organic Agriculture,” Gloucester County Extension Agent Michelle Infante-Casella on “Cover Crop Rotations,” Erich Bremer of NOFA-NJ on “Complying with the National Organic Program,” and David Wilson and Matt Ryan of The Rodale Institute on “Research Results from the Farming Sys tems Trials” and “Using Com post Teas.” Registration for this event is requested by June 16. Lunch will be served. NOFA-NJ will continue its “Summer Sunday Farm Tour” series on June 22 at Keller Farm, 601 Moss Mill Road, Germania, N.J. From 2 p.m. to 4 p.m., farm er Jim Brandt will host a tour of his nine-acre mixed vegetable and poultry farm in Atlantic County. NOFA-NJ certified since 1998, Jim sells to restaurants and at his on-farm stand. He also has a strong interest in alternative en ergies, using solar panels, a geo thermal heat pump, and a wind mill to power the farm. Refreshments will be served. On Wednesday, July 9, NOFA NJ will host “An Organic Success Story” Field Day at Spiral Path COMPARISON WITH OTHER OUTDOOR UNITS • Burns up to 1/2 less wood • Emits up to 1/2 less smoke • Corrosion Warranty up to 10 times longer Wood-Oil & Corn-Burning Options Outback Heating Inc. 888-763-8617 800-743-5883 Jamestown, NY Staunton,VA Farm in Loysville, just west of Harrisburg. This event is offered in cooper ation with the Pennsylvania As sociation for Sustainable Agricul ture (PASA). Spiral Path is a 60-acre, diversified farm serving wholesale markets as well as a 250-member CSA. In 2001 it was selected as one of eleven ‘focal farms’ for the Northeast Organic Network (NEON). The NEON focal farm project is conducting case studies of how exceptional organic farms in the Northeast manage soil fertility, pests, weeds, and other systems. Farmers Mike and Terra Brownback will give a tour, while NEON researchers Ami Ranga rajan, David Conner, Chuck Mohler, and Brian CaldwellU summarize NEON findings with regard to farm budgeting, crop rotations, and pest management. To request a calendar of events, event brochures, or to reg ister for one of these events, con tact Bonnie McGee at (609) 737-6848 or bmcgee@nofanj.org, or visit the NOFA-NJ Website at www.nofanj.org. Texas To Host 2003 Cattle Industry DENVER, Colo. More than a thousand cattlemen and women from throughout the country are expected to gather this summer in Dallas, Texas, as three of the industry’s leading or ganizations conduct the 2003 Cattle Industry Summer Confer ence. The event is scheduled for July 22-26 at the Dallas Adam’s Mark Hotel. The theme of the Conference is “Create Change: Shape the Future Together!” and pro ducers are invited to bring their ideas and participate in the vari ous industry meetings and events during the convention. The sponsors of the conference are the Cattlemen’s Beef M Mute Our faming Industry r"'"Z"^"r""\ \ PICK YOUR OWN I I STRAWBERRIES | ■ i 1 Containers Supplied 9 ! also, Rhubarb and Asparagus available 8 I 717-445-6456 or 1-800-872-87081 S CLOSED SUNDAYS | mi. W of Terre Hill on Valley View RdJ Generator Systems Diesel or Propane, 10-500 KW, Agricultural and Industrial. New, Used or Reconditioned Martin Diesel Services Shop (570) 658-5303 Office (570) 922-4494 WATERLESS TOILETS “SUN-MAR” Composting Toilets Several models available including non-electric. • NO Septic System • NO Chemicals Save the Environment l Recycle Back to Nature! FREE: 12 Page Color Catalog We Perform Septic Inspections & Certifications ECO-TECH Call Today 717-337-9325 New Farm Show Team (Continued from Page A 1) years of experience in a number of organizations to his new posi tion as Farm Show director. A Harrisburg resident, Nielsen most recently served as chief executive officer of the Pennsylvania Alli ance for Association Advance ment. He has also served as a senior-level executive at the In ternational Association of Con vention and Visitor Bureaus, Pennsylvania Academy of Family Physicians, and Metzner-Nielsen Associates. Nielsen’s work has included bi partisan relations, creative organ izational growth strategies, and financial development. He has a master’s degree from Lincoln University. “With his extensive business and professional experience, team-oriented leadership style, and results-focused management practices, (Nielsen) will lead the Farm Show Complex as it devel ops a stronger event base and strengthens its fiscal position,” Wolff said. Nielsen could not be reached for comment before Lancaster Farming press time this week. As new chief of Show Manage ment, Weaver will be responsible for coordinating the activities of the livestock show section, the agriculture/equine show section, and the non-agricultural show Summer Conference Promotion and Research Board, the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA), and Ameri can National Cattle Women, Inc. (ANCW). Several “Industry Issues Fo rums” are slated for Thursday ’ morning, July 24. NCBA state and regional caucus meetings and council meetings will follow that afternoon. Joint industry committee and NCBA policy committee meetings will be con ducted on Friday, July 25. The Cattlemen’s Beef Board will conduct its business meeting on Saturday morning, July 26. The NCBA also will conduct its board of directors meeting that day. ’O*S. section. Weaver is a fourth-generation owner and manager of Weaver land Valley Farms in New Hol land and a former vice president and manager for Trileaf Tobacco Company. He is a member of the Pennsylvania Farm Bureau, Na tional Cattlemen’s Beef Associa tion, and the Garden Spot Young Farmers Chapter. “(Weaver’s) strong agricultural background and knowledge base will be critical for his new posi tion at the Farm Show,” Wolff said. The Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture’s Farm Show Bu reau operates and maintains the 60-acre Farm Show Complex to help promote agriculture and commerce. The complex contains 20 acres under one roof and has more than one million square feet of exhibition, conference, and banquet space. Recent construction to the complex added 350,000 square feet of exhibition space, an Expo sition Hall totaling 175,000 square feet, an equine arena, and a new livestock barn. In addition to four state-sponsored shows, the complex hosts more than 200 trade shows, exhibits, and activi ties annually. For more information, contact the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture at (717) 787-4737, or visit www.agriculture.state.pa.us. Registration and hotel inform ation will be available May 9 through the National Cattle men’s Beef Association’s (NCBA) Convention and Meet ings Department, (303) 694-0305. Registration fees range from $95 for ANCW members and $lO5 for NCBA or CBB members to $205 for non-members. More information and the reg istration brochure also will be available in the May 9 issue of the Beef Business Bulletin. Up dated schedule information is continually available on the in dustry’s Website www.beef.org. (Click on the Events link.) 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