Heartland Regional Food Business Coalition

National Rural Grocery Summit - Montgomery, Alabama
2024-06-24 09:00 - 2024-06-25 17:00 (America/Chicago) | Renaissance Montgomery Hotel and Spa, 210 Tallapoosa Street, Montgomery, Alabama, 36104, United States
Hosted by the Rural Grocery Initiative at Kansas State University, in partnership with the Hunger Solutions Institute at Auburn University, the National Rural Grocery Summit will be held June 24-25 in Montgomery, Alabama. Please confirm dates and times with event organizers.
Opening Keynote Speaker: John Ross, President & CEO, IGA Inc.
John Ross is responsible for domestic and global operations for IGA, the world’s largest independent supermarket network with nearly 6,500 IGA supermarkets in more than 30 countries worldwide. At the summit, John will discuss changes in the global and U.S. economies and suggestions for how retailers can modify their store offerings and marketing to keep pace with changing shopper demands.
Early Bird Registration Rates (through 4/30):

Rural Grocer Registration (up to 2 per store): FREE
General Registration: $275

Late Registration Rates (starting 5/1):

Late Grocer Registration: $175

Late Registration: $325
Optional Tours
Tours will be offered on the afternoon of Day 2 (June 25) and will highlight local rural grocery stores and food access projects. See tour descriptions below. Space is limited, registration is required.

Cost: $100 Registration fee each. Registration includes tour bus cost and visits to all facilities.
Date: Tuesday, June 25, 2024, 2:00 P.M. – 8:00 P.M.

East Alabama Tour

West Alabama Tour

Lodging and travel information is available at www.ruralgrocery.org/summit/location/
Limited travel scholarships are available. Find more information here.

MarketReady Advanced Topic Webinar Series - Online
2024-06-20 13:00 - 14:00
About: MarketReady educates producers interested in expanding their business and products into wholesale, retail, and restaurant markets. Join us for this series as we dive into insurance options for small-scale food and farming businesses, best practices in wholesale marketing, and how to properly package and label your products.
Webinar topics include:

Risk management and insurance
Marketing
Packaging and labeling

Cost: Free
Where: Online
When: Thursdays, June 20, July 18, and August 15, from 1 to 2 p.m.
To register, click here.
Questions or assistance in registering: Contact Ben Jewell at bmcshane-jewell2@unl.edu.
Hosted by: Heartland Regional Food Business Center
Partners for this event include the Center for Rural Affairs, Nebraska Extension, Comunidad Maya Pixan Ixim, and No More Empty Pots
All events and activities are open to the public on a nondiscriminatory basis. Reasonable arrangements for persons with disabilities and/or persons with limited English proficiency (LEP) will be made if requested in advance. These sponsors are equal opportunity institutions.

Seminarios Virtuales de Temas Avanzados de MarketReady- En línea
Sesión: MarketReady (MercadoListo) educa a los productores interesados ​​en expandir sus negocios y productos a los mercados mayorista, minorista y de restaurantes.
Acompáñenos en esta serie mientras profundizamos en las opciones de seguros para negocios agrícolas y alimenticios a pequeña escala. Las mejores prácticas en marketing mayorista, cómo empaquetar y etiquetar adecuadamente sus productos.
Temas de la serie incluyen:

Manejo de riesgos y seguros
Marketing
Embalaje y etiquetado

Costo: Gratis
Lugar: En línea
Cuando: jueves, 20 de junio, 18 de julio y 15 de agosto, de 1 a 2 p.m.
Para inscribirse, haga clic aquí.
Para preguntas o ayuda: Comuníquese con Ben Jewell a bmcshane-jewell2@unl.edu o Rulon Taylor a Rtaylor31@unl.edu.
Patrocinado por: Heartland Regional Food Business Center
Socios para este evento incluyen al Center for Rural Affairs, Nebraska Extension, Comunidad Maya Pixan Ixim y No More Empty Pots
Todos los eventos y actividades están abiertos al público de forma no discriminatoria. Se harán arreglos razonables para personas con discapacidades y/o personas con dominio limitado del inglés (LEP) si se solicitan con anticipación. Estos patrocinadores son instituciones que ofrecen igualdad de oportunidades.

A Sample of Cottage Food Laws from Around the Region
2024-06-13 09:30 - 10:00
Thursday, June 13 from 9:30-10:30am CDT
Register for Zoom link
Join us for an engaging webinar about cottage food laws in the Heartland region. You’ll get a comparison of state cottage food laws, a recent example of policy change, and best practices on how to support compliance. Speakers include:

Justin McConaghy, Produce Safety Coordinator, Oklahoma Department of Agriculture, Food, and Forestry
Angelyn Wang, Local Food Associate, Center for Rural Affairs
Carlie Jonas, Policy Associate, Center for Rural Affairs

This webinar is hosted by the Policy Affinity Group, associated with the USDA Heartland Regional Food Business Center. The Policy Affinity Group builds connections among on-the-ground food policy councils and networks. The group facilitates peer-to-peer learning with quarterly webinars covering food and farm policy challenges and solutions in the Heartland region.
If you didn’t get this email but would like to learn about upcoming webinars, subscribe to our email list. If you no longer want to receive these emails, reply to unsubscribe.

Community Food Systems + Farm to School and Early Care Conference
2024-06-13 09:00 - 2024-06-14 16:15 | Graduate Iowa City, 210 S Dubuque Street, Iowa City, IA, 52240, United States
Join us in Iowa City, June 13-14!
This annual event is hosted by the Community Food Systems program and Iowa Farm to School and Early Care Coalition. This year’s theme is Rooted in Community: Growing Partnerships for Sustainable Food Systems. Join us for this unique, two-day event, celebrating food systems, farm to school and early care, and local food.
Early Bird Registration: April 1-15, 2024
Regular registration will be open April 16 – May 31, 2024.
It is our goal that the conference is accessible and inclusive. Individuals are encouraged to register for the full, two-day conference, but because that may not be feasible for all attendees, registrants can select which days or conference sections they would like to attend. Details and fees link is below.
Have a scholarship?
If you submitted a scholarship request, please do not register until you have heard back on the status of your scholarship.
General Attendance and Cost Options, Early Bird Fees, and Lodging Information:
Please visit website for details: https://www.extension.iastate.edu/ffed/cfs-annual-event
For info, please contact:

Bre Miller

millerb@iastate.edu
(515) 294-3086

Assisting Small Businesses thru SAM.gov Training
2024-06-12 10:00 - 12:00
Path to Prosperity

Date & Time
Jun 12, 2024 ,10:00 AM in Central Time (US and Canada)

Description

Join us for a virtual training with the General Services Administration to obtain hands-on assistance with your SAM.gov questions and challenges. Participants will: Understand SAM.gov and who should register Walk through the steps and validations required to get a Unique Entity ID and register in SAM.gov Get tips and tricks to help you avoid most common challenges.
Learn where to get help and get answers to your questions.
Participants will:

Understand SAM.gov and who should register
Walk through the steps and validations required to get a Unique Entity ID and register in SAM.gov
Get tips and tricks to help you avoid the most common challenge
Learn where to get help and get answers to your questions

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact Diana Leonardo at diana.leonardo@gsa.gov or Jacqueline Davis-Slay at Jacqueline.davis-slay@usda.gov or 202-422-2551. Thank you in advance for your participation!

Small Ag Producer Workshop Series
2024-06-08 13:00 - 16:00 | Warrensburg -University of Central Missouri, 400 South Maguire Street, Warrensburg, Missouri, 64093
Multiple Times and Locations: Each of the locations content will be identical and participants need to only attend one location. Lunch is provided. Warrensburg location listed for your convenience but please visit website for additional information and locations.
Are you a value-added agricultural producer looking to enhance your digital communications and marketing skills? Participate in the Small Ag Producer Workshop – Connecting with Customers to learn more about how online communications can grow your business!
This workshop is presented by Missouri State University Darr College of Agriculture and University of Central Missouri Department of Agriculture.
This workshop will cover:

How social media and website design drive sales
Benefits of free and low-cost scheduling platforms
The Basics of analytics
Utilizing ever-changing algorithms

Workshop Location and Time:

June 8, 2024: Warrensburg, UCM Campus, 1 p.m. – 4 p.m.
June 12, 2024: West Plains, Ozarks Small Business Incubator, Noon – 3 p.m.
June 13, 2024: Springfield, Darr Agriculture Center, Noon – 3 p.m.
June 14, 2024: Mountain Grove, Furit Experimentation Station, Noon – 3 p.m.

There is no cost to participate but participants are asked to pre-register. Registration and more information can be found at https://rb.gy/zc7fjz.

Special Farm Tour at Sankara Farm - KC, MO
2024-05-23 16:00 - 18:00 | Sankara Farm, 7419 Murkins Rd, Kansas City, MO, 64133, United States
Join New Growth Mo Food Systems as we host a special Farm Tour at Sankara Farm, a 27-acre, Black Family owned and operated Agroecological farm positioned in the natural beauty of the Little Blue River Valley in the unceded Ancestral lands of the Osage, Otoe-Missouria, Kaw and Kansa Peoples.
The farm hosts a wide range of AfroEcological programming and operates as the organizational hub of several local projects directly engaged with Black food sovereignty and Agroecology. We aspire to uphold the traditional ecological knowledge of our ancestors and create radical socioecological interventions that benefit people and planet. Our on farm workshops and education focus on Food Sovereignty, Agroecology and Cultural production. The Returning Generation Black Farmer Fellowship, Community Soil Science Cooperative and Black Emancipatory Agriculture Asset Map each are an innovative approach to uplifting soil health, Black Agrarian traditions and envisioning a future for Black farmers.
What to see/expect on the farm:
• Agroecological production beds
• Perennial Pollinator Habitats
• Mutulu Shakur Herbal Garden
• AgTech demonstrations: Microcontrollers and sensors
• Culturally relevant agrotourism
• Art and cultural production
• Walking trail & Ponds Currently under construction:
• Agrovoltaic production demonstration
• Perennial test beds – Kernza
• Soil remediation with mushrooms
• Ecological waste and greywater management
Learn more about Sankara Farm at https://www.sankarafarm.com
For more information on this event, email Bridget Luff, New Growth’s Food Systems Farm Outreach Coordinator at bluff@wcmcaa.org

Introduction to Language Justice (Bilingual) - Norfolk, Neb.
2024-05-21 12:00 - 16:00 | Norfolk Public Library, 308 Prospect Ave, Norfolk, NE, 68701, United States
About: Does your organization or business have difficulty communicating with non-English-speaking audiences? You can increase participation opportunities and community engagement by eliminating language and cultural barriers at meetings, focus groups, and events, all while creating a bigger impact.
During this event you will explore historical language oppression and learn the key elements of language justice, how to use Zoom interpretation and interpretation devices, how to model language justice in community settings, and much more.
¿Su organización o empresa tiene dificultades para comunicarse con audiencias que no hablan inglés? Eliminar las barreras lingüísticas y culturales en reuniones, grupos focales y eventos importantes puede aumentar las oportunidades de participación y el compromiso comunitario dentro de su organización, al tiempo que crea un mayor impacto.
Durante este evento, explorará la opresión histórica del lenguaje, aprenderá los elementos clave de la justicia lingüística, aprenderá a utilizar la interpretación y los dispositivos de interpretación Zoom, modelará la justicia lingüística en entornos comunitarios y mucho más.

Cost: Free

When: Tuesday, May 21, from noon to 4 p.m.
Where: Norfolk Public Library, 308 Prospect Ave., Norfolk
Registration is required for this event (by Monday, May 13). Click here to register.
Questions/assistance with registering: Contact Nina Lanuza at ninal@cfra.org or 402.380.0785
Sponsor: The Center for Rural Affairs
All Center for Rural Affairs events and activities are open to the public on a nondiscriminatory basis. Reasonable arrangements for persons with disabilities and/or persons with limited English proficiency (LEP) will be made if requested in advance.

Millsap Farms Walk: Building Soil Health on the Market Farm
2024-05-15 18:00 - 20:00 | Millsap Farms, 6593 N Emu Lane, Springfield, MO, 65803, United States
Join Springfield Community Gardens and Millsap Farms as we tour the compost piles, deep mulched beds, and pigerator on Millsap Farms, as Curtis shares their philosophy and approach to soil building in their market gardens for abundant harvests of cut flowers and vegetables.
No registration is necessary for this in person event. Please be sure to bring a water bottle, comfortable walking shoes, sunscreen, and bug repellent if you desire.
Visit website at Springfield Community Gardens for additional information: https://www.springfieldcommunitygardens.org/events/millsap-farms-walk-building-soil-health-on-the-market-farm
Visit Millsap Farms website for additional information: https://www.millsapfarms.com/

Introduction to EPA Worker Protection Standard for Pesticide Safety - ONLINE
2024-05-09 14:00 - 15:00
K-State Research & Extension will provide this free introductory training that will cover the basic principles of WPS regulation, compliance, and liability. The training will also review correct measures to manage the health risks from occupational exposure to pesticides. You must comply with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Worker Protection Standard if all three of the following apply:
– You own or manage an agricultural establishment (i.e., farm, orchards, nurseries, greenhouses, etc.), and
– Your work is directly related to producing agricultural plants, and
– WPS-labeled pesticides (herbicides, insecticides, fungicides, miticides, etc.) have been applied on your establishment within the last 30 days. WPS-labeled pesticides may be restricted-use pesticides or general-use pesticides. Look for the “Agricultural Use Requirements” box on the pesticide label
The zoom link for accessing the training online will be sent the day before the training. Follow the link to Eventbrite to reserve your spot.

Converting Your Grocery Store to a Co-op
2024-05-08 13:00 - 14:00
Well drat! We’ve reached our registration limit for this special webinar. This topic is in high demand! The webinar will be recorded and made available to the public by May 15th on FCI’s You Tube Channel. Please reach out to us at info@fci.coop to receive the recording directly.
Grocery stores across the country are for sale, at risk of closing, or have an owner who is thinking about retiring in the near future. Converting that grocery store into a food co-op is an exciting and viable option that more and more grocers, employees, and communities are considering.
Food Co-op Initiative, the Rural Grocery Initiative, and experts Stuart Reid and Bonnie Hudspect have joined forces to develop a new FCI Action Guide to help you understand the conversion process and the steps involved.
To launch the new tool, FCI is hosting a special webinar. Join Erica Blair (Rural Grocery Initiative), Faye Mack (FCI), and Stuart Reid (The Co-op Consultant) for a 60-minute webinar on Wednesday, May 8th, to learn more about why the cooperative model might be right for your community’s grocery store and how to get started.
WHAT: A special webinar about converting your grocery store to a food co-op!
WHEN: Wednesday, May 8th at 2-3pm eastern / 1-2pm central / 12-1pm mountain / 11-12pm pacific
Questions? Reach out to Faye Mack at faye@fci.coop

Food Safety and Post-Harvest Handling Farm Tour
2024-05-07 15:00 - 17:00 | Pat and Rachel’s Garden, 28485 W 119th Street, Olathe, KS, 66061, United States
At this farm tour, we will discuss food safety and post-harvest handling practices implemented at Pat and Rachel’s Garden in Olathe, KS https://patandrachelsgardens.com/. Participants will have an opportunity to observe their produce production and value-added produce operation and consider how they can implement them on their own farms. The event is organized by MU and KSU Extension as part of the Growing Growers program, but is open to anyone interested and is free.

FSMA Produce Safety Grower Training
2024-05-07 13:00 - 2024-05-08 17:00
University of Missouri Extension and Kansas State Research and Extension are partnering to offer the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) Produce Safety Alliance (PSA) Grower Training remotely. The class will take place on May 7 AND May 8 from 1-5PM CDT each day. In order to receive a certificate of training, you will have to attend the entire training on both days and we must be able to see a live video feed of you at least periodically throughout the entire training (or you need to speak or type into the chat when requested) to ensure that you are engaged throughout the entire training. You must participate in the training on a device larger than your phone (i.e. tablet or computer). Note that it is very important that you are listening and engaged during the training to be eligible to receive the certificate of training. If you are a covered farm under the FSMA Produce Safety Rule and need the training, this course will meet that requirement (for more information visit https://www.ksre.k-state.edu/foodsafety/produce/fsma/index.html). You will be required to return a course evaluation before you will receive your certificate of training.
This training is geared for produce growers in Kansas and Missouri (but participants from other states are welcome as space allows) and other regulatory or support personnel and will be limited to 30 participants. If you are a Missouri grower and would like more information, please contact or Patrick Byers (417-859-2044 or byerspl@missouri.edu). If you are a Kansas grower and would like more information, please contact Katelynn Stull at kjstull@ksu.edu
Note that we need your shipping address to know where to mail your manual before the training and to know where to mail your certificate after you have completed all the requirements of the training. Please list a mailing address where we will be able to mail your manual for you to use during the training.
We will email everyone the zoom link to everyone registered for the course 2 days before the training.
General Admission: $100
Kansas and Missouri Producers: FREE

Great Plains Indigenous Food Sovereignty Conference
2024-05-01 08:00 - 2024-05-02 17:00 | UNL East Campus Union, 1705 Arbor Drive, Lincoln, NE, 68503, United States
Strengthening Food Sovereignty in Tribal Communities
Join us for the first annual Great Plains Indigenous Food Sovereignty Conference, a powerful gathering dedicated to fostering Indigenous food sovereignty, community-driven business development, and the revitalization of traditional foodways. Organized by the UNL Tribal Extension Office and the Turtle Island Trade Coalition (TITC), this event will bring together Indigenous food producers, tribal leaders, extension staff, and community members from across the region to discuss and inspire new pathways towards sustainability and self-sufficiency.
The conference will be held in person at the UNL East Campus Union, an accessible venue designed to accommodate all participants comfortably. We ask that participants commit to attending both days of the conference, as the workshops and discussions build on each other for a comprehensive experience.
This event is free, but registration is required to reserve your spot. Spots are limited, so reserve your seat today!
Registration Link: Great Plains Indigenous Foods Conference Registration | Turtle Island Trade Coalition | Nebraska (unl.edu)

Financial Literacy for Business
2024-04-30 17:30 - 2024-05-07 18:30 | Wood River Community Center, 108 W. 1th St, Wood River, NE
More information: https://www.cfra.org/financial-literacy-financial-projections-and-profit-and-loss-wood-river-neb

Millsap Farms Walk: Early Cut Flowers
2024-04-24 18:00 - 20:00 | Millsap Farms, 6593 N Emu Lane, Springfield, MO, 65803, United States
Welcome to the Millsap Farms Walk: Early Cut Flowers.
Join Curtis and Kimby as they tour the early cut flowers on Millsap Farms. We’ll discuss Snap Dragons, Ranunculus, Anemones, and other flowers that can be grown for a Mother’s Day market.
No registration is necessary for this in person event. Please be sure to bring a water bottle, comfortable walking shoes, sunscreen, and bug repellent if you desire. Visit websites for additional information – see below.
This work is supported by 2501 grant AO222501X443G029 from the USDA Office of Partnerships and Public Engagement. Any opinions, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this publication are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the view of the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
Visit Millsap Farms website for additional information here: https://www.millsapfarms.com/
Visit Springfield Community Gardens for additional information here: https://www.springfieldcommunitygardens.org/events/millsap-farms-walk-early-cut-flowers

Path to Prosperity
2024-04-24 08:00 - 15:30 | NWMSU Agricultural Learning Center, 22893 U.S. Highway 71, Maryville, 64468, United States
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), in partnership with the Small Business Administration (SBA) and the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC), has hosted a series of regional economic development workshops on the “Path to Prosperity” in States and Territories across the country to provide small businesses (including farmers and ranchers) the resources and tools they need to grow their businesses.
The partnership and workshops align with the Biden-Harris Administration’s Executive Order on “Advancing Racial Equity and Support for Underserved Communities Through the Federal Government” and show the Department’s commitment to increase access to USDA’s products and services and improve service delivery in rural and underserved communities.
Midwest Path to Prosperity in Maryville, MO – Wednesday, April 24, 2024: Zoom Registration
(Northwest Missouri State University, Agricultural Learning Center, 22893 U.S. Highway 71, Maryville, MO 64468. In-person (150 max. capacity) or virtual registration).
West Coast Path to Prosperity in Fresno, CA – Wednesday, May 22, 2024
Mid-Atlantic Path to Prosperity in Winston-Salem, NC – June (TBD)
Southwest Path to Prosperity in Salt Lake City, UT – August (TBD)
Ketchikan, AK – September (TBD)
Montgomery, AL – Late Oct./Early Nov. (TBD)
Presenters will discuss:

Incentivizing unbanked and under-banked small business owners and individuals to establish a sustainable relationship with an insured financial institution,
Expanding technical assistance and financial education for small business owners and individuals to improve their bankability,
Increasing the number of SBA certified lenders to provide access to capital for small, minority, and underserved businesses, and
Developing contracting relationships with Federal government and private industry partners.

Targeted attendees include small businesses, financial institutions, community development financial institutions (CDFIs), trade groups, local, state, and Federal agencies, community leaders, nonprofits, and community-based staff representing organizations.
For questions or information: Mr. David Ramos, Senior Community Affairs Specialist, FDIC at daramos@fdic.gov

Marketing Series - Free
2024-04-17 10:00 - 2024-04-24 12:00 | Neligh Public Libary, 710 Main St. Neligh NE
You will also have the opportunity to dive into facets of digital media and marketing including social, search engine optimization, email, targeting, and how you put it to work for your business in your area. We will help you on your path to set goals, make a plan, and measure your results.

Feeding our Future: Local Foods Roundtable - Montgomery County, Iowa
2024-04-11 18:00 - 19:30 | Stadium 34, 1200 Senate Ave., Red Oak, IA

Midwest Growers Collaborative Workshop
2024-04-11 09:00 - 2024-04-12 15:00 | Junior Achievement of Greater KC, 2842 W 47th Ave, Kansas City, MO, 66103, United States
Midwest Growers Collaborative Workshop
A two-day, FREE workshop for farmers, growers, ranchers & producers.
Topics: Agricultural best practices, business management, marketing, and more!
Don’t miss this incredible opportunity to join a two-day, Midwest collaborative workshop hosted in partnership by KC F.A.R.M.E.R.S. Coalition and Common Ground Producers & Growers. This FREE event includes lunch each day, but attendees are responsible for their own transportation to and from the event, other meals, and overnight accommodations.
Thursday-Friday, April 11-12 | 9AM – 3PM
Junior Achievement of Greater KC
2842 W 47th Ave, Kansas City, KS 66103
The last day to register is April 8th, so click the button below to register now! Link to register: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScPiPxu2V2wxZk5Xmv9ZZOP6IhlJe4Sax8zPod7QoiSzRDvyA/viewform
Hotel information will be sent after registration is received.
For more information email info@commongroundpg.com.

Eat Local & Organic Expo
2024-04-06 09:00 - 15:00 | Johnson County Community College, 12345 College Blvd, Overland Park, Kansas, 66210, United States
FREE PARKING – FREE ADMISSION
Kick off farmers market season at the Eat Local & Organic Expo! Shop with more than 30 KC Food Circle™ farmers who pledge to meet high standards for growing plants and mushrooms, beekeeping and raising animals. Sign up for weekly farm shares, buy transplants for your garden, get the freshest early spring products for your table and bring the kids to this family friendly event.

Fresh Fridays at the Micro Market - Omaha, NE
2024-04-05 10:00 - 2024-04-26 18:00 | Micro Market – No More Empty Pots, 2120 N. 30th Street, Omaha, NE, 68111
Come join us for Fresh Fridays at the Micro Market in April!
The Micro Market is open for Fridays in April from 10:00 A.M. to 6:00 P.M. on April 5th, 12th, 19th, and 26th.
It’s a soft launch, so expect a showcase of limited-edition, farm-fresh goodies and produce.
Each Friday brings a new lineup of seasonal delights we are testing out, while supplies last.
A project of No More Empty Pots.

Women Landowners Ag Conference 2024
2024-04-05 08:30 - 16:00 | Concordia Community Center, 802 S Gordon, Concordia, MO, 64020, United States
For 22 years it has been the intent of the conference to educate women whose lives are rooted in the agricultural community. We hope you join us for a day filled with informative sessions on issues that affect your farm and daily lives.
This years topics include:

Attracting and the Benefits of Pollinators
Flock to Fork: The Basics of Poultry Farming for Eggs and Meat
Know Your Numbers: Mastering Farm Finances
Companion Planting/Trap Planting: Keeping Pest where they belong
Social Media Marketing for Farm Businesses
Co-grazing with Small Ruminants
Small Farm Business Planning
Land Values, Rental Rates and Arrangements

Learn from each other and knowledgeable speakers and visit with others in our our ag community. Representatives from USDA, FSA and NRCS will be in attendance to visit about programs. Network with other ladies who share similar interests in agricultural. We welcome you to our conference.
Please RSVP by April 1st.
Cost: $30
Contact: Katie Neuner, neunercm@missouri.edu, 660-584-3658
Partners:
FSA

Business Plan Basics - 4 sessions (April 2-23) - FREE
2024-04-02 17:30 - 2024-04-23 19:30 | Wood River Community Center, 108 W. 1th St, Wood River, NE
Are you planning to go into business and don’t know where to start? Planning is key to success, and these hands-on exploratory sessions are designed for those thinking of starting a business, businesses that need a boost, and business owners considering expansion. Sessions will cover important information to help you complete a business plan.

Preventive Control Qualified Individual (Human Food) Training
2024-04-02 08:00 - 17:00 | Eckles Event Hall-Dep. Food Science, MU-Columbia, 1400 Rollins St, Columbia, MO, 65201, United States
*There are additional dates for this training. See below.
As per the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA), all registered food manufacturing facilities that manufacture, process, pack, or hold human food must abide by the Preventive Controls for Human Food (PCHF) rule’s new food safety requirements specified in 21 CFR Part 117.
Additionally, each registered entity must have a Preventive Control Qualified Individual (PCQI) to develop an effective food safety plan that ensures the safety of finished food products.
A PCQI is a qualified individual who has successfully completed training in the development and application of risk-based preventive controls at least equivalent to that received under a standardized curriculum recognized as adequate by the FDA or be otherwise qualified through job experience to develop and apply a food safety system. This course/ training helps food professionals learn the latest food safety issues and regulations that affect their products and as well as how to develop and implement effective preventive control programs and appropriate corrective actions.
Additionally, this training will help the participants to lead, manage, and monitor FSMA specific requirements such as Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) Hazard Analysis and Risk-based Preventive Controls (HARPC) rule ensuring safety of the finished food products.
Who should attend this training:

Quality assurance and quality control
Personnel line supervisors, operators, sanitation supervisors
Quality managers, and owners

This training is free for the Missouri participants (with a limit of 30 participants).
Who is eligible for this NO COST PCQI (Human Food) Training:

Small food producers in Missouri
Small Farmers in Missouri
Start up food companies in Missouri
State and local food inspectors in Missouri

Dates and Times:
April 2 & 3: 8 AM – 5 PM
April 4: 8 AM – 12 PM
Lunch will be provided on April 2 & 3.
For more information, please contact Kantha Channaiah, lchannaiah@missouri.edu, 573-882-2673.

Community of Practice Community Food Project Webinar
2024-03-27 13:00 - 14:15
For those on eastern time: March 27th 2-3:15
Presented by The Food Systems Leadership Network and Institute for Social and Economic Development Solutions, this series focuses on Community Food Projects with speakers from a variety of projects around the country.
This week we will be exploring the topic of Food Sovereignty, and will be joined by Dr. Reggie Flynn, Executive Director of the North Flint Reinvestment Corporation, and Steph Wiley, co-founder of Brooklyn Packers. They will talk about their experience working within a food cooperative framework, and how this model can create more equitable local food systems for underserved communities.
Register here.

Growing for Market - Nebraska
2024-03-27 08:00 - 2024-04-23 12:00
Programs & Resources for Commercial fruit & vegetable growers preparing for Farmer’s Markets.
There are multiple dates and locations for this event- please see below.
Session Topics:
Pesticide Updates – Learn about how pesticides can impact the growth of your plants, how it moves to non-target plants and what herbicide injury on your plants. Participants will also learn what to do to help protect your plants from drift and what to do if they are hit by herbicide drift.
Pricing and Marketing – Standing out at a market can be a challenge! Join us as we talk about branding your booth at the market and how to decide what your marketing plan and pricing strategy is going to look like going into the 2024 selling season.
Ecology of Production – Growing and managing a healthy crop is about more than just the plants. Supporting pollinators and other beneficial insects and wildlife can be just as important to the success of your harvest. Non-crop plants can increase productivity while decreasing inputs. From pollinator-friendly buffer strips to cover crops. This will provide some basic background and tips to support the whole ecosystem that is your farm.
Resource Panel – Learn more about your local resources to assist you in growing your operation. Resources may include: local NRCS, Farm-to-School, SARE, and other groups that are focused on helping and promoting producers in your local area.

Sites include:

Scottsbluff, Panhandle Research and Extension Center – Bluestem Room, Wednesday, March 27th 8am-noon
Norfolk, Northeast Community College, Thursday, March 28th 1-5pm
North Platte, Lincoln County Extension Office, Friday, April 12th 8am-noon
Nebraska City, Kimmel Orchard, Tuesday, April 23rd 8am-noon

$25 per person at all of the locations.
For more information, contact any member of the Growing for Market team. Register now
CONTACT:

David Lott, Lincoln-Logan-McPherson Counties | 308-532-2683
Ian Peterson, Dodge County | 402-727-2775
Emily Stine, Panhandle Research & Extension Center | 308-632-1230
Nicole Stoner, Gage County | 402-223-1384
Carol Waters, Cass County | 402-267-2205

Produce Safety Refresher/Annual Supervisor Training - ONLINE
2024-03-26 12:00 - 13:30
K-State Research & Extension and the University of Missouri Extension will provide Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) Produce Safety Rule (PSR) Annual Training for Supervisors. This 90-minute training was designed to assist farm supervisors meet the annual training requirement outlined in the PSR. This training is not intended for agricultural workers – instead, it has been developed for farm owners and managers who have already attended the full day FSMA PSA Grower Training. This training will also review how farm managers can adequately train their agricultural workers in compliance with the PSR. This training can also serve as a refresher for those who have already attended the full day PSA Grower Training, as well as those looking for an abbreviated introduction to the FSMA PSR.
Note that completing the full day FSMA PSA Grower Training is not a prerequisite for this supervisor training!
This program is supported by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) as part of a financial assistance award U2FFD007412 totaling $380,743 with 100 percent funded by FDA/HHS. The contents are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent the official views of, nor an endorsement, by FDA/HHS, or the U.S. Government.

HACCP Workshop
2024-03-26 08:00 - 16:00 | Eckles Event Hall-Dep. Food Science, MU-Columbia, 1400 Rollins St, Columbia, MO, 65201, United States
There are additional dates for this event. See below.
The National Advisory Committee on Microbiological Criteria for Foods (NACMCF), USDA and FDA highly recommend implementing a HACCP plan in a food processing plant assuring food safety from harvest to consumption.
Dr. Lakshmikantha ‘Kantha’ Channaiah, state extension specialist in food processing and an assistant professor in the MU College of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources (CAFNR), and Associate Professor Dr. Andrew Clarke will lead the HACCP (Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points) training.
This in-person course helps food professionals learn the latest food safety issues that affect their products as well as how to develop an effective HACCP plan.
Channaiah and Clarke are leading food safety experts with each having more than 20 years of experience in teaching, training, and research. The course is accredited by the International HACCP Alliance.
Lunch will be provided on March 26 and 27.
Date and Times:
March 26 & 27: 8 AM – 4 PM
March 28: 8 AM – 12 PM
A certificate with the International HACCP Alliance seal will be presented to participants at the end of the course.
Cost: Free
Register at: HACCP and Course Registration (k-state.edu)

FSMA Produce Safety Grower Training - Rich Hill, MO
2024-03-25 08:00 - 17:00 | Rich Hill, Missouri, 11066A SW County Rd 3007, Rich Hill, MO, 64779, United States
FSMA Produce Safety grower training. Cost is free.
*Note- the training will be in a location without electricity and basic toilet facilities.
