Recognizing, Responding, and Sharing Resources with Farmers, Staff and Partner Organizations MDAR’s MassGrownWellness program will deliver a series of in-person and online training events for all Massachusetts agriculture community supporters, including all farmers, MDAR and professional staff and the partner organization advocates. These 2-hour event will raise awareness of mental health and stress on farms […]
Complete Cow Butchering Workshop and Cow-share! Sat 3/11: 10-4 AND Sat 3/25: 10-4 Learn how to slaughter, dress, quarter and butcher a cow using traditional methods, with a pastured, grass-fed beef meat-share option! In this workshop, we'll take apart a noble Jersey bull at Turtle Bend Farm in Montgomery, MA. We’ll learn about butchering, charcuterie […]
The Current Good Manufacturing Practice, Hazard Analysis, and Risk-based Preventive Controls for Human Food FDA regulation is intended to ensure safe manufacturing/processing, packing and holding of food products for human consumption in the United States. The regulation requires that certain activities must be completed by a “preventive controls qualified individual” who has “successfully completed training in the development and application of risk-based preventive controls.” This course developed by the FSPCA is the “standardized curriculum” recognized by FDA; successfully completing this course is one way to meet the requirements for a “preventive controls qualified individual.” Upon completion of this course, the trainee will become a FDA-recognized “Preventive Controls Qualified Individual” (PCQI). The course covers: How to create a Food Safety Plan meeting the FDA requirements as required by the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA). How to conduct a Hazard Analysis, and differentiate between prerequisite programs and risk-based preventive controls. Guidelines for choosing Critical Limits, setting up monitoring programs, and implementing corrective actions when deviations occur. Documentation for all aspects of the PCHF-required Food Safety Plan including verification and validation activities, monitoring, corrective actions, and records review. ADDITIONAL NOTES: To complete the course, a participant must be present for the entire workshop and actively participate in all of the presented exercises. INSTRUCTORS: This course is being taught by FSPCA Lead Instructors that have been trained to teach the FDA recognized standardized curriculum. Program Coordinator and Lead Instructor: Amanda Kinchla, Extension Assistant Professor/Food Safety Specialist, University of Massachusetts 413-545-1017, amanda.kinchla@foodsci.umass.edu(link sends e-mail)LODGING: Rooms are NOT included in the registration fee. There is a room block for participants at a rate of $169/night plus fees for those that reserve their room no later than March 6th using promo code: PCH23C at the Hotel UMass(link is external). Additionally, there are a variety of lodging options available in the area, which can be found here: http://www.umass.edu/visitorsctr/lodging . Speaker(s) / Instructor(s): Amanda Kinchla, Lynne McLandsborough, Christina […]
January 17th – March 14th, 2023 Tuesday evenings 5:30 – 8:30pm MDAR offices, Southborough, MA A hands-on course to help established farmers develop a business plan and financial projections for their farm business. This course covers topics including resource assessment, marketing strategy, financial management, risk management, quality of life, and goal setting. The course is taught by […]
Where do you start when you have a project that needs funding? How do you know which program is best for the improvements you want to make? Where can you get help with your application? This online panel will highlight farmers who have used a variety of sources to finance their farm. They will discuss […]
As one of the few mushroom farmers in New England, Farmer Elizabeth partners with agricultural and community organizations to offer educational programs that are designed for foodies, gardeners, homesteaders, and curious families who wish to learn more about this fascinating food and the important role it plays in our diet, our environment and the economy. […]
Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources is hosting a virtual information session to discuss a number of upcoming grant opportunities from the Department. "MDAR will be hosting a free one-hour webinar on available funding opportunities for farmers for Fiscal Year 2024 (July 1, 2023 – June 30th, 2024). Staff will cover the Ag Food Safety Improvement […]
Get out of the greenhouse and enjoy some good food and good company at SEMAP’s Farmer Social Events! Connect with fellow farmers, learn what folks are looking forward to growing and share your goals for the season ahead. This is a great opportunity to gather while there’s still time before farming really kicks off. Join […]
Spreadsheets have many uses on-farm: financial record-keeping, crop planning, payroll, and more. But they can also be so confusing! Join us in problem-solving common problems and discovering the full potential of spreadsheet software like Excel and Google Sheets. This session is geared towards farmers with a basic understanding of spreadsheet uses. This is for farmers/fishers […]
UVM Extension is planning to offer a series of 3 webinars, each lasting from 12:00 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. The webinars may be a combination of pre-recorded presentations, as well as live presentations, with time for Q&A with the presenters. View the Webinar Series brochure here. The webinar events are as follows: Thursday, March 23, […]
UMass Extension will be hosting a soil health mini school on March 24, 2023. A perfect way to celebrate the first week of spring! Our core audience is agriculture professionals and technical service providers. Farmers and researchers are always welcome. We'll hear from the director of Indiana's Urban Soil Health program on the unique needs of […]
UVM Extension are planning to offer a series of 3 webinars, each lasting from 12:00 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. The webinars may be a combination of pre-recorded presentations, as well as live presentations, with time for Q&A with the presenters. View the Webinar Series brochure here. The webinar events are as follows: Thursday, March 23, […]
Nuestras Raíces is launching our second year of the Nuestros Finqueros Training Enterprises this month! Our first workshop, where we will learn about seed starting indoors, will take place on March 25th from 10 - 11:30 AM at la Finca on 24 Jones Ferry Rd., Holyoke. Below is the full workshop calendar for the 2023 […]
Complete Cow Butchering Workshop and Cow-share! Sat 3/11: 10-4 AND Sat 3/25: 10-4 Learn how to slaughter, dress, quarter and butcher a cow using traditional methods, with a pastured, grass-fed beef meat-share option! In this workshop, we'll take apart a noble Jersey bull at Turtle Bend Farm in Montgomery, MA. We’ll learn about butchering, charcuterie […]
Whether you are a student organizing your school to invest in Real Food, a researcher tracking food spending at an institution, or a local food producer nourishing your community, you can participate in redistributing resources to BIPOC producers by engaging with the Local Resourcing Program and Real Food Standards 3.0 from Uprooted and Rising. Learn more how […]
