FOOD SAFETY
Want to view current regulations to food safety?
Check out food and agriculture policy here: Northeast Center to Advance Food Safety (NECAF), Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and National Center for Appropriate Technology. Understand your farm’s liability regarding and minimize food safety risks with Farm Commons. Note that these sources are not comprehensive and you should consult with your local Board of Health to be sure you are in compliance.
Seeking food safety courses or workshops?
Keep an eye out on our Events page for SEMAP workshops. Other organizations also host workshops and offer food safety support: Cornell Small Farms Program, National Young Farmers Coalition, and National Good Agricultural Practices (GAP).
Building your own cold storage facilities?
University of Vermont’s Extension for Agricultural Engineering offers a comprehensive guide to constructing a space to keep your products at a safe temperature.
PEST MANAGEMENT
Looking for tips on identifying and controlling insect pests?
UMass Amherst Agricultural Extension has a pest scouting calendar and plant-family specific strategies that are specific to Massachusetts. Resources on organic management of regional insect pests are provided by Cornell University.
SOIL HEALTH
Interested in better understanding soil health?
Get free one-on-one advice from fellow farmers through American Farmland Trust’s Healthy Soils Farmer Consultancy Program. Check out the new report from Endless Farm’s (Johnston, RI) Northeast SARE-funded project, Effect of an Indigenous Soil Microbial Inoculant on Soil, Soil Microbial Community, and Leaf Nutrient Density.
Composting on-farm?
View MDAR’s resource page for on-farm composting guidance, the registration for exemptions, and grant options.
DISASTER PREPAREDNESS
Preparing for a natural or manmade disaster?
Farmers increasingly have to be aware of disasters like hurricanes, flooding, wildfires, and extreme winter storms, alongside manmade emergencies like vehicle incidents, chemical exposure, and power failures. Templates and checklists for preparing your land, infrastructure, animals, and workforce for all types of emergencies are available through the Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources (MDAR), Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), Iowa State University, and PennState Extension.