ProFarmer Training Program at the Hudson Valley Farm Hub The ProFarmer Training Program is an educational initiative of the Hudson Valley Farm Hub, a 1,255-acre not-for-profit farm in Hurley, New York. Through demonstration, research, and farmer training, they provide education and raise awareness about agricultural practices that are locally rooted, equitable, ecologically regenerative, and economically … Read More
Educational Opportunities
Shaping the Next Generation of Co-operators
GUEST BLOG POST By Marcus Smith In February, I had the opportunity to participate in the 2016 National Farmers Union (NFU) College Conference on Co-operatives (CCOC) in Minneapolis, MN. This annual event is designed to help shape the next generation of co-operative leaders, and my exposure to the co-ops, speakers, and other participants was a learning … Read More
Women’s Conference Informs, Inspires
National Farmers Union’s Women in Agriculture conference ended last week, and New England Farmers Union Membership and Administrative Coordinator Emma Sabella reports the event, held in Clearwater, FL, was informative and inspiring. Kriss Marion of Circle M Market Farm in Blanchardville, WI, shared her story about how she built a network of strong women in … Read More
New Toolkit Guides Farm to Institution Procurement
Farm to Institution New England (FINE) introduced a new resource to help local farmers and institutional buyers connect. The toolkit, “Setting the Table for Success: Increasing Local Food Purchasing by Institutional Food Service Management,” covers the basics of how institutional purchasing works and offers guidance for using the food service request-for-proposal and contract process to … Read More
150 Meet in Greenfield for New Farmer Gathering
New farmers assembled the Arts Block in Greenfield, Massachusetts, on Dec. 12 from all over New England, New York state, and even Canada for the Northeast New Farmer Winter Gathering. Roughly 150 attendees arrived with enthusiasm and energy to participate in an anti-oppression training facilitated by representatives of Springfield-based Gardening the Community. Liz Wills-O’Gilvie and … Read More
Co-op Track at NOFA Features NEFU Speaker
New England Farmers Union was one of many presenters to be part of the Neighboring Food Co-operative Association’s (NFCA’s) track on “Co-operatives in the Food System” at the 41st annual NOFA Summer Conference, held at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, in August. Roughly 50 people attended workshops in the track, which is in its second … Read More
New England Farmers Union Awarded 2 RD Grants
New England Farmers Union was awarded two of 385 grants through the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Rural Business Development Grant program. The USDA committed $20 million in funds across the nation to help support the start-up or expansion of rural small businesses. The education foundation of the New England Farmers Union received funding for our work on … Read More
Congratulations to Farmers Union Scholarship Winner Ellie Pendleton
New England Farmers Union Education Foundation is proud to announce its inaugural scholarship winner for 2015, Ellie Pendleton of Rockport, Maine. Ellie, a New England Farmers Union member, will be a sophomore at the University of Maine, and is pursuing a double major in animal science and education. As a freshman, she worked on the … Read More
A Warm Welcome for Shop Talk at Warm Colors Apiary
New England Farmers Union held a Shop Talk on July 9 at Warm Colors Apiary in South Deerfield. Warm Colors is a beekeeping operation on 80 beautiful acres on the Mill River run by Dan and Bonita Conlon. While Dan has been keeping bees since his childhood, the two started keeping bees there as a … Read More
Farmers Union Goes to School
Recently, New England Farmers Union attended two events at western Massachusetts high schools to talk to students about specific policy issues they can get involved in, such as GMO labeling, and to let future graduates know what kinds of careers are available in agriculture. The events presented an opportunity for Farmers Union representatives to spread the … Read More
12