University of Illinois Extension

Illinois Small Farms

Welcome

Illinois Small Farms provides information for the commercial small farmer as well as the small acreage landowner. The purpose of this website is to provide easy access to information for small-scale farmers and those who work with them.

What’s New

Nominate the 2010 MOSES Farmer of the Year

Midwest Organic & Sustainable Education Service (MOSES) is seeking nominations for our 2010 'Organic Farmer of the Year' award.  Please take advantage of this opportunity to properly acknowledge the outstanding efforts of an organic farmer!  As in years past, the award will be presented at the 21st Organic Farming Conference to be held next February 25-27, 2010 in La Crosse, WI.

Attached is a nomination form and press release for your convenience.  Or you can visit our website http://mosesorganic.org/foy.html  to learn more and download a nomination form directly.   To avoid duplication of nominees, previous award winners are:

The deadline for submitting your nomination is September 15, 2009.

Consumer Guide to Whole Animal Buying Available

Consumers interested in buying local beef or pork will want to take a look at a new publication created by the Iowa State University's Small Meat Processors' Working Group.

Funded in part by a SARE grant, "Beef and Pork Whole Animal Buying Guide" explains buying pork and beef as whole animals (or portions thereof) from local producers.

Producers may also consider using the publication to help clients make smart decisions and keep coming back. It explains marketing terms, information on storage and handling, meat inspection, meat cut out weight, and includes color photos of common retail beef and pork cuts by primal. This guide brings all the necessary pieces together in one easy-to-use resource. Free PDF available online. Hardcopies available in color ($6.50) and B&W ($1).

To download a free pdf or order a print copy, visit https://www.extension.iastate.edu/store
/ItemDetail.aspx?ProductID=13056

New Ag Network - New Electronic Mail List

The New Ag Network has started a new electronic mail list. The purpose of the mail list is to provide a means for easy communication among farmers, educators, researchers, and others involved in organic and sustainable farming in the Great Lakes Region. Once you join the list, you may send and receive messages, and view the message archive.

To join the mail list, fill out the online form at:https://lists.purdue.edu/mailman/listinfo/new-ag-network

Or, join the list by sending an email. Send a message containing the single word 'subscribe' (without quotes) to:

new-ag-network-request at lists.purdue.edu

Once you sign-up, you will receive an email from new-ag-network-request at lists.purdue.edu asking you to confirm your sign-up by replying to the email. You will know you have successfully confirmed and joined the list when you receive a welcome message.

Hope to hear from you on the list!

If you just want to receive announcements about new articles on the New Ag Network, but don’t wish to participate in more general discussion, just sign up for the announcement only listserv at
http://www.new-ag.msu.edu/email.htm. If you received announcements last year, you are already on this announcement list.

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