New Funding Will Increase Student Connections to Local Fresh Food and Farmers, Targeting Schools in Food-Insecure Communities NEW YORK – Mayor’s Office of Urban Agriculture (MOUA) Executive Director Qiana Mickie announced today at the High School of Environmental Studies in Manhattan that New York City Public Schools’ Office of Food & Nutrition Services (OFNS) is the recipient of $200,000 through federal and state Farm to School grant programs. The funds, allocated by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) and New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets (NYSDAM), will be used for agricultural education programming, increasing local food procurement of…
Author: urbanagnews
Sellew to take the keynote stage on Monday, March 11, 2024 Las Vegas, NV (December 14, 2023) – Indoor Ag-Con is excited to announce Paul Sellew, Founder and CEO of Little Leaf Farms, will give the 2024 edition’s opening morning headline keynote address on Monday, March 11th at 8 am at Caesars Forum Las Vegas. Little Leaf Farms is the largest U.S. greenhouse producer of hydroponic baby greens and sold in over 5,000 grocery stores and fine dining establishments. Sellew has built a successful career on his belief in sustainable agriculture. In total, Indoor Ag-Con will feature three headliner Keynote…
The Ohio State University GREENHOUSE MANAGEMENT WORKSHOP Dynamic Growing January 25-26, 2024 Shisler Center, OSU Wooster Campus – in-person and virtual options – Fundamentals plus advanced sessions on controlling greenhouse climate conditions to optimize crop quality. Sessions include: – Plant nutrition and monitoring for dynamic growing – Plant response to aerial environmental conditions – Dynamic environmental set points – Dynamic CO2 and supplemental lighting control – Plus, greenhouse tours – And, more! Speakers: Paul Arena (Svensson); Dr. Luis Canas (OSU); Dr. Kale Harbick (USDA); Dr. Chieri Kubota (OSU); Dr. Peter Ling (OSU); Dr. Garrett Owen (OSU); Dr. Ketut Putra (Koidra): Rose Seguin (Sollum Technologies); Dr. David Story…
Announcing a Course Offering by the ADVANCEA Academy Introduction to Greenhouse Environmental Control for Crop Production January 4 – March 28, 2024 This course is fully online with weekly live sessions on Thursdays 6:00 – 8:00 PM Eastern US Time and available via recorded lectures Course Fee: $299 “Introduction to Greenhouse Environmental Control for Crop Production” is a 13-week certificate course designed and offered by ADVANCEA. The course will provide students with foundational information about the essentials of greenhouse environment control for a variety of commonly-grown crops. Who Should Take This Course? This course will provide a strong understanding of greenhouse environment…
Agreements include acquiring horticulture lighting products from Current to be exclusively distributed by Hort Americas, a leading supplier to the controlled environment agriculture market. ATLANTA, November 27, 2023 – Acuity Brands, Inc. (NYSE: AYI) (“Company”) announced today that it has reached an agreement to acquire the Arize® family of horticulture lighting products from Current Lighting Solutions, LLC (”Current Lighting”). The Company has also reached an agreement with HortAmericas, LLC for it to remain as the exclusive distributor of these horticulture lighting products throughout the U.S., Canada, and Mexico. “By adding these high-powered, greenhouse-focused luminaires to our horticulture lighting portfolio, Acuity…
Village Farms Fresh recently partnered with the special home improvement series, Military Makeover hosted by Montel Williams. The company is featured in episode 2 of season 36 that airs on Lifetime TV beginning Friday, November 17 at 7:30am ET and PT. Decorated U.S. Army veteran Carlos Colón-Ruiz who resides in Arlington, Texas, along with his family, receives an awesome complete home remodel during the series. “Village Farms Fresh is honored to partner with Military Makeover on this series in support of Infantry Sergeant Colón-Ruiz, an outstanding veteran and exemplary human being. Our company has deep roots in Texas, with a…
From the USDA USDA’s Risk Management Agency (RMA) connects agricultural producers with high-quality and affordable crop insurance sold by approved insurance providers. This includes the specific needs of urban and innovative producers, who may have smaller and more specialized operations. In this Ask the Expert, Economist Claire White answers questions about RMA programs and opportunities for urban and innovative producers, including the new Controlled Environment crop insurance program. Read the full article at farmers.gov
Source: USDA.gov We’re inviting urban producers, innovative producers, and other stakeholders to virtually attend a public meeting of the Federal Advisory Committee for Urban Agriculture and Innovative Production on November 29 from 1-3 pm ET. Learn more and register. The Urban Agriculture and Innovative Production Advisory Committee (UAIPAC) is one of several ways that USDA is extending support and building frameworks to support urban agriculture, including issues of equity, climate resilience and nutrition access. The 2018 Farm Bill directed USDA to create this committee to advise the Secretary of Agriculture on the development of policies and outreach relating to urban, indoor,…
The CEA Alliance’s new best practices document Commodity Specific Food Safety Guidelines for Controlled Environment Agriculture Produce Production of Leafy Greens and Herbs will be the focus of the International Fresh Produce Association’s Virtual Town Hall on Wednesday, November 8 at 12:00 Noon Eastern. The Virtual Town Hall is free to all participants. The document provides guidance in all areas in production of leafy greens, and was developed by the Alliance’s Food Safety Working Group in collaboration with IFPA. The document was developed under the guidance of more than 20 CEA Alliance Food Safety Working Group members. Outside scientific reviewers included a number of…
The Dallas Center is proud to announce the 5th annual controlled environment conference to be held on December 7 followed by a tour of Eden Green Technology, the high-tech vertical hydroponic systems in greenhouses in Cleburne, TX on December 8. We are grateful to Eden Green Technology who is graciously hosting a tour of their facilities. We have assembled experts in controlled environment horticulture from The University of Arizona, Michigan State University, and Arizona State University, to present their latest research and share their expertise in their field. We will also present our latest research from Dallas and Uvalde Centers. Our…
Announcing a Course Offering by the ADVANCEA Academy Introduction to Greenhouse Environmental Control for Crop Production January 4 – March 28, 2024 Two hours every Thursday from 6:00 – 8:00 PM Eastern, Online Course Fee: $299 “Introduction to Greenhouse Environmental Control for Crop Production” is a 13-week certificate course designed and offered by ADVANCEA. The course will provide students with foundational information about the essentials of greenhouse environment control for a variety of commonly-grown crops. The course is designed to be equivalent to an upper-level college course and requires entry-level understanding of modern greenhouse production systems. During this course, students…
Vermont Business Magazine talks about the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and how it is encouraging agricultural producers and forest landowners in Vermont to participate in voluntary conservation programs and adopt climate-smart practices in fiscal year 2024 as part of President Biden’s Investing in America agenda. “USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) is accepting applications for the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP), Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP) and Agricultural Conservation Easement Program (ACEP), which help a wide variety of producers, including urban and organic producers.” Find out how it can affect urban agriculture and organic agriculture in their full article. For…
The Dallas Center is proud to announce the 5th annual controlled environment conference to be held on December 7 followed by a tour of Eden Green Technology, the high-tech vertical hydroponic systems in greenhouses in Cleburne, TX on December 8. We are grateful to Eden Green Technology who is graciously hosting a tour of their facilities. We have assembled experts in controlled environment horticulture from The University of Arizona, Michigan State University, and Arizona State University, to present their latest research and share their expertise in their field. We will also present our latest research from Dallas and Uvalde Centers. Our…
Agricultural producers and landowners have chosen conservation on more than 23 million acres of private land nationwide WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has issued more than $1.77 billion this year to agricultural producers and landowners through its Conservation Reserve Program (CRP), a critical piece of the Department’s efforts to support climate-smart agriculture and forestry on working lands. Right now, CRP’s more than 667,000 participants received payments from USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) for their voluntary conservation efforts on more than 23 million acres of private land. Since 2021, CRP has grown by 21 percent in terms of acres…