Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources' Events for
March-April 2024

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2024

March

• March 25 - Northeast Regional Food Business Center - Quarterly webinar, 11:00am - Northeast USDA Regional Food Business Center will discuss the launch of new funding streams for producers and technical assistance providers. Hear from two roundtable sessions as panelists discuss regional supply chain needs and how food & farming communities can most effectively and successfully navigate federal and state funding opportunities. Details here.

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• March 26 - Business Basics: Getting Started - CISA and Healthy Hampshire hosting workshop 5:30-7pm, online. How do you set up a new farm or food business? Eyad Salha from Valley Community Development will share a roadmap for your first few years of starting up. We’ll talk about business planning, financial planning, entity structures and how to best set yourself up to succeed. We’ll even dive into how to set prices and track income and expenses. You’ll leave with a roadmap and helpful tools to get you started.  Sessions are open to anyone and free. PLUS, if you self identify as BIPOC or low-income, or if you need interpretation into English, you are eligible to get a stipend for attending and one-on-one coaching. Interpretation/translation is available. Register here before March 20th.

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• March 26 - MDAR's State of the State Update on Honeybee Health - virtual - 7:00 - 9:00pm. Interested in BEE-coming a Beekeeper? Learn about How to get started, State Laws/Regulations, Seasonal Management and more. Register here.

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• March 27 - Grant Writing Workshop for Farmers and Food Producers - Barnstable, 10:00am - 12:00pm. BFBLCC, Cape Cod Cooperative Extension, and MDAR hosting a FREE workshop which includes 101 granting writing tutorial and then presentation by MDAR on upcoming grant application opportunities. Details here.

 

• March 29 & 30 - NOFA Virtual Symposium - Join all seven chapters of the Northeast Organic Farming Association for this regional online event as we discuss important topics in agriculture and our food system. If you register for any NOFA Winter Conference, you will receive an Access Code for free registration. Details here.

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• March 30 - CISA Event: Free Yoga Class & Networking Hour for Farmers - 3:00 pm - 5:00pm, Sanctuary, Northampton. Farm owners and workers are invited to an introductory yoga class which will include breathwork, guided poses supporting stress and pain relief, and ergonomics and stretching exercises that can be integrated into your daily routine. Details here.

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April

• April 2 - Governor's Conference on Travel & Tourism - 9:00am - 4:30pm, Hilton at Boston Logan Airport. An all-day gathering to bring together industry experts, government officials, and hospitality professionals. Please join us for industry networking and learning, featuring remarks from Governor Maura Healey and Lt. Governor Kim Driscoll, breakout sessions on industry trends and best practices, networking opportunities, and the presentation of Massachusetts Tourism Awards. Details here.

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• April 3 - Agriculture Day at the State House - Come join us at the Boston Statehouse to celebrate all things agriculture in the Commonwealth.

 

• April 3 - USDA Rural Dev. - MFH- Farm Labor Housing Repair NOSA Workshop - 2 pm. Agency will provide an overview of the Multifamily Housing Off-Farm Labor Housing Repair program. USDA recently published a Notice of Solicitation of Applications (NOSA) announcing funding availability for loans and grants to current borrowers/owners of existing Off-FLH projects currently participating in the RHS’s Section 514 Off-FLH portfolio for the purpose of improving, repairing, modifying, revitalizing, and preserving the facility to ensure that it will continue to provide decent, safe, and sanitary housing. Potential applicants will have the opportunity to provide feedback and ask questions. Details here.

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• April 9 - Tristate SARE Webinar - 10am - noon. Practical approaches to positively impact pasture based livestock systems - Details here.

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• April 11 - APR Landowner Webinar – 3:00 - 4:00 pm. If you own APR land or lease on APR land, please join Commissioner Randle and MDAR's APR Stewardship Team for a webinar covering policies, guidelines and resources relevant to APR constituents. RSVP in advance here.

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• April 12 - MDAR's 1st Annual Massachusetts Agricultural Resource Fair - Fisheries and Wildlife Building, Westboro.  9:00am to 3:00pm. State and federal agencies, as well as agricultural service providers, to provide the farming community resource information – ‘One Stop Shopping’ on programs and services including grant information. Details here.

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• April 28 - No-till Gardens and Farms: Healthy Soil, Heal Climate - 1:00 - 4:00pm, Orange, MA.  An experiential learning packed afternoon suitable to farmers or enthusiastic gardeners seeking to learn and use no-till methods that use simple tools, build healthy soil, reduce labor and cost inputs, and promote climate resilience. A perfect time of year to learn and introduce several no-till techniques that build healthy soil while promoting climate resilience. Details here.

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• April 30 - Crop Production Course - 5:30pm to 7:00pm. 9-week online course covering essential topics related to sustainable crop production, enabling participants to grow food while caring for the soil at the farm or in the garden. Details here.

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