Ag For News

World Bioenergy 2012 - Conference and Exhibition

2012-01-27T06:33:00.000-08:00

Sweden and the city of Jönköping will be the international bioenergy focal point hosting the 5th edition of World Bioenergy 29-31 May 2012.

This major global bioenergy get-together is based on the unique "Taking you from Know-How to Show-How" concept, combining tradeshow, conference sessions, field excursions and match-making into one comprehensive event.

World Bioenergy has successfully evolved during the years. Industrialists are attracted by the opportunities not only to hear about, but also to get hands on experience. Opportunities are provided not only at the fair and demonstration sites but also through daily afternoon tours and the full-day pre- and post-conference transfer tours from the airports in Stockholm and Copenhagen.

For more information visit http://www.elmia.se/en/worldbioenergy/

Province of BC Concerned About Illegal Fire Wood Harvest

2012-01-26T07:00:00.000-08:00

During these long cold winter nights, people light their fireplaces to stay warm. But do you know where your firewood came from? Was it legally harvested?

Cutting down trees from Crown land without the appropriate permit and selling them as firewood is a serious problem throughout the province. These actions are illegal, and can result in a violation ticket of $173 or more if significant environmental damage is done. They can create safety hazards for professional foresters and recreationalists, and can negatively impact an area's ecosystem.

The Province of British Columbia is encouraging the public can do its part by purchasing firewood from legitimate producers. Ask where the firewood is from and insist on getting a load slip. Firewood bought and sold without the proper documentation can be seized and removed by compliance and enforcement officers.

If you would like to cut firewood on vacant Crown land for personal use, you can obtain a permit by contacting your local Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations office or online at http://www.for.gov.bc.ca/dsc/Permits/Firewood.htm

9th Annual Diversified Agriculture Conference

2012-01-25T06:53:00.000-08:00

9^th Annual Diversified Agriculture Conference
February 22-24, 2012
Davis Conference Center
Layton, Utah

The Diversified Agriculture Conference is designed to benefit agricultural producers who would like more tools to help manage their business. The conference focuses on more than just traditional agriculture, including recreation, tourism, direct marketing, farmers' markets, further processing, etc. For a closer look at the variety of topics covered, see the 2012 draft program or the 2011 participant proceedings book .

Soil Quality Network 2012

2012-01-23T06:53:00.000-08:00

Thursday, February 23, 2012 9:00 a.m. - 6:30 p.m.
Friday, February 24, 2012 8:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.

Doubletree Hotel, Portland, OR

Soil Quality Network 2012 is the first of two workshops planned for agricultural professionals and land managers. Workshop participants will gain an appreciation for the role soil quality plays in crop productivity and the viability of agriculture operations. The workshop will help agriculture consultants and planners develop strategies and actions to support farmers interested in improving soil quality.

On day one, participants will attend a general session plus farm tours and special presentations. Day two includes concurrent sessions where attendees will discover current research, hands-on methods, and state of the art techniques to assess soil quality. Breakout sessions will engage attendees through interactive discussions with researchers, technical specialists and educators, demonstrations of soil assessment methods and experiences with various outreach techniques.

The workshop will include a half-day tour to farm fields where soil management techniques will be viewed and discussed.

For more information click here.

BC sets yearly China lumber export record

2012-01-20T06:55:00.000-08:00

British Columbia has broken another record in lumber exports to China this year - with shipments already surpassing 2010's final year-end record total, announced Pat Bell, Minister of Jobs, Tourism and Innovation.

According to the latest international merchandise trade data released this week by Statistics Canada, lumber exports over the first eight months of the year from BC to China, including Hong Kong, total $746 million. For all of 2010, B.C's lumber exports to the country were worth $687 million.

Forests: The Carbon Conundrum

2012-01-20T06:48:00.000-08:00

From the IUFRO In the coming decades, forests will play a major role in our planet’s carbon cycle and in our efforts to manage the amount of carbon in the atmosphere.

Getting a better understanding of whether that role might be good (a sink, absorbing carbon) or bad (a source, adding carbon to the atmosphere), motivated a study by Yude Pan and colleagues, recently published in Science Express.

The study identifies global forests as the major terrestrial carbon sink (as opposed to grasslands, peatlands or agricultural lands). It is the first such study to base conclusions on forest inventory and land cover data instead of simulation results.

Using data from around the world, the Pan study shows the distribution of carbon sources and sinks, the importance of temperate and boreal forests as sustained sinks and the enormous fluxes (sources and sinks) contributed by tropical forests. But overall, the study shows the forests’ role, at least for now, is positive. They are carbon sinks.

As sinks, they currently absorb about 27% of the 8 billion tons of fossil fuel emissions we emit yearly – giving us an arboreal discount on emissions. Factor in oceans and other terrestrial ecosystems and the total absorption rate goes up to over 50%. Without these natural sinks, the rate of CO2 increase in the atmosphere would be substantially higher.

But part of the reason for this forest sink rests with some one-time occurrences: recovery of European temperate and boreal forest following intensive land use; transformation of large tracts of Eastern European and Russian agricultural land that were abandoned and have since reverted to forest and, in China, some 40 million ha of afforestation – land that had been used for other purposes or was just barren and has now been turned back into forest. It would be difficult to find that kind of spare land again, so that situation is not likely to reoccur. That will make it more difficult to maintain the current sink into the future.

And, should climate change advance too far and forests and other terrestrial ecosystems transform from carbon sinks to carbon sources and begin pumping vast quantities of carbon into the atmosphere, human efforts to mitigate climate change could be overwhelmed.

Read the full article here.

Poor households depend on non-timber forest products in times of crisis

2012-01-19T06:39:00.000-08:00

From the CIFOR Forests Blog

The sale and use of non-timber forest products (NFTPs) is the one of the most common coping mechanisms to help vulnerable households in two of South Africa’s poorest provinces cope in times of crisis, according to a recent study.

The study found that while all of the households that were sampled relied, to some extent, on NTFPs as part of their livelihood portfolio, as many as 70 percent also reported using the safety-net function of NTFPs in response to a range of crises.

Kinship was found to be the top coping strategy chosen by both wealthy and poor households, however poorer household cited the increased use or sale of NTFPs as the second most commonly adopted coping strategy. By comparison high-income households placed NTFPs as the fifth most important coping mechanism in response to crisis.

Woody Biomass Prices Fall in US

2012-01-17T06:54:00.000-08:00

The demand for woody biomass (prices for sawmill byproducts, forest residues and urban wood waste) in the US has decreased over the past three years because fossil fuel prices have stayed ‘relatively low’, says a report from Wood Resources International, although they are still higher at the end of 2011 than they were five years prior.

The fall in demand is mainly due to falling and stable fossil fuel prices, especially that of natural gas, which means there has been a reduced demand for other forms of energy including renewables, which is often more expensive.

Since the beginning of 2010, prices have fallen about 15%-20% in the US south and south central States. However, in regions of the US where the most biomass is consumed, prices have been about $10-$20 per oven dry tonne (odt) higher than national mill biomass average throughout last year.

A contributing factor in the biomass price decline has been log exports to China. All trees need to be debarked before expor to China and this added biomass supply has depressed prices by about 5 - 10%.

Include trees in climate modelling, say scientists

2012-01-16T06:55:00.000-08:00

From SciDev.net

Current climate models and projections may be inaccurate because measurements are based on guidelines that do not include the effects of trees on the local climate, according to agroforestry experts. This in turn may be hindering effective adaptation by local farming communities, as the true effect of climate change on their crops is not accurately captured.

Trees can influence many of the climate factors predicted by modelling, and their effects should be added to climate maps, scientists from the the World Agroforestry Centre (ICRAF) said in a book, How people and trees can co-adapt to climate change, launched in December. According to the book, enhancing tree cover for agricultural purposes is a good adaptation mechanism.

"Modifying tree cover in agricultural landscapes to adjust micro-climates for crops has a long history," the book says, citing examples of Sahel parklands, where trees protect grain crops from excessive heat and maintain soil moisture; South-East Asian coastal zones, where intercropping with coconut has a long tradition; and mountain slopes, where 'shade trees' are used to help with cocoa, coffee or tea farming.

But it adds that "none of this has yet made it into national climate-adaptation planning".
Following the guidelines of the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), global weather stations collect climate data on open ground — away from trees, said Meine Van Noordwijk, an editor of the book. The collected data are then used for climate modelling and projections.

But trees can affect the local climate in a region, for example by reducing the maximum temperature and increasing humidity, said Van Noordwijk. Depending on where the weather station is placed, with respect to the tree canopy, the data may be different and this might produce different results, he said.

"Unfortunately … climate scientists have not made much effort to quantify [the effects of trees]. By not looking at that, we are missing a large opportunity to understand how we can adapt." Rizaldi Boer, executive director of the Centre for Climate Risk and Opportunity Management in Southeast Asia and the Pacific, said that the logic behind the WMO standards was to avoid tree canopy effects on the measurements. Climatologists still include the effects of land coverage around the station in their models, he added.

The ICRAF book also deals more generally with the importance of tree cover for climate change adaptation and rural livelihoods. This was welcomed by Novrida Masli, a climate change policy specialist from Indonesia, who said it could motivate local adaptation.

"Until now, our government has mostly focused on the mitigation, not the adaptation," Masli said, adding that the ideas in this book may help change that.

Webinar: Regenerating species in 2nd growth stands

2012-01-13T06:55:00.000-08:00

Webinar: Regenerating species in 2nd growth stands - are we getting what we expect?

Thursday January 26, 2012
10:30 to 11:30 AM
Alex Woods & Phil Lepage
BC Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations

Regenerating species in 2nd growth stands - are we getting what we expect?
In this webinar Alex and Phil will be presenting results from some of their research, monitoring work, and observations of species composition and conversions in 2nd growth stands in interior and coastal ecosystems. Species shifts can be a result of management choices or natural causes such as ingress, and insects and disease and can have a profound effect on stand yields as well as on future options for forest products from these stands.

Register at: https://event-wizard.com/STAND/0/register/

UC launches Conservation Agriculture Systems Institute

2012-01-12T06:49:00.000-08:00

A diverse group of public and private sector agricultural professionals are joining the University of California to form the Conservation Agriculture Systems Institute (CASI), an organization that will be formally launched at a public meeting Jan. 27 in Clovis, Calif.

“This is the agronomic and ecological equivalent of the ‘moon race’ back in the early 1960s,” said CASI coordinator Jeff Mitchell, a UC Cooperative Extension cropping systems specialist.

The Institute merges two existing University programs – the Conservation Tillage and Cropping Systems Workgroup and the California Overhead Irrigation Alliance – into a single, broad-based initiative.

CASI’s aim is to bring together farmers, business leaders, public agency representatives, university, USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service and environmental group membership to chart long-term goals for sustainable agriculture in the San Joaquin Valley and to develop appropriate conservation agriculture production systems that will achieve these goals.

Conservation agriculture aims to achieve profitable and sustainable agricultural systems and improve the livelihoods of farmers while conserving natural resources. These goals are met through the application of principles that have been widely documented and demonstrated by research and experience as effective features of sustainable production systems.

These principles include:

Minimum soil disturbance
Preservation of residues that provide permanent soil cover
Diverse crop rotations
Use of cover crops
Integrated pest management
Reliance on precision, highly efficient irrigation
Controlled or limited mechanical traffic over agricultural soils

Together, these practices, when optimally employed within a given cropping context or environment, provide a basis for long-term sustainability and are gaining acceptance in many parts of the world as an alternative to both conventional and organic agriculture.

With Good Job Market, MU Center for Agroforestry Offers Online Master's Program in Agroforestry

2012-01-10T06:58:00.000-08:00

To help put more trained professionals in agroforestry, the Center for Agroforestry at the University of Missouri has added an agroforestry focus option to an existing master of science forestry degree. The course is offered through MU Direct Online and designed to help non-traditional students get a forestry education.

The master's curriculum is a 30-credit, non-thesis degree with a 16-credit required core including a professional paper, optional 3-credit field internship and elective course work. In addition to the students admitted to the agroforestry focus program, which must be done through the MU Graduate School, both graduate and undergraduate students from other disciplines are welcome to enroll in individual online courses for credit.

Getting an online education in this area is an easy way for people who already have a job, other commitments or are overseas to attend MU.

"Hundreds of Peace Corps volunteers, for example, work every year on agroforestry-related projects," said Shibu Jose, UMCA director. "This program could provide them with an opportunity to pursue a degree or certificate in agroforestry while working abroad. We are not aware of any similar program in agroforestry elsewhere in the country."

Jose said the master's in forestry with a focus in agroforestry is designed to be a flexible degree to meet the advanced educational goals of a wide range of students, such as professionals working in natural resources who already have an undergraduate degree in a related field. The online master's is open to individuals holding accredited bachelor's degrees who wish to expand their breadth and depth of knowledge in agroforestry.

"We hope to increase enrollment of graduate students in courses related to agroforestry," Jose said. "The ultimate outcome of this project will be 'society-ready graduates' who are capable of making positive changes in the agriculture, natural resources and environmental sectors in the U.S. and elsewhere in the world."

Course options include a core of four courses: Agroforestry Theory, Practice and Adoption; Agroforestry Economics and Policy; Ecological Principles of Agroforestry; and Agroforestry for Watershed Restoration.

2012 BC Community Forests Assoc Conference and AGM

2012-01-09T07:03:00.000-08:00

2012 BC Community Forests Association Conference and AGM
May 24-26, 2012

The conference will be held in the Kootenays, the home of eight community forests. The BCCFA will be celebrating the 10th anniversary of our grassroots organization, so be prepared for some special programming.

Breaking news is that the conference will be held in the Village of Kaslo where the home based offices of the BCCFA staff are located. So plan on joining us and save the dates in your calendars now. Watch for registration and programming details coming in the new year.

For more information click here.

2012 Bigleaf Maple Syrup Festival

2012-01-06T06:52:00.000-08:00

Bigleaf Maple Syrup Festival

Forest Discovery Centre
Duncan, BC
Saturday February 4, 2012
10:00 am - 4:30 pm

Taste maple syrup from Vancouver Island at the Bigleaf Maple Syrup Festival!

Visitors are invited to participate in mini-workshops facilitated by experienced maple syrup producers, including tapping demonstrations, presentations, and displays. This year's event features cooking with local maple syrup and maple foods will be available. The festival features a maple syrup competition with judging by celebrity chefs from Vancouver Island. The evaporator will be running all day so visitors can savour the warm maple aroma of sap and see how syrup is made.

Bigleaf Maple Syrup Festival Schedule:

Explore the sights and aromas of syrup making

Evaporator:
10:00 am - 4:30 pm

Find out more about maple tapping

Tapping Demonstrations:
Every 20 minutes from 10:20 am - 3:20 pm
Approximately 15 minutes long

Maple Syrup Presentations
Approximately 15 minutes long

Taste Local Maple Syrup
10:00 pm - 4:00 pm

Maple Syrup Competition Awards
12:30 pm

Train Rides
10:30 pm - 3:30 pm every half hour
Special Admission Price:
$7 adult/seniors/student/youth
$5 per child (2-12 years)
children under 2 are free

Certified Organic Associations of BC 2012 Conference

2012-01-05T07:07:00.000-08:00

COABC CONFERENCE
Date: February 24‐26, 2012
Location: Best Western Rainbow Country Inn, Chilliwack
Theme: Innovations

COABC’s Conference provides educational and networking opportunities for new and established farmers, as well as the general public. We feature educational topics presented by knowledgeable speakers who are experts in their field. This year’s theme is “Innovations”.

The conference will be organized into three streams:

On-Farm Innovations will explore issues such as wildlife management, the production and use of biochar, permaculture, waste reduction and utilization, simple record keeping and animal welfare;
Alternative Farm Models will focus on different farming models and examine the good, the bad and the ugly. It will look into different forms of cooperative farming, community farming and land leasing arrangements. It will also examine a farm school education program and a Young Agrarians network of new farmers.
Social Justice will focus on issues that are rarely discussed openly in the farming community. It willl examine farm worker housing situations, apprenticeship programs, conflict and nuisance complaints, as well as working with people from First Nations and marginalized communities.

For more information visit: http://certifiedorganic.bc.ca/infonews/conference2012/

Effects of shelterbelts on snow distribution and sublimation

2012-01-03T06:49:00.000-08:00

From: Agroforestry Systems DOI: 10.1007/s10457-011-9466-4

by John Kort, Gary Bank, John Pomeroy and Xing Fang

On the Canadian Prairies and the northern US Great Plains, snow is an important component of annual precipitation, sometimes constituting over 40% of the total, although there is much annual and regional variability. Much of this snow is transported by wind, causing substantial sublimation losses, which are reduced by obstacles and topographic features on the landscape that reduce snow transport and trap snow. Agroforestry configurations trap snow and reduce the amount and distance of snow movement and, because of this, reduce the amount of moisture lost to sublimation. The planning of agroforestry measures should therefore take into account their effects on snow hydrology. In this study, the effects of shelterbelts on snow quantity and distribution are shown over multiple years, including a number of locations in Manitoba and Saskatchewan. Results show that snow transport reached equilibrium in 400 m or less (i.e., that sublimation rates were at their maximum beyond 400 m leeward of a shelterbelt). Also, in a paired landscape inventory, the landscape with shelterbelts had 29% more snow water equivalent (SWE) than the unsheltered landscape. Site-specific meteorological data was used in the Prairie Blowing Snow Model, now a component of the Cold Regions Hydrological Model, to calculate the effects of agroforestry configurations on snow water conservation. Modeled snow distribution agreed well with measured snow at Conquest, Saskatchewan, in the winter of 2009/2010. Using actual weather data for the same location for the period 1996–2011, the model calculated the annual sublimation from 200 m wide fields protected by shelterbelts to be up to 12.5 mm less than similar unsheltered fields.

Applications for 2011-12 Shelterbelt Trees

2012-01-02T08:32:00.000-08:00

The Prairie Shelterbelt Program is Accepting Applications for Free Trees and Shrubs

Rural land owners of 5 acres (2 hectares) or more, in the provinces of Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta and the Peace River Region of British Columbia are eligible to apply for free shelterbelt trees and shrubs from the PFRA to be delivered in 2012.

Applications are accepted from June 1 to March 15 for delivery in early May.

New applicants must submit a copy of current property tax notice or documentation indicating land ownership. All applications are subject to approval and may be refused at the discretion of the Agroforestry Development Centre. While every effort is made to supply eligible applicants with the species and number of plants requested, certain species are occasionally unavailable. In such cases, the Centre makes the best substitution possible.

You will receive a confirmation statement prior to tree delivery.

Application form and details are available here.

Agroforestry Session at the 2012 Hort Growers Short Course

2011-12-30T06:49:00.000-08:00

From the BC Agroforestry Industry Development Initiative

The Lower Mainland Horticulture Improvement Association (LMHIA), with funding from the British Columbia Agroforestry Industry Development Initiative, is pleased to sponsor an agroforestry educational session at the 2012 Horticulture Growers Short Course.

The Horticulture Growers Short Course will be held in partnership with Pacific Agriculture Show, January 26-28, 2012 at the Tradex Exhibition Center (Abbotsford Airport) in Abbotsford, BC.

The Agroforestry Session will take place on Saturday, January 28 from 9 am to 12 pm in the Lobby Room at Tradex. It will be chaired by Dave Trotter, Agroforestry Specialist with the Ministry of Agriculture. The session agenda is as follows:

09:00 - 09:30
Agroforestry Initiative - Current Projects and Funding Opportunities
George Powell, BC Agroforestry Industry Development Initiative
The Agroforestry Initiative has cost-share funding for projects which benefit industry development including demonstrations, workshops etc; Outlines of current and pending projects will be provided.

09:30 - 10:00
Ideas, Opportunities & Resources – An Agroforestry Retrospective
Harold Macy, Headquarters Creek Woodlot, Merville, BC
Harold will provide an overview of the synergies and considerations from his many years of experience managing a woodlot using a forest farming agroforestry systems approach.

10:00 – 10:30
Break
Harold Macy will highlight his new book: “The Four Storey Forest: As Grow the Trees, So too the Heart”.

10:30 – 11:00
Silvopasture and Range Considerations in BC - Pilot Initiatives for a Production Approach
Lisa Zabek, Ministry of Agriculture, Kamloops, BC
Learn about the new steps that are being developed to support silvopasture as a land use option in BC.

11:00 - 11:30
Huckleberries: Management Strategies for Agroforesters
Ali Kennedy, Keefer Ecological Services Ltd., Cranbrook, BC
Ali will look at the variety of berry species along with the biological and management considerations needed to develop an agroforestry system approach to huckleberries.

11:30 – 12:00
Exploring the Possibilities of Integrated Riparian Management in BC
Dave Trotter, Ministry of Agriculture, Abbotsford, BC
Dave will discuss management considerations for the development of an integrated riparian management systems approach to specialty crops on agricultural lands.

For registration information, or to register online, please visit www.agricultureshow.net or phone 604-556-3001 or 604-857-0318.

Registration fees for the entire Horticulture Growers Short Course (including the Agroforestry Session) are $67.00 (by January 9) or $90.00 (after January 9). Registration fees include membership to the LMHIA, attendance at any or all educational sessions, admittance to the Pacific Agriculture Show, admittance to welcome reception and free parking.

Cropland Declining, Urban Land Increasing in US

2011-12-29T06:53:00.000-08:00

A report from the USDA (Economic Information Bulletin No. (EIB-89) 67 pp, December 2011) titled, "Major Uses of Land in the United States, 2007", shows that between 2002 and 2007, total cropland in the United States decreased by 13.8 million hectares. Total land available for grazing declined from 317 million hectares in 2002 to 314 million acres in 2007, continuing a downward trend since the 1940s. The study also notes that urban land acreage quadrupled from 1945 to 2007, increasing at about twice the rate of population growth.

The Rights, Wrongs, and Realities of Pruning

2011-12-27T06:47:00.000-08:00

Pruning trees produces lumber clear of knots, reduces the hazard of fire climbing into crowns, may decrease the transmission of certain diseases, and improves the aesthetic appeal of the stand. But have you ever found yourself shaking your head, wondering “Why can’t I get the pruning done?” Judicious pruning is like being for motherhood and against sin. We are all agreed on it. Why isn’t it getting done?

For whatever reason(s) you prune, it is important that you do it properly so that your objective(s) can be achieved.

This article is a compilation of practical experiences and ideas, contributed by family forest owners throughout Washington State. The purpose is to help you understand the basics of pruning, and to tell their story from a management planning context. For a good “Here’s how-to” guide to pruning, download the WSU Extension bulletin Conifer Pruning Basics for Family Forest Landowners, EB 1984.

Read the full article at Forest Stewardship Notes

Hawthorn Producers Working to Develop New Market

2011-12-23T06:50:00.000-08:00

From the BC Agroforestry Industry Development Initiative

The Naturally Grown Herb & Spice Producers Cooperative (HerbPro), with funding from the British Columbia Agroforestry Industry Development Initiative, is working to enhance the sales of raw hawthorn ingredients and value-added products through natural health products (NHP) practitioners (those using natural health materials as complementary or alternative medicines). This work will support value chain development for agroforestry industry advancement in BC.

There is a significant market challenge for BC agroforestry enterprises involved in the production of herbs and botanicals originating from low-cost, commodity-driven imports from Asia, Eastern Europe and South America. Most Canadian producers of herbs and botanicals have focused on broker/distributor and direct sales, primarily targeted at export markets (Europe and Asia) or small direct-to-consumer sales (via farm gate and e-commerce). However, despite a growing domestic retail market for NHPs, the sector has experienced decreased grower participation over the past 15 years. This is primarily attributed to the lack of perceived market opportunities and low returns on raw material sales, particularly in the commodity marketplace through brokers and distributors where producers may receive 10% or less of the wholesale prices.

However, unique opportunities exist in the largely untapped, NHP practitioner market, particularly for high quality fresh or frozen raw ingredients such as hawthorn. Through a detailed analyses of this sales channel, development work led by HerbPro will provide much needed Canadian data on a new market opportunity for all BC hawthorn producers. In addition, it will explore the potential of value-chain development with NHP practitioners. NHP manufacturers and practitioners are increasingly looking towards local supplies for raw herb materials where they can be assured that suppliers have supply chain control systems in place and can provide a safe supply of accurately identified herbs and botanicals. Together with leveraging the 'buy local' and food security movements, and a forward-thinking approach linking environmental sustainability with health, BC agroforestry producers are well positioned to add value in the practitioner sales channel supply chain and expand their sales opportunities and profitability.

Read the full article here.

Field Windbreak and Living Snow Fence Survey

2011-12-22T06:46:00.000-08:00

The University of Minnesota Extension are interested in learning more about the details regarding field windbreak and living snow fence planted and managed in the US midwest.

You can participate in the survey online by visiting http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=QeiotkvRIiN9TngHDxZBfg_3d_3d

The Ethics of Frankincense and Myrrh

2011-12-20T08:27:00.000-08:00

From the Ecologist

The richly woody scent of frankincense and its close relative, myrrh, has become synonymous with Christmas. They are prized for their fabulous scent and are an essential ingredient in beauty products. But with 90 per cent of the global supply originating in war-torn Somalia, just how ethical can they really be? And with resinous frankincense and myrrh trees becoming ever more rare, is there anything eco-friendly about frankincense Christmas candles at all?

The Horn of Africa, where much of it originates, is plagued with conflict, human rights abuses and corruption. A recent report by the United Nations listed Ethiopia as 174th on the Human Development Index (HDI) while Somalia is absent thanks to a lack of official data. Ethiopia remains one of the poorest countries in the world with an average annual income of just US$170 and almost half of the population (44 per cent) living below the poverty line. In Somalia there has been over 25 years of civil conflict without a state government. Lawlessness has devastated the country and destroyed many of their natural resources.

East African population growth has also had a big impact on the landscape. Farmland expansion, overgrazing, bush encroachment and human-induced fires have all degraded what little fertile soil remains. Frankincense and myrrh can survive in harsh conditions but poorly managed forests and excessive tapping are hastening their demise, according to research conducted by the Centre for International Forestry Research (CIFOR). Desert regions are in a delicate balance; vulnerable to desertification and threatened by climate change. This year’s drought in the Horn of Africa, one of the worst in six decades, has only exacerbated the perilous conditions.

Yet, these countries depend on frankincense and myrrh for their livelihood and are the main suppliers of these raw resins. The frankincense region in northern Somalia, for example, is almost devoid of any other exploitable resources making the industry the third most important source of dollars.
The commercialization of sustainable Non Timber Forest Products (NTFP), including frankincense and myrrh, can help alleviate poverty and improve livelihoods. But organic certification and Fairtrade standards remain difficult or costly to introduce as the source of the commodity (the trees) is often hidden. Shrouded in secrecy, a sustainable supply of these scents is limited. With a severe lack of bargaining power, producers are often helpless.
Read the full article here.

32nd Annual EcoFarm Conference

2011-12-19T08:18:00.000-08:00

The Ecological Farming Association invites you to be a part of EcoFarm 2012

February 1-4, 2012

Pacific Grove, California

www.eco-farm.org

As the oldest and largest ecological agricultural gathering in the West, the EcoFarm Conference meets every year to create, maintain, and promote healthy, safe, and just food farming systems. With over 1,500 attendees, the three days yield myriad opportunities for networking with colleagues, discovering the newest ecological agricultural development and techniques, and building skills for us as individuals and together as a community.

This year there are over 60 workshops featuring a comprehensive array of technical sessions for farmers, ranchers, handlers, marketers, activists, students, and educators. Delicious menu created by Angela Karegeannes of A Fork Full of Earth Organic Catering. Evening events include tastings, mixers, live entertainment, and more. Annual EcoFarm Awards Ceremony on Friday evening celebrates giants in the sustainable agriculture community, always an inspiring event of the conference.

Oregon Introduces Certified Christmas Trees

2011-12-16T07:56:00.000-08:00

From OSU Extension

This season, holiday trees have become a little bit greener with a new sustainability program for Christmas tree farms. Trees from certified farms have met standards for protecting land, water, wildlife and the people who work on the farm. The trees bear a tag identifying their origin as a Socially and Environmentally Responsible Farm (SERF).

“A SERF-certified tree assures you that this real tree is grown using the best and safest methods known,” said Landgren, who helped create the certification program.

To be certified, a farm must develop a plan for all their operations addressing five areas of social and environmental health: biodiversity, soil and water resources, integrated pest management, worker health and safety, and consumer and community relations.

Oregon State Universithy Extension provides training and support to growers in developing their sustainability plans, the Oregon Department of Agriculture conducts independent inspections of the farm, and the Pacific Northwest Christmas Tree Growers Association provides the final certification approval.

Grown on sustainable farms, Christmas trees are cultivated just like other crops; growers plant one or more to replace every tree they harvest. Bondi has been appearing on television in California and the Southwest during the past few holiday seasons, advising consumers on the care of Christmas trees and explaining their “green” virtues: They absorb carbon dioxide and produce life-giving oxygen. They don’t threaten natural forests. They provide wildlife habitat and rural scenery. They’re grown by family farmers. They support local economies. They can be recycled and turned into mulch or compost, so no waste goes into landfills. And they smell heavenly—even the cleverest artificial tree can’t perfume the house with that wholesome fragrance.