Conservation Connection e-blast...the latest news from NRCS Massachusetts
and our partners
Sent via e-mail on October 16, 2009
Certified soil evaluators in
Massachusetts are invited to attend a two-day refresher workshop on “Describing,
Documenting, and Interpreting Soil Conditions within Deep Holes” on Monday,
November 2, 1:00 pm to 5:00 pm at South County Center, Berkshire Community
College, 343 Main Street, Great Barrington, Mass. and Tuesday, November 3rd,
8:30 am to 4:30 pm at the Bennett Farm in Ashley Falls, Mass.
Read more about
the Soil Evaluator Refresher Workshop...
Farmers and forest product business owners who want to learn more about
funding available for renewable energy or energy efficiency projects are invited
to attend one of three free workshops. The workshops will cover financial
incentives available through the state and the United States Department of
Agriculture's 9007 Rural Energy for America Program (REAP), and Environmental
Quality Incentives Program (EQIP), both part of the 2008 federal Farm Bill.
Read more about the energy
workshops...
The Microloan Fund for New England Farmers next application deadline is
November 27th, 2009. Loan applications for amounts ranging from $1,000 to
$10,000, for terms up to five years, will be accepted from prequalified
applicants. Applications will be limited to farms located in Western
Massachusetts (Berkshire, Hampshire, Hampden and Franklin Counties) with a
primary focus on small loans to small-sized farms that use sustainable and
organic methods (or are moving toward them), and that are marketing at least a
portion of their products to local markets.
Read more about
the Microloan Fund...
UMass Extension, Highland Communities Initiative, The Nature Conservancy and
the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation will sponsor an
estate planning seminar with Olivia Boyce-Abel of Family Lands Consulting on
Saturday, November 14th 9:00 am to 3:00 pm at the Hotel Northampton, King St.,
Northampton. This seminar will be a opportunity to learn from one of the
leading experts in the field about how to manage family communication issues in
estate planning and land conservation conversations.
Read more about the land planning
seminar...
 A partnership involving the U.S. Department
of Agriculture, the Massachusetts Department of Fish and Game
and the Division
of Fisheries and Wildlife, Amherst College, and two farmers from the Connecticut
River Valley will help to protect about 40 acres of critical field habitat for
wood turtles, a state listed species of special concern, under an innovative
cooperative agreement.
Read more about wood turtle
protection efforts...
To receive Massachusetts Conservation Connection e-blasts by
e-mail or to be removed from the list, please send an e-mail message to
Diane.Petit@ma.usda.gov.
Helping People Help the Land
NRCS Massachusetts State Office: 451 West Street, Amherst, MA 01002 |
413-253-4350 | fax 413-253-4395 |
www.ma.nrcs.usda.gov
Christine S. Clarke, State Conservationist
Massachusetts Conservation Connection editor:
Diane Baedeker Petit, Public Affairs Officer
NRCS field offices are located at USDA Service Centers in Barnstable,
Greenfield, Hadley, Holden, Pittsfield, Westford and West Wareham.
Visit
www.ma.nrcs.usda.gov for addresses and phone numbers.
USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.
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