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Local Schools Eating Local Foods; Food Conference March 15

The Record-Eagle has this report on how local schools are increasing their uses of local foods to feed their students.
"Janis Groomes knows what it takes to convince kids to eat their vegetables. Locally grown cucumbers, parsnips, squash, asparagus and kale have all been used in meals at Northport Public School, where Groomes is food service [...]

Wireless Chickens and Michigan's future as a hop haven?

The Detroit News has this article about a study that will hook chickens up to a "mountable wireless system":
"Michigan State University has plucked a $375,000 federal grant to study the habits of commercial egg-laying hens by using wireless sensors to track "activity profiles." That's academic speak for how the hens pass the time when not [...]

Food Conference Offers Scholarships

The "Farm to School: Setting the Table for Wellness" conference is offering scholarships to students of Northwest Lower Michigan schools.
In a press release issued yesterday, the conference organizers announced:
Schools in northwest Lower Michigan have until Feb. 22 to take full advantage of significant scholarships that cover registration costs and substitute pay for sending seven people [...]

"Michigan is fermenting a juicy new romance"

Just in time for Valentine's Day, here is a story about Michigan's ever popular wine industry from Metromode:
"Michigan wines have got their own love scene going. With the world at their feet, Travel + Leisure magazine editors chose Michigan's wine country as one of the 50 Best Romantic Getaways for 2010. Eat your heart out, [...]

Northern Michigan Small Farm Conference Draws Record Crowd

The 11th Annual Northern Michigan Small Farm Conference (NMSFC) hosted over 730 people, setting a record for its two day event held last month (Jan 29, 30). Stan Moore, County Extension Director for the Antrim County MSU Extension office, said that there was a great turnout of vendors as well, with sixty vendors attending the [...]

Farming News Roundup: Viticulture at NMC, Free-Range Chickens, Buckley's Organic CSA, & Food Safety Op-Ed

Here is a look at farming news making headlines in the region:
The Record-Eagle has this story on Northwest Michigan College's new viticulture program:
"Northwestern Michigan College will partner with Michigan State University and Missouri State University to offer the area's first viticulture certificate. The program offers an option to complete an associate's degree and will begin [...]

Cherry Farming Upgrades to Web 2.0

Like cherries? Soon you may be able to follow cherries, and the local farmers who grow them, on Twitter and other social media.
The Record-Eagle has this story on how cherry growers are upgrading to Web 2.0:
"The region's Wi-Fi-capable growers, and texters alike, can make a pruning cut in the orchard, take a photograph, and send [...]

Event: The Promise of Gardens

The Food and Farming Working Group would like to remind you of an upcoming event: "The Promise of Gardens: How Gardens Build Community, Feed us All and Reconnect us to Nature."
The event asks: How do gardens help us build community and educate our kids? How can we use gardens to connect us to nature, improve our diet [...]

January 29-30: Northern Michigan Small Farm Conference

The 11th annual Northern Michigan Small Farm Conference will be held January 29 & 30, 2010 at the Grayling High School.
It is an event that draws together small-scale farmers, farming families, local vendors, alternative farmers and people who get a kick out of farming.
The Record-Eagle reports that:
As the local agriculture movement continues to flourish in [...]

New Law Would Allow Local Wine Sales at Farmers Markets

Michigan wineries are big business. And if a new law passes, wineries would be able to set up wine tastings at local farmers markets.
The Record-Eagle has this report:
Emily Beutel is a communications specialist for East Lansing-based Michigan Food and Farming Systems, a nonprofit agricultural organization. She said the legislation would help wineries increase brand recognition [...]