EVENTS
Date: June 21, 2018, 6-9:30pm
Location: Picnic Point
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Date: July 12, 2018, 8:30am-3pm
Location: Hughes Farms, Janesville, WI
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Date: July 27, 2018, 9:20am
Location: Spring Green, WI
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SUCCESS STORIES
As older farmers retire, fewer young farmers are stepping in to take their place. The number of beginning farmers dropped 20 percent in the last five-year census period, and the average US farmer now tops 58 years of age.
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CIAS supports innovative graduate student research addressing the challenges faced by small- and medium-sized farms and food businesses. Awarded annually, our competitive mini-grants aid students as they initiate their research in sustainable agriculture and food systems.
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Analysis of Water Quality Impact of Windrow Composting
Composting is an ancient and cost-effective way to speed the decomposition of manure by piling it in rows and turning it regularly to aerate. For the last two years, three members of Yahara Pride Farms have been working with UW-Madison to determine whether composting can lead to reductions in phosphorus (P) runoff loads from their farms.
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Beginning Farmer Programs at CIAS
The Center for Integrated Agricultural Systems has been running intensive workshops for beginning farmers since 1995. Our schools, taught by experienced farmers, are packed with practical, how-to information, insights, inspiration, and a dose of the sometimes harsh realities involved in making a living from the land.
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Exploring Demand, Distribution and Infrastructure Needs for Local Food in Madison
CIAS co-hosted a meeting with the City of Madison to convene Madison-area food buyers, including restaurant groups, institutions, grocery retailers, area distributors, and allied professionals.
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Wisconsin Workers’ Rights Reference Cards
These reference cards summarize basic rights for farmworkers and food workers. Feel free to download, print and disseminate the printer-friendly versions, which are designed as double-sided, tri-fold cards.
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Hard Cider in the North Central Region: Industry Survey Findings
A growing hard apple cider industry in the U.S. has the potential to contribute to local, sustainable food systems. In order to better understand this resurgent industry, CIAS surveyed hard apple cider businesses across 12 states in the North Central Region.
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Farms and Food For the Future: CIAS 2016 Annual Report
In 2016, CIAS was honored to work with many dedicated partners as we furthered our research, education and outreach in sustainable agriculture and food.
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Wisconsin Farm to School Success Story: Plymouth High School Food Science and Agriculture Center
It all started with a small group of educators and a big idea: “What if our high school could grow its own food? What if we could create a state-of-the-art facility and a place for community learning?” recalls Jessica Mella, Plymouth School District’s Nutrition and Wellness Coordinator.
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Wisconsin Farm to School Success Story: Sheboygan Falls Farm to High School
Farm to school typically conjures images of a young child tasting their first cherry tomato, excitedly digging up a carrot, or squeamishly holding a red wriggler worm. But farm to school can also involve high school agriculture students engaged in hands-on soil science experiments, talented culinary students developing new recipes, and creative entrepreneurs selling produce grown at their schools.
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