Farmer Events

The Livestock Institute of Southern New England and Bristol Aggie are co-hosting the first annual Southern New England Livestock Conference. The conference will provide a platform to share information on best practices for humanely raising livestock, humane slaughter and processing, and marketing of meat products.

Topics include animal nutrition, soil management for pastures, grazing and pasture management, exploring the rules and regulations for livestock farmers, health care and humane treatment of farm animals, adding value to your meat products, and much more.

There will be more than 20 different seminars including talks for all levels from those interested in getting animals for the first time to established livestock farmers.

Visit the Expo with vendors representing all aspects of livestock production: feed, fencing, financing and more. Beginning and experienced producers, small-scale farmers, homesteaders, chefs, foodies, youth, and consumers - All are welcome!

Registration is $25 and only $10 for students. Visit www.thelivestockinstitute.org to reserve your spot today.

Do you want help better understanding the food safety principles behind your process? Do you need help with product development for a current or future product? Propel your food business to the next level by delving into product development and food safety with Amanda Kinchla, of the UMASS Food Science Department, an expert on HACCP […]

This ​course ​will ​train ​food ​processors ​principles ​of​ acidification, ​and ​container ​closure ​evaluation ​programs ​for ​ low-acid ​and ​acidified ​canned ​foods ​as ​required ​by ​FDA ​ regulations ​in ​CFR ​108, ​113 ​and ​114. ​The ​purpose ​of ​these regulations ​is ​to ​help ​ensure ​the ​safety ​of ​consumers ​by training ​producers. ​This ​course ​will ​satisfy ​both ​USDA ​and ​FDA regulatory ​requirements. This ​event ​is ​sponsored ​by ​Umass ​Extension, ​Department ​of ​ Food ​Science ​and ​Grocery ​Manufacturers ​Association ​(GMA ​Science). Click here to register!

If you’re interested in starting a farm enterprise, or know someone who is, tune into Business Basics for Beginning Farmers as Chris Laughton, Director of Knowledge Exchange at Farm Credit East, and Gary Matteson, Vice President for Young, Beginning, Small Farmer Programs and Outreach at the Farm Credit Council, cover some business management concepts important […]

This ​training ​will ​introduce ​basic ​produce ​safety ​concepts ​and ​ practices, ​and ​will ​help ​growers ​understand ​and ​implement ​FSMA ​ Produce ​Safety ​Rule ​requirements ​and ​prepare ​ ​to ​write ​a ​farm  ​food ​safety ​plan. ​Sections ​of ​the ​FSMA ​Produce ​Safety ​Rule ​ requirements ​will ​be ​outlined ​within ​each ​module. ​ ​This ​ workshop ​will ​satisfy ​the ​FSMA ​Produce ​Safety ​Rule ​requirement ​ for ​growers ​who ​are ​covered ​by ​FSMA ​outlined ​in ​§ ​112.22(c) ​ that ​requires ​‘At ​least ​one ​supervisor ​from ​the ​farm ​must ​ complete ​food ​safety ​training ​at ​least ​equivalent ​to ​the ​ standardized ​curriculum ​recognized ​by ​the ​FDA’. ​ ​The ​AFDO ​ certificate ​demonstrates ​you ​have ​met ​this ​requirement. Day ​1 ​(Nov. ​16) ​of ​this ​event ​is ​for ​both ​growers ​and ​ trainers ​who ​are ​seeking ​to ​become ​certified​. ​​Ag. ​service ​ providers ​and ​trainers ​must ​also ​attend ​Day ​2 ​if ​seeking ​to ​ become ​a ​Produce ​Safety ​Alliance ​(PSA) ​Trainer. Find more info and register here.

An interactive workshop on opportunities for food and beverage processors to reduce operating costs, improve operations and prevent pollution through energy efficiency and renewable energy, waste reduction, and safer cleaning and sanitizing materials. The workshop will highlight brief case studies of food and beverage processing companies that have made environmental improvements in their facilities; introduce […]