Our thoughts are with our Canadian friends and neighbors amidst the devastating wild fires impacting tens of thousands of people and acres. Please use/share this link for current information and resources. This week we’re sharing a reminder about emergency preparedness as many of us approach the start of hurricane season. For those of you who are interested in cover crops, read on for a unique opportunity to be part of a fall trial. We’re also sharing a new blog post from a fellow AGW-certified producer in Australia and a reminder about labeling assistance grants. Thanks for reading!

For Cover Crop Enthusiasts

The Cover Crop Variety Testing Network is seeking farmers to join their team as citizen scientists this fall. Partnering farms will receive cover crop seed to grow variety trials in their own fields, monitor throughout the season and help identify which varieties perform best across different regions, management practices and farming systems. Space is limited, so sign up by June 15.

Hurricane Preparedness

Hurricane season begins June 1st and runs through November 30th. In recent years, many farmers, ranchers, and landowners have been significantly impacted by hurricanes and extreme weather events. We advise as much advance preparation as possible along with familiarizing yourself with recovery resources. The latest information from the USDA can be found here, AGW’s emergency planning templates (in the species-specific health plans) can be found here. If AGW-certified farmers are impacted by weather, we encourage you to be in touch for assistance.

Featured Resource: Grove New World

Hear from AGW-certified producer, Campbell Mercer, who manages Manna Hill Estate, a family-run, dryland olive grove near Mount Egerton in Victoria’s Central Highlands. In this blog post, originally featured in the most recent issue of Sustainable Farming, Campbell outlines some of the ways he has developed strategies to ensure resilience to extreme weather and the impacts of climate change.

REMINDER – Labeling Assistance Grants, APPLY NOW!

For a limited time, AGW is offering grants to support producers in the process of incorporating AGW logos on their products (ex: label printing costs, branded egg carton purchases, slaughter plant fees for adding AGW logos to label, etc.). The maximum grant is $500 per operation and is only available for animal products holding AGW certifications marketed in Canada and the U.S. Operations must be certified and in good standing to receive funding, and funding is available on a first-come, first-served basis. Please contact Marketing Services Coordinator, Callie Casteel, at callie for information on how to apply.

In the News

• Star Gazette featured Fieldstone Acres in Campbell, NY in “This Corning restaurant makes the best burger in New York state. What’s its secret?”

• Journal-Standard featured Gretta’s Goats in Pecatonia, IL in “16 things to do in and around Freeport.”

• Consumed featured Certified Animal Welfare Approved by AGW in “Chicken: A Buying Guide.”

• RegenBrands featured El Nacho in Waltham, MA (made with Certified Regenerative by AGW corn) in “Joseph Cassinelli @El Nacho – Tortilla Chips reimagined Through Lucha Libre & Regenerative Ag.”

• Olive Oil Times featured California Olive Ranch in Chico, CA (AGW certifies California Olive Ranch-managed farms as Certified Regenerative by AGW) in “The Ongoing Controversy of Flavored Olive Oils.”

• Ag Proud featured Pigeon River Farm in Clintonville, WI in “Forage tools take flight.”

You can help us reach more farmers by sharing our weekly farmer updates. Just pass this linkalong and thanks for helping us get the word out about farmer resources and AGW-certified businesses.