House Bill 4100 Would Exempt Roadside Stands From Local Building Codes.
    HB 4100 would exempt temporary roadside stands used for seasonal trade, and which are 1) owned and operated by the landowner, and 2) located on land used for agricultural purposes, from local building codes.  The Bill has been referred to the House Regulatory Reform Committee. 

Members of the House Regulatory Reform committee are:  Crawford (Chair), McBroom (Majority Vice Chair), Denby, McMillin, LaFontaine, Rendon, Yonker, Kelly, Kesto, Haugh (Minority Vice Chair), Abed, Stanley, Dianda, Nathan, Schor.

The Michigan Farm Bureau has taken a stand in favor of the concept of the bill.

On-farm composting workshop:  April 10, 1 to 5pm, Southwest Michigan Research and Extension Center, Benton Harbor.   Participants  learn how to recycle plant waste and make compost on their farm.   Registration deadline Friday, April 5.

Have you been looking for solutions to manage the cull piles and vegetable waste that accumulate at your farm every year? Would you like to find a method other than burning to dispose of brush generated by pruning operations?  Learn how to recycle plant waste and use it to create your own “black gold,” a soil amendment that will increase soil organic matter, provide micronutrients and increase retention of soil moisture.

Led by Michigan State University Extension’s Beth Clawson and MSUE vegetable expert Ron Goldy, this workshop will cover biology and core principles of composting, site design, management and operations, precautions when making and using compost, the economics of composting and troubleshooting.

Handouts and light refreshments are included in the $30 registration cost. Reserve your space in this workshop and register today.  The Southwest Michigan Research and Extension Center is located at 1791 Hillandale Rd., Benton Harbor, Mich. (view map and directions). For questions, contact Diane Brown at the Berrien County MSUE office at 269-944-4126.

For more information, visit http://www.msue.msu.edu.

Beginner Farmer Workshop:  Saturday, April 13, 2013.  Paw Paw, Michigan.

Do you own some land that you want to farm, but aren’t sure where to start?  

Michigan State University Extension is offering So You Want to be a CSA? workshop that is designed for new, beginner, and diversifying famers looking for information and inspiration to get them started in Market Farming or as a CSA.  They will help landowners decide how they may use their property with essential information for the beginning agricultural entrepreneur. This dynamic 1-day immersion workshop will be held on Saturday April 13, 2013 at the Van Buren County Human Services conference room 801 Hazen St., Paw Paw, MI.  The all-day workshop will held 8:30AM to 5PM.

The workshop includes information beginning with: where to start, goal setting, creating a business plan, marketing your produce, financial management, and farming law. We will discuss CSA types, soil basics and veggie and fruit production options. We will also learn more about local foods, farm to institution requirements and food hubs. The cost of the workshop is $150 per person ($250 per couple) which includes all class materials and lunch. Participants should finish this workshop with the tools and framework for a workable business and marketing plan. 

You may register online for the So You Want to be a CSA? workshop at http://events.anr.msu.edu/csa13/ or contact MSU Extension at 269-657-8213 for more information. 

The 98th annual Agriculture and Natural Resources Week, hosted by the Michigan State University College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, is March 2-9.  

Begun in 1982 as Farmers' Week, the event now hosts more than 75 programs and annual association meetings.  The many sessions of possible interest to small-scale farmers include:

Events include:

• Small Flock Poultry Workshop (3/5--presented by MSU Extension/Department of Animal Science)
• Pullorum Certification Workshop (3/5--poultry and game birds except waterfowl and pigeons are required to be blood tested for Pullorum disease before exhibition or movement within the state);
• Michigan Beekeepers Association Conference ( 3/9);
  
• Michigan State Rabbit Breeders Association, Inc., Annual Convention (3/2-3/3);
  
• Michigan Wildflowers Conference (3/3-3/4);
• 84th Michigan State FFA Convention (3/6);
  
• "Small-scale Food Processing and Food Safety Regulations:  Resources, Networks and Guidelines for Current and Prospective Processors" (presented by MDARD and other organizations) (3/4);
  
• Artisanal Cheesemakers' Workshop (3/4).
  

                                                                                                                  
                                                                                                           

Welcome to the blog of the Michigan Small Farm Council!  The Michigan Small Farm Council was established to advocate for small-scale farmers in urban, suburban and rural areas throughout Michigan, and to provide educational and information resources to the small farm community.