August 27, 2010

Join in a day-long tour of ag operations in southeast Nebraska to learn about CSAs (Community Support Agriculture); organic crop and livestock production; free range poultry and eggs; vegetable, herb, honey, and flower production; and cheese making. You also will learn about Farmers Markets and direct marketing of products. The 2010 Southeast Nebraska Diversified Ag Tour will be Friday, Sept. 10.

Participants can join the provided tour transportation at one of five sites.

Tour Stops

8:30-9:45 a.m. — Sunny Slope Farm, Filley. Merlin and Rita Friesen operate a CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) in which persons can buy shares. They raise organic vegetables and strawberries and produce honey, free range eggs, and have pastured broilers and turkeys. They are in the process of developing an orchard, berry fruits, and grass-finished beef.

11:00-1:00 p.m. — West Blue Farm, Milford. Dave and Deb Welsch, along with their children, Ben and Rebecca, have been direct marketing farm fresh meat since 1990 and growing organic crops since. All the beef is raised on the farm since birth, and the chickens are brought in at one day of age. Lunch is included at this stop.

1:30-3:00 p.m. — Shadow Brook Farm, Denton. The Loth family will show their small, family-owned, certified-organic specialty vegetable and herb farm. They offer cut-flowers, grass-based beef cows, compost, and dairy goats which provide milk for the Dutch Girl Creamery Artisan cheese production. They sell CSA shares and sell their products at five farmers markets, local grocery stores, and restaurants.

3:30-4:30 p.m. — Branched Oak Farm, Raymond. Doug and Krista Dittman, along with sons Nelson and Andreas, own and operate this 230-acre dairy farm. Their primary focus is certified organic, grass-based dairy cows, which provide the milk used in producing cheeses made on the farm.

In addition, Gary Lesoing, UNL extension educator, will provide information on the Farm Beginnings Program and work by UNL extension and SARE (USDA Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education) with the local food systems, diversified agriculture and the Rural Advantage/Healthy Farms Conference.

Carpooling Pick-up and Drop-off Schedule

Participants are invited to drive to the closest carpooling site by the pickup time listed. Transportation will be provided from the carpooling sites to the tour stops. Times may be subject to slight changes.

• Hickman, 6 a.m., 5:30 p.m. – meet on the north side of Subway
• Falls City, 6:45 a.m., 7:15 p.m. -- meet on the north side of the Courthouse
• Nebraska City, 7 a.m., 7 p.m. – meet at the Kimmel Education and Research Center
• Auburn, 7:30 a.m., 6:30 p.m. – meet on the north side of the Courthouse
• Tecumseh, 8 a.m., 6 p.m. – meet on the north side of the Courthouse

Registration

Registrations are required by Sept. 3. Cost is $20 and includes transportation and lunch. To register, send the completed registration form and payment to one of these extension offices:

UNL Extension, Nemaha County Courthouse
Gary Lesoing, Extension Educator
1824 N St.
Auburn, NE 68305

UNL Extension, Johnson County Courthouse
Jessica Jones, Extension Educator
P.O. Box 779
Tecumseh, NE 68450

UNL Extension, Richardson County Courthouse
Lindsay Chichester, Extension Educator
1700 Stone St.
Falls City, NE 68355

UNL Kimmel Education and Research Center
Vaughn Hammond
5985 G Road
Nebraska City, NE 68410