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Good Agricultural Practices (GAPs) Trainings

Many farmers are seeking information about good agricultural practices in response to recent outbreaks associated with produce. This course will provide specific information regarding on-farm produce food safety (Good Agricultural Practices, GAPs).

Several commodity groups have established guidelines for good agricultural practices; however, differences in recommendations leave producers wondering how to proceed. Speakers represent a multi-disciplinary group of WSU faculty and regulatory agencies and will offer science-based information.

A two-series workshop will be offered. Session 1 will provide a GAPs overview and initial guidance on implementing on-farm food safety practices. Session 2 will offer participants the opportunity to work with speakers to address food safety issues specific to their farming system. Session 2 information will be provided at a later date.

All GAPs I attendees need to visit the food safety website for registration and updated information: http://foodsafety.wsu.edu/

Session I

January 26, 2010 @ WSU Snohomish County Ext. Cougar Auditorium, 600 128th St SE, Everett, WA 98208-6353

Session II

March 1, 2010 @ Quality Inn & Conference Center, 1700 Canyon Rd, Ellensburg, WA 98926

March 2, 2010 @ St Philip Neri Parish, 2408 SE 16^th Ave, Portland, OR 97214

March 8, 2010 @ WSU Snohomish County Ext. Cougar Auditorium, 600 128th St SE, Everett, WA 98208-6353

March 9, 2010 @ WSU Whatcom County Extension, 1000 N. Forest Street, Suite 201, Bellingham, WA 98225

This material is based upon work supported by USDA/CSREES under Award Number 2007-49200-03892. Funding for Good Agricultural Practices workshops was awarded to a team of Washington State University faculty by the Washington State University Western Center for Risk Management Education and the USDA Cooperative State Research Education and Extension Service (CSREES).

For more information contact:

GAPS: Karen Killinger, Ph.D.

WSU Assistant Professor

Phone: (509)335-2970 Email: karen_killinger@wsu.edu

Registration: Cathy Blood

Conference Coordinator

Phone: (509)335-2845

Email:blood@wsu.edu

Posted by Elliot on January 21st, 2010

2010 Country Living Expo

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Straight from our inbox to you:

The 2010 Country Living Expo & Cattlemen’s Winterschool will offer something for everyone, with more than 135 class offerings to choose from.

Classes will cover a broad range of topics, ranging from how to raise honeybees, design a drip irrigation system for your yard, prune your fruit trees, to learning the palatability control points for raising grass-fed livestock. Other popular classes will cover raising a variety of livestock, selecting the right tractor, tapping into renewable energy sources, making cheese, and spinning fiber.

The 2010 Country Living Expo & Cattlemen’s Winterschool will be held on Saturday, Jan. 30, from 7:30 am to 5:00 pm, at Stanwood High School, 7400 272^nd Street N.W. in Stanwood.

According to Joan DeVries, Livestock Advisor Program Coordinator with Washington State University Skagit County Extension, last year’s Country Living Expo attracted more than 800 participants.

“This is a very popular event and it’s not just for small-scale farmers and ranchers, it has got something of interest for anyone interested in learning skills associated with country living, including the urban backyard gardener,” she said. “Given the popularity of the event, we encourage people to register early.”

Early registration is available until Dec. 31. The cost is $50 per person and includes a selection of five class sessions from the more than 135 offerings, a smoked prime rib lunch and an all-day trade show. After Dec. 31 the cost will be $55 per person.

Thanks to Northwest Farm Credit Services and the Snohomish County Farm Bureau, the first 125 youth to sign up will receive free registration.

Details, including the day’s full schedule, a listing and description of classes, registration information and access to online registration are available at http://skagit.wsu.edu/CountryLivingExpo/.

Events sponsors, small farm vendors and non-profits are welcome to part of the trade show. For more information contact Program Coordinator, Joan DeVries 428-4270, ext. 240.