Released in 2012, this innovative tool makes harvesting salad greens significantly more efficient, while maintaining control over cutting height and complete maneuverability across sections.  Weighing 6.5 lbs, it's powered using a cordless drill, adding a few more pounds. Buy direct from Farmers Friend LLC for $559. Johnny's Selected Seeds also sells parts for the Quick Cut Greens Harvester.

Watch a demonstration of the harvester here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OPIfw5_WoLU

This year, the value added grant program is well funded at $44 million, compared to years past at $16-18 million. This makes it a great opportunity for you!  Small farms and beginning farmers are strongly encouraged.

I am happy to assist you in developing your ideas, editing the grant, etc.  Please don't hesitate to reach out. 

The National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition has generated a grower-friendly guide- recommended. 

USDA Value Added Producer Grants

What does this program do?

The VAPG program helps agricultural producers enter into value-added activities related to the processing and/or marketing of bio-based, value-added products. Generating new products, creating and expanding marketing opportunities, and increasing producer income are the goals of this program. You may receive priority if you are a beginning farmer or rancher, a socially-disadvantaged farmer or rancher, a small or medium-sized farm or ranch structured as a family farm, a farmer or rancher cooperative, or are proposing a mid-tier value chain. Grants are awarded through a national competition. Each fiscal year, applications are requested through a notice published in the Federal Register and through an announcement posted on Grants.gov.

Program Funding: $44 million
Maximum Grant Amount: $75,000 for planning grants; $250,000 for working capital grants
Matching Funds Requirements: 50% of total project costs

Due: June 24, 2016 (electronic submissions)

Who may apply for this program?

Independent producers, agricultural producer groups, farmer- or rancher-cooperatives, and majority-controlled producer-based business ventures are eligible to apply for this program.

 How may funds be used?

Grant and matching funds can be used for planning activities or for working capital expenses related to producing and marketing a value-added agricultural product. Examples of planning activities include conducting feasibility studies and developing business plans for processing and marketing the proposed value-added product. Examples of working capital expenses include:

• Processing costs
• Marketing and advertising expenses
• Some inventory and salary expenses

—University of California Cooperative Extension—

Yolo, Solano and Sacramento Counties

EXTENSION MEETING

2016 Organic, Fresh Market Tomato

Production

Wednesday, February 24, 2016

8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

**Norton Hall—Yolo County**

70 Cottonwood St. Woodland, California

8:30 – 9:00           Registration and light refreshments (no charge)

9:00 – 9:15           Introduction to the new UCCE Small Farms Advisor program

                              Margaret Lloyd, UC Cooperative Extension, Yolo, Solano and Sacramento Co.

9:15 – 9:30           Understanding Verticillium wilt for management

                              Margaret Lloyd, UC Cooperative Extension, Yolo, Solano and Sacramento Co.

9:30 – 10:00         Integrated management of thrips and tomato spotted wilt virus in

                              California crops

                              Ozgur Batuman, Dept of Plant Pathology, University of California at

                             Davis              

10:00 – 10:30       Living with Fusarium wilt

                              Thomas Gordon, Dept of Plant Pathology, University of California at Davis

10:30 – 11:00       Break

                             Michelle Lawson, Yolo County Certified Organic Inspector, Agricultural      

                             Commissioners Office, Yolo County will be available

11:00 – 11:30       Grafting heirloom tomatoes

                              Frank Louws, Dept of Plant Pathology, North Carolina State University

11:30 – 12:00       Principles of nitrogen management in organic fresh market tomatoes

                              Daniel Geisseler, Cooperative Extension Specialist, Department of Land, Air and

                              Water Resources, University of California at Davis

12:00 – 12:30       Russet and spider mites on tomatoes

                              Frank Zalom, Dept of Entomology, University of California at Davis

Questions, contact Margaret Lloyd, mglloyd@ucanr.edu, 530-564-8642

Continuing education credits are requested. Norton hall and restrooms are handicap accessible.

It is the policy of the University of California and the UC Division of Agriculture & Natural Resources not to engage in discrimination against or harassment of any person in any of its programs or activities. Inquiries regarding ANR's nondiscrimination policies may be directed to Linda Marie Manton, Affirmative Action contact. Complete nondiscrimination policy statement can be found at http://ucanr.edu/sites/anrstaff/files/187680.pdf.