Around Marin County - June 2011

Marin Farm News:

Callahan Family of Bellwether Farms named Sonoma County Fair's Rancher of the Year. The Callahan family will receive the J.W. Jamison Perpetual Trophy during the Farmers Day program on August 7 in the Chris Beck Arena of the Sonoma County Fairgrounds.
Marin County Beekeepers team up with Penn State for 2012 Pollen Study. In 2012, the Marin Pollen Project, in conjunction with Maryann Frazier from Penn State, will conduct a study to assess pesticide use and potential impacts on pollinators in urban environments in Marin County. Go to http://www.marinpollen.org or email info@marinpollen.org.
Point Reyes Farmstead Cheese Company’s Point Reyes Original Blue Cheese is Sofi Award Silver finalist for Outstanding Dairy Cheese or Dairy Product. Winners will be announced on July 11, 2011, at the Summer Fancy Food Show in Washington, D.C., in a red-carpet ceremony hosted by celebrity chef Cat Cora. Read more at http://foodspring.com/sofiawards/silver/.
Cowgirl Creamery’s seasonal artisan cheese tours resumed in April at their Petaluma creamery. Point Reyes tours continue year-round. Check Cowgirl’s website to sign up or get more details: http://www.cowgirlcreamery.com/tours.asp. For more information, group tours and scheduling, call or email Vivien at 866.433.7834, vstraus@cowgirlcreamery.com.

Publications and Websites:

New UCCE cost studies, including “Sample Costs to Establish a Medium Density Olive Orchard and Produce Bottled Olive Oil, 2011, North and Central Coasts,” are available at http://coststudies.ucdavis.edu, at UC Cooperative Extension offices, or by calling 530-752-6887.
A team of University researchers 2010 National Research Council report, “Toward Sustainable Agricultural Systems in the 21st Century,” is available online at http://books.nap.edu/openbook.php?record_id=12832&page=R1.
UC has published a guide for dairy manure management: “Manure Treatment Technologies: Anaerobic Digesters: http://anrcatalog.ucdavis.edu/pdf/8409.pdf
UC has published a revised Small Farm Handbook. The 2011 edition of the “Small Farm Handbook” costs $25, plus applicable tax, shipping and handling. It can be ordered online from the UC ANR Catalog at http://anrcatalog.ucdavis.edu.