Amid a maelstrom of reactions to the Sunday night passage of national health care legislation, local policymakers and health industry advocates have begun indentifying some specifics that could shake up the debate in Massachusetts.

USDA Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) Training Program-April 14th, 2010 from 1:00pm to 5:00pm at the UMass South Deerfield Research Farm, River Road, So. Deerfield, MA.

FMCSA issued a limited 90-day waiver from the federal hours-of-service (HOS) regulations for the transportation of anhydrous ammonia.

For agricultural/food enterprises located in the Connecticut River Valley region of Western Massachusetts, Pioneer Valley Grows is offering new loan options and creative financing opportunities for enterprises that help bring more local food to markets adn fill food system infrastructure gapas in the Pioneer Valley.

The Joint Committee on Municipalities and Regional Government has voted to send HB 3818-An Act Regulating the Keeping of Swine in the Town of Tewksbury, to study.

Nobody understands farming better than farmers.  They are working day in and day out to address the many challenges and opportunities in cutting producion costs, trying out new ideas and improving the bottom line on their farms.

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This new Massachusetts USDA GAP's online program is offered in collaboration with UMass, DAR and the Cornell University National GAP's Program.  The first online course will start on March 10, 2010.  The cost is $50.  See below to sign up:

New England Farm Energy Conference
March 15-16, 2010
Radisson Conference Center, Manchester, NH

This two day event will include concurrent workshop tracks, one geared toward Oilseed Production, and another focused on Greenshouse Energy Efficiency and Conservation.

Registration is $25 per day

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March 20, 2010, Worcester State College, Worcester, Massachusetts.  Contact Irene Winkler at 508.295.1317 x130, irene.winkler@ma.usda.gov or register at www.massagcom.org, click on the oval "Statewide AgCom Conference, March 20, Learn More."

The Hannaford stores in Massachusetts are in the process of removing milk coolers from the check out line.  A call to the referenced telephone number in the pdf link below will pay big dividends.  Corporate has been apprised to expect a multitude of calls, please don't disappoint them.

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Northeast Harvest Ag Day March 30, 2010 at Topsfield Fair Grounds.