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Center for Agriculture

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Sustainable Food and Farming

The Department of Plant, Soil and Insect Sciences created this new concentration in Sustainable Food and Farming in response to growing student demand and emerging job opportunities.  This program prepares students for careers with small, organic and community farms, non-profit advocacy and policy organizations, and educational institutions.  SF&F offers students lots of flexibility in choice of courses, and therefore requires a close working relationship with an academic advisor. For details see:

· the academic requirements,

· some student photos,

· UMass Senior Satisfaction Survey ,

· a short video about the major, and

· our blog.

Contact Professor John M. Gerber, for more information.

Agriculture is thriving once again in Massachusetts, nourished by a trend toward smaller farms, niche marketing, direct sales. For the story, click here.	“Agriculture is the new golf” – opportunities for small farms, organic farms and CSA’s are growing. Check it out here!	Need help getting started farming? Check out the New Entry Sustainable Farming project here.
New farm enterprise class offers students opportunities in practical growing and marketing.  Click HERE	The USDA has just put up a new website, Know your Farmer, Know your Food. Spearheaded by Greenfield native and USDA Deputy Secretary Kathleen Merrigan.	The UMass Sustainable Agriculture class recently visited Sunset Farm which is within “shouting distance of the UMass campus.  See the video story HERE.
Ben Lester of Wheatberry Bakery talks about opportunities in local grain growing HERE.	Richard Heinberg, claims that the U.S. will need 40 to 50 million new farmers to survive the “perfect storm” of: 1) climate change, 2) peak oil, 3) pandemics.  Read HERE.	Read the most recent Food First newsletter focused on food justice here.