2009 Americorps Vista Opportunity

Get hands-on experience in green-collar service! Help promote and implement solutions for sustainable energy consumption in Arkansas. The National Center for Appropriate Technology (NCAT) is currently seeking one AmeriCorps VISTA members to serve in our Fayetteville, Arkansas office. Read more ››

NCAT is hosting a local Electronics Recycling event on 6/30/09

Keeping electronics out of landfills is one of the best ways to reduce carbon footprints and extend the life of area landfills. Recycle this year at NCAT's annual Electronics Recycling Event on Tuesday, June 30th from 10a.m. to 6:30pm at NCAT, located at 3040 Continental Drive in Butte. Learn more »»

NCAT awards $1,500 to Three High School Graduates

The Next Generation Graduation Award provides $500 to graduating high school seniors who are children of NCAT employees. In this year's first round of awards, three students received funding. Two are graduates of Butte High School in Butte, Montana The other recipient is from Prairie Grove High School in Prairie Grove, Arkansas. Learn more »»

NCAT Hoop House Webinar is the Start of a New Series

In May NCAT horticulture specialists Tammy Hinman and Andy Pressman presented NCAT's first online seminar, or webinar. The topic of the May 7 event was Hoop Houses for Extending Your Growing Season. An increasing number of farmers are using these low-cost greenhouses to lengthen the time their crops are available. The free 60-minute webinar drew more than 1,200 registrants. Learn more »»

NCAT Offers Montana Farm Tours

This summer, NCAT is hosting tours at three Montana farms that feature biodiesel and oilseed processing and bio-energy crop production. The tours offer an excellent opportunity to see on-farm demonstrations of oilseed production and crushing from farmers who make and use their own biodiesel and straight vegetable oil (SVO) fuel. Farmers and other can learn about the realities of raising camelina and safflower and processing the oilseeds for fuel and other products. The tours are at two diversified grain farms and a guest ranch.

The next schedued farm tour is: "Camelina Crop for Biodiesel Production" in Geraldine, Montana. Here is an opportunity to see, first-hand, an established camelina crop and receive one-on-one advice from experts in camelina production. Learn more »»

The EQIP Organic Application

The recently announced Organic Initiative within the EQIP offers a significant opportunity for organic and transitioning organic growers to receive financial assistance in implementing conservation practices as part of their Organic Systems Plan or Organic Transitions Plan. The program will be offered each of the next five years; however, future funding levels may depend on the level of participation in the current (May-June 2009) sign-up period. This information should help you in understanding and applying for this initiative in the short term and over the next 6 years.
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New Information for Producers and Consumers of Oilseed Biofuels

NCAT's Innovation grants final reports are now posted online.  These grants were awarded to Montana farmers and ranchers to test out oilseed production and processing, animal feeding or making and using biodiesel or Straight Vegetable Oil (SVO) fuel. The reports offer advice, cautionary tales and promise for those who are interested in advancing oilseed and vegetable oil-based biofuels and other bioproducts in Montana. In addition, a newly updated version of the publication Oilseed Processing for Small-Scale Producers is now accessible online through ATTRA - National Sustainable Agriculture Information Service.