Grass-roots farm environmental group to meet in Boelus

The third annual membership meeting of the Nebraska Environmental Action Coalition (NEAC) is set for Saturday, Aug. 23, in the Boelus Auditorium.

The meeting will begin at 9 a.m.

NEAC is a growing, grass-roots network of Nebraskans who share an interest in building a sustainable quality of life for all who live in the state, rural and urban.

NEAC has received a $60,000 grant from the Sustainable Responsible Agriculture Project. The grant will allow the group to inaugurate new projects and expand its network. At Saturday's meeting, NEAC will hear suggestions and ideas on mutual goals and how to pursue them.

The day's schedule:

9 a.m. -- Sign-ins and networking.

9:30 a.m. -- Welcome by board president Ted Thieman of Petersburg.

10 a.m. -- Dr. Bill Weida, director of the Sustainable Responsible Agriculture Project, will talk about trends in food production and opportunities for changes in the way consumers make food choices.

10:30 a.m. -- Graham Christensen, Nebraska Farmers Union, will discuss advantages of wind energy and how his organization is promoting it, as well as Farmers Union's carbon credit program.

Noon -- Light lunch, provided by Whitefoot Grocery Store in Boelus. Free will offerings will be accepted and appreciated.

1 p.m. -- Jim Goeke, UNL Extension hydrogeologist, will make a presentation on Nebraska's water, its past, present and future.

2:30 p.m. -- Jim Knopik of North Star Neighbors and Roy Guisinger of Belgrade will update participants on Nebraska's new food cooperative.

3 p.m. -- Break.

3:30 p.m. -- Troxl Miner of Wakefield, NEAC Board of Directors, will make a presentation on the "Hound," a machine that can measure the gases emitted by confined animal feeding operations. This information can be useful to citizens and local decision makers.

4 p.m. -- Diane Schroeder, NEAC executive director, will present a proposal for a mobile red meat processing unit.

4:30 p.m. -- Ted Thieman will lead a discussion on creating an NEAC award

5 p.m. -- Adjourn.

People who plan to attend are asked to contact Diane Schroeder at either (402) 549-2249 or (402) 641-3652 so an estimate can be made for lunch meals.

If you have questions on NEAC or the meeting, call Schroeder or Laura Krebsbach at (402) 475-0185.