Category Archives: Atop the Fence Post

New USDA Program, Other Assistance, About to Kick in for America’s Dairy Industry

Posted on June 21, 2019 by cassiebable

By Richard Fordyce, Farm Service Agency Administrator  Each June, we celebrate National Dairy Month! Since 1937, this month has been set aside to mark the importance of the dairy industry and the products it produces to America’s agricultural sector and … Continue reading →

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County Committees – Agriculture’s Roots to FSA

Posted on June 14, 2019 by cassiebable

By Jocelyn Benjamin, USDA The nomination period for the USDA Farm Service Agency’s annual county committee election begins today and runs through Aug. 1, 2019. Throughout the nomination period, we’ll introduce you to county committee members across the nation. This … Continue reading →

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Teaming Up for Success in the Dairy Business

Posted on June 12, 2019 by cassiebable

By Donna Olinger, FSA Jim and Terri Elgin took a leap of faith when they purchased their Orange County, Virginia, farm in 2002.  They had been involved in a family farming operation in Fauquier County when they decided to venture … Continue reading →

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At the Crossroads of Hope and Farmers

Posted on June 7, 2019 by cassiebable

By Heather Emmons, USDA Savannah Gates is a hydroponic farmer in Amarillo, Texas, who literally lives at the crossroads of Hope and Farmers — and lives by the connection of those words, too.  Her path in life hasn’t been straight, … Continue reading →

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Arizona Ranch on the Road to Recovery after Weathering Extreme Drought

Posted on May 31, 2019 by cassiebable

By Arnie Schlittenhart, Arizona Farm Service Agency Last November, Al Thomas surveyed the barren rangeland on his Silver Spur Ranch, located near the Tolani Lake Chapter of the Navajo Nation in north-central Arizona. Just 18 months earlier, Al had enough green forage … Continue reading →

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The Show Stopper

Posted on May 24, 2019 by cassiebable

By Megan Downing, Indiana Farm Service Agency Payton Farmer recent high school graduate from Brownstown, Indiana, hit the cattle show circuit with her heifers and has started a strong foundation for her herd. Leading Miss Macy It all started with … Continue reading →

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Montana Student Builds Independence with FSA Youth Loans

Posted on May 17, 2019 by cassiebable

By Lacy Roberts, Farm Service Agency When Grace Rooney took out her first youth loan with USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) at the age of 10, she didn’t quite know where it would lead. Now, five years later, she has … Continue reading →

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Oyster Farmer Raises the Bar

Posted on May 10, 2019 by cassiebable

By Leila Naylor, Rhode Island Farm Service Agency Perry Raso is the owner of Matunuck Oyster Bar in South Kingstown, Rhode Island, where he serves oysters and vegetables fresh from his farm. This farm-to-table restaurant shucks thousands of oysters year-round … Continue reading →

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Growing a Garden with Microloans

Posted on May 3, 2019 by cassiebable

By Laura Fisher, FSA Farm Loan Specialist Amy Hicks, owner and operator of Amy’s Garden in Charles City, Virginia, developed a passion for playing in the dirt at an early age. She grew up eating a variety of vegetables fresh … Continue reading →

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Farming Sweet in the Midwest

Posted on April 26, 2019 by cassiebable

By: Savannah Halleaux, FSA Jesse and Tracey Paul of Paul Family Sugarbush in Trout Creek, Michigan, and their five children – Austin, Daltin, Priscilla, Bethany, and Mitchell – work together as a family to produce up to 4,000 gallons of … Continue reading →

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