Joann Floyd found the Conservation Reserve Program a perfect solution to saving her family legacy.

By Neal Leonard, Georgia public relations and outreach specialist & Barry Alexander, FSA district director 

In 1938, Otis and Azzie Lee Floyd purchased a 200-acre farm in Sumter County, Ga.. After much hard work and dedication, the Floyds were able to pay for their farm and build a house where they raised eight children and 18 grandchildren.

Joann Floyd was one of those grandchildren and remembers how hard her grandparents worked.

“I recall my grandmother earning money from selling butter, milk and eggs, and by milking cows and raising chickens,” said Joann. “My grandfather worked hard in the fields growing corn, cotton and peanuts.”

Continue reading →

SED Daniel Robinson participated in the groundbreaking ceremonies for two new agricultural centers — the Carver Integrative Sustainability Center and the Black Belt Family Farm Fruit and Vegetable Marketing and Innovation Center.

by Vicki A. Lane, FSA public relations/outreach specialist

More than 200 agricultural workers from around the southeastern United States recently gathered in Tuskegee, Ala., for the 69th Professional Agricultural Workers Conference (PAWC) held at Tuskegee University.

This year’s event focused on enhancing the skills and contributions of agricultural professionals by sharing new technologies and information, and included a groundbreaking ceremony for two new agricultural centers.

Continue reading →

by Paul Lehman, public affairs officer, FSA West Region                

Brenda Farias has been selected as one of 24 participants in 2012-2013 class ofthe California Agricultural Leadership Program. Leadership seems to come naturally to the downtown Los Angeles native who grew up in the inner city thinking about becoming an animal doctor and is now the county executive director of the busy Santa Maria FSA office.

“Early on in college I knew I wanted to work for the United States Department of Agriculture,” notes Brenda. “Although I didn’t grow up in a farm, I visited my grandparents’ farm each summer in Mexico and learned to love the animals.”   Brenda shows a passion for meeting challenges, team-building and bringing people together. Through the Ag Leadership Program she hopes to expand her personal skills to be a more effective and influential leader in her community.

Continue reading →

The Oregon Farm Service Agency received the 2011 President’s Partnership Award from the Oregon Association of Conservation Districts for their work in the successful implementation of the Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP).

The office received the joint award along with the Oregon Soil and Water Conservation Commission and the state’s Department of Agriculture, Watershed Enhancement Board and Natural Resources Conservation Service to recognize the collaborative effort of all agencies.

Continue reading →

by J. Latrice Hill, FSA Outreach Program Lead

Rows of bright green grape vines provided an appropriate backdrop for the recent USDA Field Day held at Williams Muscadine Farm in Nesmith, South Carolina.

Bill Trado, county executive director of Williamsburg FSA, led what is being called one of the most diverse and successful outreach events in South Carolina. More than 100 gathered to hear about USDA programs at the site of the vineyard and honor the landowner, 84-year-old David Williams, for his outstanding accomplishments in agriculture.

Continue reading →