Hollywood-Style Regional Women’s Ag Conference Makes History

Posted on April 17, 2013 by tanya brown

More than 530 people attended the Women in Agriculture Regional Conference, breaking the 10-year conference attendance record.

By Dana Rogge, Missouri FSA Public Affairs Specialist

Marshall, Mo., became a little like Hollywood this month during the 10th anniversary of the Women in Agriculture Regional Conference. The star-studded event featured famous speakers and followed an “All Stars” theme that provided a VIP experience for more than 530 attendees—the largest attendance in conference history.

“This event provides a forum each year for women agriculturalists to network, access information valuable to their farming operation and have fun,” said Jared Singer, Saline County, Mo., county executive director and chair of the conference planning committee. “The committee decided to shoot for the stars for our tenth year and provide participants with a topnotch experience.” Continue reading →

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Bill to Fire Federal Employees for Delinquent Taxes Fails

Posted on April 16, 2013 by tanya brown

A bill that would allow federal employees with “seriously delinquent tax debts” to be fired, took a nose dive this week as the House failed to get a two-thirds majority vote to pass the Federal Employee Tax Accountability Act. Republicans who support the bill said it’s necessary to hold federal employees at a higher standard, while Democrats argue that firing them would make it harder to collect the debt owed. Nearly 107,000 federal workers owe $1 billion in tax debt. Read more (The Hill).

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Age is Just a Number for 100-Year-Old Farmer

Posted on April 16, 2013 by tanya brown

At 100 years of age, Annie Woodson still farms 1,000 acres of farmland.

By Cassie Bable, Texas FSA Public Affairs Specialist

Annie Faye Woodson has been directly involved in farming and ranching in Texas for the last 76 years. At 100-years-old she stays up-to-date on Farm Service Agency (FSA) program news and still makes trips to the Fannin County FSA office to sign up for farm programs and certify acres.  It is no surprise that Woodson has seen many changes throughout her life on the farm.

“I rode in a wagon, buggy and tractor,” said Woodson. “Technology is the biggest change I’ve seen in my lifetime.” Continue reading →

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Reminder: Hispanic, Women Producers Can File Claim Through May 1

Posted on April 11, 2013 by tanya brown

The deadline has been extended for Hispanic and women farmers and ranchers to file a claim if they feel they were discriminated against by USDA in past decades .The claims process is a voluntary alternative to litigation for each Hispanic or female farmer or rancher who can prove that USDA denied an application for loan or loan servicing assistance for discriminatory reasons for certain time periods between 1981 and 2000. Claimants may contact a call center representative at 1-888-508-4429 for a package or download the forms online. All claims must be submitted by May 1, 2013. Learn more or download the online forms.

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Beginning Farmer Receives Missouri’s First Microloan

Posted on April 10, 2013 by tanya brown

A year after graduating high school, Brent Nodd became the first microloan recipient in Missouri.

By Charlotte Holeman, Farm Loan Manager & Dana Rogge, Public Affairs Specialist

Brent Nold of Cosby, Mo., was a little apprehensive when he thought about getting a loan to expand his cattle herd.

“I was nervous about applying for a loan to purchase more cows because I had thought there would be a lot of paperwork,” said Nold.

What he didn’t know was that Farm Service Agency introduced a new loan designed for farmers just like him. FSA’s microloans were designed to help beginning, niche and small farmers secure loans under $35,000 to help provide start-up funding through a less burdensome, more simplified application process. Continue reading →

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Reminder: Free Microloan Webinar is April 10

Posted on April 9, 2013 by tanya brown

The Farm Service Agency is joining Cornell Small Farms Program to produce a free webinar discussing the new FSA microloan program. Learn details of the program, including loan terms, the application process and eligibility requirements. Questions can be asked to FSA Senior Loan Specialist Carrie Novak via chat pod. The microloan program offers low-interest loans up to $35,000 to better serve the financial operating needs of beginning, niche and small farmers. The free webinar will be held April 10 from 7-8 p.m. EST. Learn more or register today.

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Children Find Out How Much Water it Takes to Grow a Pizza

Posted on April 8, 2013 by tanya brown

Minnesota FSA provided a fun-filled learning experience to children about the important role water plays in agriculture.

More than 840 fourth-grade students from Minnesota found out how much water it takes to make a large pizza.

Through an exhibit sponsored by the Minnesota Farm Service Agency during the 15th Annual Children’s Water Festival, in North Mankato, MN., participants were shown how it takes 743 gallons of water to grow each ingredient used to make a pizza.

The exhibit started with wheat plants that generated the pizza crust, which took 63 gallons of water, while tomato plants that made-up the tomato paste that uses 28 gallons of water. The cow and pig that gave the cheese and pepperoni for the pizza consumed 448 and 204 gallons of water, respectively.

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A Diverse Farm With Deep Ties to the Community

Posted on April 8, 2013 by tanya brown

Kit Kalajakawan and Nui Mizel of Maui Nui Farm produce a diverse range of crops and distribute and market them in a diverse fashion.

By Diane Ley, FSA State Executive Director, Hawaii and Pacific Basin

Sahatthaya “Nui” Mizel and her son, Kit Kalajakawan have turned a few acres of land into a growing enterprise.

Nui and Kit migrated from Thailand to Hawaii in the early 1990’s, and expanded their ventures to become master chefs, owning a catering business, to hosting a farmers market and of course, farming their 40-acre vegetable and flower farm they named Maui Nui.

“Working with FSA has allowed us to further diversify Maui Nui Farm and take advantage of successive new revenue generating opportunities,” said Nui. Continue reading →

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Black Belt Farmers Finding New Markets

Posted on April 5, 2013 by tanya brown

African-American farmers in Alabama are finding ways to merge schools, communities and local government agencies to bring Black Belt produce to mainstream markets. Known as the Black Belt region due to the rich, black soil, this southern portion of Alabama is working with WalMart, Sodexo and Whole Foods to bring purple-hulled peas, sweet potatoes and watermelons to store shelves. Read more.

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NASS to Provide Partial Milk Production Estimates

Posted on April 3, 2013 by tanya brown

The USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service will provide partial estimates of U.S. milk production through the end of fiscal year 2013. Milk production is one element of the monthly Milk Production report that NASS suspended last month to meet sequestration requirements. NASS also will release the Annual Milk Production, Disposition and Income 2012 Summary report as scheduled on April 25. Learn more.

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