Military veterans-turned-beginning-farmers learn how to build mobile poultry units at an Armed to Farm workshop. Photo credit: University of Arkansas.

For many military veterans and their families, the transition from the military to civilian life is a complex undertaking; however, reports and personal accounts indicate that many military veterans have discovered that farming offers a place for employment, training and healing.  The problem is there are few educational programs tailored to meet the particular needs and abilities of returning veterans. Read more (USDA blog).

Maine FSA donated more than 2,800 pounds of food to local food pantries through various gleaning and gardening projects.

Employees of the Maine Farm Service Agency got dirty for a good cause this year. By planting, harvesting and gleaning, employees were able to donate more than 2,800 pounds of food to needy families.

“They have done an outstanding job this year in the continued efforts of raising produce in the People’s Gardens, donating non-perishable items in the Feds Feed Families program as well as their gleaning efforts around the state,” said State Executive Director Don Todd.

FSA employee Chandra Campbell and her father, a volunteer at a local food pantry, participated in a harvesting effort in the cucumber fields of the Friends of Aroostook Farm in Linneus, Maine. The farm is entirely non-profit and all produce collected that day — 2,500 pounds — was donated to Catholic Charities Food Bank.

In continuing efforts for the second year in the Feds Feed Families Program employees from the Presque Isle Farm Service Agency Office traveled to Limestone, Maine, to the Smith’s Farm to glean broccoli from a 55 acre field. Together they picked 350 pounds of broccoli and donated it to Catholic Charities which distributes food to 25 food pantries in Aroostook County. This is the first year employees in Maine have participated in a gleaning effort.

Natural Resources Conservation Service Soil Technician Pele Iuta, the Honorable Governor of American Samoa Togiola Tulafono and FSA Agricultural Specialist Josephine Malepeai Lealasola at the American Samoa Territorial Farm Festival.

The American Samoa Government Department of Agriculture (ASDOA) recently revived the Territorial Farm Festival with a two-day event that provided an opportunity for Farm Service Agency staff to reach out to more than 400 farmers, ranchers and beginning producers.

With new leadership at the helm, the American Samoa Department of Agriculture brought back the Territorial Farm Fest this year after a four-year hiatus. Agencies and organizations whose mission is to support farming on the island were invited to present and display information.

“We signed up more than 30 producers for the free recordkeeping class offered as part of the strategic outreach plan for American Samoa,” said Josephine Lealasola, FSA agricultural specialist who also distributed information on farm programs and loans. “If we can get our producers to keep records we can increase the avenues by which the Farm Service Agency can provide them assistance through our programs.  Unfortunately there is a lot of misinformation out there about what FSA can and can’t do. I’ve found the best way to combat this problem is to meet with farmers one on one at events like this.” Continue reading →

A third generation of farmers is continuing the family tradition and using FSA Rural Youth Loans to get started. Following in their grandmother’s footsteps, grandchildren Henry and Hanah Schmall in Nebraska have taken out youth loans since 2006. The high school students have created and continue to expand their livestock operations in hopes of doing full-time after graduation. Read more (Star Herald).